“I expect so.” Then Helena blushed, “But I am not going directly home. You see, George and I…”
“A clandestine meeting?” Jenny teased.
“Exactly. We try to meet on days when I come to the village.”
“Unchaperoned?” Jenny asked with some surprise.
“Actually not. It is at my Aunt Rosemary’s house. We have tea with her, but she always manages to leave us alone for a few moments of private conversation.”
“Then she knows you two are courting?”
Helena nodded. “She does and is very supportive. It is just about the only way we can meet and talk.”
“But at some point, the two of you are going to need to confront your father. This secret courting cannot go on indefinitely.”
They were now entering the confines of the village and soon passed the town square.
Helena tied the ribbons of her bonnet under her chin as the wind was picking up. She looked up at the threatening sky and said, “Oh, Jenny, I think it is indeed going to rain. How can I get to Aunt Rosemary’s without getting soaked?”
“I think you best stay for supper. I can send Joseph to inform your Aunt… and George… that you will not be showing up this afternoon.”
“It will be a disappointment for both of us, but I expect you are right,” Helena sighed.
Just then the first drops of rain began to fall, driven by the increasing wind. They laughed and sprinted the rest of the way down the street to the Barnett residence.
They were just starting to get wet when they rushed in the front door and bolted up the stairs to the sitting room, laughing and shaking their heads to fling off the rain.
Susan, Jenny’s mother, called cheerily from the kitchen, “Have we got a guest for supper then?”
“Yes, Mama, Helena is staying.” She cast a look at Helena who nodded. “And is Joseph about?”
“He and your father are locking up the shop, they will be right up.”
Jenny went to the kitchen. Her mother was putting out the plates and bowls for the table. “Will you call Sally to place the table?”
“Yes, Mama.”
Susan was a robust and red-cheeked woman with strong arms from years of kneading bread. She seemed to always be laughing and was the heart of the family.
“Why do you need Joseph?” Mama asked.
“I need to send him to Helena’s Aunt’s to say she will not be there for tea because of the storm.”
Mama patted her daughter’s cheek. “You are such a thoughtful girl, little Jenny.”
“Mama, I am not little anymore.”
“But you are to me. Now fetch Sally and I’ll send Joseph to you when he and your father come up.”
“Is there anything I can do to help with supper?” Jenny asked.
“You entertain your friend I will get Claudia to peel the potatoes and carrots.”
Jenny called for Sally to help her mother, and then went back to the sitting room where Helena sat at the desk, writing a note. She looked up when Jenny entered.
“I am sending this to George. He will be upset if I do not send him a personal message.” She folded the sheet of paper, put it in the envelope, sealed it, and wrote his name on the front.
“Miss Jenny, your mother says you needed me to deliver a message?” Joseph, the elderly retainer, asked, as he came from the kitchen.
