Part 5 (1/2)

She pursed her lips thoughtfully. She couldnat quite decide if he knew who he was or not. There were times when she was certain of it, but then other times he seemed somewhata lost. Alone. Perhaps he had indeed lost his memory. Why else would he have agreed to a.s.sume the captainas ident.i.ty? It was a puzzle.

She rubbed her thumb along the ring, turning it so that it sparkled. She supposed shead better find Mother and see what was to be done with the stranger now that Gower thought the man to be Captain Frakenham. They needed only onea”perhaps twoa”weeks. Surely the stranger could play the part for that length of time.

Harriet supposed shead better remove the ring. She tuggeda but nothing happened. The ring wouldnat budge.

Harriet pulled harder. Still nothing happened.

Sighing, she pushed herself upright, shoving her hair out of her face. Wonderful. She held her hand before her, grasped the ring, and tuggeda”hard, wincing as she yanked. For a second, she thought it was slipping, but just as it moved, the ring seemed to tighten, to cling to her finger as if hanging on with all its might.

aPiffle!a Harriet said, alarm sifting through her. She rose and went to the washstand, rubbing soap on her finger, then pulling yet again.

Still nothing happened. A half hour later, after much tugging and muttering, Harriet realized the impossiblea”the blasted ring was stuck. She sat back on the edge of the bed and stared at her reddened finger. The ring didnat seem too tight. Indeed, it turned easily right where it was. But every time she tried to pull it off, it seemed to tighten as if bya”

She curled her fingers closed. aNonsense,a she said aloud, as if to rea.s.sure anyone who might be listening. aMy finger must have swollen a bit. Thatas all.a The words comforted Harriet some. That made perfect sense. Still, she couldnat help but stare down at the runes that collected the light and wonder at the way her life seemed to be going lately. First shead found the stranger, who had promptly kissed her, followed by Goweras unexpected declaration, then the acaptainasa infuriating att.i.tudea and now this. Stuck with a strange ring on her finger.

A ring that just might belong to that infuriating jackanapes.

The ring seemed to warm at the thought. Harriet narrowed her gaze at it. aEnough of that.a She stood. Perhaps Cook would know how to get the blasted thing off. With any luck, a touch of b.u.t.ter would do the trick.

Muttering to herself, Harriet made her way to the kitchen, wondering as she did so where her brothers and sisters werea”things seemed strangely quiet. As soon as she got the silly ring off her finger, shead see what everyone was doing.

Harriet pushed open the door to the kitchen. The warm afternoon light streamed through the open windows and mingled with the scent of dried herbs.

aThere ye are, miss!a Cook labored at a large wooden table in the center of the room, flour liberally dusted over her red ap.r.o.n. aI was just thinkina bout ye, I was.a aWere you?a A rich aroma caught Harrietas attention. aMmmmm. What is that?a Cook grinned, jerking her head toward a half dozen steaming pots. aNothina but dinner.a Harriet counted the pots. Seven. Last night, theyad had mutton stew and peas and some of Cookas special crusty bread.

But thisa it looked as if a feast was in the making. Harriet went to the pots, aware of Cookas covert gaze.

One after the other, Harriet lifted the lids. The entire kitchen filled with a rich aroma that made her mouth water. aDumpling stew, roast saddle of mutton with mint sauce, ploversa eggs in aspic jelly, peas and asparagusa”goodness! Itas not Christmas again, is it?a Cook chuckled delightedly and gave Harriet a meaningful look. aDonat ye be teasina me, Miss Harriet! Ye know what day atis. Or will be soon! And atis not Christmas. Not with the weather warming so every day.a Harriet closed the lid of the last pot, the clang echoing pleasantly amid the burbling sound of the dumpling stew. aI know what it is. The new rector is in town, and Mother has asked him to dinner.a A sly smile crossed Cookas lips. aYouall have to ask the madam about thet. I was tola to fix a sumptuous dinner and so I am. Ye should be pleased as pork, Miss Harriet.a aI should be? What do I have to be pleased aba” Oh. I see. The captain.a Blast it, she hadnat thought about the fact that the servants, who had not been privy to the fact that the captain was a figment of the Wardsa collective imaginationa”only because it was suspected they might leak the trutha”would believe the farce her mother was even then encouraging.

