Oh, it was true that shead never seen a more handsome mana"the combination of black hair and piercing blue eyes was enough to make anyone take notice. But added to that was a sensual smile that could send a shiver down oneas spine, a set of hard-carved lips that seemed made for kissing, a rather lively sense of humor, and a definite streak ofa reluctant chivalry, she supposed it was, for lack of a better phrase.
But there were a few other things, as well. Broad shoulders, a tapered waist, and a very firm posterior.
Not that shead been looking at his posterior, mind you. Harriet was quite certain she wouldnat have noticed anything about the captain at all if she hadnat been forced to endure Opheliaas and Sophiaas constant musing on the subject.
Every day, they watched, commented, debated, and argued about which of the captainas features they liked the best. Sophia was very fond of his blue eyes, shadowed as they were by coal black lashes so long that they curled just a bit at the ends. Ophelia rather thought she liked the way his muscles rippled beneath his shirt while he was working. The only thing the two were in complete agreement on was the captainas rump. They both thought it was a thing of G.o.dlike beauty.
To be honest, his posterior was rather impressive. Especially arrayed in Stephenas slightly too-tight breeches. Harriet smiled. There were some advantages to working in the fields. Mainly, you had the opportunity to watch your more interesting companions for lengthy periods of time without their being aware of it. Until four days ago, Harriet hadnat been aware of that particular benefit to field work.
Not that any of it mattered. It was a complete waste of time to dream over a man who was bound to leave. Fortunately for her, Harriet had long since learned to waste neither her time nor her life dreaming about things one could never have.
Father, of course, had believed differently. He had been a dreamer. She could remember him saying that their only ch.o.r.e was to enjoy life to the fullest and to let tomorrow take care of itself. But his determination to live in a manner he could ill afford had, on his death, left his family deeply in debt. Harriet had learned that the only time one could really enjoy tomorrow was after one had taken care of today.
She thought about her brothers and sisters. About Stephen, who worked so hard that his hands were already callused and rough; about Sophia and Ophelia, who fetched and carried and cleaned; about Derrick, whoad lost the chance to attend Eton; and especially Mother, who worried about them all, more than she wanted anyone to know. Harriet had to force away a very real flare of anger at her father for his shortsightedness.
A noise outside of Harrietas door drew her attention to the clock. Piffle! If she didnat get busy, shead be late again. And all because shead lain in bed too long.
Harriet took a deep breath, pushed aside the mound of blankets and jumped to the floor, the cold chattering her teeth. Hugging herself, she ran across the room, threw open the door to the wardrobe, grabbed her clothing from a peg and ran back to bed.
She tossed the clothes onto the bed and then dived under the covers, luxuriating in the cozy spot shead just left. It was warmer in the house during the winter, when it was so cold they had to have the fires lit. But in the spring, when it was warm in the daytime, they made do without the fires, which left the mornings a bit frosty early in the season.
Harriet snaked out a hand from beneath the covers and grabbed her gown. She then began the laborious process of putting it on while staying warm. Years of practice held her in good stead, and she soon had the gown in place and was ready to face the chill morning air.
Harriet stood in her stocking-clad feet and fished her boots out from under her bed, yawning away the effects of too little sleep. What was she doing, losing sleep over a man who was destined to leave?
She seemed to have no control over her thoughts of late.
It seemed that as soon as her head hit her pillow, no matter how tired she might be, her mind immediately began to dwell on Captain Frakenham. There was something about him, about the way he smiled, about the flashes of sadness she saw in his eyes at unexpected moments, at the little acts of kindness that he committed when he thought no one was lookinga"like asking her to dance. Or the times he helped Ophelia or Sophia with a bucket that appeared too heavy. Ora"oha"a dozen other kindnesses.
She closed her eyes and for an instant, she was back in his arms, twirling across the bedroom floor, her magic shoes on her feet as they swooped and swirled until Harriet was quite sure she could fly.
Her heart warmed at the memory, banishing the cold, and she held her arms out and danced a few steps in the empty room, her skirts swirling about her legs. As she turned, she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror over the washstand. Her eyes were shining, her lips curved into a bemused smile. She looked like a woman in loa"
She dropped her hands to her side, her gaze widening. Blast it, that was no way to feel about a man who would soon leave, even if he did know how to dance. She would not be so silly as to allow herself to feel anything for him. She was not her father, ready to throw away her future and the future of those she loved for something she could never have.
aPiffle,a she said aloud, to further stifle her unruly imagination. For the thousandth time, she wondered at the captainas true ident.i.ty. And why head elected to stay here, with them. Whatever it was, Harriet decided she had better find out. She hated a mystery almost as much as she hated empty, wasted dreaming.
