The earl snorted. “Then try harder.”
“It…it is humiliating.”
“You are worried about being humiliated?” The stupid girl had no idea of how close he was to being financially ruined. Hemsbroke’s assistant who’d met him at Portsmouth had only given him half his usual sum for making the exchange of goods and gold.Too many problems with past shipments, the man had said as though Alfred could have stopped the damn pirates. But the man had also given him an accusatory look that reminded Tisdale he was also a suspect.
A part of him had hoped the pirates would raid the French ship. He’d had his own men waiting off shore, and if Kendrick had been a part of it, Tisdale could have claimed both the prince regent’s monetary reward and gained status with Prinny’s set. The more elevated one’s level, the less likely one would be called to account for numerous IOUs. And Tisdale desperately needed time.
The other part of him had been a bit relieved that the ship had passed through without being boarded. He’d already gone over the advantages of Kendrick’s marrying Ann before the marquis got caught, the chief one being the wealth that would become hers. As her loving father, he would make sure he controlled all of it.
Tisdale stopped walking. “You are going to have to do something drastic.”
Ann stopped also, an apprehensive expression crossing her face. “Like what?”
“Claim he tried to rape you.”
Her expression grew confused. “But Lord Kendrick would not do that.”
“Good God Almighty! How dim-witted are you?” Tisdale was tempted to shake her until her head rattled to see if there were any brains in there. “It does notmatterif he would or would not. Your accusation will be what counts.”
“But why would anyone believe me?”
Tisdale ground his teeth. The girl had obviously not inherited one bit of his intelligence. “You will have to be caught in a compromising situation.”
“I already tried that, Papa. It did not work.”
“It did not work because Kendrick posted a guard on his boat,” Tisdale replied, striving for patience. “I doubt there will be a guard in the marquis’s bedchamber.”
Ann’s eyes rounded. “You want me to sneak into his—”
“Yes,” the earl hissed. “Right after dinner tonight, you will go and wait for him.”
“Tonight? But the prince mentioned earlier the Earl of Lockwood is due this afternoon and wants everyone to attend a reception for him this evening. Something about having an American guest. I will be expected to be there.”
“Fine.” Tisdale made an exasperated sound. “Tomorrow night then.”
“I do not think it will work, Papa. The marquis will just turn me out.”
“It does not matter if he does. Your hair will be down, your gown torn, and you will scream as you run down the hall. Loudly enough to draw the attention of everyone on the floor.” Tisdale smiled grimly. “And I will be coming up the stairs in search of you. You will claim that Kendrick invited you to view the grounds from the balcony but forced you into his room instead.”
“But I will be completely ruined.”
“That is the point. I am through explaining things, Ann. You will do as you are told.” Tisdale eyed her for a moment and then softened his voice. “Think about the rewards. You will be a marchioness. The title alone will open all the doors to Society. You will have a townhouse in Mayfair and an estate in Kent. Servants to obey your every order. And money…you will have enough money to do anything you want. Now, no more arguments. Do you understand?”
Ann gave him a long look before she slowly nodded. “I understand.”
“Good. I have to get down to the docks, so I will leave you now. I am sure once you have some time to think on this plan, you will see how advantageous it is.”
She nodded again before turning away. “I will think on it.”
Finally. The girl was getting some sense. By the end of tomorrow night, everything he had just described would be well on the way to becoming his.
He smiled as he walked toward the docks. He’d insisted on giving his regular captain the day off tomorrow, saying he’d arranged for a local captain to take Caroline and himself out sailing. That had actually been the truth. One of the men he’d hired to scout out the pirates had been only too willing to volunteer…and to collaborate whatever story he would concoct.
By the end of the sail, Caroline Nash would be completely compromised. And completely his.
Tomorrow was going to be a wonderful day.
Chapter Twenty-One