Page 6 of A Rake's Revenge
“You look like you want to rip someone to shreds,” Brice said mildly. “Perhaps I should leave while my limbs are still attached to my torso.”
“Sorry.” Stephan ran a hand through his hair. “I saw—heard—something at Lockwood’s last night that bothered me.”
“Are you talking about Caroline’s betrothal?”
Stephan frowned. “Where did you hear that?”
Brice shrugged. “At White’s. I went there around midnight. Tisdale was in his cups, boasting about his upcoming wedding.”
Stephan felt like a cutlass had just sliced through him. So the whisperings from last night were true. Caroline was getting married. “That pretentious arse does not deserve her,” Stephan spit out, more vehemently than he’d intended.
Brice lifted one brow slightly. “I did not know you were interested in Caroline Nash.”
Damn.Could he keep none of his feelings curbed today? It wasn’t like him to be so vulnerable. No one knew he was the Midnight Marauder. He couldn’t very well tell Brice that he’d kissed Caroline or that she was the most responsive, passionate female he’d ever known. “I will admit she is an attractive woman, but more importantly, she is a friend of yours. Doyouwant to see her married to that nodcock?”
“Not especially. Strange, though. She always told Alex and me she had no plans to marry. Maybe she decided to get even with George by marrying an earl.”
“She did not look like she was ecstatic about the idea,” Stephan said, careful to keep his tone neutral this time.
“She may not be,” Brice answered, “but Tisdale has Prinny’s ear, from what I understand. This might give her the leverage she needs to thwart good old George at every turn.”
Stephan schooled his features. “Caroline Nash does not seem to be a devious person.”
“Who knows how women think?” Brice frowned. “Caroline has always been pretty straightforward, though. She says what she thinks…a trait she said her father hated.”
“But one to be admired,” Stephan said.
Brice lifted a brow again. “I do think you have a special interest in the lady after all.”
“Maybe I am developing one.”
Brice shrugged again. “You will not get any arguments from me. I think Caroline deserves a good man, too. I never thought it might be you.”
Stephan frowned. “I did not say it was.”
Brice grinned. “As rattled as you have been today, you do not have tosayanything.”
“Damn it—”
“Easy, Captain.” Brice held a hand up in surrender. “I will be the first to encourage you to rescue the lady from the vile clutches of another pompous ass. I do not want to see her forced into a marriage she does not want, either.”
“I am glad we are in accord on that.”
Brice nodded. “While Tisdale was at White’s, he mentioned Prinny’s having a house party at Brighton in two or three weeks. He will be hosting a regatta.”
“A regatta? Tisdale is planning to enter his boat?”
“He is going to enterSea Masterto impress his dearly betrothed.”
“It is not wise to tempt Neptune with a name like that,” Stephan said.
“No one said Tisdale was overly bright.” Brice paused. “The sloop is supposed to be fast, though.”
Stephan smiled for the first time that day. He couldn’t resist the challenge. “I think theLady of Fortuneand I will be sailing for Brighton. Care to come along?”
Brice grinned. “I was hoping you would ask.”
Stephan widened his own smile. Not only was he going to win a boat race. After Caroline’s unexpected passionate reaction to his kiss—to say nothing of his own—he was also going to win her hand. He had not thought of commitment before, but a woman like her was worth keeping.