Firmly putting the waltz tune out of her mind and restoring her heart to its normal location in her chest, Harriet put on her boots and left her room.
He was drowning in a sea of wool. Baaing sheep surrounded him on all sides, black-faced ones, and white-faced ones, and large spotted ones. They stood all around him as far as the eye could see, as deep as the ocean itself.
Try as he might, he could not break free. All he could do was flounder helplessly as m.u.f.fled waves of wool enclosed him, pressed upon him, dragged him under until he could not breathe. He struggled furiously, fighting madly, desperate for breath as he tried to break to the surfacea"
Chase awoke with a start, facedown in his pillow. He yanked it away and gulped in the cold morning air, his body drenched in sweat. b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, what a nightmare.
But it was no wondera"he was inundated with sheep. Chase tucked the pillow back under his head and rolled onto his back, blinked groggily into the darkness as he waited for his breathing to return to normal. Head never worked so hard in his life, though to tell the truth, as more and more days pa.s.sed, he found that he was beginning to enjoy it.
Well, some of it. There was one particular ram who detested Chase on sight, a sentiment Chase found that he could return with his full compliments. Every opportunity the ram got, he would lower his head and attempt to knock Chase into the mud.
In all truth, far worse than the work and the cantankerous ram, was the constant trail of visitors that had descended on Garrett Park. They came, they saw, they gawked. Each night, Chase would drag himself in from the fields, take a quick gallop on his poor horse, who no doubt was feeling as cooped up as Chase himself, and then put on his London clothes and pretend he wasnat nigh dead with exhaustion at dinner.
That night promised to be the worst night of all, for Lady Cabot-Wells was reputed to be attending. Mrs. Ward had announced with some glee that the woman was the busiest gossip this side of Dorset.
Chase rubbed his neck and stretched, wakening more each pa.s.sing moment. The more he saw of the gossip chain that operated in Sticklye-By-The-River, the happier he was that he hadnat blurted out his name when head first arrived.
In one more week, all would be finished. The wool would be gathered, the bank paid, Garrett Park saved, and Chase St. John would be on his way. He rolled to his side and looked about his dark bedroom, wondering why the thought made him feel so bleak.
Didnat he want to protect his family from his own errors? Of course he did. And leaving was the best way. He was sure of it.
Almost.
What, he wondered, would Harriet do in his case? He saw her as shead looked in his arms, dancing with such a joyous air.
Of all the women Chase had known, Harriet Ward was the most honest, genuine of all. He liked how she faced lifeas difficulties with her chin in the air, still able to laugh and enjoy a moment of frivolity without playing the martyr. He thought of her shoes and the joy shead taken in wearing them.
One day, when all this was over, he would order a dress for her, one that would match those shoes. One that would fulfill every daydream shead ever had.
The thought pleased him and he lay in the darkness, smiling.
aCaptain?a Stephen threw open the door. aItas another day.a So it was. Chase kicked back his covers and sat up, stretching in the dark. The second the sheep were shorn and he was certain Garrett Park was saved, it would be time to leave. Time to resume his journey. But today was not that day.
For some reason, that small thought soothed him and it was with a lift to his step that he dressed and went to breakfast.
Harriet pushed her hat off her head and wiped her brow. These were the last of them. Beginning tomorrow, they would start the shearing.
She leaned against the fence, her neck and back aching. Thank goodness for Max. He herded the sheep almost effortlessly, crisscrossing back and forth, nipping at a heel here, a rump there. The sheep, though nervous around him, seemed to understand he meant no harm and they jostled along in the general direction he provided.
aAre we done?a Harriet glanced up at the captain. He leaned against the fence, his shirt undone at the neck, his sleeves rolled up. A wide-brimmed straw hat was settled on his black hair, shading his eyes from the sun. Head not worn a hat the first day, and the bridge of his nose and the tips of his ears were a pleasant shade of pink.
After seeing him glowing red at the end of the first day, Harriet had demanded that Stephen provide him one of his straw hats. The hat, old and frayed, wasnat one of Stephenas better ones, but on the captain, it seemed different somehow. Bolder. Morea n.o.ble or something.
