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“She ran off chasing a rabbit,” Alden continued, with a jovial chuckle. “She has such a fondness for animals. Please, allow me to fetch her. Beatrice cannot abide being left out.”

The reverend excused himself with more apologies as he lightly ran down a path calling his wife’s name.

Overwhelmed by the mere interaction, Helena sank back onto the blanket and reached for a bowl of strawberries—not out of hunger, but because she didn’t quite know what to do with herself. Lowen stood over her like a looming giant, casting a shadow that blocked the sunlight from her face.

"I see I’ve interrupted a pleasant gathering,” he remarked blandly.

Uncertain of how to reply, Helena bit into a plump strawberry.

The surprise of his arrival had silenced her thoughts, leaving only tumultuous feelings—like tides crashing against jagged rocks—but no words came.

She was elated he was here, overjoyed even, but doubt kept her subdued.

There was no way to express her delight without addressing the difficulties that lay between them.

“Don’t ignore me. It’s irritating.”

Helena snapped her head up to look at him. “I’m not ignoring you,” she answered hotly, popping another strawberry into her mouth. “I don’t know what to say.”

“I didn’t ask you to leave,” Lowen said, crossing his arms.

His clothes were disheveled from travel—his hat slightly askew, and a shadow of an incoming beard darkening his jaw. Despite his rugged appearance, he was still too handsome. Afraid her resolve might weaken, Helena quickly ate another strawberry to busy herself.

“I would rather not discuss this here,” she said firmly, her mouth full.

Lowen’s expression darkened. “I was fully prepared to discuss this here—what I wasn’t prepared for was male company.”

“Reverend Alden is the new vicar,” Helena told him coolly. “And he’s happily married.”

“Glad to hear it,” he replied, his tone laced with derision.

“Will you sit down? My neck’s beginning to ache from looking up at you.”

For a moment, he just stared at her, his face unreadable. Then his brow furrowed. “Your face is all red. Where is your bonnet?”

Helena reached behind her for her discarded bonnet. “The ribbons were bothering me.”

“Well, put it back on. It’ll be more bothersome when your face is burned.”

“I will if you sit down.”

He did so, settling stiffly on a far corner of the blanket to avoid dirtying the fabric with his mud-laden boots. Because of his acquiescence, Helena begrudgingly tied the bonnet back onto her head, silently admitting that the tops of her cheeks and nose were beginning to feel tender from the sun.

“Are you hungry?” she asked awkwardly, holding out the bowl of strawberries to him.

He looked slightly taken aback by the offer and hesitated before shaking his head. “They’re yours,” he said.

Helena resumed eating—if only to hide the giddy smile tugging at her lips.

He had come back for her. Surely that’s why he was here.

To apologize.

To be with her again.

Reverend Alden and his wife, Beatrice, returned at that moment, laughing breathlessly like children.

“Your Grace,” Alden began, gesturing proudly. “This is my wife, Beatrice.”

Before Lowen could rise, Beatrice dropped onto the blanket with a bright smile. “Oh, no, please! No need to stand on my account, Your Grace,” she said, fanning her face with her hand. “You must be absolutely exhausted from your travels.”

Lowen leaned back on his arms, his attention sliding to Helena even as he answered, “Yes, absolutely exhausted.”

“Such a lovely surprise to have you here,” Beatrice gushed. “We’ve been so looking forward to meeting you.”

Reverend Alden leaned forward, closer to Lowen.

“It’s an honor to meet the man who so generously patrons the school where my sister teaches.

Without your support, the entire facility would be in shambles.

You’ve provided the students with books, clothing, supplies—it’s truly an honor to finally be introduced. ”

At this, Lowen seemed genuinely surprised, his usual placid mien momentarily giving way to a flicker of bashfulness. “I’m pleased to hear the school is doing well. I do try to keep informed about its progress, but it can be challenging when one is spread so thin.”

Beatrice sighed with admiration. “Oh, Your Grace, you must be so busy with all your responsibilities. It must feel wonderful to take a moment to relax.” She gestured toward the spread.

“Please, have something to eat. Her Grace brought strawberries and they’re absolutely divine. Have you tried one yet?”

She reached for the bowl and frowned. “Oh dear, they’re all gone.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize I ate them all,” Helena confessed, embarrassed. “Before you leave, I’ll ask Cook to pack some for you to take home.”

Beatrice waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, pish! Have all the strawberries you want. You’re eating for two, after all.”

Helena froze.

That’s right, she hadn’t yet told Lowen. Carefully, she glanced over at him. As expected, he was already looking at her, but his eyes betrayed nothing. With his usual smoothness, he replied, “Yes, I’ll have to make certain I have enough strawberries for her before we depart for Cornwall tomorrow.”

Her breath caught in her throat. He was here to take her away. This wasn’t a visit for reconciliation—it was a visit to reclaim her. He hadn’t come to apologize, or to make amends; he had come to remind her of her place, to drag her to Cornwall with him and play at their designated roles.

Thankfully, Reverend Alden and his wife continued the chatter, asking enough questions to prompt Lowen into more than just monosyllabic answers.

The discussion centered entirely around him for the rest of the picnic, giving Helena a chance to regain some control over her emotions.

She was prepared to defend her decisions against Lowen’s inevitable accusations.

He would be angry, of course, finding out about her condition like this and even more so that she kept it from him out of spite.

But when the reverend and his wife finally took their leave, the anger Helena had expected from Lowen never came. Instead, he turned his head away from her, speaking into the wind. “I’m staying at an inn nearby. I’ll fetch you at daybreak.”

“Oh.”

He turned and began walking away before Helena could think to say anything else. Clouds she hadn’t noticed before gathered overhead, and the warmth seemed to leave the air.