Page 24 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady
Lady Lavinia didn’t look like she knew the reply to give. After a few seconds, she spoke.
“I don’t know,” she replied in a small solemn voice. Then she continued in a much stronger voice, “I just feel if any man asking of you should be getting you excited, it should be Lord Jeffrey. His father is the second wealthiest man in England for Christ’s sakes.”
Helena’s heart beat twice as hard when she heard that. She tried to hide her excitement by opening her book and attempting to read a few lines. It didn’t work. When she looked up, Lady Lavinia’s eyes were waiting for her.
“Are you sure of what you claim?” Helena asked.
Lady Lavinia scoffed.
“Of course, it’s common knowledge.”
Helena looked to her maid. Miss Justina nodded her head.
“Yes, a lot of people do say so. If he isn’t the second wealthiest man in England, then he is close,” Miss Justina said.
This might be the break I have been looking for.
Helena said nothing. She was scared that her intentions would be read like a book if she said anything now. She had already shown interest in the fact that the family was wealthy. Helena closed her eyes and pushed her fingers through the mass of hair on her head and traced the strands singly.
“Where did you meet him?” she asked without opening her eyes.
“I just told you, at the library. I was there with Drew yesterday.”
The mention of Drew had Helena and Miss Justina look at each other which Lady Lavinia noticed.
“What is it?” she asked.
“What? Nothing, you can continue,” Helena said.
Lady Lavinia turned up her nose at the reaction of her two friends. She didn’t say anything. Helena chuckled.
Lavinia isn’t defending herself because she doesn’t have anything to defend herself with. She is forming a relationship with the Irish gentleman.
Her thoughts ran back to the issue of Lord Jeffrey asking about her. A man of that stature asking about her was more than an ordinary inquisition. If she played her cards right, she could wiggle herself into his heart and have him engaged. If there was love between them, she would explain to him, and he would have her father’s finances replenished. First, she had to get him to act on his inquisition.
“A penny for your thoughts,” Lady Lavinia said.
“I was just thinking about the many reasons Lord Jeffrey could be asking of me,” Helena said.
“The reason is of little import. This is one of the most handsome eligible men among the peerage. His dark eyes have attained even magical status on the dit. He is intelligent and has poise. He is cultured and rich. What else do you want in a man?” Lady Lavinia said.
“He is also very haughty. You didn’t add that, Lady Lavinia,” Miss Justina said.
“A man with so many qualities has to be haughty. It’s not a matter of choice, Justina. It’s just like being the King of England; among all other peers, you have to be proud,” Lady Lavinia said.
Helena did not give much thought to those characters. Word on dit is always a poor way to judge a man even though a lot of it turns out to be true.
“There are more layers to a person than a group of dignifying or debilitating adjectives,” Helena said.
Miss Justina nodded her head. Lady Lavinia just looked away.
“So what are you going to do now?” Lady Lavinia asked.
Helena looked at her friend in mild wonderment.
“I don’t understand.”
“He asked of you.”
