Page 58 of A Rake's Revenge
Nor will it ever.
So many conflicting thoughts racked Caroline’s brain that her mind was muddled. Had Stephan just declared he was serious about being her suitor? Or was he still playing the part that she had asked him to? She hadn’t realized what a talented actor he was until she overheard his conversation about the pirate raids. He hadn’t seemed concerned when Prinny announced a thousand-pound reward for his capture. He hadn’t shown any reaction at all. None. Stephan had truly missed his calling. He should be on stage. Not that a career on the stage would be something a marquis would do. But what marquis would be apirate?
She momentarily shifted her vision over Stephan’s shoulder to Eric. As big and blond as he was, Caroline had no trouble imagining him on a Viking longboat, although she’d heard no reference to someone looking like him involved with the piracy. Maybe he stayed behind the scenes, but was really the person in charge? But Eric had called Stephanboss. That meant Stephan was the lead pirate. But why? It was a question she intended to ask.
Caroline became aware of Lady Ann glaring at her, and she had to make an effort not to smile. Stephan had finally given the girl her comeuppance. Ann had been a nuisance—at least to Caroline—since the day Stephan had arrived. Always showing up at inopportune moments, managing to be seated next to him at dinner, standing too close to him. Caroline had to admit she’d felt more than a twinge of jealousy on those occasions and even just minutes ago when Ann had admitted going to Stephan’s boat. With Ann’s gown showing far too much cleavage for a debutante and her hair down, it was obvious, at least to Caroline, that the girl had not intended to simply drop off a book. Caroline’s heart had plummeted to her toes at the thought that Stephan might have actually invited Ann to dine on board. Or any other woman, for that matter, since Stephan was a real suitor. Or was he? Caroline’s mind spun.
Out of her peripheral vision, she saw Melanie and Jeannette hurrying toward Lady Ann, ostensibly to offer comfort and escort her from the room, but by the time they’d finished their consoling, they’d have ferreted out enough information to keep gossip going for the remainder of the house party, if not beyond. Caroline refrained from rolling her eyes.
She refocused her attention on the prince who was speaking. “…better that women not be allowed aboard boats for the rest of the week.”
If Caroline had been the impulsive sort, she might very well have thrown her arms around Prinny for saying that. Not that one hugged a royal. At least, not if one were not the mistress of a royal. If she’d heard correctly, the prince regent had just declared that women would not be guests on any boats. That meant she wouldn’t have to spend an afternoon sailing with the earl.
Her relief was short lived.
“We have already agreed that Miss Nash would be my guest for an afternoon sail,” Tisdale said to the prince. “Surely, you will honor that?”
Anger flashed in Stephan’s eyes, and Caroline bit her lip as she saw the prince hesitate. She prayed he would remain adamant, but that prayer wasn’t answered when the prince finally nodded. “Since Kendrick was allowed to invite Miss Nash for dinner aboard his boat, you should have equal opportunity.”
“With all due respect, Your Highness,” Stephan said, “my time with Miss Nash was interrupted. By the earl, I might add.”
“That was rather poor form of you, Tisdale,” Prinny said.
“It was her father’s idea,” the earl protested.
“My father was aware of the dinner before I went,” Caroline said. “I am still not quite sure why the two of you felt it necessary to fetch me.”
“I— We—did not want Kendrick taking advantage of you,” Tisdale said. “Everyone knows he is a rake.”
“Lord Barclay acted as my chaperone.”
“Another rake. That placed you in double danger,” Tisdale said.
Stephan pulled one of his gloves out of his pocket. “Would you like for me to throw this down? Perhaps to call you out?”
Tisdale paled, and the prince looked irritated. “Enough,” Prinny said. “There will be no dueling. We are speaking of a simple afternoon sail, not discussing the details of Miss Nash’s dowry. I should not have to be making Solomon-like decisions over this.” He looked from one man to the other. “Nonetheless, since Kendrick’s time was limited, your time will be shortened as well, Tisdale, to an hour and a half.”
“But that is hardly time to get—”
“Of course, I could simply deny your request,” the prince said.
Oh, Lord. Caroline hoped he would. If only Tisdale would be stupid enough to keep protesting…but that hope was dashed as well.
“Very well,” he said. “An hour and a half. The time will be well spent.”
Caroline gave him a cool look. She might not have been allowed to give her opinion, but she could make sure the time was, indeed, well spent. She’d listened to Melanie and Jeannette do their version of interrogation.
She would find out what Tisdale knew about the pirate raids and then pass the information on to Stephan. Whether he had meant what he’d said earlier or he’d simply been playing his role, it didn’t matter. Stephan needed to know what the earl’s intentions were so he could protect himself. Whatever reasons Stephan had for entering into the pirate trade weren’t as important as keeping him alive.
With a start, Caroline realized she had done the one thing she didn’t think herself ever capable of doing again—she’d fallen in love with Stephan Stoddard, the Marquis of Kendrick, who also happened to be a pirate.
Chapter Nineteen
“I am beginning to think you are as stupid as your mother was.” Tisdale glared at his daughter later that evening after he’d retrieved her from the clutches of the Ladies Compton and Lindford. He stopped walking once he and Ann were out of the light of a lantern in the gardens. “I ask you to do one small thing—which you readily agreed to—and you manage to make a complete mess of it.”
Ann sniffed. “I had no idea that horrible man would be on board.”
Neither had Alfred, although he wasn’t going to admit that to her. Evidently, the man he’d hired to loosen the winches and keep an eye onLady of Fortunehad wandered off. Probably spending the silver crowns he’d been paid on cheap whiskey and cheaper women.
