Harrietas eyes flew open. aDid you hear that?a she whispered.
The noise sounded again.
aOh no!a She struggled beneath him. aWe must rise.a Chase obligingly moved to one side and smiled down at her, secure that she wouldnat hop out of bed too quickly since her hair was firmly beneath his elbow. He felt amazingly invincible. Strong and powerful.
She tried to lift her head. aYouare on my hair.a aIf you rise, they will only catch you standing nude in the center of my room.a Not that that was a bad thing. Chase rather liked the thought of Harriet standing naked in the center of his room, her thick chestnut hair falling over her shoulders, her firm bottom within reach.
aWe canat stay here forever.a He bent and kissed her chin. aWe can try. Stay where you are and when they knock, Iall send them away. If I use a large enough voice, they wonat dare come in.a A soft knock came at the door. aMr. St. John?a Harriet looked up at Chase, her eyes wide. aItas Sophia,a she whispered.
aI know,a he whispered back, a little amused by the alarm in Harrietas normally calm gaze.
aMr. St. John?a Sophia asked again, this time rattling the doork.n.o.b.
Harriet gasped.
aWho is it?a Chase growled the words rather than said them, as if he was a pirate. aIam just getting dressed for bed.a He paused, then added, aIam naked.a There was an audible gasp inside the door, so comical that Harriet pressed a hand over her mouth, her eyes crinkled as she fought back a laugh.
Chase grinned at her and winked.
aOh dear,a Sophia was heard to say. aI didnat mean to interrupt you. And I wasnat going to open the door or anythinga"I just wanted to see if Harriet was about.a aSheas not in here, if thatas what you mean.a aOf course I didnat thinka"that is, I was just trying toa" Oh, bother!a Sophia sighed loudly. aI must find Harriet.a They never let the poor girl alone. Chase was aware of a strong desire to fix that, to take some of the burden off Harrietas slender shoulders.
But meeting her gaze, he realized that she would not thank him for such interference. He bit back a sigh.
He smoothed back a thick strand of Harrietas brown hair from her cheek, noting the silky texture. The light from the lamp glistened on her chestnut locks, bringing out hints of red and gold. She glinted a faint smile up at him, her lips quivering slightly.
Sophiaas voice sounded again, this time closer as if she was pressing her cheek to the door. aIam sorry to bother you at all, Mr. St. John, but itas important. Harriet must come downstairs right this moment.a aThis late? It must be ten oaclock.a aI know. But Mr. Gower has arrived and he says he must speak with Mother immediately. The bank will not wait another day for their payment.a
Chapter 21.
Gambling comes in many forms. Some people wager on cards. Some on horses. And some on their own hearts.
Mrs. Brandon St. John, newly returned from her honeymoon, to her husband, as they made their way to Treymount House for an emergency family meeting A short time later, Harriet paused outside the sitting room and looked at herself in the mirror. She looked as she always did, except a trifle flushed.
Perfectly plain and proper, her gown smooth and unruffled, her hair pinned neatly on top of her head. No one would look at her and know that shead just been seduced by the most handsome man in the world.
Well, the most handsome man in Sticklye-By-The-River, anyway. Who was to say that there werenat more handsome men out and about?
She thought of Chaseas blue eyes, of his thick black lashes, of the way his hair fell over his brow, of his muscular arms and shouldersa she shook her head ruefully. What was she thinking? There simply could not be a better-looking man in the entire world.
aHarriet!a Mother bustled up, a worried expression on her face. aThank goodness we found you.a Sophia joined them. aThere you are, Harri! Where were you? I looked everywhere.a Harriet offered a casual shrug. aI was in my room doing some mending and I forgot the time.a There. That sounded plausible.
Sort of.
