“Very well,” Derrick said. He walked toward the barn door, then hesitated. “By the way, I’ve been meaning to say—well, you’ve worked hard and you didn’t need to.”

“Of course I needed to. We’ve a payment to make on Garrett Park, don’t we?”

“We.” Derrick smiled. “Yes, we do. Thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure.” Chase watched as Derrick walked out the door. A murmur of voices in the yard and the glimmer of a lantern through the cracks in the walls told him that Harriet was on her way. She appeared a moment later, Stephen by her side.

If Chase looked weary, so did Harriet. Her eyes were shadowed, her shoulders stooped. He could almost feel the weariness seep from her.

Stephen stepped forward. “There you are, Chase. We did well today, didn’t we? Harri says we’re a good day ahead of schedule.”

“We did very well.” Chase picked up a bundle of wool and stacked it on a neat pile by the back wall. “I daresay we won’t have more than a few hours of work left in the morning. We’ll have the wool ready for market two days ahead of schedule.”

Stephen grinned. “I cannot wait to see Gower’s face when we make that final payment.”

Chase straightened, trying not to look at Harriet, who stood quietly inside the door. “Stephen, I have something for you.”

“What?”

“The clothing that is in my wardrobe.”

“B—but that’s your clothing!”

“Indeed it is. I’ve been wearing your clothes, so now is the time for you to wear mine.”

“But—why?”

“Wear them when you go to town tomorrow and make certain Miss Strickton sees you. If she is impressed with that popinjay you were telling me about, she’ll be quite smitten with you. You can even ride my horse.”

Stephen’s eyes brightened. “By Jove, that’s the very thing! Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Of course I don’t mind. I have plenty more clothes where those came from.” So many that he was almost embarrassed to think about it. Strange how things had changed. How he had changed.

“Do you mind if I look at them now?” Stephen said eagerly. “I’d like to try on your blue coat. Oh, and those buff breeches! Those are quite the thing. And the wine-colored waistcoat is—”

“Go!” Chase laughed. “You may try them all on.”

Stephen turned, then stopped when he saw Harriet. “Oh! Almost forgot you, Harri. Here. I’ll leave the lantern so you can see your way to the house.” He handed her the lantern, then hurried off.

Chase began stacking the bundles once more, wondering what he should say. What he could say.

Silence hung loud and heavy, and then Harriet walked farther inside the barn. She set the lantern on the ground by the loft pole and surveyed the bundles of wool for a long moment. “We did well today.”

“Yes, we did.” Chase didn’t trust himself to look at her. Not now. Not ever.

She was silent a moment more, watching as he piled the bundles higher. Finally she said, “I will see you at dinner.”