aOf course the captain!a Cook exclaimed. She beamed at Harriet. aWho else would I cook good mutton for if not your intended? I must say, 'tis a handsome man. Iam just a little miffed ye didnat tell me who he was right away.a Harrietas jaw tightened. aOh yesa well, I didnat want to ruin the surprise for Mother.a Cook sighed happily. aIave heard so much about the captain that atis almost a wonderment to meet him.a aThatas what I thought, too,a Harriet muttered. aWhere is the good captain now?a aIn his room. The missus thought he should lie down a mite. I must say atwas a good idea, fer he looked a bit snookered after meeting with the banker.a Cook wiped her hands on her ap.r.o.n. aThere. All done. Do ye think the captainad like a maraschino jelly with his dinner? I saved a bit fer a special occasion and, well, there arenat many more special than this.a Harriet managed a faint smile. aI donat know what he likes. Iall have Mother ask him.a aYead best be findina out, miss. Yeare the one as will be marryina him,a Cook said cheerfully, sc.r.a.ping dough out of a bowl and rolling it as though her life depended on it. aI hope yer young man likes lemon tarts. Fresh and crisp theyall be, just the way ye likes them.a aI like them any way I can get them,a Harriet answered truthfully. Even if they had been made in the captainas name. aI thought we were saving the lemons for the Ladies Auxiliary Sewing Committee.a aSo I was. But the missus said to make them tonight and so I am. I always do as Iam told.a That was a blatant lie. Harriet couldnat count how many times shead asked Cook not to give Stephen quite so many pastries between his meals, a request that was actively ignored by all parties concerned.

Still, what concerned Harriet the most was that Mother had requested the tarts. That was not a good sign. At all. aWhere is Mother?a aIn the library, workina on the accounts, I suppose. Thatas what she said she was goina to do, anyways.a Harriet nodded and made her way to the door. aThank you, Cook.a She was halfway to the library before she remembered the ring. She glanced down at it and scowled, giving it a sharp tug. The blasted thing still wouldnat move. It would just have to wait until she finished talking to her mother.

Harriet shoved open the door to the library. aMother, I waa”a She halted. Not only was her mother in the library, but the entire Ward family, as well.

Mother looked up from where she sat at the oak escritoire, calmly penning a missive. aThere you are! I was just going to send Derrick for you. We are having a meeting about the captain.a aGlad you made it on your own,a Derrick said. He opened the book he held and settled farther into the large, plump chair, sprawling comfortably. aI was almost finished, and I didnat want to leave.a aOh, Harriet! Mother just told us about the captain!a Sophia gave an excited whirl, her skirts flaring out about her ankles. aNothing could be more perfect! Itas as if an angel sent him to us. And now, Mother says weare to act as if we are all in a play!a Harriet looked at Mother. aA play?a aIndeed,a Mother said calmly, dipping her pen into the inkwell. aWe must make everyone believe that the stranger is indeed Captain Frakenham, at least for a week or so. Especially the staff.a Harriet pressed a hand to her temple. aSurely it wonat be necessary to take things that far. So long as Gower believes that the captaina”a aHarriet,a Mother said, gentle reproof in her voice, ayou know how things got out of hand last time. I merely made mention of a fianc, and, before you knew it, I was being hounded for details, which I imprudently made up on the spot.a Harriet sighed. aI know.a aI thought the story would remain contained within the confines of the bank, so I did nothing more to ascertain the rumor Iad begun. This time, things are going to be done in a more thoughtful, timely manner.a aWhat do you mean?a aBefore, because there was so little information on the captain, people began to take it upon themselves to make up things. This time, we are going to grasp the rumor mill firmly by the horns.a Stephen nodded. He stood leaning against the mantelpiece, his crutches momentarily idle against the wall. aMotheras right, Harri. Gower will run back to the bank and tell all. The next thing you know all mayhem will break loose; people will be streaming in, asking hundreds of stupid questions and trying to steal a look at him.a Ophelia plopped down on the small leather settee placed to one side. aIt will be just like when Mr. Wilkers told everyone head had twin calves off the same cow. Even old Mrs. Crumpleton came to see, and she hadnat left her home in over two years, claiming her knees were bad.a Harriet opened her mouth to protest, but then closed it. Her heart sinking, she realized they were right. It wouldnat be long before the doorway darkened with all manner of people, all coming on some seemingly innocuous errand, but really thirsting for a glimpse of the captain. aGood G.o.d.a aI know,a Stephen said. aI donat like it either. But Iave thought it through and weave really no choice.a aThere has to be another way,a Harriet said. aI simply do not like this plan.a Sophia blinked. aWhy not? I think itas a perfectly good plan. And you have the best part of all! That of 'fiance in love.'a aI donat wish to be a 'fiance in love.'a aThere!a Sophia looked eagerly at their mother. aI told you Harriet wouldnat agree to this! Perhaps we could tell people that the captain is really engaged to me all along and that Iam the one he reallya”a aNo,a Mother said firmly, eyeing Sophia severely. aIave already told you that would not work. We have to stick to the same story.a Sophia sniffed. aOh very well, though I doubt Harri can pull it off. Sheas awfully stiff on stage. Remember when we asked her to play Falstaff last year? A perfectly delightful part, and yet she managed to murder it with every sentence. No one laughed a bit.a Stephen snorted. aHarrietas nothing compared to you. Remember how badly you mangled doing Lady Ophelia last Easter? That was a tragedy indeed.a aI did a fine job! Even Mrs. Strickly said so, and sheas been to dozens of London plays!a Harriet made an impatient noise. aNone of that matters now! How are we going to do this?a aSimple,a Mother said. aWe will just restate a few set facts.a aSuch as?a aThe captain is here to see you. He has only come for a short period of timea”two weeks, maybe less. Heas leaving as soon as his s.h.i.+p is ready.a aAnd?a Mother lifted her brows. aThatas more than enough.a aWhat about what the captain told Mr. Gower in the sitting room today? That his s.h.i.+p was nameda oh, something, I canat remembera”and that it was being repaired in Whitby? Should we mention that, too? Or that he injured himself in a battle with pirates?a Sophia and Ophelia both gasped. aThe captain is such a brave man,a Sophia breathed.

