She’d always been so bright, hanging on his every word as though he were the foremost expert on all things botanical. He supposed he’d been flattered by that, and he’d liked having her around. “I felt the same. My father and brother acted as though my interest was something shameful. As though it made me less of a man somehow.”
“I don’t think anyone should ever be ashamed of the things they are passionate about,” she said softly. “For those are the things that make life worth living, aren’t they?” She shook her head. “I’ve studied as much as I can, given that there’s only one small bookstore in Woolshire. I started to believe that I had some small talent and tried to make some changes to the gardens at home, but our gardener spoke to my father about it, insisted that I didn’t know what I was doing, and Father believed him.”
Her story was very similar to one that Violet had written to him, and for a moment, he thought she was telling him what Violet had done in an attempt to impress him, but then he realized it was Violet who had lied. Daisy was the one who truly loved botany. She wasn’t saying such things just to impress him. He suddenly wondered how much of what Violet had written had been stolen from her sister’s life.
“I’m sure he just felt threatened,” Flynn assured her. “Or perhaps he was just too lazy to want to do the work such changes would entail. Either way, your father should have stood up for you.”
“Neither of them believed I knew what I was talking about because I am young and female,” she said with a bit of vinegar in her tone. “I could be the most talented landscape architect in the world, and it wouldn’t matter a jot to them because I’d still be a woman.”
“Well, I don’t care if you are young and a woman,” he told her because it would be pointless to deny what she’d said. “I’ve always thought you had good ideas. In fact, next time you come, you should bring some sketches of your thoughts. I’d love to discuss them with you.”
“I’d like that,” she said with a bright smile, her dark eyes dancing with happiness. “Thank you.”
He found it truly deplorable that anyone had ever done anything to try and stomp on her enthusiasm. “Once I’m feeling better, I plan to start working on some improvements here. I wouldn’t say that the garden has fallen into complete shambles, but it certainly isn’t what it once was either. The gardeners are managing to keep up with it in the most general terms, but I don’t think any of them truly care.”
“I’d love to help you,” she said. “It’s made me sad as well, to see the way that it’s become a bit overgrown.”
“Good,” he said, feeling the first spark of happiness he’d felt since he returned home. “When I feel up to it, I plan to walk through and make some sketches and plans. You’re welcome to come along.”
For the next hour, they had a very rousing discussion about the things that they loved, and he didn’t know if he’d ever had a more pleasurable conversation. But she noticed when he began to tire.
“You need some rest, I should go,” she said, bending forward and pressing her hand to his forehead. She left it there for a moment, and he enjoyed the feel of her cool fingertips against his skin more than he should. “You don’t seem to be warm though.”
“Thank you for coming,” he murmured, catching her hand as she pulled it away and giving into his previous urge to press a sweet kiss to her palm. “I enjoyed your visit more than I can say. Will you come again?”
“Of course, I will,” she said with a sweet smile, her cheeks turning a becoming shade of rose. “I enjoyed this too.”
She stood and tucked the blankets around him, then pressed a gentle kiss of her own to his forehead. “Sleep well, Flynn.”
And for the first time since he’d returned, he fell asleep with a small smile on his lips.
Chapter Seven
When Flynn awoke laterthat afternoon, he immediately sensed that someone was in the room with him. He opened his eyes, then blinked when he found Violet sitting in the chair beside his bed, peering down at him with those beautiful eyes.
“Hello,” she said softly, her luscious lips curving up into a lovely smile. “You’re awake.”
