The Clockwork Heart Read Online Free

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