An Unexpected Bloom (The Harcourts: Another Generation Book 3) by Penny Fairbanks

Author:Penny Fairbanks [Fairbanks, Penny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-03-25T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

Helen peered down at the large box in her hands, double checking that the silk bow she had wrapped around it was still perfectly in place. Of course, she knew the bow would be the least interesting part for the recipient of this gift, yet she still wanted to make a positive impression. Satisfied with her work, Helen quit her bedroom and made her way through Lockswell House.

“Is that you, Helen? Where are you off to?” Papa’s voice called from the music room as she passed.

Helen bit her lip at the interruption. She was eager to be on her way—to see Miles. Still, she stopped in the doorway and dutifully greeted her parents, Papa seated in a comfortable armchair, Mama at the pianoforte.

She clutched the package to her chest, suddenly worrying what her parents would make of her answer. “I thought I would take the carriage to Corbyn Cottage. Mr. Miles invited me to celebrate his younger brother’s twelfth birthday.”

Mama rose from the pianoforte and captured Helen in her unexpectedly cool gaze. “Are you sure that is the best idea, daughter?”

Helen’s brow furrowed and she swallowed around the knot in her throat. Did Mama suspect something? Of course she should not have been surprised. Nothing could slip past the future baroness’ quiet observation. Helen had only hoped that she could hide her intentions for a while longer. She had been so busy simply enjoying spending time with Miles that she had not yet formulated a plan for revealing the truth to her parents.

Papa also stood from his chair and crossed the room to stand before Helen. Amiable as always, he put his hands on her shoulders and looked her up and down with a pleased smile.

“How lovely, Helen! And you look so very pretty today. You have your mother to thank for that. Go on and have a wonderful time with your friend, my dear.” He clapped his hands down on Helen’s shoulders twice and turned her around, pushing her back out into the hallway.

Helen threw a glance over her shoulder just in time to see her cheerful papa turning back into the room, an unusual frown on his face. She pushed his and Mama’s comments out of her mind as she hurried downstairs.

The only thing that seemed impossible to shake was the word Papa had used to describe Miles. Her friend.

Helen pondered it as she waited in the foyer for their tilbury to be brought around to the front. The word seemed so plain now that she and Miles had confessed their growing love for each other, now that they had snuck kisses just like any other courting couple. She could not call him anything else to anyone just yet, not until she figured out how to do it while producing the least amount of anger or distress.

A footman finally led her outside and helped her into the modest carriage. The journey to Miles’ home from Lockswell took longer than she was used to, though thankfully not so much longer that Helen could lose herself to her anxious thoughts.

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