The captain glanced down at her at that moment, his brows lifting. aWhat?a She looked away, irritated head caught her staring at him. aNothing. I was just seeing if your sunburn was better.a aOh I hardly feel it at all. Of course, that could be because the rest of me is so pained that I barely notice the sunburn, butaa He shrugged.
Her lips twitched. aYou know, Iam surprised you are sore at all. Itas almost as if youad never done a dayas labor in your life. A strange thought, that. Youad think a sailor would be more used to hard work.a Chase glanced down at the wretch. She was teasing him, he was sure of it. Always dancing on the line of the fantasy shead forced on him, while waiting for him to reveal himself.
Well, he didnat have to reveal a thing. And while it behooved him to pretend to be aCaptain John,a he didnat have to be nice about it. He owed this little slip of impudence a lesson or two. A lesson about toying with the minds of men far greater than she.
He was a St. John, dammit. Perhaps the least of the St. Johns, but a St. John nonetheless. He turned, leaning his back against the fence so that he could more fully face her. aStrange that you should mention the sea. I wonder that I do not have any memory of that. Not even a little.a aNo? I heard you tell Miss Stanhope all sorts of sea tales just the other day.a aI stole them out of a book from your library.a She appeared much struck. aDid you?a aTales of a Foreign Born Sailor.a aIam impressed that youave gone to such lengths.a aYou should be,a he retorted. aI just find it strange that I donat have any clear memories of being at sea. I remember other things, but not that.a aOther things? Like what?a aLike kissing. And touching. Anda"a aI see,a she said hastily, her color high. aYou know, the doctor did say that it is not unusual for someone with an injury such as yours to remember the incidentals in life, but not the details.a aYes, buta youad think Iad remember something. Anything.a He looked at the sky, and knit his brow, trying his hardest to look bemused and sad. aI certainly wish I could.a aThere, Captain.a She placed her hand on his arm and looked earnestly at him. aIave no doubt that one day your entire memory will pop right back into your head.a If he was a good actor, then she was a splendid actress. But he was up to the challenge. He placed one of his hands over hers and leaned down to gaze into her eyes. aWhat surprises me the most is that I do not, at least, remember you.a She tried to remove her hand, but he wouldnat allow it.
He further pinned his quarry with a smile. aOf all the things a man should never forget, the woman he loves is foremost. He would remember a number of things beyond her name. The curve of her cheek. The feel of her lips on his. The taste of her.a Her gaze dropped down to rest on the tips of her shoes. aAh. Yes. Well.a Chase nodded as if thinking. aI wonderaa He waited.
She lifted her gaze, her color still high. aWhat?a He stepped forward, closing the s.p.a.ce between them. She stood before him, her head barely reaching his shoulder. She was a tiny thing, all bone and brown hair.
But her eyesa they saved her from plainness and more. Wide and finely shaped, fringed with thick black lashes, they shone with intelligence, brimmed with irritation, and flashed with humor.
In the brief time head known her, head seen all that and more.
Chase glanced at the others, but they were on the opposite side of the field, fixing the fence. Smiling down at her, he lifted his hand and brushed it down her cheek. Her skin slid silky smooth beneath his, and a tingle of awareness shot through him like lightning across water.
Chase almost pulled back his hand. He knew the feeling of attraction, of heated l.u.s.t that precluded every chase. But thisa this was something more.
Suddenly, he no longer wished to kiss her just to tease her. The kiss would be for him, to put to rest this irritating attraction he felt. aTell me something, Harriet. Tell me something about you.a He lingered over her name, tasting it thoroughly.
From beneath the brim of her hat, her face flushed a shade darker. aWhat do you want to know?a aHow intimate were we?a She swallowed, the line of her throat surprisingly graceful. aIam sure I donat know what you mean, Captain. Indeed, I hope you arenata"a aJohn. Strange that not even my name rings with any resonance.a Her gaze flickered, her brown eyes uncertain, though she spoke with authority. aYou hit your head rather hard.a aDid I?a He rested his hand on the rail beside her, uncertain as to what emotion he felt foremosta Irritation. Frustration. Amus.e.m.e.nt. He stopped. He was amused. This little wren had decided she needed hima"Chase St. John, scion of one of the most powerful houses in Englanda"for her plots and toils. And head willingly succ.u.mbed, wearing the mantle of sheep farmer and whatever else she required.
