Page 11 of Romancing the Heiress
Phin noted that Leah was far more reserved than she’d been in their youth, no longer the exuberant girl who’d followed him up trees or convinced him they should learn to swim. But no, she hadn’t always been that girl. She would grow shy and even afraid in the presence of her family—her mother in particular. It was as if she’d been two different people. Was she still like that? He recalled how she’d changed her demeanor when her employer had arrived in the gardens the other day, so perhaps she was.
“Phin, I do hope you aren’t fretting over whatever was bothering you earlier,” Gran said.
He realized he was fading away into recollections of the past, of Leah. Well, he’d missed her.
“What was bothering you?” Leah asked.
“Nothing at all. Gran is looking for problems to solve where there are none.” He gave his grandmother a teasing smile.
Chap walked slowly into the sitting room, his spine stiff and straight. “More guests have arrived, Mr. Radford. Mrs. Selkirk and Miss Selkirk. Would you like to receive them?”
“Indeed?” Gran asked, sounding surprised and delighted. “We should move into the drawing room.”
Phin glanced at her. “Nonsense, we’re comfortable here. Bring them to join us, Chap. And send more teacups.”
“Very good.” Chap left as slowly as he’d entered.
Gran pinned Phin with an eager stare. “This istheMiss Selkirk?”
“I don’t know any others.”
“Did you invite her?” Gran asked. When Phin shook his head, she clucked her tongue. “Very bold. But that’s likely the mother’s doing. It’s not every day your daughter catches the eye of one of the most prominent gentlemen in the district. I’m sure she wants Miss Selkirk to lay her claim before the festival begins tomorrow.” Gran turned her head toward Leah. “And who can blame her? If word gets out that Phin is looking to take a bride, he’ll be more popular than any of the maidens fair.”
“Not possible,” Phin said with a laugh. He glanced at Leah in faux distress. “Please tell me that’s not possible.”
Leah smirked before sipping her tea.
“Your silence is not comforting,” he muttered.
“I’m so pleased I get to meet Miss Selkirk before the bustle of the festival.” Gran hurriedly finished her walnut cake.
“Careful, Phin, or Lady Gran’s going to marry you off by Sunday,” Leah said drily.
“I don’t think I can get a special license,” Phin quipped.
Leah lifted a shoulder. “Probably true. There’s always Gretna Green.”
“Why Leah, have you been plotting a runaway wedding?” he asked in mock surprise.
She laughed. “At my age? Hardly.”
He supposed there would be no reason for Leah to dash away to Scotland. Unless she was eager to wed without waiting for the banns to be read. But she wasn’t eager to be wed. He recalled what she’d said to him when he’d advised her not to become Lady Norcott’s companion.
“Why shouldn’t I?” she’d asked. “Is there something keeping me here in Marrywell?”
“Your family.” He’d realized right away how stupid that sounded, for he knew there was no love lost between Leah and, in particular, her mother. They were the primary reason for her to leave. “Your friends, then. The town. You’d be missed.”
“The only way I could stay is if I lived somewhere besides Black Sheep Farm. And I don’t exactly have a line of suitors eager for my hand. Nor do I want that.”
“You don’t wish to marry?”
“I haven’t yet been persuaded to.”
It seemed that was still the case. He only hoped she was happy with that. She seemed to be, but then he hadn’t spent much time with her. He would make sure to rectify that over the coming week. He hadn’t kept up their friendship, and he regretted that.
At last, Chap shuffled back into the sitting room and announced Mrs. and Miss Selkirk. Right away, Phin noticed that Leah sat straighter, and her features smoothed. Even her eyes took on a…blankness.
She certainly still seemed like two different people. Knowing what he knew about her childhood, it made sense that she could alter herself to meet a situation. She’d learned how to hide and how to cope. But had she learned how to just be…Leah?
