“That is an exciting continent, Mrs. Armitage, though I fear the journey would be rough,” he replied with a smile.
“I am certain I could manage with the right guide at my side.” And if her words were not hint enough, the faint smile she gave him removed all question as to whom she wished the guide to be.
Silas turned to the third lady in the party and stumbled over his words, for he could not recall what surname followed “Mrs.” Luckily, he avoided addressing her directly, merely looking at her as he asked, “And what of you?”
The lady’s lips moved, but little sound came out, and she ducked her head with a blush.
Silas enjoyed a good chat, but he began to wilt beneath the stilted conversation. It was all things proper, but it hardly allowed him an opportunity to further his acquaintance with any of them. And surrounded as he was by batting lashes and tittering laughter, Silas felt like the last biscuit on a plate as the children circled him, scheming who would snatch it up; as most of the ladies did not know him well enough to truly desire his company, it was a tad unflattering to realize his main enticement was that of a wealthy widower.
But all in all, he thought he’d made decent progress in his hunt for a wife, but he was quite ready to be done for today. Besides, there was another young lady he desperately wished to speak to.
“Do excuse me, ladies,” he said with a bow. “But I fear I am needed elsewhere.”
“Certainly, Mr. Byrnes. It has been a pleasure,” said Miss Stevenson with a bob that was as energetic as the lady herself.
“Until next time,” added Mrs. Armitage.
The final lady murmured something of a farewell, though her gaze didn’t rise from the ground.
Finally free, he turned on his heel and wove through the churchyard. The spring air was quite frigid, but that did not stop the congregation from milling about. Church was as much about renewing acquaintances as it was worship, and Silas knew few would leave within the next quarter of an hour.
The youngest ran through the crowd to expend the energy they’d bottled up during the interminable sermon. Older children were scattered in much the same way as their parents, breaking off into friendly groups to speak about all the little nothings of their days. Helen and the Sapperton girl stood to one side, examining the wildflowers that grew alongside the pathway, and Silas strode towards them.
The pair gave a start, and his insides turned as they watched him with wary eyes. Phillipa inched behind her friend, and Helen took the girl by the hand. Silas paused a few steps away and hid his feelings behind a blinding smile. He hadn’t made a good showing of himself the last time he’d seen Phillipa, so it was little wonder she feared him.
Bowing low, he fixed his gaze upon Helen and said, “Might I beg the honor of being introduced to your delightful companion, Miss Byrnes? I fear I’ve not had a proper one.”
Phillipa’s eyes widened with a hint of a smile warming her expression.
“You are being silly,” said Helen with a slight frown.
“I assure you I am being utterly serious about your companion being delightful,” he replied, to which Phillipa’s smile grew. Though the general disapproval did not ease in Helen’s expression, there was a flash of mirth in her eyes, and Silas’s heart lightened at the sight of it; she may be Deborah’s daughter, but there was something of him inside her. “I beg you to give me an introduction, Miss Byrnes.”
Helen gave her friend a questioning glance, and the girl replied with a slight nod. Stepping forward, Helen gathered her hands together, giving a regal motion to the pair of them. “Miss Phillipa Sapperton, may I introduce Mr. Silas Byrnes?”
Silas gave another low bow, and Phillipa answered with a curtsy, her cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink as she giggled at his overdone manners.
“Would you please forgive my wretched behavior at the play? I am thoroughly ashamed at having caused you any discomfort.” Though Silas’s exaggerated mannerisms added a touch of flair to the petition, he spoke with utter seriousness, turning it towards both Helen and Phillipa. His daughter had not been remotely interested in forgiveness the other times he’d attempted to speak to her over the past sennight, but with each, she seemed to thaw. If only slightly.
“Of course, good sir,” said Phillipa, and though she tried to speak more, her words devolved into giggles.
Taking her hand in his, Silas swept into another low bow over it, “I am humbled and most grateful, Miss Sapperton.”
Turning his attention to his daughter, Silas held her gaze, infusing it with all the warmth in his fatherly heart. “Might you accompany me on a drive this fine afternoon, Miss Byrnes? I wish to hone my skills with the ribbons, and you are so very observant. I would appreciate your assistance in watching for anything that might upend the phaeton.”
Helen’s eyes narrowed as she weighed the invitation. Phillipa nudged her and giggled again, but his daughter was not so easily won over. And good for her. Though Silas was sincere in his petitions, his behavior had been wanting, and it would not do for her to overlook such treatment. A father always fretted over his daughter stepping into the courting world (and Silas was pleased to know it would be many years before Helen would participate in it), but knowing she was not so easily swayed by a bit of charm eased some of those future fears.
“We cannot all fit in the phaeton,” said Helen.
“Indeed, we cannot, but it will fit the two of us just fine.”
Her brows shot upward, her eyes brightening. “Just the two of us?”
“Of course,” said Silas, though now that he thought of it, he supposed Helen had every right to be surprised at that. He’d done much with his children in the six weeks since their reunion, but he rarely passed an afternoon with them individually. Grouping them had seemed like the sensible thing to do and proved successful with Griffith and Leah, but clearly, it had done damage with his already fragile connection to Helen. He would have to speak to his clerk and find more time in his schedule to spend with the children on their own as well.
Silas took Helen’s hand in his, giving it the same gallant bow, but when he met her gaze once more, he said in a tone as serious as his sentiments were at the moment, “I cannot promise it will be exceptionally diverting, but I would be honored if you would join me.”
Helen did not giggle or beam as Phillipa had done, but there was a warmth in her gaze that had been absent moments ago. “That sounds delightful.”