Worse, he had the irritating suspicion that even if she knew who he was, she wouldnat care. All she wanted was a man, any man available, to play the part her family had a.s.signed.
What truly amused him was that she stood before him, met his gaze as calmly as a statue, and lied through her teeth as if born to such low deeds when in fact she was so filled with goodness and purity that she almost shone with it.
She slid a glance at him, then away. aPerhaps your memory is returning. You certainly remember how to waltz.a He smiled. aYes I do.a She caught his gaze and, to his amazement, a smile quivered on her lips, then broke through like sunshine piercing a cloud on a rainy day.
Chase was entranced. She had a beautiful mouth. White and even teeth, perfectly set off by a pair of plump, moist lips that were the fresh pink of a new rose. Strange how head never noticed that before. Perhaps the plain brown wren wasnat a wren after all, but a juicy robin. aYou know,a he said slowly, moving even closer, aI think I do remember thisaa aWhat?a she said, her low voice suddenly breathless.
He slid his fingertips across her cheek. aI remember touching you.a aHow coulda"you nevera"we nevera"a aBut we must have. I thinka no, Iam certain that I remember it well.a She eyed him suspiciously. Chase had to hide a sudden inclination to grin. She was all fire and brimstone, starch and oversewn ruffles.
aYou cannot remember any of that,a she finally said. aIt did not happen.a aDidnat it?a He leaned forward, his breath fanning her cheek, sending a ripple of heat down her spine. aI remember thisa and more.a Harriet swallowed. Dear G.o.d, he was going to kiss her, she could see it in his eyes, feel the rapid thud of her own heart. aYou are mistaken if you think you remember kissing me.a aI would never forget a woman like you.a A pang of wistfulness. .h.i.t Harriet squarely in the heart. Every woman wanted to hear those words. Every woman wanted to feel special, to be thought of as unique. It was a pity then, that common logic forced her to argue. aBut you did forget me. And when you leave, you will forget me again.a The words stung as she said them, but she refused to betray herself.
This was a most inappropriate conversation. They really shouldnat be talking about such things as kisses even though the memory of their previous embrace still had the power to send an illicit shiver through her body.
Harriet blinked. Good heavens, what was wrong with her that she was thinking about kisses from a strange man? Wella not that strange. He was, in a way, her fianc? Wasnat he?
He lifted a finger to her cheek and brushed a line from her cheek to the corner of her mouth, his touch sending a fury of tremors through her. aI remember that your lips were my first contact with consciousness after I was wounded.a Piffle. The man had a memory like a trap.
aBut the circ.u.mstances of our other kissesaa He shook his head. aWe can do better. Much, much better.a Harriet was suddenly certain they could. She found herself unable to move when he stepped closer, placing his hand on the fence at her hip. He had her boxed in, trapped against the railing, his arms to either side, his hips even with hers.
She should protest, she supposed. But why? She rather enjoyed the feel of him surrounding her. She looked into his eyes and almost sighed. They were so blue that Harriet could only stare. It was sinful to see a man with such long lashes. She thought about her own brown lashes and had to repress a sigh of envy. Drat the man, making her feel as if she was inadequate in some way.
She shook herself mentally. aLook, Captaina"a aCall me John. I am your fianc, after all.a aYes, but Ia"a aI want to hear my name from your lips.a He stood so close his knees brushed her skirts. aIn fact, I demand it.a aDemand?a His eyes glinted. aCall. Me. John.a She could see that he was going to be difficult. aOh, very well. Have it your way. Though why it would mattera"a aPerhaps the sound of my name on your lips will refresh this d.a.m.nable memory of mine.a aYou shouldnat curse.a aSorry. Must be my time at sea. I daresay I know quite a few more curse words, just by hint of being a sailor.a She never thought shead hate the word alogic,a but it was truly beginning to grate on her nerves. aOh, very well,a she said, sighing. aJoa"a Chase kissed her. He would never be sure afterward if it was her audacity in continuing the farce, his irritation in being so maneuvered, or simply the sight of her perfect lips making the most delicious aja of his entire life. Whatever it was that sent him over the edge, he recklessly plunged forward, capturing her to him with a force that echoed his exploded control.
He wasnat sure what he expected. Resistance perhaps. Or outright anger. But what he got was something entirely different. She stiffened, but only for a second, and then something happened. She responded. Only not in a genteel, careful way as one would expect from such a starchy paragon of virtue, but in a hot, hands-clutching way that aroused Chase more thoroughly than any kiss head ever received.
