Chase found himself regarding his hostess with a faint smile. It was hard to do else—the sun had shimmered her white hair into a lace-topped halo, and her eyes were amazingly like her daughter’s.

“Captain John Frakenham,” he heard himself say, as if he was trying the name on for size.

Mrs. Ward beamed and, once again, Chase was reminded of Harriet. Harriet who was even now downstairs being importuned by Gower. Though Chase had never met him, he had no doubts about the quality of man Gower must be. “I suppose I’ll do it.”

“Thank you! You will make an excellent Captain Frakenham!”

Chase looked at her.

“Oh—I—that is to say, you are Captain Frakenham so of course you’ll do just fine.”

“Hm. Well, if I’m to meet Gower, you’d best tell me everything you know about the good captain. Or rather, what everyone here knows of him.”

Her brow lowered in thought. “Well, Captain Frakenham is very handsome.”

He waited, but no more was forthcoming. After a moment, he said, “And?”

She pursed her lips. “You are also very wealthy, but I believe I told you that.”

“Numerous times.”

“Only because it is very important.”

“Indeed. What else?”

Mrs. Ward tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Oh! I know! Lucinda Carleton has said that the captain earned his money from sailing the Indian Seas, which I thought was very interesting because—”

“Lucinda Carleton?” He frowned. “Who is that?”

“A friend.”

“Of the captain’s?”

“No, she’s never met the captain. No one has. Except,” she added in a rush after sending him a guilty glance, “Harriet, of course, has met him—I mean, you, quite frequently. And all of us here at Garrett Park know him—I mean, you—very well.”

“How is it that this Lucinda Carleton heard that the captain—pardon me, I mean I—gained my fortune in such a way if she’s never met me?”

Mrs. Ward paused. “I’m not certain. She just seemed to know.”

“I see,” Chase said, though he most definitely did not. “Is there anything else?”

“Well…I heard from Lady Chudrowe that you’ve a bit of a limp caused by an injury sustained during a pirate fight.” Mrs. Ward’s smile lit the room. “Apparently, you are very brave.”

Chase regarded her flatly. “Tell me, Mrs. Ward, how many people know about the captain’s existence?”

“Why, the whole town, to be sure! Everyone has been talking about you for weeks.”

Bloody hell. It would not do to assume the identity of a well-known personae, even a fake one. That could cause undue attention. “I don’t know if this will work. Too many people seem to—”

She stood in a rush, the chair scraping the wood floor. “Everything will work just fine, Captain. Trust me. Now we really must get downstairs. I hate leaving Harriet a second longer than necessary.”

Harriet. Alone. Chase could see the very real distress in Mrs. Ward’s eyes. He supposed that he could just stay near Garrett Park while he was here. So long as he avoided town, he should be well hidden.