Head sampled beautiful women aplenty and usually found his delights in the more sophisticated connections. Yet here he was in the middle of the G.o.dforsaken country and a slip of a woman, this rather unremarkable housemaid, not only had an astonishing effect on his senses, but she also was not responding to his caresses. At all.

It was a challenge of the first order.

He applied himself with increased ardor, getting even more aroused as he did so. His head hurt like the devil, but that was nothing compared to the maelstrom of heat that swirled through his veins and pooled in his loins while holding this woman. BaG.o.d, head teach her a lesson or two.

Chase deepened the kiss, lengthened it, stretched it across time until he forgot all of his aches and pains and remembered nothing but the hot, sweet warmth of the woman in his arms. Of her taste and her scent and the heat of her skin beneath his fingers.

For her part, the little maid began to move restlessly beneath his ministrations. Soon, she was busy kissing him back, though not in a particularly satisfying way. She was hesitant, almost shy. As if perhaps shead nevera"

b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, he was kissing a virgin! The thought cleared his muddled senses and iced his ardor. Chase would never know how he was so certain of that fact, but head have staked what was left of his life on ita"the woman had never been kissed. Never been held in this manner. Never been anything.

Reluctantly, Chase lifted his head and looked down at her. For an instant, she remained where she was, a bemused look in her brown eyes, her lips parted and moist. She was a taking thing, he decided, mildly surprised to discover that she wasnat nearly as plain as head first thought. Up close, he could see that she was delicately made, her nose perfectly drawn, her eyes thickly lashed, her body whip thin, but gently curved.

She was, in fact, quite fetching. It was a pity she was a virgin. Chase avoided innocent women like the plague; they were far too p.r.o.ne to nervous twitters for his liking. He loosened his hold, and she instantly scrambled out of his arms and off the bed. Her feet thumped on the floor, and she whirled to face him, her eyes flashing fire.

She was even prettier mussed and upset, he decided. Her eyes shone with indignation, the velvety brown depths sparkling gold. Her skin, an unfashionable tan, was now touched with pink.

For some reason, Chase found himself grinning. aThatas enough pleasantries for now. I am, after all, a wounded man.a aPleasantries?a She sounded as if she was about to choke. aYou call that a pleasantry?a aAmong other things.a He nodded a greeting. a aTis time for an introduction. Who are you?a aI was going to ask you the same question,a she said. aWho are you?a aI asked first,a Chase said gently. aSo you have to tell me first.a She smoothed her skirts, the gesture amazingly calm, considering she was a virgin and had just been sitting in his lap. By his reckoning, she should bea upset. Instead, she eyed him with something ridiculously near disgust, even though her lips were still plump from his kisses. aI am Miss Harriet Ward. And you, sir, are in Garrett Park, my home.a So she wasnat a housemaid, after all. Garrett Parka the name meant nothing to him. aWhere is this place?a aNorth Walton. Near the coast.a The coast. His memory came flooding back. Head been on his way to catch a ship. Head left his home, his family, everything. Not because head wanted to, but because head had to. Because head lost the right to be a St. John.

The thought tightened his throat, and it was with difficulty that he managed to say, aHow did I come to be here?a aWe found you, in the forest.a Her gaze flickered to his forehead and back. aRemember?a Chase touched his forehead gingerly. It felt curiously tight, almost as ifa"his fingers found the bandage. He closed his eyes and let the thoughts flood over him. The attack. The robbery. The sight of Motheras ring falling to the grounda He opened his eyes and found his companion watching him narrowly. What was her name? Ah yes. Harriet. Harriet Ward. Miss Harriet Ward.

Her voice broke his musings. aDo you remember?a she asked again, softly insistent.

Chase opened his mouth to answer, then stopped. If he told this woman who he was, considering that his brother Devon owned a house somewhere around here, word was bound to leak out. And the last thing he wanted was the sight of his brothers, all four of them, arriving to bundle him back to London. Head made his decision and he was not about to waver, even with this little setback.

