Chase looked down at her fingers. They seemed so slender beneath the heavy silver band. He lifted her hand in his and gently tugged on the ring. It hung for a second, as if not wanting to move. But then it released and easily slid off her finger.

Harriet’s mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again. “How did—I tried so hard! I can’t believe you just—Oh, piffle!”

Chase looked at the ring. Mother had said that it would lead the possessor to his one true love. Could it be—

“Harri!” Stephen and Sophia waved from across the barn yard.

Harriet sighed. “Time to get back to work, I suppose.”

“Yes, it is.” At least for today. “Harriet, about the ring. Perhaps you should—”

“No. It belongs with you. I—”

Stephen and Sophia called again and Harriet sighed. “I have to go. We’ll discuss this later.”

Chase nodded and watched as she joined her brother and sister. Chase wondered if the ring felt as bereft as he did. His fingers curled over it.

After a moment, he slipped it into his pocket and went to help Derrick with the shearing.

This time, Chase worked as hard as he could, though his mind never stopped mulling over the thorny problem that faced him.

He was beginning to care far too much for Harriet Ward. He had to leave Garrett Park. And soon.

Chapter 25

Bloody hell, can’t you get this contraption to go any faster?

Mr. Devon St. John to Little Bob, the coachman, as they rumbled through the dark

That day and the next, Chase worked harder than he had ever worked in his life. Derrick had at first asked what the hurry was, but had soon gotten into the spirit of things, and it was with huge satisfaction that they stood two nights later and looked at the bales of wool that filled the barn. They’d had to move the horses to the shed for the night, just to make room for it all.

They were almost finished. The time had come for Chase to leave. Sighing, Chase hung the lantern on a nail and pulled a pair of gloves from his back pocket and tugged them on.

Derrick groaned. “We don’t have to stack the bales tonight.”

Chase looked at the untidy bundles of wool that littered the barn. “I’m going to at least get them sorted into wagonloads.”

“That will take hours.”

“I haven’t anything better to do.”

“I have.” Derrick put his hands on his hips and stretched, then groaned. “I’m going to get a hot bath, then go to bed. If I don’t, I won’t be able to move tomorrow.”

Chase smiled. “You’re going inside to read a book. Don’t pretend otherwise.”

“Oh, all right,” Derrick said with a lopsided grin. “I was going to read a little. But I was also going to take a bath, and I really am sore.”

“We all are.” The sun had set an hour ago, and now all that was left was one last dinner with the Wards. For some reason, the thought of facing them seemed impossible. It would be better if he just quietly went away. His good humor slipped a notch, then disappeared altogether. “Go on to the house. I’ll do what I can before dinner and join you then.”