“In the library, workin’ on the accounts, I suppose. That’s what she said she was goin’ to do, anyways.”

Harriet nodded and made her way to the door. “Thank you, Cook.”

She was halfway to the library before she remembered the ring. She glanced down at it and scowled, giving it a sharp tug. The blasted thing still wouldn’t move. It would just have to wait until she finished talking to her mother.

Harriet shoved open the door to the library. “Mother, I wa—” She halted. Not only was her mother in the library, but the entire Ward family, as well.

Mother looked up from where she sat at the oak escritoire, calmly penning a missive. “There you are! I was just going to send Derrick for you. We are having a meeting about the captain.”

“Glad you made it on your own,” Derrick said. He opened the book he held and settled farther into the large, plump chair, sprawling comfortably. “I was almost finished, and I didn’t want to leave.”

“Oh, Harriet! Mother just told us about the captain!” Sophia gave an excited whirl, her skirts flaring out about her ankles. “Nothing could be more perfect! It’s as if an angel sent him to us. And now, Mother says we’re to act as if we are all in a play!”

Harriet looked at Mother. “A play?”

“Indeed,” Mother said calmly, dipping her pen into the inkwell. “We must make everyone believe that the stranger is indeed Captain Frakenham, at least for a week or so. Especially the staff.”

Harriet pressed a hand to her temple. “Surely it won’t be necessary to take things that far. So long as Gower believes that the captain—”

“Harriet,” Mother said, gentle reproof in her voice, “you know how things got out of hand last time. I merely made mention of a fiancé, and, before you knew it, I was being hounded for details, which I imprudently made up on the spot.”

Harriet sighed. “I know.”

“I thought the story would remain contained within the confines of the bank, so I did nothing more to ascertain the rumor I’d begun. This time, things are going to be done in a more thoughtful, timely manner.”

“What do you mean?”

“Before, because there was so little information on the captain, people began to take it upon themselves to make up things. This time, we are going to grasp the rumor mill firmly by the horns.”

Stephen nodded. He stood leaning against the mantelpiece, his crutches momentarily idle against the wall. “Mother’s right, Harri. Gower will run back to the bank and tell all. The next thing you know all mayhem will break loose; people will be streaming in, asking hundreds of stupid questions and trying to steal a look at him.”

Ophelia plopped down on the small leather settee placed to one side. “It will be just like when Mr. Wilkers told everyone he’d had twin calves off the same cow. Even old Mrs. Crumpleton came to see, and she hadn’t left her home in over two years, claiming her knees were bad.”