He glanced from under his lashes at the woman who stood beside the bed. She gripped her hands together, her body erect, her shoulders set. She looked as if she was ready for the firing squad, though he detected the faintest tremble to her soft lips. A smile tickled the corner of his mouth at the sight. Inexperienced she might be, but she possessed her own pa.s.sions.

aWell?a asked Miss Harriet Ward, her silken voice edged with a shred of p.r.i.c.kly lace. aWhat is your name? I gave you mine.a Chase leaned back against the pillows, aware that besides a great ache in his head and a general overall weariness, he really didnat feel all that unwell. aMiss Ward, I would tell you my name if I could, but I cannot.a A flicker of disbelief crossed her face. aYou donat know your name?a aI donat remember it.a aOh. Do youa do you know where you came from?a He paused a moment, as if thinking, then said, aNo, I donat know that, either.a Her gaze narrowed. She was a tough one, he realized with a faint sense of appreciation.

aDo you remember where you were going?a Chase pursed his lips as if he could almost remember that. But then, after a moment, he shook his head. aNo.a aAre you married?a aNo! I mean,a he added hastily, aI donat think so.a d.a.m.n, I have to be careful or sheall figure me out.

She muttered something that sounded to his fuzzy ears like apiffle,a if that was indeed a word.

aI beg your pardon?a he asked.

aNothing. I was just thinking.a She crossed her arms, staring at him as if he were a particularly nasty bug to be pinned to a display. aDo you remember being attacked?a Chase frowned. Should he pretend to remember that? Or not? Perhaps the best answer was a nonanswer. aI supposea I thinka you said you found me in a forest?a aYes. Not far from here. By the way, your horse is fine.a He brightened, then caught her eye and realized his error. He forced himself to frown. aA horse? I must have been riding, then.a aAnd drinking.a Of course head been drinking. Head been desperate to dull the pain of his homesickness. Stilla that was not something he wished to admit to the little puritan facing him nowa"and he was quite certain she was a puritan. No one else could look so disapproving and for nothing more serious than a few gulps of brandy.

Chase opted for an innocent lift of his brows. aAre you certain I was drinking?a aYou reeked of brandy, and an empty bottle was found nearby.a aPerhaps it was in my saddlebag and just leaked out,a he suggested mildly.

aHm.a She appeared unconvinced. Completely unconvinced.

Chaseas amus.e.m.e.nt was quickly leaving, replaced by a sort of wary fascination. Miss Harriet Ward was obviously no fool. And she ruffled up like a wet hen when she was upset. For some reason, Chase found that he rather liked that outraged expression. Liked it a lot. Liked it so much that it made him want to reach out, scoop her up, and kiss her senseless.

He touched his forehead and wondered how hard head been hit. aI need to see a doctor.a She turned and picked up a cloth and dipped it in a bowl that sat steaming beside the bed. aDr. Blackthorne just left. He said youad be fine.a Chase had no doubt that Blackthorne was some sort of country b.u.mpkin who knew more about torn horse ligaments than doctoring actual people. aWhat exactly did the good doctor say?a As if she detected the sarcasm head tried to hide, Harriet shot him a look from beneath her lashes. She wrung out the cloth, then reached over and pressed it against his brow. aYou can speak to the doctor yourself when next he comes.a The warm cloth worked magic on Chase. He closed his eyes, a strange la.s.situde weighing him down. The ache behind his eyes began to melt away.

Harriet, for her part, was having a difficult time remaining stoic. The man was so handsome, resting against the pillows, his black hair falling over the bandage in the most interesting way. His eyes had especially caught her attention. Bright blue and clear, she had the feeling that she could see all the way into his soul.

Heaven help her, but he was a beautiful man. And the realization that this bit of perfection had held her in his arms and kissed her madly, pa.s.sionately, as if she were the only woman in the worlda Harriet thought she would burst into flames at any second. Not from embarra.s.sment, though had she any sense she would feel at least a little, but from pure hot l.u.s.t.

Harriet was no stranger to kisses. Shead been kissed before. Twice, in fact. Once was three years ago, at the farmeras fair in Newmarket. Shead been walking along the stalls, a basket over her arm, when a lad had run by, grabbed her, and planted a firm kiss on her lips, then run off.

