Page 21 of Romancing the Heiress
Phin wanted to put his arms around her and tell her she was safe, that she would always be safe. He was suddenly very angry with himself for not helping her escape her parents’ house when she was younger. Why had she felt as though she had to leave Marrywell? But if she hadn’t, where would she have lived? At Radford Grange? That might have seemed…odd. And Leah wouldn’t have liked hearing the questions it would have raised with regard to why she couldn’t stay at Black Sheep Farm.
Because she’d never wanted anyone to know how she was treated or, more importantly,why. Indeed, no one knew except Phin, and he hadn’t told a soul. The one time he’d brought it up, expressing his concern, she’d begged him to just let it go, saying things weren’t that bad. She’d been fifteen. Four more years she’d suffered her mother’s cruelty and her father’s indifference.
“Call for me if you need anything,” he said. “I’ll be right over there.”
She opened her eyes and nodded. Her breathing had finally begun to slow.
Phin went back toward the street and gingerly peered around the edge of the milliner. Webster had crossed the street. Watching him, Phin felt a surge of rage. He encountered the man on occasion, but rarely his wife. When Phin did see either one of them, he went out of his way to avoid them. Now, he wished he’d confronted them, told them he knew how poorly they’d treated their youngest daughter, how they’d driven her to leave.
But Leah wouldn’t have wanted him to do that. She’d been relieved and happy to find a way out seven years ago. She’d said she wanted to put the past behind her and look to the future. At the time, he’d been overwhelmingly sad to see her go, but he’d known it was the right thing for her. She’d been so courageous, so determined. He’d admired her so much.
Then he’d failed to answer her letters. What sort of friend was he?
Webster mounted a horse and walked the animal away along the High Street.
Exhaling, Phin turned and strode quickly back to Leah. “He’s gone.”
Her shoulders sagged with relief. “Thank you. You are the best of friends.”
“No, I’m not.” His anger was now solely directed at himself. “I should have done more to help you, to protect you. I should have asked my grandfather and father to take you in. I should haveinsisted. And I should have written to you. I regret that more than anything. I missed you. Your letters made me so happy but also sad. I wanted you to come back.”
She blinked, her lashes fluttering. “You did?”
He hadn’t realized how much until that moment. “Yes.”
She stood on her toes and brushed her lips against his cheek. Time froze as a long-forgotten memory assaulted him. She was standing on her toes then too and kissing him. But not his cheek. Because he’d seen what she was going to do and at the last instant had turned his head. She’d been his princess, and he was her knight. Wasn’t he supposed to kiss her after saving her from a dragon?
Except he hadn’t really saved her from anything. He’d made things easier for her in the short term, countering her mother’s anger and giving Leah a safe haven. But in the end, he’d failed her. They all had, until Lady Norcott had come and truly rescued her.
“Are you happy?” he blurted.
She settled back to her normal height, her brow creasing. “Yes. Why?”
“It’s important that you’re happy.”
“I am.” She gave him a reassuring smile. “Truly. But seeing my father makes me… Well, it doesn’t make me feel good. I probably shouldn’t have come back to Marrywell.”
“You didn’t have a choice. You go where your employer goes.”
“Come on, you need to find Mr. Armstrong so you can tell him about the folly.” She took his arm again, and his breath caught.
He looked over at her to see if she noticed. It didn’t appear so. What was wrong with him?
“I’m so sorry that happened,” she went on. “But I’m sure you’ll get it back to the way it looked when your grandfather had it built.” She gave him an encouraging smile that made him feel anything but encouraged.
How could he fix the folly without funds? His grandfather would be so disappointed to see this. He would have made sure it was repaired before the end of the festival.
That was the worst part—feeling as though Phin had let his grandfather down. He would do anything to make the man proud, even though he was gone. The gardens were his legacy, and Phin owed it to him to do whatever necessary to keep them as beautiful and useful as he’d intended them to be.
“I’m afraid I need to get back to the New Inn,” Leah said. “Mrs. Selkirk will wonder why my short walk took so long.”
Phin hoped that didn’t remind Leah of her mother. Leah had always been worried she was away too long, and he’d hate to think of her reliving that fear now. But Phin couldn’t imagine that Mrs. Selkirk would compare to her mother. If she did, there was no way Leah would work for her. Unless she didn’t have a choice…
Don’t borrow trouble,Gran would say. Leah said she was happy.
“I’ll walk you back,” Phin said, escorting her onto the High Street and steering her toward her lodgings.
He ought to try to see Miss Selkirk, to hopefully position himself as her primary suitor, but he needed to find the mayor. He’d press his suit tonight.
