'About time HG! Your tea is cold as ice.' A fiery red head called out from the back of the quaint café based in a crooked little shop Myka thought looked like a Tudor hideaway.
'I have good reason though.' Helena nervously pushed down on her moustache making sure no edges were rising in the steamy café heat. 'Claudia meet Miss Bering, she's a fan of my work.'
'Oh is she now.' The red head gave a sly grin as she held out her hand to Myka. 'Nice to meet you Miss Bering. You are very welcome here… then again we never turn anyone away.' HG's young friend grinned wickedly.
Myka took in the café owner's attire a little shocked that she appeared to be wearing a pair of men's trousers.
Claudia noticed the look her bottom half was receiving from the brunette and then her friend Helena's pleading look. 'Merely for functionality Miss Bering, I do find a dress can be quite tiresome when rushing around a busy kitchen.'
'I can quite understand.' Myka nodded her head in a woman's appreciation. Petticoats did so often get in the way. 'Please call me Myka. Your café is lovely. It's so kind of Mr Well's to invite me out like this.'
'Please, HG is fine. ' Helena reminded her new friend.
'Of course… HG. It's so hard when one has been a fan for so long!' Myka blushed again her neck speckled with pink blemishes.
'Let us warm by the fire shall we.' Helena pointed in the direction of a cosy table for two. 'Claudia would you mind bringing the tray over?' The writer gave her friend another just do as I say look.
Bemused by Helena's shenanigans Claudia nodded and said no more as she watched her cross dressing friend lead his date to the comfy table in the corner.
Ever the gentleman Helena pulled out the chair for the brunette before promptly sitting down opposite.
'Do women in trousers offend you?' Helena jested lightly.
'It's a little odd I'll admit but I can understand the practicalities behind it. It's not right though surely , not in the presence of a real man like yourself anyway.'
Helena practically choked upon hearing Myka's statement gulping the tea on the tray coming her way before it even could be placed on the table. 'Believe me. I do not mind.' Helena took another big sip from her steaming cup. 'I think perhaps on some it can be quite becoming.' The writer wondered if she had pushed her new friend too far.
'Would you like to lay with a man then?' Myka smiled with sparkling eyes.
Helena rolled her eyes thinking if only the woman knew. Without any qualms Helena could at least for once honestly say, 'Me? Good lord not at all.'
'That is good to know.' The brunette hummed slightly as she took her first sip of tea.
'It is?' Helena raised an eyebrow and pushed self-consciously on her upper lip again.
'I'm sorry sir that was far too advantageous of me.'
Helena gulped. What the hell was she doing? The writer slightly dumbfounded watched the brunette place her soft lips on the edge of her tea cup and take a second sip. 'Do you like it?'
'Mmm. It's delicious, what is it ? ' Myka moaned audibly.
'It's Jasmine with a hint of orange. I order them in especially for Claudia. Do you like it ? ' Helena reminded herself to speak a little more gruff. Something about Myka seemed to make her lose herself completely.
'I've never tasted anything like it. ' Myka hummed her satisfaction and leant back in her chair. ' You know I still can't quite fathom I'm sat here with HG Wells. I swear I shall wake up and it will all be a dream.'
'I hope not.' Helena replied truthfully. ' I should be incredibly disappointed if this were not real.'
'Careful Mr Wells. I shall think you're intentions are not entirely honourable with talk like that.' Myka blushed at her own flirtations.
Focusing hard on the wall her ahead of her Helena forced her heating cheeks not to glow. A man does not blush she reminded herself. Helena didn't know how to play this comment. Should she indulge her feelings or put a stop to it now. The writer looked into Myka's piercing green eyes and realised she was a goner. How could she do anything but compliment the beautiful Miss Bering.
'Honourable always...but sometimes I cannot control my heart and mind.' It was the honest truth...she really couldn't.
'You're making me blush sir. I think perhaps the tea has warmed me up quite enough.' Myka bit her lip shyly .
'I hope I did not offend you . Helena straightened her back and checked her hair was still in place.
' The opposite Mr Wells. You have quite blown me away. I'm afraid my mind is leading down paths it shouldn't possibly.'
'Well let us change paths then Myka. I do not wish you to be uncomfortable in my presence.'