And then, two years ago, Colonel Hillbrightas grandson, Mr. Landry, had come from London for a visit. Harriet later learned that Mr. Landry was actually in hiding from his creditors, but when shead first met him, shead thought him dashing and pleasant.

Indeed, theyad embarked on a three-week flirtation that had ended in the back garden of Garrett Park with a very brief kiss. Head left the following day, his pocket stuffed with the draft for funds that head finally wormed out of his grandfather. Harriet was certain that he never again gave her or his grandfather another thought.

For her part, Harriet had been similarly disaffected. Still, shead been glad for the episode as shead thought it would be the only taste of pa.s.sion shead ever havea"her only brush with the fires within. Apparently shead thought wrong. Mr. Landryas kiss, which shead managed to romanticize over the last two years, suddenly faded into insignificance. It was a mere peck on the cheek in the face of this new kiss.

A real kiss, she realized. From a real man. One who was obviously very experienced in such matters.

Harriet dipped the cloth back into the basin, noting that the patientas eyes opened reluctantly. He gave her a sleepy half smile, his lids lowered over his eyes. aThat felt soooo good.a Harriet resolutely subdued the hot tingle that flashed through her. What was it about this man that ignited such feelings? Perhaps it was the mystery. Yes, thatas what it was. She was a tidy person, one who liked all the chess pieces left on the board in their proper places. And this man, lying before her, was definitely out of place. She lowered the warm cloth to his face once again. aBetter?a she asked in her most practical, efficient voice.

aSomewhat.a His hand wrapped about her wrist, holding her hand to his cheek, his eyes shimmering with a surprising heat. aIf you really wanted to make me feel better, youad kiss me again.a She pulled backa"as far as she could considering he held her wrist in an uncompromising clasp. aReally, Mr.a"a She paused. aIf you donat know your name, what will we call you?a aGood question. Weall think about that while weare kissing.a His eyes twinkling up at her, he pulled her wrist to his mouth, where he placed a warm kiss to her bare skin, the wet cloth dangling useless. aI can do both, you know. Think and kiss. Iam quite talented.a She rugged on her arm, alarmed at the wave of heat that shivered up her spine. aI am in no mood to kiss you, and I have no desire to think up names for you either.a He tugged her closer, his lips curled into a smile that was as hard to resist as Cookas cinnamon scones. Harriet found herself wanting to smile in return, a response she firmly suppressed. Whatever else he was, the man was obviously a wastrel. The last thing he needed was encouragement. aPlease release my arm.a aOnce you kiss me.a He wagged his brows. aYouad better do it. Iam injured, you know; I could hurt myself pursuing you.a He was so ridiculous that Harrietas smile almost broke loose. aLook, Mra whatever your name is, Ia"a She stopped and frowned down at him, a thought suddenly occurring. aFor someone who has just realized that he has no memory, you are in a spanking good mood.a His gaze flickered just an instant, but his smile remained in place, as did his hand about her wrist. aThatas because I know my memory will return soon.a She eyed him suspiciously. aHow?a He paused, and she could almost hear the wheels turning in his head. Something wasnat right here.

The patient pursed his lips, his thumb rubbing intimately along her wrist. aI know because,a he said with great deliberation, as if trying to explain something to a person of lower understanding, aI remember some things. Like how to put on my boots. And how to kiss a woman.a aUseful talents.a He ignored her dry comment. aI know Iam going to get my memory back the same way I know that doing thisaa" he nodded toward where his thumb was rubbing a spate of delectable tingles through her entire bodya"acan make you do that.a His gaze shifted to her arm, where gooseflesh danced across her skin. As warm as the cloth in her hand had been, it was nothing compared to the feel of his fingers clasped about her bared skin.

Heavens, what was wrong with her? She tried to free herself, but his hold tightened, and he looked up at her, his glance issuing a distinct challenge. aAfraid?a aOf what? A man with no memory? Piffle.a She cast about for something witty to say, but all she could find was, aSo. You believe for some inexplicable reason that youare going to regain your memory. Thatas the most asinine thing Iave ever heard.a He raised a brow. aHave you ever lost your memory?a aNo, buta"a aThen how do you know what itas like?a aI know becausea"a She clamped her mouth closed, realizing she really had no idea why his reaction struck her as false. The patientas smug air irritated Harriet to death.

