Romancing the Heiress(47)
Author: Darcy Burke

 

“Please remember that doesn’t make you a horrid person,” Leah said softly, thinking of her own mother. How could she not? “My mother is even worse than yours. We must strive to be better, to do better. You are not your mother. At least, you don’t have to be.”

 

Genevieve sniffed. “Thank you. I’m sorry—if indeed your mother is worse. That can’t have been easy.”

 

Leah found it wasn’t difficult to summon a smile. “I survived. You will too.”

 

Sadie came to pack Leah’s clothing, taking silent direction from Leah as she moved about the room. Not too much later, they were ready to go.

 

“I hope you and Phin will be happy,” Genevieve said, though she sounded utterly despondent.

 

“We already are. I hope you will be happy too.” Leah hugged the young woman, then followed Sadie from the room.

 

Phin and Law were alone in the sitting room and immediately got to their feet as Leah and Sadie entered. “Ready?” Phin asked eagerly.

 

“More than,” Leah answered wryly. She felt bad for Genevieve, but she was most eager to leave the Selkirks behind.

 

They made their way downstairs, where Mrs. Parker greeted them. “I thought that was His Grace’s coach outside. Dare I hope you might want to stay for tea?”

 

“I’m afraid we can’t, Mrs. Parker,” Phin said affably. “We’ve an urgent errand.”

 

Mrs. Parker’s gaze dipped to Leah’s traveling case. “Are you leaving?”

 

“Yes. I am no longer in Mrs. Selkirk’s employ.” She glanced at Phin, who gave her a slight nod even though she hadn’t asked anything. “Phin and I are betrothed.”

 

“Oh, happy day!” Mrs. Parker clapped her hands together. “This is the best match the festival has ever produced!” She shot an apologetic look toward Sadie and Law. “Except for you, Your Graces.”

 

“Don’t ‘Your Grace’ me,” Sadie said with a laugh. “And I agree that Leah and Phin are the greatest match Marrywell has ever known. They are simply meant to be.”

 

Phin turned to Leah, his eyes aglow with love. “Indeed, we are.”

 

They bade Mrs. Parker goodbye and left the inn. Now, they would return Sadie and Law to Fieldstone.

 

“I can’t thank you enough for the use of your coach,” Phin said to Law. “Mine is at your disposal should you require it.”

 

“As you know, it’s not my first time stranded at Fieldstone.” Law gave Sadie a thoroughly smitten stare as his mouth curled into a charming smirk. “The last time turned out so well. Only think of what could happen this time.”

 

“Our hands are quite full at the moment,” Sadie admonished with a teasing smile before turning to Leah. “You must send word if you encounter any difficulty.”

 

Law’s brow creased. “Perhaps I should write an account of Mrs. Selkirk’s confession. Yes, I’ll do that—quickly—when we arrive at Fieldstone.”

 

“That is incredibly generous of you,” Phin said, appearing overwhelmed, but in a good way.

 

Law clapped him on the shoulder. “Happy to do it. We’re practically family now, and I’m eager to help.”

 

“Then let me tell you about the troubles I’ve been experiencing with the gardens.” He shot Leah a faint smile. “My betrothed has tried to tell me that you could help, but I’m afraid my pride has commanded me.”

 

Sadie looked alarmed. “What’s the matter? Of course Law will help.”

 

“I’ll explain it on the way to Fieldstone,” Phin said. “After you.” He gestured for Sadie and Law to precede them to the coach.

 

Leah pressed herself to his side, and he put his arm around her. “You’re going to tell them about the gardens?”

 

“I was thinking I should be honest with everyone in town about the gardens. They don’t need to know the details regarding my father. Tom—and you—were right that people will want to help. The gardens mean nearly as much to them as they do me.”

 

“I’m so proud of you.” Leah snaked her arm around his waist and gave him a squeeze. “Does this mean we don’t need to discuss the possibility of charging admission to certain events? I was actually looking forward to making the gardens into a self-supporting enterprise.”

 

He looked at her with surprise. “You’d want to do that? I confess, I’m not enthused about the business aspect of it. I’m a horticulturalist.”

 

“Then it’s good that your future wife has a head for such things,” Leah said with a laugh.

 

“You continue to astonish me. Since your return, I’ve noticed that you can seamlessly become a variety of people: the girl I knew in our youth, the proper companion, the alluring temptress…and now I must add lady of business, along with dragon slayer, to that list. I’ve wondered if donning different…masks, if you will, somehow helps if things are difficult?”

 

Leah hadn’t considered this before, but hearing him describe her different identities, she realized she’d been that way for a long time. The girl Phin had known was different from the girl who’d lived at Black Sheep Farm. “I think I learned very early that I needed to suppress certain parts of myself—at least at home. This has allowed me to be the person I need to be for whatever the situation requires. I’d never made that connection before.”

 

“Which one is really you?”

 

“All of them.” At least that was what Leah hoped. “Except the girl at Black Sheep Farm. She no longer exists.”

 

Phin kissed her forehead. “I am glad, for I would not want to have to choose between any of the Leahs I’ve come to know. I agree that they are all you. And I’m quite keen to get to know the lady of business. Do you really think Marrywellers will support this new direction for the gardens?”

 

“I believe plenty of people will support us no matter what.”

 

“I only care that I have your support.”

 

She smiled up at him. “You have that. And my love. And my undying devotion.”

 

Pausing, Phin pulled her into his arms just before they reached the coach. “I didn’t think I could love you more than I did this morning, and yet I do. I have to assume I will love you even more this evening. How is that possible?”

 

She gave him a saucy look as she pressed up against him. “You’re an expert at how things grow. You tell me.”