Her rapid departure gave Stephan no time to respond to her. Did she really think he was simply playing a part? The thought gave him pause. Maybe she did.The intention was only for you to get me through this house party.Maybe she really considered this to be an act. Was he being a fool?
Damnation.
Chapter Eleven
Caroline bit back a groan when she took her seat at the dinner table the next evening. Once again, Lord Tisdale was seated to her left with Ann beside him and Stephan on the other side of her. Far enough away that Caroline would not be able to converse with him. And worse, since she was sitting directly across from the prince regent—not to mention her father only a few seats over—she had to behave politely toward Lord Tisdale.
What she really wanted to do was give the man a good, swift kick in the shin, but even if she dared it wouldn’t have done any damage since she was wearing satin slippers. There were still ten days to go before this miserable house party would be over. If these were going to be the seating arrangements every night, she would be a candidate for Bedlam before it was over.
Realizing that Prinny and her father were both watching her, she managed a tight smile and turned to Tisdale. “How did the sea trials go today, my lord?”
“Very well,” he answered. “We beat Kendrick’s time, not that he is willing to admit that my boat is better than his.”
Conversation stopped near them. Even Ann had stopped her incessant chattering. Caroline wished she could see Stephan’s face. She could almost feel an ominous cloud forming around him. Insulting his boat was the same as insulting him.
One of the conversations they’d had shortly after he agreed to pretend to be a serious suitor had been aboutLady of Fortune. He’d told her a good captain treated his ship with the same respect he would a lady and took care of her as such. He’d said the sea was a hard taskmaster, unrelenting and unforgiving. If Neptune grew irritated with man’s intrusions upon his territory and stirred a tempest, a sailor’s life would depend on his ship.
Brice put his wine goblet down. “The only reason you beat our time, Tisdale, is because you cut us off at the mark and we had to luff to avoid hitting you.”
Tisdale waved his hand airily. “The mark is fair game. My bow was ahead of yours.”
“Debatable,” Brice answered, nearly snarling at him. “One of the rules of racing is to avoid collision. You would have been red-flagged.”
“Nowthatis debatable, since you would have run onto my beam,” Tisdale answered. “I suspect Kendrick knows that to be true since he is not challenging my statement.”
“I see no sense in arguing the point at a dinner table,” Stephan answered, his voice calm and even, even though Caroline was pretty sure he’d prefer to toss Tisdale over the table. “I will challenge you on the water.”
“Excellent! This should make the regatta even more exciting.” Prinny looked from Stephan to Caroline and then to Alfred. “I believe another gauntlet has been thrown, Lord Tisdale.”
His mouth tightened into a hard line. He slanted a look at Caroline that made her skin crawl. And then he smirked and turned back to the prince.
“I accept the challenge. However, I would like to invite my betrothed—”
“I am not your betrothed.” Caroline snapped the words, ignoring her father’s frown. Good Lord. How many times did she have to say it?
“Yet,” Tisdale answered. “I will revise. I would like to invited myintendedbride to sail with me before the regatta as good luck.”
“That is not necessary,” Caroline said quickly. “If your boat is as good as you say it is, luck is not needed.”
“I assure you it is,” Tisdale said smoothly. “I want you to see for yourself that my vessel is far superior to Kendrick’s.”
“I do not—”
“A very good idea,” her father interrupted. “My daughter has always liked to use logic. There really has not been much opportunity for her to get to know you, my lord. Perhaps an afternoon sailing would give her the chance to see your better qualities.”
If Caroline’s foot could have reached her father, she would have kicked him, satin slippers or not. As it was, her eyes shot daggers.
Ann clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh, that is a good idea! And perhaps Father would allow me to spend an afternoon sailing with Lord Kendrick. I would so love that!”
A sound much like a growl that turned into a throat clearing came from Stephan. “I have never invited a woman to sail with me, my lady.”
Ann wrinkled her brow. “Why not?”
“Because it is bad luck,” Brice said, saving Stephan from answering, Brice looked at her father. “Perhaps something you should consider as well.”
“Nonsense. That is only a silly superstition,” Tisdale answered. “I have no qualms about taking Miss Nash out on my boat. Actually, I insist.”
“Then that is settled,” the prince said and held his goblet up for more wine.