The Clockwork Heart (3 page)

Helen took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, and nodded her head. Her eyes were closed. She sat ridgid on the leather seat as if any sudden movement would cause her to break. Libby knew that look. "Sorry, I like to go fast."

"Normally I wouldn't mind…" She inhaled quickly and held her breath.

"You should've told me you got car sick." Libby took her foot off the accelerator.
Then I really would've been firm about making you stay back at the house
. "We're nearly there."

Helen didn't answer.

"Just look at the horizon."

"There are only hills." Helen inhaled sharply.

"You'll be all right." Libby spoke in a soothing voice. She turned the car into the main street of the Bridgewater and pulled the car to a stop with a jerk.

Helen gasped and grabbed her stomach.

"Sorry." Libby got out and rushed around to the passenger's side and opened the door. "The tea room inside have great Devonshire Tea." Libby helped Helen out of the car.
I should've been more attentive and driven slower
.

"I'll be fine in a moment." Helen leaned heavily on Libby.

"Oh, I hope I haven't stopped you from doing your errands in Bridgewater." Libby frowned unable to hide her concern for Helen. At least the tea room was a public place.
Helen should be safe here for a few hours. It would be reckless of Scarlett to try anything when people were around. Besides it's me who Scarlett really wants
. Libby's stomach knotted with doubt. There wasn't any other choice. She needed to go and check with her contacts to find more about Scarlett, she couldn't waste time taking Helen back to home.
Helen will be fine here
.
She is an excellent teacher and she can handle herself in a fight if she needed to.
The knot in Libby's stomach eased.

Helen glanced at Libby and sighed. "No, it's fine."

"I can do them for you if you like?" offered Libby.

"No, no. I can come back into Bridgewater another time."

Libby pushed open the door to the tea room and helped Helen to the nearest table. "At least it's cool in here."

Helen nodded as Libby guided her to sit on a winged armchair. There were a dozen tables positioned around in the cosy room, surrounded by more armchairs. Persian rugs in rich reds and greens formed an intricate design covering the floor and Tiffany lamps glowed on each of the tables. A few customers sat relaxing with cups of tea and scones.
Yes, she will be safer here instead of with me
. A waitress came up with a glass of cool water and handed it to Helen. "Poor girl."

Helen sipped at the water and then pressed the glass against her cheek.

"You are looking better already." Libby didn't want to leave Helen, but she had to find Scarlett. If she wanted to keep ahead of her it was important she find out what Scarlett was up too sooner rather than later. "I'll be back in two hours."

"I'll be here waiting," answered Helen.

Without thinking, Libby kissed Helen on her forehead. "Rest up. Drink and eat whatever you like. I'll pay the bill."

Libby's face flushed as she looked down on Helen. Colour was definitely coming back to her cheeks. Before she could further process what that meant, she rushed out of the tea house. She had enough complications in her life right now without having to handle an attraction to Helen.

*~*~*

Helen's forehead tingled.
She kissed me
. She smiled and moved the glass to her other cheek.

"Here ya go miss." The waitress placed a pot of tea on the small round table next to the armchair. "Took the liberty of bringin' ya some scones. Load 'em up with some jam. That will make ya feel better."

"Thank you," answered Helen in her crisp English accent. Eating was the last thing she wanted to do right now, so she sipped at the water. The queasiness slowly subsided.

Helen rested back in the chair, closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing.
Not what I had hoped for
. She cursed herself for getting ill and missing out on the chance to learn more about Libby. She inhaled slowly. The wave of dizziness eased some more and she began to feel almost back to normal.

"What's a beautiful woman like you sitting here all alone?" asked a stranger.

Helen looked up, surprised. "Just taking time to soak in the atmosphere."

A lady dressed in a full skirt taffeta dress made of a swirl of bright purples and blues stood in front of her. "May I join you?"

