“No, you won’t,” Mother said briskly. “You aren’t in any shape to talk to anyone. Just lie there on the settee with Mr. St. John and let me deal with this mess.”

“Lie on the settee with Mr. St. John?” Harriet blinked down at him.

Chase grinned and pulled her back to his side. “Do as your mother says.”

Mother beamed.

“I’ll bring the gentlemen in,” Jane said with a fierce glower, “but I will not bring them anything to eat.”

Doctor Blackthorne replaced the smelling salts in his bag. “I can see that I’m not needed here. I’ll be off.” He glanced at Mrs. Ward. “I’ll stop back by this evening to make certain everyone is well.”

Mrs. Ward nodded. “Thank you so much. I will walk you out, but—”

He held up his hand. “Don’t even think of it.” He made his way to the door, stopping briefly by the settee. “You’re going to have the devil of a headache.”

Chase shrugged. “I’ll live with it.”

The doctor eyed Harriet, who was snuggled neatly beside Chase. “I daresay you will.” With a wink, he left the room.

A moment later, Jane returned, the bankers in tow.

Stephen came forward. “Gentlemen.”

Gower nodded his head. “Stephen. Mr. Silverstone, Mr. Picknard, and I were just looking at the barn. It’s still smoldering, but it seems a complete loss.”

“It is,” Stephen said shortly.

Gower smirked. “I thought it would be best to bring them out here myself so that they could see the damage firsthand.”

Chase had never wanted to box someone’s ears so badly in his life.

Stephen lifted his chin. “We might as well make this easier on all of us. Mr. Silverstone, Mr. Picknard, we cannot pay the note.”

Gower brightened. “There! I told you that—”

“Mr. Gower!” Mr. Silverstone frowned at his assistant. “One does not gloat over others’ misfortunes. This is a sad business. These people have worked hard.”

Chase looked at the Wards’ faces, at the hopelessness in their expressions. He caught Harriet’s gaze and gave her a comforting squeeze. “Don’t despair.”

She smiled then, and though it was a tremulous smile, he knew what it cost her. “I am not despairing. We will come about, one way or another. Even without Garrett Park, we are still a family.”

His heart warmed. He was graced by the beauty of the woman he held in his arms. “You are the most generous woman I have ever met.”

She placed her free hand on his face, her fingers gentle. “I love you, Chase St. John. And nothing is more important than that.”

He couldn’t speak. Not one word. His heart bounded with joy, his soul burst into song, but not a single word came forth. And he knew in that moment that he had indeed finally found the strength he needed to face whatever the world had to offer.

He captured Harriet’s free hand and pressed his lips to her palm. “Harriet Ward, I love you.”