Free How to Treat a Lady by Karen Hawkins Page A

her gaze fixed on his face.
    Chase wished she hadn’t done that. The bed was rather high, and she was not the tallest of women. With the help of the chair, she was now staring him right in the eyes, her gaze wide and unblinking, as if she’d determined never to look away again.
    He cleared his throat, wondering how to begin.
    â€œMadam, I believe there has been some sort of mistake—”
    â€œOh, no! You are Captain Frakenham, though you don’t remember it.”
    â€œAm I indeed?”
    â€œOh yes!” She nodded so hard her lace cap seemed in imminent danger of taking flight. “I’ve known you a long time myself.”
    Chase lifted his brows. “How long?”
    â€œ Very long! In fact, you might say that I’ve known you longer than anyone.”
    She seemed so secure in her belief that she could convince him that he was the admirable captain that Chase almost felt guilty for knowing who he really was. It was odd, but despite the fact that this woman was attempting to bamboozle him, Chase couldn’t help but feel that she wasn’t a truly untrustworthy individual—at least, not usually. She possessed far too serene a spirit to be anything other than guileless. And in all honesty, she wasn’t a very good liar, either.
    But what in the world did she hope to gain by this deception? “Madam, perhaps we had best speak plainly.”
    Mrs. Ward blinked once. Twice. Then she cleared her throat. “Plainly?”
    â€œYou say I am this…Captain Frakenham?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWho is engaged to your daughter?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThen why does your daughter act as if she’s never met me before?”
    â€œOh, you know Harriet!” Mrs. Ward said airily. “She can be a bit stubborn at times.”
    Chase thought of the firm set to Harriet’s mouth,and he rather thought perhaps Mrs. Ward was understating the case.
    Mrs. Ward placed her hand on his sleeve. “Captain Frakenham, I dislike placing this on your shoulders after your grievous injuries. But Garrett Park is in dire straits.”
    Chase leaned his head back against the pillows. Here it was—the reason she wanted him to be someone he was not. “How dire are things?”
    She gave him an embarrassed smile. “Very. But we were doing well until Mr. Gower joined the board of directors at the bank. Even though I’ve told him of your existence and the funds you will shortly provide—”
    â€œFunds?”
    â€œProfits from your sailing. You’re a very good captain, you know.”
    â€œThat is reassuring to hear.”
    â€œI thought so,” she said, unaware of his sarcasm. “Despite your existence, Mr. Gower continues to be an annoyance.”
    Chase’s lips twitched. A rising wave of curiosity was beginning to tickle his sense of the ridiculous. “I take it that there is some question to the existence of the good captain’s fortune?”
    â€œWell…not a question exactly. More of an inquiry. And not just about the fortune.” Mrs. Ward bit her lip. “You see, we mentioned…that is, I mentioned your existence to the bank officers—Mr. Gower in particular—thinking they might give us an extension on the mortgage.”
    â€œI hope they were duly impressed.”
    â€œOh, very! You, my dearest sir, are in charge of a large ship! A very large ship. A very, successful large ship.”
    â€œThat’s also good to hear. By the way, what’s the name of the ship?”
    She blinked. “I—I don’t—”
    â€œWhere was I sailing from?”
    â€œI—we never—”
    â€œAnd my crew? Will they be joining me here? Or am I to meet them somewhere else?”
    â€œOh dear!” Mrs. Ward pressed a hand to her cheek. “I—I’m sure I know the answers but not at this moment. I’m a bit distraught, you see. Mr. Gower is here, and that always muddles