Ophelia’s gaze narrowed. “That’s not possible. Not when everyone makes fun of it.”

“I’m certain not everyone thinks it humorous. Why, just ask the captain. I daresay he’s heard far more unusual names.”

All eyes turned on Chase.

“Well?” Ophelia asked in a rather daunting tone.

“Well what?” he responded lightly, wondering what the chit expected from him.

“What do you think of the name Ophelia?” She spoke stiffly now, her chin high, as if she were taking a horrible risk and she knew it, but her pride would not allow else.

Good God, why had she asked him that? Chase picked up his glass and took a sip of water in a lame effort to gain some time. If he said what he thought—that the name was indeed ridiculous—he would be damned. And so would she. He could see it in her eyes.

But if he did more, flattered her that the name was as lovely as she herself was, then he was lying to her, and surely that was an ill choice, too.

Perhaps if he just ate, kept his mouth too full to talk, she’d look elsewhere for reassurance. He resolutely cut a large piece of asparagus into two pieces and stuffed one in his mouth.

Ophelia tossed up her chin, her eyes bright with mischief. “Captain Frakenham,” she said loudly.

Chase paused, the second bite of asparagus already halfway to his mouth. There was no hope for it. He had the impression she’d wait for each and every bite.

He cast a regretful look at his fork and set it on his plate. “Yes, Miss Ophelia?”

“What do you think of my name?”

He pretended to ponder this. “It’s very original.”

“And?”

Bloody hell, what more does she want? He was not used to being questioned. And he definitely wasn’t used to being taken to task for having an opinion.

Chase tossed his napkin onto the table. “I don’t know what I think about your name! I suppose you’re right and it’s a rather sil—Oof!” He glared down at Harriet. “You kicked me.”

“I did not,” she said, her gaze not on him, but on Ophelia.

Ophelia’s lips quivered uncertainly. “You think my name is sil—Were you going to say silly?”

Chase moved his foot carefully, hoping some feeling would return before morning. Couldn’t anyone take a joke? “Of course I wasn’t going to say that! What I said, was that I thought your name was rather silky, like good ah, silk.”

“Silky?”

“Yes, sort of feminine and soft and…shimmery.” His brow was damp with the effort, but he managed.

“Ophelia! That is the prettiest compliment!” Sophia gave an excited bounce. “That was very well done, Captain. In fact”—she shot a glance at Harriet from beneath her brows—“I think that’s the prettiest thing anyone has ever said.”

Harriet snorted. “That’s what you said when one of the Ferrell twins likened your eyes to the stars, which was not very original, I might add, or very apt considering your eyes are blue and the stars are all yellow.”