A New Leaf

Henry is told by his attorney that he has squandered his entire inheritance and is now broke. He spends months dodging calls, confiding to his valet Harold that his only chance to survive is to marry into wealth. He begins to plan how to obtain a wealthy wife, even toying with murder if necessary to secure funds.

Henry pressures his avaricious uncle into lending him $50,000 to tide him over and finance his scheme. He now has six weeks to find a wealthy bride and repay the loan, or lose everything including his art collection. The clock begins ticking on his desperate plan.

With time running short, Henry meets Henrietta Lowell at a high-society party. She spills tea on the carpet, and Henry defends her and offers her a ride home, feigning interest in her botany work. She speaks of wanting to discover a new plant species and name it after herself, and they agree to marry within the week.

Henrietta's lawyer Andy McPherson schemes to block the union, fearing a mercenary match. His manipulations backfire as Henry reveals to him that he had planned to settle his debts and end his life, but meeting Henrietta has given him a reason to go on. Henrietta declares that Henry's debts will be paid before the wedding and that he will have unlimited access to her money, making him financially independent.

Against Andy's wishes, Henrietta agrees to marry Henry, believing that paying off his debts will free him from mercenary motives. Henry’s own feelings begin to shift as he accepts the life they might build together. The wedding takes place within the week, sealing the improbable pairing.

The newlyweds travel to the Caribbean for their honeymoon, where Henrietta discovers what may be a previously unknown fern species. The discovery hints at Henrietta’s uncommon brilliance and seals their bond in an unusual way.

On returning, Henry takes charge of Henrietta's disorganized life, firing 17 household servants who were colluding with Andy and siphoning funds. He sorts through her accounts while secretly plotting to kill her, though he discovers her garden uses no dangerous chemicals. The tension between love and murder hangs over the household.

Henrietta learns that Henry holds only a Bachelor of Arts in history and suggests that he teach at her university, imagining evenings grading papers together. Henry gruffly refuses, signaling a shift in their power dynamic and his stubborn streak. This moment forces him to confront his true motivations.

Henry hints to Harold that it is nearly time to dispose of his wife, and Harold counterpoints that caring for Henrietta has made Henry grow and gain competence. The exchange reveals Henry’s inner conflict between his original plan and the new life he is starting to value.

Henrietta's fern is confirmed as a new species, and she names it Alsophila grahami in Henry's honor. He is unexpectedly moved by the gesture, marking a small but meaningful shift in his feelings.

Henrietta invites Henry to join her annual canoe expedition in the Adirondacks, presenting it as a chance for shared work in the woods. Henry views this as the perfect moment to rid himself of her. The trip promises danger and possibility in equal measure.

Their canoe capsizes on dangerous whitewater; Henry makes it to shore while Henrietta clings to a log and confesses she cannot swim. He initially plans to abandon her, but finds a fern specimen that bears his name and realizes he has fallen in love. He rescues her and commits to staying, promising to be there and to consider teaching history.