Still, as heated as it was, it wasnat a particularly good kiss. It was inept and strangely endearing. He pulled back and said in a low voice, aEasy, sweetheart. Not like that.a She stiffened, her face flooding with color. aWhat do you mean anot like thata?a aApparently Iave been remiss in my duties as your fianc.a aDuties? Kissing me is a duty?a aNot at all. I enjoy kissing you. And you, my little wren, love every moment. Or you did until I suggested there was a better way to do it.a She opened her mouth as if to berate him, then stopped, rampant curiosity on her face. aWhat other way is there?a He pulled her toward him, then cupped her chin and tilted her face to his. aFirst, donat hold your lips so tightly together.a She eyed him for a long, serious moment. He could almost hear the rumble of her weighty thoughts. Finally, she said, aI suppose one kiss wouldnat hurt.a He bent and softly placed his lips on hers. She stood stock-still beneath his touch, the heat from her lips warming his, the scent of lemons and hay drifting over him. She was as sweet as a summer breeze, as seductive as a harvest moon. And she didnat realize it at all.
Chase brushed his lips over hers, nipping at her soft, plump lips. Again and again, he tasted and teased, each time opening her lips a little more. She remained where she was, face upturned, eyes closed. Chase captured her mouth beneath his, sliding his tongue across her bottom lip.
She started and almost pulled back, but he held her and did it again, tasting her more deeply, more intimately. This time, something changed. She melted beneath his touch, opened herself to him naturally as she threw her arms about his neck and pressed her slender body to his.
Chaseas body reacted instantly, tightening with a flood of pa.s.sion. Her mouth opened beneath his, and to his delight, her tongue touched his.
By G.o.d, but for all her purity she was as hot as any fancy piecea"more so because her reaction was as natural as breathing. It was as if her quiet, pale demeanor hid a pulsing heart that beat so wildly that none would ever credit it.
He could not turn away. Indeed, his hands gripped her arms beneath the edge of her sleeves, his fingers splayed over her heated skin. She moaned into his mouth, the sound so erotic that he pressed against her, rubbing his hips across hers.
Somewhere far away, Max barked in abandon, the sound penetrating Chaseas heated thoughts. If he didnat have a care, he might lift her skirts and take her there, in front of G.o.d and country.
Breathing erratically, he broke the kiss and lifted his head, catching Harrietas bemused gaze. Sometime or another, both of them had lost their hats. Harrietas hair had come unpinned, and long thick strands hung down her back and to either side of her face, softening the angular corners.
It was curious, but with her hair loosened, she looked more vibrant, more sensual. Without realizing that he did so, Chase touched her hair, the silken strands clinging to his hands.
She caught at his fingers and pulled his hand so that she could see his palm, her gaze widening. aYour poor hands! Why didnat you say something?a He looked at his blistered palms and shrugged. aThey are better today.a aThey are bleeding!a She turned and marched toward the wagon.
aItas nothing, really,a he said, following her. aThey donat even hurt thata"a aDo you know what could happen if this got infected?a She reached under the seat of the wagon to pull out a small box. aHold out your hands. Both of them.a Chase did as instructed, a little amused at how determined she seemed to be.
Harriet opened the box and took out a small vial. aThis should do the trick.a She uncorked the vial and a strong whiff of something indescribable hit Chase.
He took an involuntary step back but she was too quick. She caught him and poured an oily substance into his hand. Then she capped the vial. aRub that in.a His nose curled of its own accord. aYou have to be jestinga"a aRub it in.a aI donat want to.a aIt will make your blisters heal faster.a aBut it smells atrocious.a She dropped the vial back in the box and replaced it under the seat. aCaptain Frakenham, Ia"a aJohn.a She turned to face him, hands on hips. aJohn, then. It is very important that you donat get an infection. Rub that in.a Holding his hands at armas length, he briefly rubbed his hands together, then bent to wipe them on the gra.s.s. It hurt, but head have done much worse to get rid of the nasty stuff. aThat is the most vile-smelling stuff.a aYes, it is. You should have seen poor Derrick when he slid out of the loft and sc.r.a.ped his entire back nearly raw. Mother practically bathed him in it.a Chase lifted one of his hands and then rapidly held it away. ab.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l! This smells worse than the potion my mother gave me when I was twelve.a He grinned at the memory. aI pretended to have a fever so that I wouldnat have to take a bath.a The words hung in the air between them.