Sophia frowned. aNo you werenat. I looked there. I even looked in your dressing room and in the kitchen and in the barn and in thea"a aOh for heavenas sake,a Mother said as if exasperated, ait doesnat matter where sheas been. All that matters is that sheas here now.a Harriet frowned at her motheras concerned tone. aWhy the uproar?a aItas Mr. Gower.a Motheras eyes were troubled. aHarriet, I believe he has proof that our guest is not the captain.a Harrietas throat tightened. aHas he said something?a aHe began to, but I told him you really needed to be present and then I left him to find you.a That was probably a good idea. Mother didnat have the calmest disposition under pressure.
aGower didnat come alone,a Sophia added. aHe has two members of the board of directors with him. They look as solemn as Sunday.a Harrietas heart sank. aOh no.a aMy thoughts exactly,a Mother said. aWhat a horrid night. First Lady Cabot-Wells grilled the poor captain over dinner, then Mr. Strickton comes roaring in about Stephen, and now this.a aI spoke to the captain about Stephen. Apparently my mutton-headed brother mistook something that was said about Lochinvar as an invitation to behave like a barbarian.a aLochinvar?a Sophiaas mouth dropped open. aI never thoughta"why that is what Lochinvar did, isnat it? He rode right into the gates of the castle and stole his beloved away. Only not on a plodding farm horse. And I rather doubt he lost his grip and dropped her on her head into a muddy field.a Motheras mouth folded with disapproval. aYour brother has no sense whatsoever, especially when it comes to the fair s.e.x. Iam only sorry that the Stricktons had to witness Stephenas outrageous folly.a Harriet smoothed her skirts, aI cannot believe Mr. Gower would visit so late in the evening. It is quite rude.a aSo I thought,a Mother said. She hesitated, biting her lip. After a moment, she said, aDo you think we might prevail upon Mr. St. John toa"No, of course not. We couldnat ask him. Heas done so much already.a Her cheeks touched with pink. aI didnat mean to cause him any pain, and I hope heas aware of that. It just seemed that, since head already lost his memory, it wouldnat hurt if he thought he was someone important, even ifa"a aMother, Mr. St. John never lost his memory,a Harriet said.
Mother blinked. aNever? Then why did he agree to be the captain?a aI thinka I think he thought to help us. He was on his way out of the country when the attack occurred, leaving some unpleasant business behind.a aMy goodness!a Sophia said, her eyes bright. aWhat unpleasant business?a aI donat know. He hasnat offered to tell me. But he has been so kind as to agree to stay and play the part of the captain until the shearing is finished.a And then head be gone. Harrietas heart ached at the thought.
aHow kind of him,a Mother said. aWhatever Gower has to say, it will seem far less relevant while there is a live, breathing man standing before him, at least claiming to be the captain.a aPrecisely.a Harriet straightened her shoulders and glanced at her mother and sister. aAre you ready?a Mother patted her white hair while Sophia smoothed her skirts. aI think so,a Mother finally said.
Harriet went to the door and opened it.
Mr. Gower immediately turned from where he was standing in conversation with two other men. aMiss Ward.a He bowed. aMrs. Ward. And Miss Sophia. Allow me to introduce Mr. Picknard and Mr. Silverstone from the bank.a Harriet curtsied, as did Mother and Sophia. aWhat a lovely surprise,a Harriet said, though it took all of her persuasive powers to keep her expression pleasant. aTo what do we owe the honor of this visit, late though the hour?a aIam sorry about the time.a Mr. Gower seemed to grow taller as he glanced at his two companions from the bank. aThere is a problem with the extension.a Mr. Picknard shifted uneasily. aYes, aha as you know, the extension was granted based on Miss Wardas supposed fianc, Captain Frakenham.a aSupposed?a Mother said, blinking. aWhat do you mean asupposeda?a Mr. Picknard rubbed his red nose. Large and heavy-set with reddish hair and a large, drooping moustache, he resembled an untrimmed sausage stuffed into a black coat. aBy supposed we mean to say that there are some questions as to just who and if Captain Frakenham actually exists.a Goweras expression gleamed with triumph. aSomeone has been guilty of fraud. Someone has attempted to trick the bank by falsifying reports. Someone hasa"a aOh for the love of G.o.d,a puffed Mr. Silverstone. Taller than either of the other men, and dressed with quiet distinction, Silverstone appeared far better bred than either Gower or Picknard.
In fact, Harriet had the impression that here was the man who made all the decisions at the bank.
