Free How to Treat a Lady by Karen Hawkins Page B

my thinking.”
    Chase regarded her steadily. Something strange was going on. Something stranger than he’d first realized. Not only was this woman telling him that he was someone he wasn’t, but she didn’t seem to have a firm grasp on who, exactly, he was supposed to be. It was almost as if this Captain Frakenham was a complete figment of someone’s imag—
    Chase’s brows rose. Was that it? Had the Wards concocted the captain in an effort to stave off the bank?
    He silently considered that, a glimmer of realization beginning to glow. “Let me see if I understand this; the bank was demanding their money, so you waved Captain Frakenham—”
    â€œWhich is you,” Mrs. Ward interjected with a hopeful look.
    â€œâ€”which you say is me,” Chase said implacably, “in front of the officers in an effort to gain some time?”
    â€œYes. And except for Mr. Gower, everyone has been quite satisfied. But now that you’re here, we can set his pesky reservations to rest. All we need to do is let Mr. Gower see you—not for long because you are, after all, an invalid—but long enough that he stops asking so many questions.”
    â€œI take it you don’t wish me to reveal that I don’t remember who I am?”
    â€œIf you don’t mind, it would be best if you’d just pretend to remember that you are indeed the captain.” She clasped her hands together. “Oh, this will solve everything! Now we’ll have time to get the wool to market and—”
    â€œWool?”
    â€œOh yes. Harriet bought hundreds of sheep. We’re going to shear them and make the last payment; then Garrett Park will be ours.”
    Bloody hell, they’re sheep farmers, the lot of them. That explained why Miss Harriet Ward had such a lovely, aristocratic accent, yet was as tanned as a laundress.
    In fact, that explained quite a lot of things. For the first time since he’d awakened, Chase took stock of his surroundings. The chamber was large and square, with two huge windows that allowed sun to stream warmly into the room.
    Perhaps it was the largeness of the windows or the warm red colors that decorated the room, but until that moment, he’d thought himself rather sumptuously housed. Now, however, he could see the threadbare spots on the rugs, the lack of decoration on the walls—as if all the pictures had been removed—and the overly soft, worn appearance of the counterpane.
    The Wards might be from genteel stock, but it was rather obvious they were not well-off. And now, forced by penury to earn their way, they’d concocted a fictitious fiancé for Miss Harriet to keep the bank at bay.
    It was a bold move. Chase eyed his hostess with a new respect. “You had some ill fortune.”
    â€œOh, my, yes! My husband passed away severalyears ago. It’s just me, my three daughters and two sons. So far, we’ve managed on our own. But now—” She placed her hand on his arm, a genuine plea in her eyes. “Captain Frakenham, we need your help.”
    Chase looked at Mrs. Ward’s hand, resting so innocuously on his sleeve. Good God, it was almost as if she thought him a knight on a white horse.
    Unfortunately, Chase knew who and what he was. He was not a knight, and he felt anything but noble. “Mrs. Ward, I am not Captain Frakenham.”
    â€œNo? Then who are you?”
    Chase opened his mouth to answer. But a split second’s thought made him close it. He was supposed to have no memory of who he was. If he wanted the Wards to believe that and not ask incessant questions, then he couldn’t really argue about who he was not , could he?
    Damn it all, perhaps he should just pretend to suddenly recall his name…but no. Word would reach his brothers within the day, if not the hour. Devon’s house was only a short distance from where Chase had been attacked. His brothers would immediately ride out and