She opened her mouth to argue her point, when her patient tightened his grip on her wrist and yanked her to him.

Her legs. .h.i.t the side of the bed, and she pitched forward, once again in his lap.

aThere,a he murmured, his arms holding her prisoner. aIam feeling better already.a Harriet struggled to right herself, tossing the wet cloth onto the floor so that she could use both of her hands. aThat is quite enougha"a The door pushed open, and Motheras soft voice said breezily, aHarriet dear! Dr. Blackthorne saysa" Oh my goodness!a Harriet sent a glance of triumph at the infuriating man who held her prisoner as she waited for her mother to take him to task for his reprehensible behavior.

aHarriet!a Mother said in a scandalized tone. aWhat on earth are you doing to our poor patient?a

Chapter 5.

Women are really simple creatures. Simply indecipherable, that is.

The Duke of Wexford to the d.u.c.h.ess of Wexford, while driving home from church on a Sunday afternoon.

aMother, Ia"Iam nota"he justa"I didnata"Oh, piffle!a Elviria Ward blinked at her usually staid, calm daughtera"the very same daughter who now lay red-faced and p.r.o.ne across the lap of their patient. aWell!a It wasnat what Elviria meant to say. Or even what she thought she should say. It was just all she could get out at the moment.

She was certain that later on, the perfect words would come to her. Sadly, they always did.

Harrietas face flooded bright red as she struggled to push herself back into a standing position, but it was difficult given the softness of the bed and the fact that the patient, though watching calmly, did nothing to help. Harriet twisted this way and that, a huge thunk echoing as she scrambled to her feet, followed by a m.u.f.fled exclamation.

Elviria wasnat certain, but she thought perhaps that Harriet had uttered a rather colorful comment. Goodness, but Harriet was getting more like her father every day.

Finally back on her feet, Harriet glared down at the patient. aOh! You made that as difficult as you could, didnat you?a He crossed his arms over his broad chest and grinned. aIf youad wanted help, all you had to do was ask.a Harriet muttered something incomprehensible, then turned to face her mother. Elviria had never seen Harrietas face quite that shade of red.

aMother, I know how this must look, but we didnata"that is, I was onlya"a aMiss Ward fell across the bed, and I caught her,a the patient said, a slightly imperious air to him even though he was dressed in one of Stephenas nightshirts, his head wrapped in a bandage. He did not appear the least bit regretful for what Elviria was certain must have been a gross impertinence of some sort.

She glanced at her daughter. Or had it been a gross impertinence? Harriet seemed fl.u.s.tered, but not precisely angry. Just irritated and infuriated and outraged.

Howa unusual.

The patient slanted a lazy smile at Harriet, and Elviriaas brows rose. Heavens! Even her heart stuttered a bit at such a smile. Poor Harrietas must be galloping like a hound-chased fox.

aMiss Ward,a he said, a devilish glint in his blue eyes, aI hope youare not injured.a aInjured?a Harriet said stiffly. aOf course Iam not injured.a aDidnat you b.u.mp your elbow?a Harrietas red cheeks puffed out a moment in pure indignation. aI didnat b.u.mp anything, thank you.a Frost chilled each word, though the air between Elviriaas normally staid daughter and the handsome stranger hummed with definite heat. My, but this was interesting! Harriet never let her temper get the better of her. Even when shead been a wee thing, unable to climb into a chair on her own, shead never shown anything but calm good sense and reasoned judgment.

Which was why Elviria could only stare at her eldest daughter.

Harriet caught her motheras glance and colored even deeper.

Elviriaas gaze drifted back to the patient. aI must apologize for not introducing myself. I am Elviria Ward, and you must beaa No answer was forthcoming. Elviria glanced from the patient, to her daughter, and back. Neither one moved.

Finally, the patient sighed. aIam afraid I cannot remember.a Elviria blinked. aYou canat remember?a aNo.a Oh dear. How dreadful. aNot anything at all?a aNothing. Itas as if the slate was wiped clean.a aA very small slate,a Harriet said under her breath, but loudly enough to be heard.

aHarriet!a Elviria said.

aSorry,a Harriet muttered, though she smirked at the patient in a way that showed anything but remorse.