Chase closed his eyes. Head just given himself up. In one lousy unguarded moment, head lost the game.
He sighed, then opened his eyes.
Harriet stood stiff and immobile, regarding him with a frosty rage. aWho are you?a
Chapter 17.
A short courtship is the way of it. If you let things drone on and on, then youall have spent all your topics of conversation before the wedding day and will have nothing more to say. Marry within two months of proposing, then youall still have something left to talk about at the breakfast table.
Mr. Lembert Standish to his friend and mentor, Edmund Valmont as the two stood outside of h.e.l.las Door, a fashionable gaming establishment Harriet didnat know whether to slap the stranger for his audacity or crow with triumph at his slip of the tongue. Her mind swirled with emotionsa"shock, exuberance at being right, confusion at the realization that head knowingly misled thema"misled her. Her brow lowered at that. The man had lied.
And she was not about to give the jackanapes any quarter. She crossed her arms over her chest. aWell?a He removed his hat and raked his hair from his eyes, then yanked his hand away and stared at it as if disgusted. ab.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, now my hair will smell likea"a aOh piffle! I donat care what your hair smells like. Who are you?a He replaced the hat, the brim shading his eyes. aIt doesnat really mata"a aYour name, sir.a His brow lowered as if he might challenge her. Harriet waited, eyes narrowed. If he thought to withhold such information now, he was sadly mistaken.
She wasnat sure what shead do if he refused, but there would be h.e.l.l to pay, make no doubt.
Some of her thoughts must have shown on her face, for he exploded into a sigh. aYouare determined about this, arenat you?a aI deserve to know what manner of man weave been housing.a aYes. I suppose you do at that. Very well. My name is Chase St. John.a Harrietas finger itched, right at the band of that silly stuck ring. She absently rubbed it. He said the name as if it should mean something. Harriet tried to remember if there were any St. Johns about, but none came to mind. aI donat know of your family. Where exactly do they live?a aWe have homes in London, Herefordshire, Yorkshire, Devonshire, Strata"a She laughed then. Of course the man who stood before her, smelling of sheep ointment and wearing her brotheras old clothes, had houses in all those places. aSo many homes! Goodness, how do you manage to keep them all up?a He shrugged as if he had never really considered the question. aServants, I suppose.a Her amus.e.m.e.nt faded before his casual shrug. aYou suppose?a He was serious. She swallowed. aHow many servants do you have?a aI donat know.a aHow could you not know?a aI just havenat thought about it.a He leaned against the wagon, neatly crossing his booted feet at the ankles. aServants justa are.a Harriet thought of her own servants, four in all, and of the way shead struggled to find just one more set of hands for the shearing. Yet here before her stood a man who had so many servants, he wasnat really sure of the number.
The thought rankled. aThey just are. How very nice for you. So youare chock-full of houses and servants. I daresay youare also related to the King.a aAs a matter of fact, we are.a Of course they were. Harrietas stomach tightened. He wasnat just wealthy, he was one of the wealthy. The man was not of her world, never had been, and never would be.
Harriet knew many things about life. Shead been on her own far too long not to have garnered a few bits of wisdom here and there. Her laughing, smiling father, who teased and joked and never seemed at a loss, had left his family with mounds of debt and nothing else. All from trying to be what he was not.
Harriet would never make that mistake. aHow long have you known your true ident.i.ty?a He sighed, and rocked back on his heels. aI donat know how thatas pertinent toa"a aHow long?a aIave always known.a Her irritation threatened to blossom into something more. All of her suspicions had been true. aMay I ask why youave lied to my family?a His gaze hardened. aFrom the moment I awoke, your mother was there, telling me I was Captain Frakenham. Who lied to whom?a She lifted her chin. aThat may be. But why did you go along with it?a aWhy not? It seemed as if you needed a Captain Frakenham, and I, quite frankly, had nothing better to do.a She couldnat answer that. They had needed a Captain Frakenham and, as much as she hated to admit it, head become quite adept at his part. aI find it difficult to believe anything you say, considering the charade youave perpetrated.a aSpeaking of charades,a he retorted easily, athere is no Captain Frakenham, is there?a For a mad moment, she briefly considered continuing the lies. But there was no help for ita"he would divine the truth sooner or later. aOh very well. I suppose you deserve to know. Mother made up the captain.a The lout didnat even have the decency to look surprised. aTo protect your interests at the bank.a aOnce Mr. Gower arrived, there was no gainsaying the bank. We are so close to coming about. All we have to do is sell the wool, and weare done with them. We just needed two morea"a aa"weeks. I know.a He tilted his head to one side, and he regarded her through his remarkable blue eyes. aI suppose it all comes down to this: you and I have lied to each other since the first day we met.a In that moment, it was as if the magic of their one, solitary dance, the pa.s.sion of the few kisses theyad shared, the warmth of companionship that had been steadily growing, suddenly dissipated like the morning mist.
