Page 19 of The Elusive Phoebe (The Widows of Lavender Cottage #1)

Chapter Fourteen

T he afternoon sun filtered through the windows of Lavender Cottage, casting warm golden light across the small parlor where Phoebe and Archie sat with the daunting stack of correspondence between them. The weight of Lord Smalling's secrets seemed to press against the very air in the room.

Phoebe traced her finger along the edge of the next sealed letter, her thoughts churning. Finally, she looked up at Archie, who had been waiting patiently for her to speak.

"Before we read another word," she said, her voice steady but soft, "I need you to understand something."

Archie leaned forward, his eyes never leaving her face. "Anything. "

"I meant what I said before, Archie. About never marrying again.

" She watched his expression carefully, but he didn't flinch.

"I know you've declared your feelings, and part of me.

.." She paused, gathering courage. "Part of me feels like I could pick up with you where we left off.

Like nothing happened. But it did happen.

And I cannot—I will not—give up my independence again. Not for anyone. Not even for you."

He was quiet for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "I understand."

"Do you? Because I need you to truly understand.

I've just gained control of my own life for the first time.

I have money, property, choices. I can go where I please, speak to whom I choose, make my own decisions about everything from what I eat for breakfast to where I live.

" Her voice grew stronger. "I will not trade that for anything. "

Archie reached for her hand, holding it gently. "Phoebe, I would never ask you to give up your independence. If you'll have me, I want to be part of your life as it is, not change it into something else."

"But marriage would change it. Legally, everything I have would become yours. I would become yours, in the eyes of the law." She pulled her hand back, not unkindly, but firmly. "I cannot do that again."

"Then we won't marry," he said simply.

She blinked, startled. "You would... you would be content with that?"

"Phoebe, I love you. I want to be with you, to support you, to share your life if you'll let me.

The form that takes doesn't matter to me as much as the substance of it.

" He smiled, that crooked smile she remembered so well.

"Besides, you're far too remarkable to be constrained by conventional arrangements. "

For the first time since his arrival, Phoebe felt some of the tension leave her shoulders. "You really mean that."

"I do. But there's something else I need you to understand." His expression grew serious. "Reading through your husband's papers may reveal dangers that require... protection. I want to help keep you safe, but I need you to trust me to do that. Can you trust me, Phoebe?"

She studied his face, seeing the boy she'd loved in the lines of the man he'd become. "Yes," she said finally. "I can trust you. But as my friend and ally, not as my keeper."

"Agreed." He gestured toward the letters. " Now, shall we discover what Lord Smalling has left for you?"

Phoebe took a deep breath and reached for the first letter. "Let's begin."