Read Online Once Beloved by Amara Royce - Free Book Online Page B

Billy’s kerchief back into the top of her chemise. She could survive a month away from him if it meant they would be together permanently. She would be on her best behavior.

Chapter 6
    T he first leg of the journey passed without incident, to Helena’s relief. She’d resolved to say as little as possible, and Mr. Lanfield likewise didn’t seem inclined to talk with his passengers. She’d been surprised when he’d offered her and Vanessa assistance to climb into the back of the cart, not because of his offer, which was only gentlemanly, but because she didn’t feel that spike of anxiety or awkwardness at his touch. She knew he was as reluctant about her company as she was about his, but he must have hidden his feelings. Vanessa’s continuous narrative of the views they passed filled the time, almost to annoyance, but it was easy to indulge the girl’s verbose curiosity. She’d expected her niece to rail against being sent on this trip, but instead she’d been the very picture of amenability. The changing landscape as they moved farther from London really was remarkable. Ultimately, Marksby would be quite a revelation for one who’d only known crowded city streets. Or at least the Marksby she remembered would be.
    â€œJust look at the endless green fields, Auntie! And this vast sky, it’s the color of a robin’s egg! Even in Hyde Park, the view isn’t this vibrant. I thought my mother exaggerated when she described the fog over the city as a horse blanket God threw over it in haste. And those pastoral poems Mrs. Duchamp insists on reading to us, I thought they were flights of fancy.”
    Helena smiled nervously, expecting Mr. Lanfield to make some caustic remark about her niece’s naïveté, but he didn’t appear to hear them from the driver’s seat. So much the better. She’d much prefer silence to whatever censure hovered on his tongue. Marissa had served as their go-between for the remaining travel plans. She still couldn’t believe he’d offered, no matter how grudgingly, to take them with him. She knew enough to realize that the Lanfield family would have been happy to see her burning in hell all those decades ago. When he’d spoken to her in her own house, the anger in his expression had been abundantly clear. Perhaps he was ignoring them purposefully now, but why put them both in this uncomfortable circumstance?
    At the first stop, she decided she must ask him. But, damn, there would go her own resolution to avoid speaking with him. When he’d arrived to collect her and Vanessa, Lizzie had fussed over her daughter and had gnashed her teeth about not being able to go see Gran; Marissa had helped a tight-lipped Mr. Lanfield load their things into the cart. Finally, Marissa had all but pushed Helena into the back of the cart as well. She saw now how well everyone had orchestrated her compliance. And she’d followed along like the meek, mild little lamb she’d become. Well, even a lamb could bite when it needed to.
    While the horse was being fed and watered, she got down from the cart. She caught Mr. Lanfield’s eye and inclined her head toward a more secluded area by a grove of trees. Gratified when he followed, she asked, “Why are you helping me? I could have—my niece and I—could have easily used public vehicles. The trains might even get us there more quickly.”
    â€œAnd here I thought Londoners were known for their relentless propriety. Why bother to start with a genial comment about the weather or the roads? Nor even a hasty thanks.”
    She winced at his words. He had the look of someone who had seen that his expectations were well founded, and she felt a stab of irritation. He didn’t know her, not now, and he had no cause to place judgment on her.
    â€œI do apologize, Mr. Lanfield,” she said, trying not to clench her teeth. “Of course, I give you many thanks for