He was righta"they had deceived one another from their first meeting. It was not a propitious way to begin a relationship.
Not, of course, that she wanted a relationship with such a pompous jackstraw, it was just that she was only now beginning to realize how much she enjoyed him and his kisses.
In fact, just thinking of that last kiss, when his tongue had touched hers ever so suggestivelya"she shivered, then caught herself, somewhat shocked at how hard her heart was racing.
aWhy were you willing to a.s.sume Captain Frakenhamas ident.i.ty? You even agreed to work here, in the fields.a He crossed his arms over his chest. aI was on my way out of the country when I was attacked. I thought that if I became Captain Frakenham while recuperating, not only would it a.s.sist you, but it would also stop the local gossips from tattling to the world about my real ident.i.ty.a aWhy would that matter?a aBecause my brothers would not look kindly on my leaving the country without notifying them.a She raised her brows. aSurely you had more reason than that?a aNo. They would try to talk me out of it, buta"a He stopped, a bleak expression resting on his face. aIave caused enough havoc in their lives as it is. In order to make things right, I must leave.a Harriet suddenly realized that shead seen that desolate expression before, that it visited him often, even beneath his usual blithe smile. The expression caught at her heart, for she didnat think shead ever seen so much pain on one face. aMake things right?a Her voice softened. aWhat did you do that was so wrong?a He shook his head, his expression shuttered once again. aYou donat need to know more.a But she did. aYou were right in thinking that your real ident.i.ty would have been gossiped about far and wide. Sticklye-By-The-River is a small village and everyone knows everyone elseas business far more than they should.a aIave noticed,a he said dryly, no doubt thinking of the parade of visitors who came every evening to meet the acaptain.a aAnd since weare located on the post road, everything that happens here is heard for miles around.a She tilted her head to one side, regarding him steadily. aI canat imagine there are many crimes that are so severe that would require you to leave the country to make amends.a Hard white lines appeared down both sides of his mouth. aI will not tell you more.a That was certainly blunt. aPerhaps you owe a great deal of money?a He didnat answer.
aOr mayhap a woman is involvedaa aNo.a His gaze became flint bright. aIam not going to answer any more questions, so donat ask.a He was being rather rude, but then so was she, prying into his personal business. aWhere were you going?a aAway. Perhaps to Italy.a She tsked. aYou donat seem to have a very specific strategy, which means you would have failed. If you wish to accomplish something, then you need a plan of action.a He let his breath out in a hiss. aLook, Harriet. I had a plan of actiona"to get out of the country as quickly and quietly as possible. That was all the plan I needed.a She gestured around them. aDoes this look like Italy to you?a aI was waylaid by thieves or I would be there now.a aI can see why you stayed at firsta"your injuries. But later? Mr. St. John, why are you here now?a She didnat know what she was looking fora"what she wanted to hear. But for some reason, she was holding her breath, waiting for his answer.
His jaw tightened. aYou and your family have a lot riding on this venture with the sheep and I thought, since I didnat have anything better to do, that Iad stay for a day or two.a aAnd then you were going to disappear.a It wasnat a question. She knew his intentions as plainly as if head spoken them aloud. aYou donat want to leave England, do you?a His gaze went past her, to the gently rolling hills and the sway of the green gra.s.s. aNo.a Harrietas throat tightened at his expression. Whatever he had done, he felt it was unforgivable. She tried to imagine what it could possibly be, but looking at him, the sun shining on his broad shoulders, knowing that he possessed enough heart to stay to help her family even when his own problems seemed large and painfula Harriet bit her lip, her eyes moist. She simply couldnat imagine him committing any crime so serious that it would be necessary for him to banish himself from his own home.