Page 74 of The Botanist’s Improper Bride

Letitia frowned and placed the writing set on a table. “What do you mean?”

Seraphina fussed with the strap of her work bag to give herself something to do with her hands. “Mr. Emerson told Father everything. Father insisted I marry him. So I left.”

“You… left?”

“Yes.” She cleared her throat. “Though I doubt Father has noticed yet, as he intended to call on Trevor immediately. He may well be there now. Do you mind if I send a letter to Trevor so he knows what’s happened?”

Letitia stepped away from the writing set and gestured toward it. “Go ahead.”

Gratitude swelled in Seraphina’s chest, and she blinked rapidly, doing her best to ward off more tears. “Thank you.”

She pulled over a chair and penned a note, her hand trembling slightly and smearing the words in a couple of spots so that she had to scratch them out and replace them. Once the ink was dry, Letitia summoned a footman to have it delivered, and then they sat in a silent room, neither of them sure of what to do or say.

“What do you plan to do?” Letitia asked after a while.

“I’ll tell you what I’m not doing: marrying that snake.” It was about the only thing she was certain of. “I’ll elope if I have to.”

“With Trevor?” Letitia sat forward, smiling. “How romantic.”

“Do you think he would?” For all that Trevor claimed to want to marry her, he didn’t seem the type to steal away together like star-crossed lovers.

Letitia tilted her head thoughtfully. “I do.”

Seraphina hesitated. “Perhaps I could stay here tonight? I could write to my father and ask for a night with a friend before I get on with the wedding arrangements. That would at least give us a little time to come up with another plan.”

“Sounds plausible. You do that, and I’ll go and speak with my parents, but I doubt it will be an issue. We have plenty of rooms.”

Taking her hand, Seraphina gave it a gentle squeeze. “Thank you.”

Letitia squeezed back. “We’re friends. It’s what we do.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to ask, but would you also be able to ensure that Bessie and Mark find decent employment if they show up here? When Father eventually realizes I had help, he might put two and two together and banish them from the house.”

Letitia rolled her eyes. “As if you even need to ask. We have so many properties that I’m not even sure anyone would notice a new footman or maid simply appearing. One of my nieces is old enough that she’ll need a lady’s maid soon, so if it comes to that, consider the matter settled.”

“That means the world to me.”

While Letitia was gone, Seraphina wrote a letter to her father, hoping he wouldn’t take exception to the fact she’d gone to Letitia’s home without permission. Usually, that wouldn’t bother him, but he might be in a bad mood after their argument. She gave the letter to a servant, and Letitia returned with a smile and the news that she was welcome to stay as their guest for the night.

Thank God.

A missive from Trevor arrived soon after. Well, two, actually. It was clear that the first had been sent to the Dalton residence first because Bessie had scrawled the Carrutherses’ address on the outside. With shaking hands, she opened that letter first and was relieved as she read his lovely words.

When she reached the final few lines, her heart gave a pleasant ka-thunk and her insides fluttered delightfully.

Her faithful supporter.

He was such a sweet man, and she had no idea why he’d decided to stand by her, but she couldn’t imagine ever feeling more fortunate.

The second letter contained another assurance that he had every intention of marrying her, along with a promise to pretend the engagement was off as far as Mr. Dalton was concerned. In a postscript, he added that he was researching the legality of her actions so that he was in the best possible position to defend her.

She clutched the letter to her chest and closed her eyes, aching inside as she wondered how she’d gotten lucky enough to win the affection of someone who was prepared to support her so staunchly.

Trevor was a godsend. Everything she’d never known she wanted.

She truly hoped she wouldn’t lose him.

Seraphina woke in a bed that wasn’t her own and immediately wished she was still asleep. Her father had given her permission to stay at the Carrutherses’ house overnight, provided she was home by this evening and prepared to discuss her new wedding plans tomorrow.