'Please don't misunderstand me. I just know a lady like me is not for a man like you.' Myka blushed again. It was the most intense afternoon tea she had ever taken.
Confused Helena did as Myka wished and changed topic...but what on earth did Myka mean by that ...a man like her ? 'I will ignore the last statement I deem most extraordinary and change topic my dear. You know so much about me. May I ask if you work ? What are your hobbies ...are you ..married ? '
'Oh no sir. Not married. My father wishes... he reminds me often on my inability to tie a man down. I do work though. I am a supply teacher at a school just out of London. In the meantime I am a private tutor.'
'I could have guessed you were a smart one. What is it you teach ?' Helena felt a warmth fill her as she watched Myka literally glow as she talked about her passion for the written word. Myka's father was right, how had she not been taken off the market? The brunette was perfect.
After several hours of chatter Myka looked out into the winters evening. 'I should really start heading back, it's going be frightful getting to the train at this time of night.'
'Of course. ' Helena stood quickly picking up Myka's coat. ' How selfish to keep you to myself all evening. Do you live far away ? If you do not mind I should like to take you back in my carriage ... I could not let you venture out alone into the night on a Friday evening.'
'HG you really are too kind. You don't have to. I will be fine.'
'No I insist Myka .I will not take no for an answer.
...
Paying Claudia handsomely for keeping herself and Miss Bering topped up all evening Helena swiftly took her new friend behind the bookstore and led her to a large four wheeled metal contraption.
'What on earth is is ? ' Myka eyed the odd machine sceptically.
'It's my carriage.' HG grinned and swung on the balls of her feet as she opened the door for Myka.
The brunette looked cautiously around the machine as she carefully hedged her way passed Helena and into the mad invention.
'I made it.' Helena puffed her chest out proudly as she clambered into the other side of her machine.
'Does it really work?' Myka's eyebrows rose suspiciously.
'Of course darling! What on earth else would we be doing in here otherwise.'
Flicking on various switches and winding something that appeared to be part of the engine Helena had her contraption moving in seconds as it chugged out white clouds behind them.
'HG…this is just like something out of your stories. It's wonderful.' Myka grinned as they rumbled down the narrow cobbled streets. 'How does it work?'
'It's completely steam powered. All I need is heat and water and away she goes.'
'This is amazing!' Myka laughed crazily as she leaned out the open window into the winter breeze.
Helena looked to her left and watched the brunette's eyes light up with excitement. The feelings bursting within her were like nothing she had ever experience before, it was like fireworks exploding deep inside. Forcing her eyes back on the road Helena took a deep breath and sighed, this was not her life she had to remind herself. It was HG Wells Myka was so excited to be with.
…..
After taking an extra - long cut to Myka's home finally Helena pulled up outside the pretty school teacher's cottage. After passing through the dimly lit streets of London they had turned off onto a dark country road until finally amongst green rolling hills they came to the brunette's rose covered cottage.
'It's idyllic Myka. What beautiful home you have.' Helena opened Myka's door and offered her hand.
'You should come back and see it in the summer, you can barely see the bricks through the roses.'
'I would like that a lot.' Helena spoke sincerely.
'Thank you so much for a wonderful evening.' Myka lingered on her doorstep.
'No Thank you Myka.' There was long pause as the two of them silently studied the others face. Helena could feel Myka's breath on her lips they were so close. The writer quickly pulled back. 'Well… I guess I should be going.' Helena tipped her head thoughtfully then turned to walk away. As she left she could have sworn she saw disappointment in the teacher's eye. She couldn't offer a kiss though, that would be unfair to Myka. She could however offer them another chance to meet. Helena turned back on the spot before she opened her vehicle door.
'Myka?'
'Yes?' Myka looked up eagerly.
'Perhaps… if you are free at the weekend you might like to call over? I can show you that collection in my library.' Helena shuffled from one foot to the other. She knew she shouldn't be prolonging her torture with Myka but she couldn't resist one more meet.
'That would be lovely.' Myka beamed.
Helena wrote out her address and the two of them agreed in on 12pm Saturday afternoon.
With arrangements made Helena sat back in her carriage and let her head fall onto the steering wheel, what on earth was she getting herself into.
