“Most of coastal England has these sort of lifeboat brigades,” Emma said as she returned with their drinks. “You’re not far off with the volunteer firefighter comparison, but this is like a volunteer Coast Guard, and they take emergency calls all along this section of the North Sea.”

“What kind of calls?”

“Could be anything from a disabled fishing trawler to someone swept up in a current. This time of year and time of night, it’s likely to be some tourist who got out too far and couldn’t get back.”

“Or maybe a bachelor party on a boat where someone’s had too much to drink and done something dangerous,” Vic suggested. “Actually, either way, someone’s done something dangerous. You don’t call out the lifeboats for anything a first aid kit could fix.”

“And when someone does something dangerous on the water around here, it invariably puts people like Brogan in danger.” Emma sipped from her glass, and her hand trembled as she set it back down, but her voice remained steady. “She knows these waters better than anyone, and thanks to Vic she’s got the safest, most modern lifeboat on the market.”

“It’s the least I could do,” Vic said, her cheeks a little pink, either from embarrassment or maybe the alcohol, as she was taking heavier swigs than she had earlier. “I wish I could go with them.”

“I know.” Emma’s expression tightened. “We all know.”

Vic shook her head. “No one else knows. They all see me as sitting up on my throne throwing a little money at a problem, so I don’t have to actually care.”

“You did more than throw a little cash around,” Emma said firmly, then turning to Sophia added, “Our fundraising efforts came up short two years in a row, and the government slashed the budget again, but Vic came through for us and provided the funds to buy not only one, but two new lifeboats.”

“Wow. That’s generous of the estate,” Sophia said, “especially given what you told us about the castle barely breaking even on upkeep these days.”

“It would’ve been a sizeable gift from the duke,” Emma admitted, “but it wasn’t from the duke or the estate. The money came from Vic’s personal trust, the one she’ll have to live on if she loses her title.”

“Vic,” Sophia started, then stopped, not sure where she intended to go. Was she really about to tell a rich woman she shouldn’t donate money to save people’s lives? She didn’t get the chance to decide before Vic waved her off.

“What’s the use of having money if I can’t use it to help the people who matter? It’s all worthless if you don’t do something worthwhile with it.”