“You have some explaining to do, Kendrick,” Tisdale demanded. “Why did it take you two hours longer than me to get back?”
Caroline didn’t dare look at Stephan. She didn’t dare look at her father, either. She just hoped her face wasn’t giving them away. It felt as though it were on fire, just like the rest of her body. But Stephan’s voice was calm when he spoke.
“Unlike you, I chose to wait out the storm and not risk our lives.”
“A wise decision.” The prince came into the entrance hall, halting conversation temporarily. “Avoiding one drowning in a day is enough.” He turned to Kendrick. “I am sure I speak for all of us when I say thank you for bringing Miss Nash back to us alive.”
“He abducted her,” Tisdale said.
The prince lifted a brow.
Caroline’s temper rose. “It was not an abduction, Lord Tisdale. I—”
“The sea conditions were hardly safe to transfer cargo from one ship to another, let alone a human,” Stephan said smoothly. “I am quite sure your captain informed you of that, Tisdale.”
“That is an excuse. You interfered with my allowed time to spend with her,” the earl said, sounding much like a petulant child. “Again.”
“And I will continue to do so,” Stephan answered.
The prince looked from Stephan to the earl. “It seems this rivalry has grown quite strong. When you first approached me about seeking a wife and Sir Reginald suggested his daughter, I gave my permission for the wedding to proceed. However, Kendrick issued a direct challenge when he threw down the gauntlet.” The prince paused. “I am not averse to keen competition, however.”
Caroline started to sputter. She was not some blasted prize like a silver cup. Before she could speak up, Stephan did.
“With all due respect, Your Highness, perhaps we should allow Miss Nash to choose whom she wishes to marry.”
“A novel idea.” The prince smiled and then waved his hand in dismissal. “But these things are generally better discussed between the men involved.”
Caroline opened her mouth to retort but was, once again, thwarted.
“Might I suggest something?” The Earl of Lockwood came forward. “What I have heard since we arrived is that a friendly—or maybe not—rivalry already exists based on who wins the regatta on Saturday. If Your Highness will give your approval, I will procure a special license to marry and leave the groom’s name blank. The winner can marry Miss Nash at your ball Saturday evening.”
The prince’s eyes sparked. “A wedding at my ball! What a marvelous idea.”
“Excellent,” Sir Reginald said.
Caroline heard the excited whispers rustle through the crowd. A wedding at the prince regent’s ball would be exclusive fodder for gossip for months among the ladies present to the rest of thetonwho weren’t.
She wasn’t opposed to the wedding being on Saturday, either, as long as it was clear whom the groom was going to be. Now was the time to say it. But when she looked at Stephan, he gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. She remembered what he’d said about not wanting anything to go wrong. She also knew he wanted to do the right thing and speak to her father first.
“What if neither Tisdale nor Kendrick wins the regatta? Will Miss Nash be put up for auction?”
Caroline turned at the sound of the voice as did nearly everyone else. To her surprise, it was George who’d asked the question. Amelia stood beside him, a slight smile on her face. For once, though, the pompous expression he usually wore was not there. Instead, he looked rather disgusted, as though he didn’t approve of Caroline being made a prize.
Prinny frowned. “No, of course not. What kind of a question is that, Danworth?”
“A logical one, given that the lady has seemingly had no say in the matter,” George replied.
“Now see here!” Tisdale exclaimed. “This is really none of your business, Sir.”
George lifted his chin just enough to peer down his nose at the earl. “The term is ‘Your Grace’, I believe.”
Caroline bit her lip to keep from smiling as the earl’s face reddened. She didn’t think she’d ever appreciate George’s ability to be snobbish, but it certainly had been done well. And who would have thought that George might actually have taken interest in the stakes of the race?George? Caring?
The prince was definitely not looking pleased. “The winner of the regatta also winning Miss Nash’s hand is simply a method to settle the matter. If neither Tisdale nor Kendrick wins on Saturday, her father will have to decide what to do.”
Caroline stole a look at her father. He looked unsettled. That was not a good sign. She had faith that Stephan would win the regatta. He was a suburb sailor. He’d proved that this afternoon. And she knew, too, that if Stephan “won” her in the race, the earl would have to accept it. But if for some reason he didn’t, she was not about to let her father decide her fate.
She intended to have a bag packed, just in case they needed to elope.
