Leonardo (Romancing the Weavers #5) - Kit Morgan Page 0,51
nearest orchard, and she automatically followed. “Does this have anything to do with your cousin?”
She shrugged but said nothing.
“And her choice of a beau?” He gave her a meaningful look. “You’ve been with them most of the time. Do you think they suit?”
She shrugged. “I couldn’t say. They get along fine. But I don’t know if Savannah likes him or not.”
“She hasn’t said anything to you? But she tells you everything – you’re her confidante.”
“I know. But she hasn’t said much about Leo. I think she’s still making up her mind.”
“Hmm, I daresay you’re right. In fact, I think he’s trying to make up his too.”
She almost tripped. “You do?”
“Careful there.” He offered her his arm.
She took it. “Father, will I ever marry?”
“Egads, what sort of question is that? Of course you will.”
“But how do you know? Look at Adele – she’s not married.”
“Your sister, bless her heart, has unrealistic expectations for a husband. No one in Clear Creek can ever hope to live up to them.”
She couldn’t argue with that. Adele had an actual written list of requirements for a husband. She wrote it a couple of years ago after Owen Kincaid got himself a mail-order bride. Daisy Bennett, Adele’s best friend, had married the year before, and after Daisy got married they barely saw each other.
Parthena knew her sister was jealous of her friend, much like she was jealous of Savannah right now. It hadn’t (quite) ruined Adele’s relationship with Daisy – it was normal that she would be jealous, given the circumstances. But this was different – Adele hadn’t fallen for Daisy’s husband …
“When you’re ready to tell me, sweetness,” Father said, “feel free. But don’t wait too long, because whatever it is, is tearing into your heart, and your mother and I don’t wish to see you suffer.”
Parthena swallowed and looked away. Was it that obvious? But what was she to do about it? She had to be happy for her cousin and Leo. Savannah would be happy for her if the roles were reversed. But would she be jealous too?
Chapter Seventeen
“I say, have you noticed something wrong with our daughter lately?”
Belle looked up from the book she was reading. “What do you mean?”
Colin shifted in his chair. They were enjoying an unusual moment of quiet in the Weaver household, as everyone else had gone to bed. “She’s … not herself.”
“How so?”
“Belle, my love, she’s very sad.”
His wife’s eyes widened. “What? But she seems fine to me.”
“You haven’t been watching her, dear. She’s distracted, her mind on things other than our visit here.”
Belle set her book down. “Well, Savannah’s been dragging her all over to chaperone.”
“My guess is our daughter is not there to chaperone.”
“For Heaven’s sake, Colin, if she’s not chaperoning, then what’s she doing?”
He should have worded that differently. Too late now. “Savannah is using her as a … a gauge of some kind. You know how indecisive our niece can be – she’s almost as bad as her father on that score.”
“Harrison can be quite decisive when he wants to be,” she countered.
Colin sighed. “The point is, Parthena is miserable and we need to do something about it.”
Belle came to attention. “Miserable? Oh, dear, that does make a difference.”
Colin arched an eyebrow. “Really? A moment ago you barely batted an eye.”
She rolled her eyes. “Colin Cooke, it’s a well-known fact that when a young woman is miserable, love usually has something to do with it.”
He gaped at her. “Oh, bloody …”
“Don’t swear,” she said, wagging her finger. “Let me think.”
He stared at her. How had he missed it? But then, how had Belle missed their daughter’s misery in the first place? Clearly they’d been distracted too. “But who is she pining for?”
“I said, let me think. Let’s see, she’s only ever around Savannah and … oh. Oh, dear.” She stood. “Oh, bloody …”
“If I can’t swear, neither can you.” He got up, went to her chair and took her in his arms. “Seems our little Parthena is in love.”
She nodded. “And unfortunately, it may be with the man we brought Savannah to see.”
“My, my – this is a pickle, isn’t it? What would Harrison say?”
“Harrison? What about you? Does Savannah have feelings for Leo? Do you even know?”
“To be honest, my sweet, I don’t.” He let her go and began to pace in front of the fireplace. “Parthena said she can’t tell if Savannah likes the chap or not, though one would think she’d know by now –she’s spent every day with him