Page 50 of Romancing the Heiress
His lip quivered. “There is no apology great enough for what you are owed.” He forced a smile, sniffing. “I’m so glad you’ve come. Barnabas said he saw you in the botanical gardens, and I dared to hope.”
Harriet turned a wrath-filled stare on her husband. “You knew she was here?”
“As if you’d want to know,” her father replied with an acerbity she didn’t recall him having before. “Come and sit for a few minutes and tell us—me—of your adventures.” He moved back into the reception room and gestured for Leah to take one of the chairs.
Old habits, however, were hard to break, and Leah couldn’t quite bring herself to step into that sanctified space.
“She won’t stop you,” her father said, shooting a glare at Harriet. “I won’t let her.”
Now he wanted to protect her? What upside-down world had Leah stepped into? Looking skeptically toward Harriet, Leah gingerly moved into the reception room. She was almost surprised that she didn’t spontaneously combust.
Her father moved to the settee while Leah slowly made her way to a chair opposite him and perched on the edge, prepared to flee at any moment. “I won’t stay long. I need to get back to my charge.”
“Who is that?” her father asked.
“I’m companion to Lady Norcott’s great-niece now.” Leah didn’t like the way Harriet stood in the entry hall glowering at them. Couldn’t she just go back to the kitchen or, better yet, the fires of hell?
“Good for you,” Monty said with…pride?
Leah tried to ignore the sudden flash of joy. She’d only ever wanted someone to make her feel special. Loved. That he’d written to her gave her a rush of happiness she never would have expected. She wondered what had happened to those letters. Surely, they would have been forwarded to her at the Selkirks?
“Why are you still working as a companion with all the money you have?” Harriet asked.
This ridiculous question prompted Leah to turn toward the entrance hall. “What money? I earn a modest salary.” Less than when she’d worked for Lady Norcott. Perhaps Harriet thought Leah had more means due to the quality of her clothing, thanks to Lady Norcott’s generosity.
“You inherited a fortune from Lady Norcott.” Harriet sneered. “Of course you’d pretend not to have, so as to hide it from us—the people who took care of you when no one else would.”
Leah rose, her legs a little unsteady. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. She left me two months’ salary and her five dearest books.”
Harriet scoffed as she marched to a small writing desk in the corner of the reception room. She opened a drawer and pulled out a folded piece of parchment, then went to Leah and shoved it at her. “You can stop lying.”
Taking the paper, Leah scooted away from Harriet, but then the woman moved to the other side of the room anyway. Leah quickly scanned the letter. It was addressed to her from a solicitor in London. In it, he detailed an extensive list of furniture and belongings as well as the sum of five thousand pounds, all of which Lady Norcott bequeathed to…Leah.
How was this possible? Leah needed to finish reading the rest. The final paragraph stated that Leah needed to visit his office before the first anniversary of Lady Norcott’s death in order to claim the inheritance.
That was in a week. Or less than. What was the date? Leah’s heart was racing so fast that she could barely think.
“What have you to say for yourself now, you lying chit?”
Leah narrowed her eyes at Harriet, who stared smugly forward. “I had no knowledge of this.” And why not? Why hadn’t Lady Norcott informed her? The woman’s illness had been sudden and short, and she’d spent the last several days unconscious as she faded away. Surely someone had been aware of this, besides the solicitor. Why hadn’t he notified her?
He had—he’d sent this letter here to Black Sheep Farm. “When did you receive this?” she asked Harriet, looking back down at the missive.
“Last autumn.”
So the solicitor had perhaps hoped to find her here after failing to find her elsewhere? Except she’d been right in London,withLady Norcott’s niece! Leah’s blood went cold. Mrs. Selkirk had to be aware of this. If she’d withheld letters from Leah’s father, she could just as easily have prevented other communication from reaching Leah.
She returned her gaze to Harriet. “It didn’t occur to you to forward this to me?”
Harriet shrugged. “Where would I have sent it? If Lady Norcott was dead, how would I know where you were?”
Leah’s father made a sound in his throat. “We could have tried to find her. You never even told me about that letter.”
This did not surprise Leah. “I wonder why she didn’t burn it,” Leah murmured. She closed her eyes briefly as a sense of peace washed over her. Lady Norcotthadtaken care of her. In the best way possible. The things Leah could do with this money…starting with the botanical gardens.
Phin!
She had to stop him before he spoke to Mercer!