He shot a hard look at Mr. Picknard from beneath heavy gray brows, then turned back to the ladies, paying special attention to Mrs. Ward. aI hope you will pardon our intrusion this evening, but Mr. Gower has uncovered a seeming discrepancy in the stories weave been hearing about this Captain Frakenham. Iam certain you can straighten this all out. I thought perhaps we should wait until tomorrow, howeveraa"he shot a sharp glare at Gowera"aI was informed that it would be foolhardy to let this situation go on another day as certain individuals could disappear.a Harriet smoothed her damp palms on her skirts. Everything was at stake. aMr. Silverstone, I a.s.sure you that no one has attempted to defraud your establishment. Indeed, within the week, we should have the money for the payment anda"a The door opened. Mother gave a sigh of relief. aCaptain Frakenham!a Chase bowed. Only it was not the man Harriet had grown used to seeing these last few weeks, wearing Stephenas discarded clothing and a floppy brimmed hat. Chase had gathered his own garments and now stood before them dressed exactly as he really wasa"a London gentleman of fashion. And not just any gentleman of fashion, but obviously one raised amidst untold wealth and privilege.
For some reason, the sight made Harrietas heart sink.
Oblivious to her feelings, he smoothed his sleeve as he walked forward. It would have been difficult to suggest an improvement on the man before thema"his blue coat was perfectly cut, smooth across his broad shoulders and tapering to his narrow waist. His buff breeches fit his long, muscular legs, his black boots were shined until they resembled gla.s.s. His snowy white cravat was knotted and tied in a way Harriet had never seen, but she recognized the touch of a master when she saw it.
aThere you are, Captain!a Mother said, breaking the awkward silence as she bustled forward.
He took her hand and bowed over it. aIndeed. I was just enjoying a gla.s.s of port in the library when I heard that you had guests.a aIndeed. This is Mr. Gower, whom I believe youave met. And this is Mr. Picknard and Mr. Silverstone. Theyare from the bank.a Harriet noticed that even Mr. Silverstone stood a little straighter when Chase nodded briefly in his direction.
aGentlemen,a Chase said in a bored tone. He looked back at Mrs. Ward and offered a glinting smile. aI hope Iam not intruding.a She laughed nervously. aOf course not! Weare always glad to have you with us, Captain.a aIndeed,a said Sophia, casting a sly glance at the bankers. aI donat believe we will be detained much longer now that youave arrived.a Mr. Gower stepped forward, his gaze on Chase, a superior smile curving his wide mouth. aI would greet you, as well, but you are not who you say you are. There is no Captain Frakenham.a Harriet held her breath, but Chase merely lifted his brows. aWhat do you mean by that?a Mr. Goweras superior att.i.tude thickened. aI did some research. There is no record of a Captain Frakenham or of a ship coming to port in Whitby. None.a Every eye turned to Chase. He shrugged. aNo?a aNo.a aWhat exactly are you suggesting, Mr. Gower? That I am an apparition?a Chase held out his hands. aDo I look like an apparition?a Silverstone cleared his throat. aMr. Gower, perhaps there is a better way toa"a aWho are you?a Gower said, his sharp gaze on Chase. aTell us now.a Chase laughed softly, genuine amus.e.m.e.nt in his voice.
Harriet relaxed at the sound. He wasnat the least intimidated and she took comfort in that fact.
Gower scowled. ad.a.m.n it, sir! This is not a cause for levity. You are not who you say you are.a aNo?a aNo.a Chase tilted his head to one side, a smile still warm on his lips. aPerhaps I should ask you the same questiona"who are you?a aI am a banker, sir. My credentials are impeccable.a aAnd I am a sea captain. Until proven otherwise.a Triumph flickered across Goweras face. aIt has been proven otherwise.a He reached into his pocket and pulled out two folded sheets of paper. He held out the first one. aI wrote to the harbormaster at Whitby. He has never heard of your ship, nor you.a Chase took the paper and scanned it. aHarbormaster? By the name of Crenlin? Youave been fooled, Mr. Gower. The harbormaster at Whitby is a Mr. Johnston.a aThat cannot be.a aI hope you didnat pay this man for his information.a Chase fixed his gaze on Goweras face. aDid you?a Silverstone and Picknard waited. Gower turned deep red. aI only gave the man two shillings to pay for posta"a aTsk. Tsk. I fear youave been taken for a fool, Mr. Gower. I daresay this man is a resident of one of the pubs along the waterfront and takes great pleasure in thieving from men making inquiries.a Chase shook his head. aJust look at the poor spelling in this missive.a aSpelling? What difference does that make?a Chase held the ragged letter up to the light, a look of distaste on his face. aIt is horridly stained, too. No doubt by cheap gin of some sort.a He held the letter out to Gower, who almost s.n.a.t.c.hed it from his hand. aI would not believe a word I received from this man, whoever he is.a Silverstone and Picknard appeared uneasy.
