He turned and caught her staring. He wiggled his eyebrows, and she laughed. Henry Prince.
These feelings she could trust. Henry was true.
At the cottage, the girls spread out, playing with the animals and hiking in the woods. After Henry washed up, Briar tried to corner him about the bundle he was hiding.
“Later,” was all he said, jerking his chin at all the people gathered around.
When it was nearing time to eat, Briar tried to go inside to help serve, but Pansy took her hand and led her out back to check on the bunny.
“We were gone all night and the animals missed us. They need to see you, too. They want to know you are healed.”
It sounded like an excuse one of the boys would make to get Briar’s undivided attention, so she played along. Maybe Pansy was overwhelmed with all that had happened, and now all the people invading their home. Briar could give her a quick bit of quiet and attention. “I feel great, Pansy. Almost like I was never sick. Don’t you worry.”
Pansy had knelt down and was petting the bunny, but kept looking over her shoulder like she wanted to join the gathering in the cottage.
“We can go back, if you think you’re missing out on something,” Briar said, confused by Pansy’s mixed messages.
“No, a few minutes more,” Pansy insisted.
Briar found a Solomon’s Seal plant growing near Fanny’s garden patch. She plucked it and tucked it into her Newport knot.
Henry sidled up next to her and bowed. “Your presence is requested in the cottage.” He gallantly held out his arm and winked at Pansy.
Pansy raced ahead and disappeared around the corner.
“Alone as last,” Briar said, looping her arm through his. “Now will you tell me what happened with the spindle?”
“It’s gone,” he said. “No trace of it or Isodora.”
Briar was confused. “But I saw you bring something from the mill. If not the spindle, what was it?”
“Be patient. I’ll show you soon.” He dropped his arm and guided her ahead of himself into the cottage.
“Surprise!” yelled everyone. “Happy Birthday.” Miss Fanny stepped forward with the cake Mrs. Clover had made for her.
Briar held her hands up to her mouth. She was seventeen. She was alive.
“Now we can finally eat this cake,” Jack said.
While everyone was busy eating, Prudence took Briar aside. “The ladies and I have come to a decision. Fanny is to be your new caretaker until the children no longer need one.”
Briar looked up to see Fanny watching. Fanny grinned and waved.
“Is this acceptable to you?” Prudence noticed Fanny’s enthusiasm and frowned.
Briar stifled a laugh. “She has done well with the children. It is acceptable. Where will you go?”
Prudence raised an eyebrow in answer.
Reminded that fairy business was not her business, Briar lowered her eyes and smiled. Prudence had cared for them, more than she herself realized, and that was something to treasure. “Thank you. For taking us in when you did.”
“You are welcome, Briar Rose.”
The mill girls were made as comfortable as possible for a sleep out under the stars. Briar walked Henry to the road so he could go home. His rough hand in hers a reminder of the changes in her life.
“What a day, Miss Briarly Rose Jenny. Do you realize your courage has redeemed my family’s future?”
“Wasn’t my courage, it was instinct to protect the boys.”
“Call it instinctual courage, then, but it’s one of the things I love about you.”
She grinned, feeling the praise down to her toes. Her heart, once so torn apart, was whole again. All the people she cared about were here. They were safe. She pulled out the spindle’s silk cloth from her pocket and wiped a mark of soot on Henry’s cheek. “You missed a spot.”
He reached up and stilled her hand. “I didn’t know you had the cloth. Do you know what it is?”
“It came with the spindle. Fanny told me it would help protect me.”
“More than that, it’s a piece cut from Aurora’s baby blanket. Dad told me to always keep the spindle wrapped up inside. I suspect one of the fairies did something to it.”
“I’m starting to suspect those ladies of a lot of things.”
Briar folded the cloth and put it back in her pocket, impatiently waiting for Henry to show her what he brought back from the mill. Did he have bad news or good news for her?
The fireflies blinked their lights against the dark, while the chatter of the mill girls floated over from near the garden, the children’s laughter floating louder and higher. And right in front of her was Henry Prince. Incorrigible, dependable, noble Henry Prince. So many people to love in this valley. She never wanted to leave.
“About the spindle,” he said.
She stopped walking. “Yes?”
“Technically, part of it survived the fire.”