Thea frowned. “Just like that?”
“More or less. I heard a popping sound and the wood split under my feet. It started sinking immediately.”
Chewing on her lip, her brows furrowed, Thea said, “Of course, we may never know if it was tampered with.”
“Unless that footman manages to tow it to shore.”
Stroking his hand with her fingers, Thea added, “Let us hope he does. Freddie, we both owe him our lives.”
Freddie raised a tiny smile. “I expect we do at that. And here I spoke to him harshly.”
“I believe he is very loyal.”
Rising, Thea went to the entry of the kitchen, and he heard her order clearly. “When Mr. Carter returns from the lake, he is to be brought here immediately.”
A footman bowed. “At once, Miss Miller.”
As she returned and sat back down, Thea said, “Even if he does bring it to shore, Freddie, we still may not find evidence.”
“Had it not been for someone shooting at me,” Freddie said slowly, “I would have thought it fell apart and sank due to age.”
Thea signaled a serving maid for more tea and poured a small dollop of brandy into it herself. After the maid departed, Thea said, “Freddie, we have to find out who is doing this.”
Freddie clasped his hands in front of him to calm their trembling. “If this was an accident, like you and the dock post, then perhaps Charles is right and the shooter is not trying any longer.”
“And if the boat was sabotaged?”
He shrugged, helpless. “I cannot say, Thea.”
Two more cups of tea later, Freddie felt almost normal again. His clothes, though damp, did not hinder his ability to warm up under the blanket. His shaking ceased, and he began to think about going upstairs to his chambers to change. Then Mr. Carter darkened the kitchen doorway, bowing low. He had taken the time to dry the worst of drips from him and had toweled his hair, as it stuck up in all directions.
“My Lord,” he said. “Miss Miller.”
“Did you get the boat in?’ Thea asked, jumping ahead of Freddie.
“I did.”
“Can you tell if someone,” Freddie began, fearing to know the truth, “er, tampered with it?”
Mr. Carter nodded. “Someone did, My Lord. You see, all save two boards had been pegged together with wooden pegs except the bottom two. The pegs from those were missing.”
Chapter 10
Freddie exchanged a shocked glance with Thea. “Then how could it even float?”
“This is my guess, sir, and my guess only,” Liam continued. “I think the bottom boards held together long enough for you to row out. But eventually, under your weight, they split, thus collapsing.”
Freddie nodded, his expression pensive as he apparently thought back. “I did hear a snapping sound before the water rushed in and the thing sank.”
Thea scowled. “So our would-be murderer is at it again. Who can it be?”
“Could the Duke of Bradford have hired someone to kill me?” Freddie mused.
By his sudden glance toward Liam, he just remembered the footman’s presence, for Freddie waved his hand in dismissal. “Mr. Carter, once again, I owe you my thanks. Forgive me, but I must speak with my sister alone. Get yourself dry and tell Mr. O’Bannon you have the rest of the day off. I may need to speak with you again.”
Liam bowed low. “My Lord. Miss Miller.”
Thea wanted so much to run after Liam as he walked away, but she and Freddie needed to talk about whoever was behind these attempts to kill him. “If the Duke did indeed hire someone,” she asked, chewing her lip again, “could the assassin be inside this house?”
