“Of course you would not. My father wants no one to know,” Caroline answered and glanced around. Tendrils of fog were beginning to creep in from the sea, aiding in the setting to the story she was spinning. “Not that closets play a role. Attics and dungeons, though…” She let her voice trail off. “Please, just forget I said anything. It is a lovely day for a ride, is it not?”
“It is a miserable day. We should have rescheduled.”
“What, and waste this lovely sunshine?”
“It has been overcast all day.”
“I should have brought my sunbonnet,” Caroline said, squinting as she shaded her eyes. “I hope my face does not turn pink.”
“I know what you are doing,” the earl said as the carriage turned onto Edward Street headed toward Tarner Park. “You think to scare me off with the idea of madness running in your family.”
“Not at all—”
“It will not work,” Tisdale went on as though she hadn’t said anything. “First, I do not believe it. Secondly, even if it is true and the first heir you bear me is an idiot, we will just keep trying until one of them is fit to carry on my title.”
“I will bear you heirs when icicles stay frozen in hell.”
He laughed, but it didn’t sound pleasant. “You do not have to be a willing participant, although that would be preferable.”
At that moment, Caroline would have liked to strike Tisdale on his head, like Kate had done to Hortensio, but there was no lute—or any other weapon—available. “I must say, you are turning my head with such sweet talk.”
“Perhaps you should start acting like a lady if you want me to act the gentleman.”
“Spare me that farce,” Caroline said and then added sweetly, “my lord.”
Tisdale scowled. “When we are married, I will curb that saucy mouth.”
“No need to worry about that since we will not marry.”
“Oh, but we will.” Tisdale slapped the reins hard over the horse’s back. “I plan to win the regatta and you.”
Startled, the animal broke into a canter, causing Caroline to grip the side of the seat to keep from falling out. “I am not the prize, in case you have forgotten.”
“But you are, in more ways than you know…” Tisdale turned at the sound of horses’ hooves pounding behind him.
Caroline turned, too, and then nearly swooned in relief. Stephan was catching up to them. Dressed in black, atop his black horse, with his black hair flying free behind him, he looked rather like a dark specter advancing in the foggy mist that had grown thicker.
“What the devil!” Tisdale pulled the horse to a stop. “What are you doing here, Kendrick? Why are you not out on your boat?”
“The weather, in case you have not noticed,” Stephan answered. “The boats have all come in.”
Tisdale glared at him. “That does not explain why you arehere.”
Stephan smiled back. “That’s easy. Miss Nash needs a chaperone.”
He scowled. “You did not have one when you strolled in the gardens.”
“That was different,” Stephan said.
“How?”
Caroline hoped Stephan would say because they wanted to be together, but he didn’t. “We were not alone. There were people about.”
Not where they had gone, but Tisdale definitely didn’t need to know that. Caroline nodded. “There were a number of couples strolling.”
“That makes no difference,” Tisdale answered. “Your father gave his permission for this carriage ride.”
“By all means, continue on,” Stephan said. “I will ride alongside to protect Miss Nash’s reputation.”
