Caroline opened her mouth, then closed it. Not only was it considered completely improper protocol to argue with the prince regent, it would only serve to harden his resolve. Lord Tisdale, whatever she thought of him, was part of Prinny’s circle. Stephan was not. She needed to take care.
“As you wish.”
“Good,” her father said.
Tisdale smirked again. “Since this is an evening of issuing challenges, I would like to propose one more.”
“What is that?” the prince asked.
“Simply this. If I win the regatta, Miss Nash marries me.”
Caroline gasped, and Stephan leaned forward, his eyes twin points of ebony and his voice equally as hard. “Miss Nash is not property that can be wagered.”
“You need not worry, Kendrick,” Tisdale said. “I will offer my daughter to you as a consolation prize.”
Ann giggled. “I would not mind being Lord Kendrick’s prize.”
Caroline felt the blood drain from her face as she met Stephan’s gaze. His face was impassive as a faro player’s, and for a moment she thought maybe he didn’t care. She’d not had a chance to talk with him privately since he’d returned. She’d told him he was free to choose someone else, for God’s sake. Caroline stifled a sob rising in her throat. She must not let her feelings show, either. And then she saw a tiny muscle flick near Stephan’s jaw. He shook his head almost imperceptibly.
Prinny watched them all over the brim of his wine goblet. Then he set it down. “We shall see,” he said.
…
As soon as Caroline entered the long gallery before dinner two nights later, she sensed something was different. The normally loud buzz of conversation was subdued. Guests were not moving around as they usually did. Instead, people seemed to be riveted in place, as though anticipating some momentous event.
“What is going on?” she asked as she joined Melanie and Jeannette by the white marble hearth. “Has something happened to the prince?”
“Not yet,” Melanie answered, “but he may succumb to apoplexy soon.”
“Good heavens. Why?”
“Another attack occurred last night!” Jeannette snapped her fan open and started waving it rapidly.
“The prince regent really does not take well to having his parties interrupted,” Melanie added.
An attack. Had the Midnight Marauder struck again? Caroline’s tummy fluttered as though a dozen butterflies had just taken flight as she remembered the very thorough kiss the marauder had given her and how she’d responded. She thought all the guests had arrived at the Pavilion, but perhaps Vanessa Caldwell’s American relative had reached England early and they’d made their way to Brighton?
The butterflies stilled and landed in a clump in the pit of her stomach at the thought. Vanessa no doubt would have enjoyed every minute of an encounter with the marauder. Caroline looked around the gallery but didn’t spot the woman. Strangely, she breathed a sigh of relief. It was ridiculous to be jealous of her—the man was a bandit—but Vanessa was blond, petite and delicate, all the things Caroline was not, and she reminded Caroline far too much of Lady Ann Tisdale.
Caroline’s eyes narrowed as she spotted Lady Ann at the far end of the gallery near the banquet room. She was standing next to Stephan and Brice, although Brice could have been part of the woodwork for all the attention she paid him. Her eyes were on Stephan, and he must be especially witty at the moment since Ann was laughing and using her closed fan to tap his arm coquettishly. After the debacle of last night’s dinner, the scene was nauseating. Caroline turned away. “Whom did the Midnight Marauder assault?”
Melanie’s eyes lit. “The Marauder? Has he been seen? I hadn’t heard…”
Caroline frowned. “Is that not what you and Jeannette were talking about?”
Jeannette shook her head. “Another ship was attacked last night by pirates.”
“Again,” Melanie added.
“Pirates! Here? In Brighton?”
“No, silly,” Melanie said. “Near Dungeness Point to the east.”
Jeannette nodded. “That is probably why it took the messenger so long to get here.”
Melanie poked her. “Shhh! Here comes Prinny.”
She needn’t have bothered saying the words since an instant hush ensued. Although the prince regent appeared calm, Caroline was standing close enough that she could see tiny white lines around his mouth, indicating he was furious.