Elviria was hard-pressed to hide an unexpected grin. The patient, however, did not appear amused.

Instead his handsome face had taken on a distinctly predatory appearance, as if he was marking the comment for further retribution.

Elviria wasnat sure she liked seeing that look directed at her own daughter. Good Lord, the wounded man was turning out to be a problem, indeed. But not for long. Elviria had been on her own since her dear Randallas death seven long years ago. If there was one thing shead learned in that time, it was to address problems as efficiently as possible. She wasnat always successful, but not for lack of trying.

Fortunately, this seemed to be a fairly easy puzzle to solve. Shead just get the man out of her house. Yes, that is exactly what shead do. Perhaps the Langleys could be convinced to house him until his memory returned. The Langleys had only one child, a son about Stephenas age. That would be far more appropriate than housing a handsome profligate with three attractive, eligible females.

For some reason, Elviria was certain the stranger was a handsome profligate, whether he remembered his name or not.

As if to prove her point, the man never removed his gaze from Harriet. aMiss Ward, Iam certain your elbow hit the headboard. I heard a decided thump.a Elviria had to admit that Harriet gave the man her best aIall-show-you-a-thumpa look. aWas it a very loud, solid thump?a Harriet asked, blinking innocently. aLike a rock on wood?a His smile froze, and his gaze became more shaded. aPerhaps. Why?a aIf it was rocklike, then it was your head against the board and not my elbow.a Elviria s.n.a.t.c.hed her kerchief from her pocket and pretended to cough.

The patientas lips twitched, but he managed to say in an even tone, aNo. It was more of an elbow sound.a aAn elbow sound? What does an elbow sound like?a aIf youall lend me yours for a moment, Iall show you what it sounds like,a he retorted easily.

Well, thought Elviria. Now we know that the young man has brothers and sisters. Only a well-teased sibling would have responded so quickly. She wasnat sure why that information pleased her, but it did.

aOnly,a Harriet said, aif you will grant me use of your head for a like experimenta"a aHarriet,a Elviria interjected, tucking her kerchief back into her pocket. aThe poor man cannot possibly allow you to thunk his head against the headboard for no other reason than to ascertain what it will sound like. Heas wounded.a Harriet eyed his bandaged head as if just seeing it. aI suppose youare right. But once heas bettera"a aIam certain heall heal much quicker without you using his head for a drum.a Elviria went to the bed, careful to place herself between the man and her daughter. aPlease forgive Harriet. She has been under a strain lately.a aOh?a The manas dark gaze flickered past Elviria, then back. aWe all have. Iam sorry Iave forgotten everythinga"a aSo you say,a Harriet said from behind Elviria.

aHe says?a She turned to look at her daughter. aYou donat believe him? But whya"a aMother!a Derrick stood in the doorway, his dark brown eyes filled with worry.

Elviria noted how his head barely cleared the doorframe. Though only sixteen, he was hands taller than she was. aYes, dear?a aItas Mr. Gower from the bank.a Elviriaas good mood left her in a whoosh. Good G.o.d, surely it wasnat that time again. Her stomach began to knot. She hated owing money. If she had a pence for every night since Randallas death that shead lain awake, wondering how she was going to find funds to keep Garrett Park for her children, shead be a wealthy woman indeed.

Derrick ran a hand through his hair, his shoulder b.u.mping the door. He was at that gangly stage, too large for his own feet. Elviria managed to smile rea.s.suringly at him even though it was the last thing she felt like doing. aPlease tell Mr. Gower that Iall be down soon.a Derrick frowned. aAre you certain? If youad like, I can ask Stephen to speak with him.a Oh dear. That wouldnat do at all. Stephen might be older than Derrick, but he also possessed a much hotter temper and a tendency to think he was in charge of the world. aNo, no. I donat wish Stephen to be made uncomfortable.a aThen Iall do it. Iall tell that old bag of wind to go and jump in the lake and drowna"a aNo!a Elviria said hastily. aBut thank you for offering your a.s.sistance. Iall take care of Mr. Gower.a Someone placed a hand on her shoulder. Elviria turned to find Harriet beside her.