aCaptain,a Harriet said, aplease do not take offense. Iam certain Mr. Gower did not mean to imply anything unsavory about you.a Silverstone held out his hand. aGower, let me see that missive.a Face red, Gower handed the letter to the banker.
Silverstone peered down his nose at it, squinting in the dim light thrown off from the three lamps that illuminated the room. After a moment, he sent a steely glare at Gower from beneath his bushy brows. aDid you meet the man who sent this?a Gower mutely shook his head.
aA sad business, this. Iam afraid I have to agree with the captain.a Silverstone handed the missive back to Gower. aI hope you have some other proof that the captain is not who he says he is.a Goweras face turned so red that for a moment, Harriet thought he might explode into a boiling ma.s.s of invectives. Instead, he stuffed the missive into his pocket and held the other one out to Mr. Silverstone. aOf course I have more proof. I think even you will believe this one.a Silverstone took the letter and read it, his lips moving slightly. Harrietas heart sank when she noticed how the manas brow lowered with each word.
After a moment, Silverstone looked at Chase, a considering expression in his eyes. aThis letter is from Admiral Hawkins-Smythe. He states that he is familiar with every captain in the naval service and that he has never heard of you.a Picknard snorted. aWell, there you are! The admiral lives not ten miles from here and is very well known. He served almost forty years in His Majestyas service and knows every ship that England has ever put to sea.a Harriet rubbed her brow. What a mule. She knew the admiral well and she was certain he could discredit Chase.
Undeterred, Chase shrugged. aThe admiral has never heard of me, and I have never heard of the admiral.a aWhat?a Silverstone asked.
aI captain a merchant ship, owned by a private company. The only way your admiral would know me is if he had, at some time, boarded my vessel to search for contraband or some such nonsense. Which has never happened to a ship under my command.a Silence fell on the small group. Finally, Silverstone sighed. aHeas right.a The banker sent a hard look at Gower. aI think weave taken enough time away from these good people.a aYes, but what abouta"a aDo you have any more evidence?a Silverstone asked, his lip curled with distaste as he waved the letter in the air. aSomething more than this.a Goweras mouth whitened. He struggled as if to say something, but no words would come out.
Harriet almost pitied the man. Almost. aMr. Silverstone, Mr. Picknard, Iam so sorry you wasted your time this evening.a Mother nodded, her white hair shimmering softly in the light. aI hate to see you leave so quickly. Perhaps you would like to stay for some port? My oldest son coulda"a aThank you, but no,a Mr. Silverstone said. aI apologize again for interrupting your evening. We will see you in a week when the payment is due.a He sent a glare at Gower. aWell, sir. Are you ready to leave?a For a moment, Harriet thought that Gower would argue, but he gave a sharp nod instead and stepped back to allow the two older men access to the doorway.
Mother and Sophia led the way out into the hall, Silverstone and Picknard following close behind.
Gower remained in the center of the room, his eyes narrowed on Chase.
Chase, of course, didnat back away. Instead, he stepped forward until the two were almost toe to toe.
Harriet sighed. They looked like two rams, blowing steam out their nostrils as they circled one another in a field. aMr. Gowera"please. I think youave done quite enough tonight withouta"a Chase waved a hand. aBeloved, allow the man to speak. I can tell he has something of great import to say to us both.a Gower had stiffened at Chaseas endearment. His jaw tightened and he said through clenched teeth, aI do not know who you are, but you are not Captain Frakenham.a Harriet managed a pleasant smile, though she felt far from such a thing. aMr. Gower, Iam certain that in time all of this willa"a aListen, Gower,a Chase said. aI donat know what you hope to gain by this, but leave the Wards alone. If your complaint is with me, then we will settle it as men.a Harriet closed her eyes. Didnat Chase realize that her future, the future of the Wards, the future of Garrett Park, quite possibly rested in this manas hands?
