Before Stephan could respond, Caroline came up the ladder. “I am not your intended, Lord Tisdale. I wish you would accept that.”
“I am not accepting anything.”
“I think it would be a good idea if you returned with us,” Caroline’s father said.
Caroline felt her eyes widen at the sight of her father. What was he doing here? “The prince gave Ste—Lord Kendrick—permission for this dinner.”
“I am sure he did not intend it to be so…private.”
Caroline pointed to Brice. “I have a chaperone.”
Tisdale snorted. “One notorious rake chaperoning another rake? You might as well have that French marauder who takes advantage of our innocent debutantes doing the job.”
Caroline’s stomach fluttered. The Midnight Marauder? And Stephan? Now wasnotthe time to remember her fantasy regarding that lovely V-berth below. “You have no business being here, Lord Tisdale.”
“But I do,” Caroline’s father said. “This is totally improper. I am not sure what the prince was thinking, but dinner was already awash with gossip at your absence and Kendrick’s. I will not have my only daughter scandalized. You will return with me at once.”
Caroline stared at him. Her father had actually come to get her, as though she were some petulant child who had run away? She felt her cheeks grow warm. Could she be any more mortified? Then the heat intensified as her temper rose. “I…” She stopped when Stephan put a hand on her arm.
“Your father may have a point,” he said. “Neither Brice nor I have sterling credentials. I would not want your reputation ruined because of this.”
Caroline turned her startled gaze at him. Hewantedher to leave? After that kiss they had shared? She searched his face, but his expression was impassive. Brice had told her once that Stephan was an excellent faro player because of his ability to let no emotions show. But did he have to invoke that skill now? They weren’t playing a game. Then, suddenly she understood. Theywereplaying a game after all. This whole thing was a charade. She had even called it that earlier. If it got pushed too far and she was actually considered ruined—a horrible irony since she already was—Stephan would do the honorable thing and marry her out of a sense of duty. She couldn’t let that happen.
“Fine,” she said and stepped off the boat far more easily than she had stepped on. Anger made one agile, it seemed. “Fine.”
…
Stephan watched her walk away. Actually, shestompedaway, ignoring both Tisdale and her father’s hands for assistance. Her back was straight, her shoulders back, and her chin up. He had to admire her in spite of the fact he could practically feel the heat of her anger wafting like waves across the water.
“I think she is mad,” Brice said mildly.
Stephan just hoped it wasn’t at him, although he wouldn’t place a wager on it. Generally, when a woman said “fine” it meant anything but. He sighed. “I will talk to her tomorrow. She will understand.”
Brice gave him a look that clearly said he was daft. “Why did you let her leave? You did have the prince’s permission, after all.”
He couldn’t tell Brice it was because Caroline had feelings for a marauder she thought existed. Nor did Stephan want to force Caroline into marrying him, which would be the outcome if the gossip went too far. He needed to have Caroline want him for himself. He’d gotten a good start on that before they were interrupted. He shook his head. “If Sir Reginald is going to be my future father-in-law, I need his respect.”
Brice studied him. “So this is no longer a game?”
It never had been a game. Not after their first encounter when he’d realized what a passionate woman Caroline was. But he couldn’t tell Brice aboutthat, either. “It ceased to be a game quite a while ago.”
Brice whistled and then sniffed. “Something smells really good.”
The food. They’d never had a chance to eat. Stephan was glad to change the subject. “You might as well be my guest for dinner.”
“Do not bother to sound gracious,” Brice said with a trace of sarcasm at what had been a lackluster statement. “I accept.”
As they ate, Stephan told him that Tisdale was trying to implicate him in the pirate raids. He stopped short of making a confession.
“The man sounds desperate,” Brice said. “We know he is determined to win the regatta, especially after what we suspect he had done with theLady’s winches.”
Stephan nodded. “Aside from that stupid one-sided wager he made that Caroline is the prize, the winner of the regatta receives a five-hundred-pound cheque as well.”
“And Prinny has offered a thousand pounds for the capture of the pirates.” Brice looked thoughtful. “Caroline’s dowry is quite substantial, too.”
Stephan gave him a sharp look. “So you think this is about money and not personal?”
Brice shrugged. “I think it is personal enough. You and I both know that Tisdale is one of those aristocrats who value blue blood—”