Elviria managed a smile. aIt seems as if we barely make one payment before another is due.a aIt will be all right,a Harriet said, giving Elviriaas shoulder a gentle squeeze. aIall go and talk to him. You stay here with the patient.a aNo. No, Iall go anda"a aPiffle! I said Iad go, and I will. Meanwhile, you stay here and tend the patient. Of the two of us, I think you have the more harsh task.a The patient made a dismissive sound, which Harriet promptly ignored. She gave her mother a quick wink and then swept out of the room as regally as any queen.

Elviria knew it was cowardly of her, but she did not wish to see a bank official, especially Mr. Gower. Younger than the other members of the banking board, he also possessed a tendency to be overbearing in the extreme. It was because of him that shead been forced to make up that ridiculous story about Captain Frakenham.

It was a mess. A huge, tangled mess. Elviria had never meant for the seemingly harmless white lie to get so much attention. Attention that poor Harriet had to pay for.

Of course, it wasnat all Elviriaas fault. Some little part of it she could subscribe to the laudanum shead been taking for her aching tooth. Yes, she decided, a little relieved when she remembered the laudanum. Thatas why shead made up that story. Because of the medicine. And not because Mr. Gower rather frightened her. She caught Derrickas inquiring gaze from where he stood lounging in the doorway. aI think Harriet can deal with Mr. Gower, donat you?a Derrick nodded, his brown hair falling over his brow. aIf anyone could, it would be Harriet. By the way, Mr. Gower was talking about the captain.a Elviriaas heart thumped an extra beat. aWhat did he say?a aHe asked questions. A lot of them. I answered as best as I could, but I donat think he believesa"a Derrick cast a glance at the bed and, finding the patientas gaze fixed upon him, clamped his mouth closed.

aOh dear,a Elviria said. aI donat like that.a aNeither did I,a Derrick said. He pushed himself from the doorframe. aIall be in the library if you need me.a Elviria watched her youngest son lope off. She had no doubt that head soon be lost in a book. She wished she could get lost in a booka or a deep, dark forest, for that matter.

There were times when life was just difficult. Elviria tried to contain the lump in her throat but couldnat quite do it. The lie that was Captain John Frakenham had served its purpose and kept the bank at bay for months, but it was apparent that the reprieve was almost over. Soon the bank would demand proof of the good captainas existence; and then where would they be?

Every year before this, the Wards had banked their efforts on corn. But with the prices falling so sharply, theyad had no recourse but to find another source of income. Harriet had studied various projects, contemplating everything from wheat to horses. Theyad been handicapped by both the need to turn a quick profit and their limited investment capital.

So it was that Harriet, after much consideration, had purchased a large number of sheep. Her instincts had been correcta"there was a huge demand for wool this year, and if they could just get the sheep shorn and the wool to Birmingham in time for the annual Wool Market, the payment would be made.

The patient cleared his throat. aI beg your pardon, but could I trouble you for a drink of water?a Elviria realized guiltily that shead been ignoring their poor guest. aOf course!a She crossed to the washstand and poured some water into one of the gla.s.ses. She took it to their patient and handed it to him. aThere!a He took a sip, his dark gaze on her face. After a moment, he said quietly, aI take it that Mr. Gower is a frequent visitor.a It was obvious head read the distress on her face. Elviria colored. aMr. Gower comes to visit far more than wead like. Heas a banker, and we owe a dreadful amount of money, anda"a She caught herself and put a hand to her forehead. aIam so sorry! You donat want to hear of our problems. Itas nothing, really.a He paused, his blue eyes narrowing. aIt canat be nothing. You are all too upset.a Elviria took the empty gla.s.s and returned it to the washstand. She shouldnat tell him. But somehow it was a relief to utter all the worries that kept her awake nights. aMy husband took out a mortgage on Garrett Park, thinking to repay it the very next year. But he grew ill and died. We were left with the payments. Every year Harriet manages to raise the funds, but this year, we havenat had time to shear the sheep. And then poor Stephenas lega"a aStephen?a aMy eldest son. He was to help with the shearing but last week, he fell from the loft and broke his leg. We cannot afford another farm hand and soaa She trailed off, her mind mulling the th.o.r.n.y problem. After a moment, she shoved it aside. Shead think about it later. Things might be clearer then. aThatas neither here nor there. Come, you donat wish to hear our maudlin concerns.a aPerhaps I could help in some way.a aI wish you could, but the only way you could help was if you werea"a Elviria looked at the man on the bed. Really looked. And what she saw sent her imagination flying.

