Mr. Becker raised a scornful eyebrow. “That is your problem, Miss Compton. Not mine.”
“Please. I—”
The door behind Leonora opened, and Kathy stepped into the room. Leonora stared at her for a moment while desperation crawled up her throat. What on earth was she to do? If she couldn’t pay, she’d have to move to a different location, and that would mean starting over from scratch. Not to mention that her current location was perfect. Situated on Bond Street, the shop received more foot traffic than was likely anywhere else.
“We’re already more than a week into this month, so surely you don’t mean to tell me I owe you an additional thirteen pounds?”
Mr. Becker did not reply immediately. Instead, he seemed to consider. He tilted his head, and his eyes suddenly sharpened. “I am going out of Town today and won’t be back until January first. You have until then to make a decision, but it will require two full months’ payment plus an additional thirty percent for my troubles.”
“Thirty percent?” Leonora stared at him, incredulous. “But that’s—”
“Or I can toss you out now, if you prefer. I have every right to do so.”
Leonora closed her eyes briefly before nodding in surrender. “Very well. I agree to your terms.”
Mr. Becker grinned. “Are you quite sure?” He leaned toward her, all humor vanishing from his face. “You could end up in debtor’s prison.”
A hand settled firmly against Leonora’s arm. “This is madness,” Kathy murmured. “You cannot do this.”
“I fear it is already done.” Numbness settled in Leonora’s bones. “The bargain has been struck.”
“Indeed it has.” Mr. Becker glanced at them both in turn before touching his hand to the brim of his hat. “Good day, ladies.” He went to the door and opened it, allowing a gust of wind to sweep through the room. Pausing there, he smirked as he added, “I wish you both a wonderful holiday season,” before disappearing out into the grey London street.
The door swung shut behind him, and Leonora expelled a quivering breath.
“What an awful man,” Kathy said. “I wish him a horrid holiday season and I hope he—”
“Kathy. He could have asked for more. The location is certainly worth it.” Leonora sighed and slumped against the counter. “Mr. Raynolds has been too lenient with me because we were friends, but the truth is, this is a business, and if I cannot afford to keep it going, then perhaps I ought to accept that I’m not cut out for the job.”
Kathy frowned. “Nonsense. This is your dream, Leonora. No one loves plants more than you or knows how to pick the right ones and make them grow. You proved that when you were little, or have you forgotten the corner your parents allotted to you at the back of their garden?”
Leonora grinned. “No. I learnt a great deal about flowers and vegetables there.” Many of the things she’d planted were still there, though she hadn’t been to visit the house lately. Not since her parents had departed on their world tour.
A sigh escaped her. The money her father had given her had been spent on acquiring seedlings, paying the rent, and hiring Kathy and Mildred. Little of it remained and with her parents now away, she could not ask them for help. Not that she would. They’d already done enough.
“Perhaps you ought to put some of the orchids up for sale?”
Leonora considered the suggestion. She’d been saving the orchids until they were all in bloom, believing they’d fetch more money if customers saw the exotic flowers they were able to produce, but doing so was probably not an option any more.
“I have to cancel my trip.”
Kathy’s eyes widened. “Nonsense! You’ve been planning this ever since your sister announced her daughter’s birth.”
“I know, but going away now would be completely irresponsible of me. I have to stay here and help with the sales. I have to—”
“I’m just as good at selling as you are. The problem doesn’t lie there but with the products we’re able to offer. People in this part of town want flowers and fruit, not vegetables. So I suggest making all our flowers available for sale along with the lemon tree.”
“I wanted to sell the lemons, Kathy, not the tree.”
“True. But I think it’s time to make some difficult decisions. Don’t you?”
Leonora nodded. “Very well. We’ll offer up the lemon tree and the flowers, then figure out how to procure more later.”
“Good. I’ll make the necessary arrangements.” Kathy retrieved her pocket watch from her apron pocket. “Time for you to go now or you’ll miss your coach.”
“I really shouldn’t.”
“You really should.”
