“What do you mean?”
Brice pointed through the open French doors to where nearly a dozen young ladies were clustered and peering in. “You may have to convince them of that.”
…
Caroline was late in getting to the garden party since she’d had to order another bath to get the sandy grit off herself and the salt spray out of her hair. Not that she cared about attending the event because the earl would no doubt be crowing over having made the best time on the sea trial.
She hoped Stephan would put in an appearance, though. By the time he’d broughtLady of Fortuneinto her slip, the boys’ mothers were waiting at the dock, and Caroline had slipped away unnoticed. She hadn’t had a chance to thank him for recognizing her frantic gestures and getting the boat stopped in time.
At least that is what she told herself. She did not need to become attracted to a man who was only doing her a favor by playing the part of a suitor. How many times did she have to remind herself of that?
Caroline saw him immediately as she stepped from the pavilion onto the lawn. He was standing near the saloon with his back to her. A number of girls fluttered around him looking like tropical birds in their brightly colored afternoon dresses. There were no hovering mamas with disproving looks on their faces nearby, so apparently Stephan’s rescue this morning had made him more acceptable in their eyes. Caroline should be glad for that. Stephan had been regarded as a black sheep for far too long. She was happy for him.
Brice stood nearby. Before she could turn away, he saw her and gestured her over. Caroline hesitated a moment, not wanting to have to listen to the fawning and simpering that was going on around Stephan, but then Brice would think it ridiculous for her to avoid the very man who was supposed to be her suitor. Reluctantly, she joined him.
“How are the boys?” she asked.
“Safe, sound, and scared to venture farther out than a stone’s throw from shore. By the time Kendrick finished regaling them with tales of the deep, they near-worshipped him.”
Caroline nodded toward the cluster of girls, trying not to notice that Ann had managed to stand so close that her skirts brushed against Stephan’s leg. “So do those young ladies, it seems.”
Brice gave her a sharp look, and she could have bitten her tongue. The statement had come out more harshly than she intended. Worse, it made her sound like a fishwife. Ajealousfishwife. She wasn’t. “Not that he hasn’t earned it,” she added quickly.
Stephan must have heard her voice because he turned around. He smiled and walked toward her. The bevy of twittering females followed him, Ann in the lead.
He bowed slightly to Caroline. She tried not to show her disappointment that he didn’t take her hand and kiss it like he had before. Or, at least, blow a kiss over her knuckles. With his newfound popularity—apparently approved by the matrons—maybe he didn’t want to appear too ardent a suitor. That would totally close the doors to pursuing another lady once this charade was over. She couldn’t blame him for that. “I am so glad you managed to save those boys.”
“He was quite the hero, was he not?” Ann asked, sidling closer and giving him a huge smile.
“Miss Nash is the one who should have that honor,” Stephan answered. “If I had not seen her waving—”
“But you did see her,” Ann interrupted. “She could not stop the boat. Onlyyoucould do that. I told my father it nearly took my breath away to see how magnificent you were.” She looked past Caroline’s shoulder. “Did I not, Father?”
Caroline nearly jumped as the earl came up behind her, and she tried not to cringe as he took her hand and planted a rather wet kiss on the back of it. If only Stephan had done that, she certainly would not have cringed. “Lord Tisdale,” she managed before pulling her hand away.
He appeared not to have noticed because he was studying Stephan the way a gambler sized up a new player. She’d seen the expression often enough in card rooms. It gave her an uneasy feeling.
“My daughter has waxed most verbosely about you, Kendrick,” the earl said. “I hope you will extend the courtesy of allowing her to sit beside you this evening at dinner.”
“Oh, I would so love that!” Ann gushed before Stephan could answer. She gave him a dimpled smile. “It would mean so much to me.”
As Stephan hesitated, Brice cut in. “Miss Nash has the seat to Kendrick’s right, and I have the one to the left.”
“Had the seat.” Tisdale waved his hand dismissively. “I have already asked the majordomo to exchange cards.”
“Was that not rather bold of you?” Brice asked.
“After finishing with the best time today, Prinny was in a mood to grant me a favor.” The earl gave them all a triumphant smile. “The arrangements have been made.”
Caroline felt her skin start to crawl. She only hoped the earl meant arrangements for dinner and nothing else.
Chapter Ten
Caroline went down to the breakfast room unfashionably early in hopes of avoiding the earl and especially Ann. Last night’s dinner had been a catastrophe, at least in her opinion. Not only had Lord Tisdale managed to exchange Brice’s place for Ann, the earl had also managed to arrange to have Caroline seated beside him and away from Stephan. Since the prince regent did not look surprised at the change, she assumed he knew—and approved it —beforehand, which did not bode well.
Worse, she had to endure Ann’s continuous tinkling laughter as she conversed with Stephan. While the earl prattled on, Caroline couldn’t make out what Stephan was saying, but Ann seemed to find him entirely charming. Was the feeling reciprocated? Caroline couldn’t recall Stephan regaling her with such wit. But then he was under no obligation to entertain her.
Brice was the only person in the morning room when she entered, and he was nearly finished with his breakfast. If she’d been hoping—and she had been, drat it—that Stephan would be there, she’d set herself up for disappointment. Caroline went to the sideboard and helped herself to a spoonful of coddled eggs and joined Brice.