He had dark hair, the way shead always envisioned Captain John Frakenham, who was loosely based on a portrait she once saw at a private house in London. The picture had been of a pirate standing on the bow of a ship, the wind blowing his dark hair from his handsome face, his billowing white shirt open to reveal an exciting amount of chest, his hand resting on his sword as if he was ready to take on the world.

Now that she considered it, this man did look somewhat like that pirate. Elviria tilted her head to one side. The manas feet touched the bottom of the bed, so he was tall, with broad shoulders and tapered hips, much as one would expect from a sea captain. Of course, he didnat seem the nautical type, but with a little helpa"

Elviria caught her thoughts. Did she dare? If she could convince the man in the bed to pretend to be Captain John Frakenham for a short period of timea"no more than a week or two at mosta"it would be enough to quiet the bank and gain the family the time they needed to get the wool to market.

Buta would he? How could she even ask? She didnat even know the poor man, and he was bound to refuse, just based on the ridiculousness of it all. He didnat owe them a thing.

She sneaked a look at him and frowned. Beneath his polite exterior, there was something hard about him, something implacable that boded ill for her idea.

Perhapsa perhaps she shouldnat ask him. Perhaps she should just tell him. Tell him that he was Captain John Frakenham.

The audacity of the idea held her frozen in place, her mind racing. How bold! And howa perfect.

The sudden thought of Harriet, who was even now in the sitting room with that horrid Mr. Gower, solidified Elviriaas resolve. How difficult could it be to convince this man that he was the captain? He didnat know who he was, so what could he care? Perhaps, in a way, it would be a relief to the poor dear to know that he was someone. Someone important.

From the bed, Chase watched as a confusing flicker of emotions traced across Mrs. Wardas expressive countenance. Something was happening. She was astonishingly silent, staring at him as if he was undergoing some sort of transformation before her very eyes. He touched the bandage to see if his wound had reopened, but it was smooth and dry.

She smiled brightly. Too brightly.

An alarm sounded deep in Chaseas head. He had a sister. He knew what that smile meant. Mrs. Ward wanted something. And from the degrees of brightness of her smile, it was something very uncomfortable.

She patted his hand in a maternal way. aI suppose you are wondering why my daughter, Harriet, seems so short of temper with you.a aIa ah. No. Not really. We didnat have the chance to be properly introduced, and I suppose I might have irritated her into an ill humor.a aOh, Harriet is never in an ill mood.a Mrs. Ward paused, then said in a meaningful tone, aBut then you know that.a How could he know anything about Harriet Ward? Head only just met her. Truly alarmed, Chase made sure his arms were free from the bed clothing. He might need both hands if he had to break free and make a run for it. aIf Miss Ward was short of temper, it was because of me. I wasnat in a very pleasant frame of mind on waking.a aWhatever you said, it wouldnat have mattered. Harriet is upset becausea"a She swallowed, as if the next words were too hard to form.

Chase wondered if he should prompt her on. Perhaps he should just leave it as it was, tell the woman that he was tired and hope she forgot whatever it was that she wanted.

But somehow he knew that whatever she wanted to say, would be said. Either now or later. So with a sigh, he asked, aWhy is Miss Ward upset with me?a Mrs. Ward looked directly at him, then said in a great rush, aHarriet is upset because you donat remember her.a Chase touched his bandage. aPardon me. My ears seem to be ringing. Did you say that your daughter believes that I should remember her?a aYes! Thatas it exactly! You may not remember who you are, but we, my dear sir, most certainly do.a The low ringing in his ears turned into a dull roar. aWho am I, then?a he heard himself ask in a dumbfounded voice.

aCaptain John Frakenham. You are betrothed to Harriet, and you, my dear, kind sir, have come to save the day!a

Chapter 6.