She sneaked a peek at Gower, her shoulders slumping when she saw that his hands had tightened into fists.
aYou, sir, are a charlatan. And I will not rest until I discover who and what you are.a Chaseas smile was not pleasant. aTry your d.a.m.nedest, Gower. Just do not be surprised if what you find is not to your liking.a Harriet tried to intercede once again. aMr. Gower, please excuse the captain. Heas just a little upset about the allegationsa"a aI am not upset at all,a Chase said smoothly. aIn fact, I welcome the challenge. Gower, feel free to investigate me in any manner at your disposal. I have nothing to hide and I wish you the best of fortune in discovering exactly who and what I am.a Goweras neck was by then as reddish as his face. aBe careful what you wish for or you may well get it.a With that, he turned on his heel and stomped from the room, stopping only to give Harriet a scathing look.
aOh dear,a Harriet said as she heard the front door slam shut.
Mother and Sophia entered almost immediately. aWhat happened?a Sophia asked breathlessly.
Harriet sighed. aCaptain Frakenham was doing a lovely imitation of a rooster.a She sent him a cutting look. aWhat was that all about? Youad already done what you needed to do, which was cast doubt on his allegations. Getting him angry will only make him more determined to prove you wrong.a Chase crossed his arms and leaned one shoulder to the mantel, his mouth still hard. aHe was rude to you. I couldnat allow that to continue.a Harriet made an exasperated noise. aPiffle! I vow, but you do not understand. We need his good graces to keep the bank from foreclosing.a Mother sighed. aHarriet is right. Silverstone has told several people in town that he believes Gower might be the man to take his place on the board one day.a aHarri?a Stephen and Derrick stood in the doorway, Ophelia peering around them. aWhat happened?a Sophia took a quick, excited step forward. aOh, it was marvelous! Mr. St. John came to our rescue and played the part of Captain Frakenham with such enthusiasm!a She clasped her hands together and beamed at Chase. aThe bankers were completely fooled.a aFor now,a Harriet said. aBut Gower will be back.a Stephen scowled. aI hate that man. What are we to do now?a Everyone looked at Harriet. She met their gazes without expression. Chase found that he wanted to go to her, to put his arm about her shoulders. She looked so young, and far too small to have such burdens placed on her slender shoulders.
But while he was trying to find a way to say that, to say something that would take the focus off Harriet, she lifted her chin.
A look of stark determination settled on her face as she faced her family. aTomorrow, we begin the shearing.a
Chapter 22.
If one of your supposed friends decided to rudely impose his will over yours, it would be considered an act of despotic familiarity. But when your family decides to do it, it is considered an act of kindness, brought on by a superior understanding of your poor nature and the fact that they possess a greater intellect than any you could claim. Itas quite enough to make one wish one was an orphan.
Mr. Brandon St. John to Mr. Devon St. John, on leaving Treymount House after the emergency family meeting The next morning broke cool and breezy and it was with a true sense of purpose that the Ward family, their two hired hands, and Chase gathered at the barn. Harriet ran the operation like a general and soon everyone was sent on his appointed duties. Sophia and Ophelia went to man the gates at each end of the sheep pens. Mother went to oversee a nice luncheon, to be served under the oak tree once noon arrived. Harriet decided Stephen and one of the hired men would help her with one lot of sheep while Derrick and Chase would be responsible for shearing the other lot.
Harriet stole a glance at Chase where he stood in the barn, wearing Stephenas old clothing. Chaseas hair fell over his brow, his arms bared from where head rolled up his shirtsleeves. This was a man who was used to riding the best horses, dancing with the most beautiful debutantes, sharing confidences with the creme de la creme of society.
Yet here he was, dressed to work in the fields, as if he was a member of her family.
And in a way, that was exactly what he had become. When head first arrived head been arrogant and spoiled. But every day she saw him changing, opening his heart to her family, becoming more a part of them all. For the first time, she realized how difficult it was going to be when he left.
