“Oh?” The man’s dark gaze flickered past Elviria, then back. “We all have. I’m sorry I’ve forgotten everything—”

“So you say,” Harriet said from behind Elviria.

“He says?” She turned to look at her daughter. “You don’t believe him? But why—”

“Mother!” Derrick stood in the doorway, his dark brown eyes filled with worry.

Elviria noted how his head barely cleared the doorframe. Though only sixteen, he was hands taller than she was. “Yes, dear?”

“It’s Mr. Gower from the bank.”

Elviria’s good mood left her in a whoosh. Good God, surely it wasn’t that time again. Her stomach began to knot. She hated owing money. If she had a pence for every night since Randall’s death that she’d lain awake, wondering how she was going to find funds to keep Garrett Park for her children, she’d be a wealthy woman indeed.

Derrick ran a hand through his hair, his shoulder bumping the door. He was at that gangly stage, too large for his own feet. Elviria managed to smile reassuringly at him even though it was the last thing she felt like doing. “Please tell Mr. Gower that I’ll be down soon.”

Derrick frowned. “Are you certain? If you’d like, I can ask Stephen to speak with him.”

Oh dear. That wouldn’t do at all. Stephen might be older than Derrick, but he also possessed a much hotter temper and a tendency to think he was in charge of the world. “No, no. I don’t wish Stephen to be made uncomfortable.”

“Then I’ll do it. I’ll tell that old bag of wind to go and jump in the lake and drown—”

“No!” Elviria said hastily. “But thank you for offering your assistance. I’ll take care of Mr. Gower.”

Someone placed a hand on her shoulder. Elviria turned to find Harriet beside her.

Elviria managed a smile. “It seems as if we barely make one payment before another is due.”

“It will be all right,” Harriet said, giving Elviria’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I’ll go and talk to him. You stay here with the patient.”

“No. No, I’ll go and—”

“Piffle! I said I’d go, and I will. Meanwhile, you stay here and tend the patient. Of the two of us, I think you have the more harsh task.”

The patient made a dismissive sound, which Harriet promptly ignored. She gave her mother a quick wink and then swept out of the room as regally as any queen.

Elviria knew it was cowardly of her, but she did not wish to see a bank official, especially Mr. Gower. Younger than the other members of the banking board, he also possessed a tendency to be overbearing in the extreme. It was because of him that she’d been forced to make up that ridiculous story about Captain Frakenham.

It was a mess. A huge, tangled mess. Elviria had never meant for the seemingly harmless white lie to get so much attention. Attention that poor Harriet had to pay for.

Of course, it wasn’t all Elviria’s fault. Some little part of it she could subscribe to the laudanum she’d been taking for her aching tooth. Yes, she decided, a little relieved when she remembered the laudanum. That’s why she’d made up that story. Because of the medicine. And not because Mr. Gower rather frightened her. She caught Derrick’s inquiring gaze from where he stood lounging in the doorway. “I think Harriet can deal with Mr. Gower, don’t you?”