Harrietas hand curled into fists. aHe made it up!a Ophelia nodded. aHeas so brave that heas even willing to live a lie, all to help us. Althougha I wonder if he is remembering something in earnest and just doesnat realize it. Perhaps the captain really is a captain anda”a aFor the love ofa”he isnat real!a Harriet burst out. aThere is no Captain Frakenham, no s.h.i.+p, and no pirates!a A short silence followed this outburst.

aReally, Harriet,a Sophia said, eyeing her sister as though shead just grown a third head, athere is no need for you to get so vexed.a aThatas right,a Stephen said, trying to look like the man of the house, an irritating habit that seemed to be getting worse of late. aI think you owe Ophelia an apology.a Harriet took a deep breath in through her nose. aI am sorry I shouted, but none of you seems to realize that this is a serious situation. If we are found out, the bank will waste no time in demanding their money, and we donat have it. And what will we do if the stranger remembers who he is?a To dry the ink, Mother dusted sand over the letter shead been writing. aWeall deal with that when it happens, if it happens. Remember Mrs. Billingsworth. She never remembered who she was. Itas a pity she died.a aOh wouldnat that be wonderful!a Sophia exclaimed in a dreamy voice.

aWhat would be wonderful?a Derrick asked, looking up from his book, a frown marring his brow. aFor the poor man to die?a aNo, that he might never remember who he is. Then he would just be Captain Frakenham forever and marry Harri!a Five pairs of eyes turned on Harriet.

She colored. aWhen h.e.l.l freezes over.a aHarriet!a Mother frowned as she folded the note and slid it into an envelope.

aI am sorry. Itas just that all of you are standing on the edge of a cliff, cheerily planning to jump. You donat seem to realize how easily this could blow up in our faces.a aHow?a Stephen demanded. aWhat is the worst thing that could happen?a aWhat if the stranger remembered who he really is? Then where would we be?a Ophelia pushed her gla.s.ses back in place. aWeall just have to see to it that heas never alone without one of us present to head him off.a aGood idea,a Stephen said. aAnd if he does remember who he is, heall just leave.a aThatas what I would do,a Derrick said, settling back into his book. aI might say a few choice words beforehand, but nothing more.a aExactly,a Stephen said. aIn the meantime, the captainas presence will make the bank hold off on demanding the payment and we can get the shearing done.a Mother wrote something across the envelope. aHere, Sophie. Pray give that to Lady Cabot-Wells with my fondest regards, and be sure youare home by five.a Sophia glanced over her shoulder at Derrick. aAre you coming with me?a Derrick glanced up from his book, but remained lazing in his chair. aWhere to?a aTo see Lady Cabot-Wells.a He made a face. aThe last time I saw her, she called me aDonalda and asked how my cat was doing.a aSheas an old woman, Derrick,a Stephen said, frowning down at his brother. aSheas never gotten my name right in over ten years.a aWell, I donat like her and so Iam not going to see her.a Stephenas frown deepened. aIt will not hurt you to get off your aa”a aStephen!a Mother said.

aSorry. Itas just that I cannot abide a slugabed, and Derrick has become the worst.a aI have not!a Derrick struggled to sit up, his face red. aI worked all morning and most of the afternoon in the barn, and all you can say isa”a aI think,a Harriet said firmly, athat Sophia should not be gallivanting about the countryside unattended. So one of you has to go.a Derrick subsided into his chair, pulling his book back over his face.

Stephen regarded him for a long moment, then gave an exasperated sigh. aOh very well! Iall go.a He collected his crutches from the wall, then hobbled to his sisteras side.

