I glanced up at the apple tree that flourished in the front yard. Elle was perched in its branches, harvesting the fruit, and I walked to stand among the roots, gazing up at her.

“Have you come to see my papa?” the girl asked as she began to descend the tree.

“No,” I replied. “I’ve actually come to see you and your sisters.”

“Me?” She dropped to the grass and set her basket of apples down. “What for?”

I extended the stack of books to her, watching as her eyes turned alight. “I fear that I’m leaving Hereswith, but I wanted to give these to you and your sisters before I departed. They were some of my favorite books when I was your age.”

Her mouth hung agape as she took my books. I didn’t realize I had accidentally put one of my art portfolios in the stack until she opened it and leaves of my most recent illustrations began to flutter, threatening to fly away on the wind.

“Oh!” I said, and reached for it. “Sorry. These need to stay with me.”

Elle handed me the portfolio and I held it close to my chest as she continued to admire the books.

“Thank you, Miss Clem,” she said in a reverent tone. As she hurried inside to share the news with her sisters, Spruce Fielding appeared on the threshold.

“I’m afraid we cannot pay you for the books.”

“I don’t want payment,” I replied. “I give them freely to your daughters.”

When Spruce merely stood there, blank with surprise, I bade him good day. I was striding to the gate when he hurried after me.

“Miss Clem! Wait a moment, please.”

I tarried, wiping a smudge of charcoal from the cover of the portfolio. “Yes, Mr. Fielding?”

“We’re very sorry to hear what happened last night,” he said, and removed his cap, wringing it in his hands. “Your father is an excellent warden, someone we trusted. And we’re sad to see both of you go.”

“Thank you, Mr. Fielding.”

“Must you leave? You can continue to reside here,” he said. “In fact, we could build you a cottage on my lands, if you like.”

This caught me by surprise. It only made my tears surge, and I at last realized why my father and I couldn’t stay in Hereswith, why Papa wanted to leave so swiftly. “That’s very kind of you, Mr. Fielding. But my father and I feel it’s best to leave at once, so Mr. Vesper can begin to settle in and get to know all of you.”

Spruce nodded, but he didn’t look convinced. “I understand. But if you do change your mind . . . you and your father and Imonie will always have a home here.”

The emotion welled in my throat. I smiled at him as I passed through the gate.