Helen's eyes focussed on the woman. She was well groomed, tall, and confident. The dress she wore was perfect for her slender figure and was of high fashion according to the mail orders Helen had been reading to pass the time. The woman's chocolate coloured hair was set in neat curls and adorned with flowers that matched the electric colours of her dress. She looked out of place in the small outskirts town of Bridgewater, but her presence made Helen think of London. She missed her home.

A heart shaped pendant made from cogs and gears hung around the woman's neck. A shiver went down Helen's back.

"Can I sit with you?" The lady asked again. Her voice was soothing.

Helen wasn't sure if she was ready for conversation after the car ride. But then her eyes rested on the heart pendant. The woman smiled at her, filling Helen with friendly warmth that caused her to forget her misgivings.

"Sure." Helen didn't want to sit alone waiting for Libby. Since she wasn't going to be with Libby, having some polite conversation might help to raise her spirit. "Tea is best drunk with another person."

The woman sat down opposite Helen. "I agree."

*~*~*

Libby strode down the street back to her steamcar. She kicked a stone in front of her and watched it go flying across the street, narrowly missing a gentleman walking in the opposite direction. She turned away to avoid his glare. Her afternoon search hadn't resulted in her finding out anything about Scarlett. She hadn't spent much time in Bridgewater; it was easier to keep away from people after what had happened. She felt safer. But Bridgewater was still her home. This was her stamping ground and she was going to protect it from Scarlett.

She walked past the pub, nearly doubled back to go in for a drink, but managed to keep walking.
Helen is waiting for me
. She'd been longer than two hours—more like four—which Libby knew was very impolite. But she'd had to wait for replies to her telegrams from her old contacts back when she'd been collecting artefacts. That had been a waste of time too.

There's got to be a logical reason why she's here. Or maybe that letter wasn't from her?
Libby guessed it could be possible that she had it wrong.
But then who sent the letter?
Libby's head pounded and she rubbed her temples to alleviate the ache.
Leave it
.

Libby drove slowly back to the tea room, concentrating on her driving. She parked out front so Helen wouldn't have to walk far after the incident this morning.
I should spend more time with her
. A ruffle of brightly coloured skirts caught her eye, and a cold shiver slid down her back. Libby snapped her head to the right and saw someone well-dressed disappear down a side street.

It's her
. Libby jumped out of the car and ran after Scarlett. But when she got to the side street, no one was in sight. Her guard up, she walked down the street, looking into the windows, but found nothing.
I swear that was her.
She trusted her instincts, but now she wasn't so sure.
Maybe
I'm just tired. Too much training
.

Libby headed back to the tea room. She knew the real reason she was tired. The memory was dominating her dreams at night and she wasn't getting enough sleep. She took a deep breath as she stepped into the tea room, relieved to see Helen sitting in the same winged chair she had left her.

Helen shot her a cold stare. "Two hours?"

Libby cleared her throat. "Sorry, but my errands took longer than I thought they would." She bit her tongue to stop herself from adding that Helen could've stayed at home. Libby was used to working alone and found it difficult to accommodate someone else. Even if that someone was a curvy woman who was more than capable of looking after herself, and someone that set a burning fire between her thighs. Libby sighed. "I tried to warn you. I'll make it up to you, how about a swim before dinner?"

Helen narrowed her eyes.

She's not going to be easily tempted
. "I've got ice cream for dessert, honey ice cream, and a swim will be a great way to cool down. You'll enjoy it," said Libby.

"I don't have a swimming costume," replied Helen.

"Oh, don't worry about that. I swim naked…" Libby swallowed hard and lowered her voice. "Oh… I mean… well… if you don't mind…"

Helen laughed nervously, her cheeks deepened in colour. "I will if you will." A cheeky glint in her eyes caused Libby to flush.

"Oh, I didn't… know you liked…" She took a deep breath. "Of course." She smiled.
She likes me
. The thought helped to push away all the worries that had been consuming her since receiving the letter this morning. "I'm more than game." She added finding a new confidence flooding through her. She held out her hand. "Let's go."

"Yes." Helen took Libby's hand. "But please drive slowly this time."

"Very slowly." She smiled cheekily. "But you'll have to wait longer."

