“Oh, you know Harriet!” Mrs. Ward said airily. “She can be a bit stubborn at times.”

Chase thought of the firm set to Harriet’s mouth, and he rather thought perhaps Mrs. Ward was understating the case.

Mrs. Ward placed her hand on his sleeve. “Captain Frakenham, I dislike placing this on your shoulders after your grievous injuries. But Garrett Park is in dire straits.”

Chase leaned his head back against the pillows. Here it was—the reason she wanted him to be someone he was not. “How dire are things?”

She gave him an embarrassed smile. “Very. But we were doing well until Mr. Gower joined the board of directors at the bank. Even though I’ve told him of your existence and the funds you will shortly provide—”

“Funds?”

“Profits from your sailing. You’re a very good captain, you know.”

“That is reassuring to hear.”

“I thought so,” she said, unaware of his sarcasm. “Despite your existence, Mr. Gower continues to be an annoyance.”

Chase’s lips twitched. A rising wave of curiosity was beginning to tickle his sense of the ridiculous. “I take it that there is some question to the existence of the good captain’s fortune?”

“Well…not a question exactly. More of an inquiry. And not just about the fortune.” Mrs. Ward bit her lip. “You see, we mentioned…that is, I mentioned your existence to the bank officers—Mr. Gower in particular—thinking they might give us an extension on the mortgage.”

“I hope they were duly impressed.”

“Oh, very! You, my dearest sir, are in charge of a large ship! A very large ship. A very, successful large ship.”

“That’s also good to hear. By the way, what’s the name of the ship?”

She blinked. “I—I don’t—”

“Where was I sailing from?”

“I—we never—”

“And my crew? Will they be joining me here? Or am I to meet them somewhere else?”

“Oh dear!” Mrs. Ward pressed a hand to her cheek. “I—I’m sure I know the answers but not at this moment. I’m a bit distraught, you see. Mr. Gower is here, and that always muddles 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—”

“Which is you,” Mrs. Ward interjected with a hopeful look.

“—which you say is me,” Chase said implacably, “in front of the officers in an effort to gain some time?”

“Yes. 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.”