Presently has two meanings that sometimes confuse people:

1. Soon or in a little while. When your mom says dinner will be ready presently, she means it will be ready in a few minutes. If a teacher tells the class that the principal will arrive presently, students should expect her to walk through the door shortly. This meaning captures that sense of something about to happen, not right this second but very soon.
2. Right now or currently. When a doctor says a patient is presently recovering from surgery, she means the recovery is happening at this moment. If a news report states that rescue workers are presently searching for survivors, the search is ongoing as you hear those words.

The first meaning (soon) is more common in formal or old-fashioned speech, while the second meaning (now) appears more often in modern writing. This double meaning can create confusion: if someone says “I'll help you presently,” do they mean right now or in a few minutes? Context usually makes it clear, but when it doesn't, it's perfectly reasonable to ask, “Do you mean now or soon?”