Stephan started unfurling the mainsail. “The raids are of necessity. Whoever is receiving the shipments with overinflated invoices is also funneling gold back to France. Napoleon escaped exile once. The unrest with Louis XVIII continues. My contact says more and more of the common people are even looking toward Napoleon’s son.”
“But he is a mere child,” Eric said.
Stephan shrugged. “Mary, Queen of Scots, was only six days old when she became the heir. Since the French Eaglet is barely five, it gives the movement against the Bourbon king time to grow.”
“Do you really think England will remain neutral if that happens?”
“Too far in the distance to say,” Stephan replied. “I know the current prime minister, Liverpool, would never agree to align with Napoleon’s heir.”
“The prince does favor fine French cognac, though.” Eric grinned again. “Which we manage to keep him from getting.”
“He will probably be getting his fill soon.” Stephan tried not to sound bitter. “That French ship heading to Portsmouth will be sailing right past our noses within the next twenty-four hours.”
“For what it’s worth, I think you made the right decision not to attempt a raid.” Eric undid one of the lines from the deck cleat and tossed in on the pier as they prepared to move out. “But I can send John to Portsmouth to see where the goods are delivered.”
“It will be interesting to see where they go.” Stephan tossed the remaining line on the dock and took the helm. “Very interesting.”
…
Caroline swallowed her disappointment the next morning when she arrived in the breakfast room, hoping to be able to talk to Stephan before he went out on the boat, but he wasn’t there. Given the early hour, the room was empty save for two people. Lady Ann, who probably had the same idea to catch Stephan after last night’s incident, and Lady Danworth, whom Caroline didn’t think had ever gotten up before noon.
They were seated at one end of the long table, and they both looked up before Caroline had time to turn around and leave. She sighed inwardly. There was no way of avoiding them. She lifted her chin and forced a smile.
“You two are up early.”
“I often rise early,” Amelia said. “It is a quiet, peaceful time.”
Caroline often got up early herself to enjoy the solitude before the day’s duties called, but she was surprised to hear Amelia say it.
“However,” Amelia continued, “that is not what brought me down here this morning.”
“No?” Good Lord. Had the earl been spreading rumors—Caroline winced sincerumorswasn’t the right word anymore—of Stephan’s connection with the pirate raids? Had those rumors reached George? It would be just like him to send Amelia down to try and wheedle something out of Stephan.
“No,” Amelia answered. “I found Lady Ann crying last night—”
“I do not want to talk about it withher,” Ann muttered.
That was fine with Caroline. She wasn’t surprised that Ann had ended up crying. She had, after all, been publicly humiliated, even though she had brought the whole thing on herself. Caroline understood humiliation, having faced the gossip after George had dumped her for Amelia. It gave her an excuse to leave. “I am sorry to have interrupted. I will come back later.”
“—and I made Lady Ann promise we would talk this morning,” Amelia continued and gave Caroline a direct look. “I think you should stay.”
Staying was the last thing she wanted to do. “I believe I heard Lady Ann say she did not want to speak to me.”
Amelia lifted one shoulder in a delicate shrug. “Perhaps. But this concerns you—at least somewhat—as well.”
“How?” Caroline asked, although she wasn’t sure she wanted to know. If Amelia thought the two of them could convince her that Stephan hadn’t meant what he said last night, they were sadly mistaken.
Amelia turned to Ann. “Turn your head, please.”
The younger girl scowled. “Do I have to? She will not care.”
“She might.” Amelia patted Ann’s hand. “Turn.”
Reluctantly, she turned her head to the right, and Caroline saw a bruise on Ann’s cheek. “Did you get that when you fell on the boat last night?”
“The boat did not cause the damage,” Amelia said and gestured to a chair. “Please sit.”
Caroline sank into a chair, wondering what she was about to hear. Was Amelia suggesting Stephan had something to do with the bruise? He had left the banquet room after the confrontation and hadn’t returned. Melanie and Jeannette had carted Ann off, but had the girl gone looking for him afterward? Caroline would wager every pence she had that Stephan would never deliberately harm a woman. But maybe she’d struggled with Eric and gotten hurt and now wanted to blame Stephan for employing the Viking? “What happened?”