Stephen hobbled up. aThere you are, Mr. Sta"a aJust call me Chase, if you please.a Stephen grinned. aChase, then.a aIave been meaning to tell you that Iam sorry things did not prosper with Miss Strickton.a Hot pink flooded Stephenas cheeks. aIam sorry I took you so literally. It seemed like a good idea at the time.a aI daresay that was the brandy thinking and not you.a aYou are probably right.a aDonat worry about it. There may be a way around Miss Stricktonas hard heart yet.a Stephenas face fell. aNo. I fear Iave botched it so badly, there is no redeeming myself now.a aWeall see,a Chase said.
Stephen grimaced. aShe said she never wanted to see me again. And I donat blame her. I made a mull of it.a aI believe our problem is that we didnat attempt to approach the situation the way a woman would.a aWhat?a aWhat do you think would impress Miss Strickton? What does she seem to be drawn to?a aSir Roger Blevins,a Stephen said glumly.
aWho is that?a aA completely pompous a.s.s who makes as if heas a swell of some sort just because heas been to London a time or two. I think heas a d.a.m.ned mushroom. A complete cit with no breeding. But to hear him tell it, he practically grew up riding with the Prince and shooting billiards with lords and ladies.a Chase frowned. aSir Roger Blevins, you said? Iave never heard that name and I can tell you for a fact that heas not a member of Whiteas.a aI wish someone would tell that to Miss Strickton.a Stephen brightened. aSay! Could youa"a aNo, no. Youare mistaken if you think discrediting your opponents will win you anything. What you need to do is outshine the fellow, make her forget all about him. How does this Sir Blevins dress?a aWide collars, shirt points up to here, huge cravat. He can barely turn his head, yet Miss Strickton acts as if shead never seen anything more beautiful.a Chase rubbed his chin a moment. aYes. I think I know just what you need to do. After we finish today, you will go to town. Will Miss Strickton be there?a aShe should be. Her fatheras house overlooks Sticklye, and she rides through often.a Stephen frowned. aBut what would seeing Miss Strickton again do? She will only wish me to the devil.a aNot this time, she wonat. Youall see.a Harriet wondered what was going through Chaseas mind. She didnat know if she liked his smile or nota"it seemed to be a sort of scheming smile.
Harrietas finger itched and she absently rubbed the talisman ring. Every day for a week, she had tried to remove the blasted thing, but to no avail. Now, of course, she was used to it.
She glanced down at the ring and noticed how delicate it appeared on her finger. Her hands were red and chapped from helping with the fence rails, her nails ruthlessly pared. She wondered what the hands of the women in London looked like, then decided she really didnat want to know.
It was unlike Harriet not to face facts. She was usually the first one to denounce avoiding unpleasantness. It was always better to stand before the horrid truths of life and get on with things. But somehow, all the rules changed when they concerned Chase. Everything changeda"even Harriet, in some indefinable way.
aAre we ready?a Chase asked, so close to Harrietas ear that she started. He grinned down at her.
Her body warmed to awareness and she instantly thought of how head looked after theyad made love, his eyes shining, his hair mussed. aAre we ready for what?a she returned in a breathless voice.
aTo begin shearing, of course.a Derrick walked up. aWell, Harriet? Who does what?a aTake Mr. St. John with you. Use the first shearing pen. Iall take one of the hired hands and Stephen. He canat herd the animals, but he can open and shut the shearing gate. Sophia and Ophelia will take care of the larger gates.a Derrick agreed. aWell, St. John. It looks as if it is you and I for this round.a Chase nodded, though his gaze never left Harriet. aYou know, they say the first round is never quite as good as the second or third. That over time, things get even better.a Harriet colored faintly. She knew what he was thinking about because it was what she was thinking about. aJust see to it that you are careful with the shears. They are wicked and I wouldnat want you to lose anything important.a Chaseas grin widened. aIave never had a problem handling my blade, thank you.a Derrick choked on a laugh as he grabbed Chaseas arm. aCome, Blademaster. Weave work to do and while teasing Harriet has its merits, now is not the time.a Harriet heard Chaseas quiet laugh as he went outside with Derrick. Chase had wormed his way into the hearts of everyone at Garrett Park. She tried to imagine what it would be like without him, but somehow no picture would form. She only knew that having him here, with her family, working in the fields or sitting at the dinner table entertaining their neighbors with tales of made-up sea lore, was now a part of her life. An important, vital part. And she ached to think what that life would be like without him.
aHe is a very intriguing man,a Stephen said quietly.