Harriet watched as her mother handed the note to Sophia. aWhatas that?a aAn invitation to dinner. I thought Lady Cabot-Wells should meet the captain first.a aThis evening?a aNo, I thought wead save this evening for just ourselves and the captain. We need to be certain he is convinced he is who weave told him he is. I asked Lady Cabot-Wells to join us for dinner sometime next week.a aBut sheas the biggest gossip on earth!a Mother smiled. aWhich is precisely why I invited her. I thought we should begin at the top and work our way down.a Sophia breezed to the door, Stephen hobbling after her. aWeall return soon, Mother.a She wiggled her fingers and went out the door.

He stopped on the threshold, a thoughtful expression on his face. aYou know, Harriet, if we work this right, we might be able to use your precious captain to help in other ways than just keeping the bank away.a aSuch as?a aWella if heas not injured too badly, he could help with the shearing. All of it.a Harriet met Stephenas gaze, astounded at the thought. Good G.o.d, that would be perfect. It was difficult finding reliable workers, especially so close to shearing week, and things were getting desperate.

A slow smile began, then gradually grew until it matched Stephenas. That was an idea, the first good one shead heard all day. One more pair of helping hands would make all the difference in the world.

aAll we have to do,a Stephen said, ais convince him that the captain would do it, and since heas the captainaa Harriet nodded, her heart lightening a little.

aCome on, Stephen,a Sophia said. aI want to change before dinner and fix my hair, and we wonat have time if we dally.a Stephen sighed. aAll right. Iam coming.a He gave Harriet one last meaningful look, then followed Sophia out the door.

Mother beamed. aSee how well things are going already? We have not only found a Captain Frakenham, but weave found another helper for the shearing. Itas more than I had hopeda”almost a miracle.a She smiled at her children. aSometimes prayers really are answered!a Harriet wasnat sure that she wanted to call the dark-haired stranger a miracle any more than she wanted to call him Captain Frakenham, but she had no say in the matter at all. Shead just have to make do, put up with the manas odious, self-satisfied manner, and pretend she was engaged to the oaf. But only in public.

Meanwhile, shead take comfort in Stephenas suggestion. If she and Stephen could contrive a way to get the stranger to help with the shearing, then perhaps some good could come of this mess after all.

Chapter 12.

b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, itas Lady Tatswell. Having just returned from boring some poor unhappy parti to death, she is now about to sally forth on a fresh mission of destruction. Sheasa”G.o.d no! Sheas coming this way!

Where can we hide?

The Earl of Greyley to his wife, Anna, at the Comptonsa soiree He had only an hour until dinner. Chase tossed back the last bit of brandy. He closed his eyes as the liquid warmed a path down his throat and into his stomach. His head still ached, but the pain was subsiding with each swallow.

Thank G.o.d head found the brandy decanter in the library earlier or there would be no sleep that night. In London, he never slept without the a.s.sistance of a heavy dose of spirits. Not sincea”

He closed his eyes, his heart clutched painfully. No. Donat think about it. Never think about it.

Slowly the feeling of taut-eyed desperation eased. The soft sound of a clock chimed over his shoulder. His hand shook a little as he poured himself another gla.s.s. The last time head had spirits was the day head been attacked. He lifted the gla.s.s to his lips, then paused. That was probably what had caused the entire ruckusa”the fact that he was drunk. The thieves must have figured him an easy mark, just as Annesley had.

Chase set the gla.s.s back on the tray, his mind suddenly clear. Head never be an easy mark again.

Meanwhile, head better finish dressing for dinner. He had little doubt that it would be served at a dismally early hour considering he was residing with a houseful of sheep farmers.

Chase sighed and turned, catching sight of his cravat in the mirror. Well, it was supposed to be a cravat. While most of his clothing had been salvaged, his cravat linens had been sadly muddied and mangled, except for two, both of which were now being laundered. Left with no recourse, head been forced to accept a horribly understarched cravat linen from the household.

He tried to adjust it one more time, then stopped and shook his head in disgust. Not only was it limp, but it was a d.a.m.nable nuisance trying to fasten the thing without the benefit of a decent cravat pin.

The thought of his a.s.sortment of pinsa”gold, diamond, ruby, sapphirea”made him sigh. Gone forever, the lot of them. It was intolerable, though not as intolerable as it would have been had he lost his motheras ring.

The thought of that ring and the pocket it rested in caused his teeth to grind of their own accord.

d.a.m.n it, head get that ring back if it was the last thing he did. Miss Harriet Ward was about to face the St. John determination, whether she was prepared for it or not. The thought eased his spirits some, and he caught his reflection in the mirror.

Head removed the offending bandage a half hour earlier. A huge bruise colored his forehead. The center was still a dark and forebidding deep blue, while the edges were fading to more muted shades of purple and red with the veriest stain of yellow.