“I sent him to Crawley. I received a missive from one of my men yesterday that he was on his way here with paperwork I needed to see. I thought it easier for Eric to intercept him.”
That was pretty much the truth. Stephan had received a short letter from his solicitor saying he had his report on Tisdale ready and would be sending it by mail coach, which could take two days. In typically maddening fashion, the solicitor had not indicated what the report contained, and Stephan wanted the information as quickly as possible.
“So, if Eric had been here, I would not have had to leave my warm bed?”
“Maybe.” Stephan took the eyeglass from beside the compass in the binnacle and raised it to scan the horizon again.
“What exactly are you looking for?”
“Altostratus formation, or even a bit of scud,” Stephan replied. “The barometer had been slowly falling since yesterday, but I need something more to keep Tisdale from taking Caroline out on his boat this afternoon.”
“Ah.” Brice poured the last of the coffee into his mug. “That is what this is all about.”
Stephan lowered the glass. “It is really the only excuse that would keep him in port.”
“I am not much help there, but two heads—or in this case, opinions—are better than one, right?” Brice pointed toward theSea Master. “Why not go and ask Tisdale’s captain if he feels a storm is coming?”
“That is a good idea.” Stephan hopped off the boat before Brice could put his coffee down and follow him. A man was scrubbing the deck of Tisdale’s boat as Stephan approached. “Is the captain aboard?”
“I’m the captain.”
Stephan frowned. “But you are not Captain Flannery.”
“Name is Johnson. Flannery’s gone to Crawley.”
Crawley? Could it be coincidence or had Tisdale somehow found out that Stephan’s solicitor’s report was on its way? He had taken every precaution he could think of, even keeping Brice in the dark about what was going on, but spies were everywhere, especially in the prince regent’s entourage. Could someone have overheard Stephan and Eric talking? Or seen Eric leave?
“Do you know how long he will be gone?” Stephan asked, although the answer was not as important as the reason why he left.
“Can’t say. Lord Tisdale hired me for today.”
That didn’t sound like Flannery would be gone long, but who knew how long intercepting the mail coach would take?. And Tisdale would definitely want his regular captain back for the regatta on Saturday. “Are you planning to take this boat out today?”
The man looked at him as though he were daft. “That’s what the earl hired me for.”
“Well, it is just that the barometer has been falling. I was thinking it might be safer if all of us stayed in today.”
“I have been sailing these local waters for ten years.” The man looked at the sky and shrugged. “A little rain shower is nothing. The lady can go below.”
Stephan didn’t want to think of Caroline below decks with Tisdale, especially not with a captain Stephan had never heard of. Would the man even try to act as a chaperone? Stephan already knew from a previous conversation that Tisdale did not intend to allow any extra “guests” on board.
Stephan looked up at the sky again. The sun had risen and the sky remained clear. No clouds threatened. Not even mares’ tails. At this moment, he could think of nothing else to do. Except pray for a storm to materialize.
As soon as they were out of earshot from the captain, Stephan turned to Brice. “I need for you to ride to Crawley and make sure that Eric intercepts the mail coach.”
Brice gave him an apprising look. “Are you expecting trouble?”
“I am not sure,” Stephan answered. “The paperwork I am expecting has to do with Tisdale. I find it strange that suddenly Captain Flannery is on his way to Crawley right after Eric left.”
“I thought we were going to follow theSea Masterthis afternoon when Tisdale takes Caroline out for the sail.”
Stephan nodded. “That has not changed. I have theLadyrigged for single-handling, and I have done it before. I would rather you be following Flannery.”
“I have a feeling there is something you are not telling me.” Brice hesitated a moment. “You must have your reasons.”
“I do.” Stephan wished he could confide in Brice, but that would just put his friend at risk as a conspirator if things got really sticky. “I just ask that you trust this has nothing to do with you.”
“And you want to keep it that way.” Brice eyed him for a long moment and then shrugged. “All right. I will go to Crawley.”