Helen gasped in pretend shock. "I'm sure it will be worth it."

*~*~*

The drive back to the estate was slow. All Helen could think about was slipping into the cool water with Libby. She nearly told Libby to drive faster, but she didn't want to feel car sick again.
That would ruin things.
She had been waiting too long for a chance of starting something with Libby. Helen didn't want anything to get in the way of that finally happening. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

The road curved around the edge of the hill and she glanced down. Her stomach flipped. She wound down the window, allowing the breeze to flow onto her face.

"Are you all right?" asked Libby. The car slowed down.
No, don't slow down
. But Helen couldn't talk as a wave of nausea flowed over her. Libby glanced at Helen. "I hope you weren't too bored waiting for me."

Think of the pool … wrapping my arms around Libby's naked body.
The feeling of car sickness began to dissipate, enough for her to finally answer. "No. I had people to talk to."

"The locals are friendly around here." Libby paused as she directed the steamcar around a sharp bend. "Sometimes too friendly. I hope they didn't harass you."

Helen laughed. She knew exactly what Libby meant. She hadn't been harassed, as such, but that was more because she didn't mind talking to strangers and she enjoyed being out of the house for a change. "They were very curious to know what you were up to and kept asking what line of work you were in. Apparently they think you a woman of mystery, which is driving them crazy. They want to know more about you."

"I hope you didn't set the grapevine on fire," said Libby.

"Oh, I probably did." Helen paused. "Sorry, I hope not. I have a habit of talking too much sometimes." And since she'd been alone for so long with only automatons for conversation, she knew with a twist of her stomach that she had probably said too much.

"Never mind." Libby's voice was sharp.

"I just mentioned you had been on some interesting adventures. There's nothing wrong with that because it's the truth."

Libby sighed and turned the car into her long driveway. "It's more than just adventures."

"I know. Well, I guessed, but I didn't tell them that." Helen looked at Libby. "Look. They were polite, not nosey." Helen paused as she thought over the conversations she had over the afternoon. "Except one woman."

"Who?" asked Libby with a force causing Helen to jump.

"I can't remember her name. Come to think of it I don't think she even gave it to me." It had been difficult at first because she hadn't been feeling well, but after a pot of strong English Breakfast Tea she had recovered. "Don't worry, I only talked about myself with her."

"Bugger." Libby slammed her hand on the steering wheel as she bought the steamcar to a halt in front of the house. "It has to be her."

"Who?" The thoughts of there being another woman resurfaced in Helen's mind. "Is there someone else?"

"No. It's not like that." Libby turned to Helen. "It's just… someone…"

Helen waited patiently for Libby to finish. She knew that something terrible had happened to Libby. Something that had caused her to shut down when her career of artefact collecting had only just begun. But she didn't know the details. She wanted to know them, and she looked into Libby's eyes, hoping she would finally open up.

"I guess… you would say… my nemesis."

Helen's eyes widened with alarm. She swallowed hard, trying to process what Libby had said. Richie walked up to the steamcar. "Ma'am there's a phone call for you." Helen jumped as the automaton spoke. Its voice shattered the opportunity to ask more questions as it stood by the driver's door.

Libby turned away. "Right. Richie put the car away."

"What about…?" asked Helen.

Libby glanced back at Helen. "This won't take long. I promised you a swim. Meet you down at the pond."

At least something is going right.
She tried not to hope too much. Helen smiled. Things were delicate between them, and it might or might not develop into a relationship.
One step at a time
. She got out of the car as Libby rushed up the front steps into the house.

Helen turned in the opposite direction. Her boots crunched on the loose stones as she walked across the driveway to the garden. She was very familiar with the garden. She had meandered here for hours between training sessions hoping to bump into Libby.

Making her way towards the pond, Helen hoped Libby would be joining her soon. She could tell Libby was distracted. Something had happened that had rattled Libby's nerves and Helen felt powerless about the situation. Without knowing what was the cause she couldn't help, and she dearly wanted to help.