Harriet nodded. “Please do! And pray tell Stephen I’ll be right down.”

“Of course.” Chase turned to leave.

“Captain?”

He paused. “Yes?”

“Thank you.”

Chase glanced back and saw a soft smile touch her lips.

She lifted the shoes and looked at them, a glow in her eyes. “I and my shoes thank you.”

Chase tried to think of any woman of his acquaintance who would be sincerely grateful for such a trifling thing as a dance in an empty room without the benefit of an orchestra or champagne or any of the trappings most females prized.

Harriet stomped her booted feet to the floor and went to the wardrobe. She replaced the shoes on the bottom shelf and then stood back and regarded them with satisfaction. “Now no one can say they’ve never been worn.”

“No. No they can’t.” And with that poor rejoinder, he left. What was it about Harriet Ward that fascinated him so? He wasn’t sure what it was, but he was damned well going to find out.

Chapter 16

No cod for me, please. Makes me dream the most horrid things. Last time I ate some, I dreamed that my mother-in-law had come to stay, broke her hip on our front landing, and never left.

Mr. Giles Standish to his brother, Mr. Lembert Standish as the two sat down to dine at White’s

Mother’s soft voice traveled through the door. “Harriet?”

Harriet rolled to her side, cuddling deeper into the cocoon of warmth she’d made in the night. “Yes?”

“Time to wake up, dear.”

Harriet wasn’t sure she’d ever really been asleep. Her thoughts had churned restlessly last night, just as they had every night since the captain had found his way into the Ward household. Especially since the day before, when he’d danced with her.

She opened her eyes and looked around her room. It looked the same…yet it didn’t. Something magical had happened. Something that had shaken her to the very core.

Worse, every time she closed her eyes, she found herself wearing her sparkling shoes, waltzing in his arms once again, over and over, as if her heart couldn’t get enough of the sensation.

She closed her eyes, remembering the feel of his arms about her, the warmth of his breath on her temple, the deep sound of his voice against her ear—

“Harriet? I don’t hear you moving.”

“I’m awake,” Harriet said, bouncing a little in the bed so that the rails would creak.

“Good. I’m going to help Jane set out breakfast.”

Harriet sighed. “I’ll be down as soon as I’m dressed.”

“Very well, dear. I just didn’t want you to fall asleep again.” Mother’s footsteps faded down the hallway.

Harriet turned onto her back, careful to keep the covers tucked beneath her chin to hold in the warmth, and wondered what made the captain so…fascinating.

Oh, it was true that she’d never seen a more handsome man—the combination of black hair and piercing blue eyes was enough to make anyone take notice. But added to that was a sensual smile that could send a shiver down one’s spine, a set of hard-carved lips that seemed made for kissing, a rather lively sense of humor, and a definite streak of…reluctant chivalry, she supposed it was, for lack of a better phrase.