“No. Yes. I mean…well, maybe.”
He shook his head. Caroline wasn’t sure if he trying to clear his thoughts or if he was refusing her. She hated to grovel, but she was desperate. “Please, Brice. I cannot marry the earl.”
Brice’s expression softened a little. “Have you talked to your father about this?”
“To the point of exhaustion. He refuses to listen to me.”
“You cannot be forced to marry anyone since you have reached your majority.”
“My father uses my age as a factor against me,” Caroline said. “He says time is running out.”
“Well, old girl, you probably have a few years left,” Brice said, obviously attempting to lighten the conversation, then stopping when Caroline glared at him. “Sorry. I was jesting. I know things were rough after George—”
“Never mind George,” Caroline said. “He and Amelia deserve each other.”
Brice nodded. “That is something I can agree with. Is there not someone else you could conceive of marrying?”
Perhaps the Midnight Marauder?Caroline pushed that foolish thought away and shook her head. “No one.”
“But why would your father insist on Tisdale if you dislike the man?”
She certainly could not tell Brice that she was ruined for anyone her father deemed suitable. “The prince regent personally approved this match, and my father does not want to fall out of favor by refusing. Besides, he wants a grandson, preferably one who will receive a title, so it is now or never, according to him.”
“Hmmm. Let me think.” Brice stood and began to pace.
There was not much room in their area, and Caroline began to feel dizzy watching him walk back and forth. She also hoped he wasn’t wearing a pattern in the oriental carpet on the floor. She wanted desperately to move herself, but two of them pacing wouldn’t do any good.
Finally, Brice stopped and spun around. “I think I have the perfect solution.”
Caroline smiled. “You will agree to my plan?”
“In a way,” Brice replied. “I doubt anyone is going to believe that I have suddenly put away my devil’s horns for angel wings and a declaration of true love. I think I may have a substitute who would be willing to stand in for me.”
“Who would that be?” Caroline asked. “Alex might, but he is no longer here.”
“Not Alex,” Brice said. “Kendrick.”
Her mouth nearly dropped open. “The Marquis of Kendrick?”
“The very one.” Brice sat down in his chair. “If your father wants a titled heir, a marquis trumps an earl.”
“Yes, but I have only formally met the marquis once, if you do not count today. Why would he—”
“Kendrick has always thumbed his nose at the aristocracy because of how his mother was treated. He will not give a damn if Prinny approved the match with Tisdale or not. In fact, I suspect he would rather welcome the idea of a challenge. So there.” Brice looked extremely pleased with himself. “Problem solved.”
“Are you not forgetting one little thing?” Caroline asked.
“What?”
“How are you going to convince Lord Kendrick to do this?
The twinkle reappeared in Brice’s eyes. “You leave that to me.”
Chapter Seven
Stephan stopped putting items in his duffel bag and watched as Brice descended the companionway steps into the boat’s cabin. “I thought you were going to spend the rest of the afternoon at the pavilion.”
“I have news that I did not want to hold until the evening meal,” Brice said as he took a seat on the bolted stool by the navigator’s station.