Caroline smiled at him. “You can rectify that now, if you like.”
“I like.”
He bent over and she closed her eyes as his lips brushed against hers, gently at first and then with more pressure. The tip of his tongue licked the crease in her lips and she opened willingly to accept him as he deepened the kiss. He tasted slightly of cloves.
Her eyes popped open. Stephan lifted his head and gave her a lazy look. “What?”
“You,” she said and felt a hysterical bubble of laughter begin to rise in her throat. “You are my fantasy, too.”
Stephan grinned. “I aim to please. Just tell me how to fulfill it.”
“You have already done it,” Caroline replied. “You are the Midnight Marauder, aren’t you?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“We need to weigh anchor,” Stephan murmured after they’d made love a second time, “or we will not get to Brighton before nightfall.”
Caroline snuggled against him, enjoying the intimate enclosure of the V-berth and the gentle rocking of the boat now that the storm had passed. “Must we go back tonight?”
Stephan kissed the top of her head where she’d nestled against his shoulder. “I do not want there to be any scandal.”
“So what if there is?” Caroline asked. “I think I remember you proposing marriage a short time ago. Or did I imagine it?”
“Minx. I definitely proposed and you definitely said yes.” Stephan traced her collarbone with a finger. “Or did I imagine that?”
“You mostdefinitelydid not imagine that.” Caroline wrapped her arm tighter around his waist possessively. Stephan and the Midnight Marauder were thesameperson. Now that she knew it, it should have been obvious, but at least there would be no more conflicting interests. She had the man—or men—that she wanted. “The sooner I am your wife, the better.”
“One more reason we have to go back,” Stephan replied. “I need to obtain a special license tomorrow so we can get married as soon as possible.”
“You may have a point.” Caroline removed her arm and sat up. “The sooner we get back, the sooner I can announce I am betrothed to you.”
“That might not be wise,” Stephan said as he crawled out of the berth to retrieve their clothes.
“Why not?” Caroline asked as she put on his shirt. “The sooner this nonsense with Lord Tisdale is over, the better.”
“Agreed, but I have to convince your father first. I would like his acceptance.” Stephan hesitated. “Besides, we sailors can be a superstitious lot. I do not want anything to go wrong.”
“Oh.” A chill suddenly ran down her spine that had nothing to do with being only partly dressed. “I… I have something to tell you.”
“What?” Stephan finished fastening his breeches and then frowned. “You are not changing your mind, are you?”
“No. Nothing like that.” Caroline took a blanket and wrapped it around herself. “I have not had the opportunity to tell you that earlier this afternoon the earl said there is a warrant being prepared for your arrest.”
Stephan stilled. “My arrest?”
Caroline nodded uncertainly. “He thinks you are involved with the pirates.”
“He thinks? Or does heknow?”
“I am not sure,” Caroline replied. “The day we went on the carriage ride he mentioned that he suspected you and was close to proving it.”
“Why did you not tell me sooner?”
“I wanted to, but then I found out that Tisdale had struck Ann because she didn’t keep you away from me, and Amelia thought it better that I not act interested in you so Ann would not get hit again, and I did not believe what he said—”
“Stop.” Stephan held up a hand. “I have a feeling that somewhere in that story is some kind of logic, but right now I think you need to know the truth about the piracy raids.” Stephan gestured to the settee. “Come sit with me.”
After he finished explaining, Caroline sat for a long moment and simply stared at him.