She turned to find her brother regarding her from where he stood, leaning against the cart. aYes, he is.a aHeas made quite an impression on Mother and Sophia. And Derrick, too.a Harriet waited, but Stephen said nothing more, just remained where he was, looking at her.
She sighed. aIam certain heas made an impression on everyone here. He has been most generous in a reluctant sort of way.a Stephenas gaze trailed to where Chase and Derrick stood. aCanat say that I blame him for being reluctant. I daresay people have been importuning him for money and favors his entire life.a Harriet had never thought of that, but it seemed as if it might be true. Certainly the Wards had done just that. She thought of what Chase had let slip about his former life over all their evening meals, of his homes, horses, and carriages. It wasnat really what he said so much as what he didnat say. He was of a world far removed from Garrett Park, and she knew that come the end of the week, he would leave and return to the world in which he belonged.
She took no delight in that thought. aWith all that money, Iam certain he and his family have done their fair share of charity.a aCharity and generosity are not the same thing.a aThat is very true.a Harriet forced her lips into a stiff smile. aItas a good thing we found him, then, isnat it? I, for one, believe weave improved him immensely.a aIndeed we have. I wonder how heall do in London with his newfound country virtues?a She wished she could believe that he would never forget Garrett Park, never forget her. But somehow, she couldnat. She would not waste her time wishing for the impossible. Harriet picked up the shears. aWeave a lot to do today.a With that, she marched out of the barn, intent on working so hard that she didnat think at all of Chase St. John or his imminent departure.
Chase gripped the stick tighter, glaring at the large sheep that stood just out of armas reach. That was the problem, the sheep had managed to remain at armas reach for the last thirty minutes. aYou blasted sc.r.a.p of leather.a Ophelia pushed her spectacles back up on her nose. She sat atop the huge fence that led to the holding pen, watching the whole scene while Derrick remained in the small narrow leader pen to one side. aYou canat talk to them like that.a aWhy not?a Chase snapped, wishing she was anywhere but here. It was hard enough doing this with Derrick dying of laughter at his post. Having Ophelia perched on the gate like a chubby angel, offering advice every two minutes made the ch.o.r.e all the more difficult. aI can speak to them any way I want.a Blasted h.e.l.l, this should be easy. All he had to do was use this stick to coerce a sheep into the narrow lead pen where Derrick waited with a looped rope. Derrick would secure the rope about the sheepas head and tether the animal to the wide board at the head of the pen. Once tied in such a fashion, the sheep was left standing and immobile, and they could shear it.
Or so the theory went.
Ophelia pursed her lips. aDonat listen to me if you donat wish to. Iam just telling you how Harri does it.a Chase glanced over to the other pen. From where he was standing, it appeared as if Harriet and Stephen, ably aided by Sophia, had already sheared three sheep while Chase, Derrick, and Ophelia hadnat managed a one.
For the love of Hera, it was ludicrous. He eyed the sheep before him, noting how the animal was eyeing him back, distrust in its black eyes. ab.l.o.o.d.y asinine creature.a aYou canat talk to them like that,a Ophelia insisted yet again.
He turned to glare at her. aWhy the h.e.l.l not?a aBecause theyall get mad. Sheep are very intelligent creatures. They know every word you say to them.a aNonsense. They are completely stupid. You can tell that by looking in their eyes.a aHarriet gives each sheep a name so they know sheas talking to them. See how they obey her?a Chase looked over at the other pen. Harriet stood in the center, a stick in her hand, the sheep gradually moving toward the leading pen. aWhere is Max? That dog could do this.a aHeas helping round up strays,a Derrick said.
aHe needs to be here, with me. There is no way Iam going to get thisaa" he pointed his stick at the huge sheepa"ain there.a He directed the stick at the narrow gate.
aWe have to,a Derrick said.
aHow?a aOne at a time. Come on now, give it another go. You donat want Harri coming over here offering advice, do you? I a.s.sure you that she likes nothing better.a Like h.e.l.l he wanted that. Blast and double blast. Chase gripped the stick tighter and began trying to get the sheep into the narrow gate. Each time, the sheep would get just beside the openinga and then, with a wild kick or a bleating cry, it would bolt to the other side of the pen.
