The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1871

Sean recalled the moment when he had held Ophelia in his arms before getting into the car, she murmured in hazy sleep, "Flowers in the car."

It was only later that he found two potted plants in her car.

In his urgent flurry to carry her inside earlier, he hadn't managed to grab the potted plants. Now, as he brought them in, Sean was perplexed. Was his Ophelia a secret gardening enthusiast?

Even on the brink of exhaustion, she was thinking about the plants in the car?

What kind of plants were these, which possessed such allure that Ophelia remembered them in her last moments of consciousness?

They looked somewhat familiar.

The soil was half-spilled—could they die? How should he revive them?

Pondering this, Sean called upon the most experienced gardener in the household to see if the plants could be transferred to the garden or if they required special soil.

The gardener looked at the pots in his hands with a hint of surprise. "Aren't those the plants that Miss Bella dug up from the garden for Miss Almond to take home? I clearly placed them in Miss Almond's car. How did they end up with you? Did Miss Almond leave without them?"

"Our family's plants??" Sean was taken aback.

"Yes, those are from our garden. Miss Bella herself asked me to fetch these pots. I watched her fill them with soil from the garden and transplant the plants."

It dawned on Sean that it wasn't the plants that mattered to Ophelia, but the deep bond she shared with Bella.

"You may go now."

"Yes, Sean," said the gardener, confused by the inquiry.

Once alone, Sean went out to the garden, where he dug up some fresh soil and carefully repotted the bedraggled yet significant plants.

Meanwhile, Arabella sent him a message, assuring him that Ophelia was fine apart from a minor cut on her forehead. Everything else was in good order.

Sean's heart, which had been heavy with worry, finally settled. "I've had the kitchen prepare some late-night snacks. Come down and eat something; you've had a long day too."