After another twenty minutes, Ophelia sighed. aI told you to name it.a aI did,a Chase said grimly.
aWhat?a aPox-Ridden Sow.a Ophelia giggled. aHow lovely. What will you call that one?a She pointed at a very fat, lazy-looking ewe with a black nose and two black feet, which stood peering into the pen with obvious interest.
aJacka.s.s.a Ophelia chuckled. aAnd the ram?a Chase glanced into the other pen, where a very large and angry-looking ram stood stubbornly and silently daring them to try and get him into the leading pen. aI canat say his name aloud or lightning might strike.a aHow will you call him to you?a aI wonat. I donat like him, and so I will never, ever call him. See? It all works out.a Derrick choked on a laugh. aCome on, St. John. Letas try and do at least one before lunch.a Chase rubbed his face, loosened up his shoulders, then hunched down, intent on winning the battle. This time, something went right. He waited until the sheep got close to the pen, then he dodged to the side, knowing that it would do the same in an effort to avoid being herded through the small gate. His abrupt movement startled the sheep and she bolted into the leading pen where Derrick tossed the loop over her neck and tied her tight. Pox-Ridden Sow was right where they wanted her.
Chase felt as if he was ten feet tall.
Derrick laughed and then stood, hands on hips. aYou know, you may have a talent for this after all.a It was faint praise, but coming from one of the Wards, for some reason, it was great praise indeed. Chase just grinned in return and brought out the shears.
The rest of the morning pa.s.sed quickly, and Chase got better and better at the process. Except for having to put up with Ophelia and Derrick, who seemed to be in extraordinarily good spirits, things went fairly smoothly. In fact, things went so smoothly that they finished shearing the sheep in their pen just as lunch was ready.
Half an hour later, Chase found himself standing beside Harriet at a table under a tree where Mrs. Ward was overseeing a feast fit for an army.
Harriet was hot and tired, her gown muddied, her hair falling from beneath the edges of her bonnet, hanging in loose tendrils down her back. But the wide grin she tossed him when she saw him was worth every bit of effort head expended this morning. aWeare ahead of schedule already!a He smiled down at her, noting that the sun had decorated her nose with a faint spray of freckles. Strange how head never considered freckles appealing, but on Harriet they were charming as could be.
Under his close scrutiny, her smile wavered. aWhata what is it?a She rubbed her nose. aDo I have mud on my nosea"a aNo. Not at all.a He looked around at the sundrenched fields and neat barn. The faint sound of laughter came from the others as they talked and teased one another. The sweet scent of cut hay filled the air, as did the faint baaing of the sheep. It was an idyllic, wonderful moment. One destined to be etched in his mind forever.
Chase looked back at Harriet. aYou belong here.a That appeared to surprise her. She glanced around for a moment before saying softly. aYes, I do. This is home.a aDo you ever see yourself going anywhere else?a She hesitated and he could see her weighing her words. After a moment, she shook her head. aPerhaps. Perhaps not. I love this place. My parents moved here when I was six. And Iave never wanted to live anywhere else. Buta one never knows how one will feel in a year or more.a Chase tried to picture Harriet in town, dressed for dinner, or on her way to a ball. But somehow, he knew shead be miserable. And London, with its penchant for the wealthy and the beautiful, would never stop long enough to see the true beauty in the woman before him. aI canat imagine you in London.a Her smile seemed pained, though she said lightly enough, aAnd I canat imagine you living in the country.a For some reason, the words caught at him. What was this? Maudlin nonsense at the thought ofa of what? Of leaving Garrett Park? What foolishness.
To be honest, he had to admit that what he truly enjoyed was the time head spent with the Wards. They reminded him of his own family before everyone had grown up and left home. And perhaps he felt a fondness for Harriet that was more intense than his usual flirts, but that was to be expected. After all, theyad spent untold hours together, talking and working, things he rarely did with his flirts in London.
Chase realized that he rather enjoyed working. It was invigorating in a way, facing each dayas challenge. Town life was all head ever known, all head ever thought of knowing. Farming, after all, was hardly the pursuit of a true gentleman. It was possible to dabble in trade a bit, so long as one didnat take it too seriously.