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“I’m smarter than you, Lavinia,” Helena said.

Miss Justina picked up the pillow and offered it to Lady Lavinia. Helena was surprised to see her maid do that.

“You offer her the pillow to exact vengeance, Justina. And here I was thinking you a friend and ally,” Helena said playfully.

“I am a friend and ally. I just felt it was turn by turn,” Miss Justina replied softly.

“Thank you, friend and ally,” Lady Lavinia said, tapping Miss Justina on the arm.

Helena turned up her nose and tapped the space beside her.

“Sit here, Justina.”

Miss Justina sat down, the smile on her face from Lady Lavinia’s comments still lingered.

“You are smart because you always read. You are also current with the happenings of the society. I’ll give you that. You are still an airhead, though,” Lady Lavinia said.

Helena just nodded her head. Her mind had wandered back to the feel of the doctor’s eyes on her. He had been respectful and professional. His eyes didn’t wander anywhere suggestive, but Helena felt like he had touched her all over. She imagined the feel of his firm fingers on her sensitive parts, his fingers on her abdomen and breasts. His fingers would rub her nipples in between them till they became hard and taut. His firm finger would wander down and dip in the abyss between her legs. Helena felt hot all over.

I need to see this man again.

Helena reminded herself to ask her mother how they had gotten the services of the young man.

It’s about time I feigned an illness.

Helena smiled at her thoughts.

“Why are you smiling for no reason?” Lady Lavinia said.

Helena shook her head.

“Aren’t you going to try on the remaining dresses? Or should I take some to my chamber to try them on if they fit me?” Helena asked.

Lady Lavinia eyed Helena playfully.

“You had better keep your hands off my clothes,” she replied.

“Do help me take these clothes to Helena’s room, Justina. I want to go try them on there,” Lady Lavinia said.

Miss Justina picked up the heap of clothes, with a few falling off. Lady Lavinia picked the three dresses that fell off and followed Miss Justina as she walked out of the parlour. Helena followed her friends.

The day was at mid afternoon and was getting hotter. Helena used her fingers to trace the ridges on the carved wood of the walls.

“My grandfather had this wood imported from Lebanon. These are top notch Lebanese cedar, so don’t scratch them,” the Baron would always say.

Where is Father anyway?

Helena wondered why her father was becoming quieter of recent. He had not gone out that morning; she was sure he was still inside, but he hadn’t come out when the physician was leaving.

He hasn’t been coming out for anything lately. I’ll check him once Lavinia leaves.

She went into her room after her friend and maid had entered. The white walls of her room were always a welcome sight. The colour soothed her. Helena looked at her image in the big mirror that faced the door. Her red hair was rough; she had not brushed it again that afternoon. It was always roughing up after a few hours of no attention. She saw Lavinia pick another dress from the heap out of the periphery of her eyes while she walked to the mirror to look at herself.

Am I gaining weight?

Her cheeks seemed chubbier than they had been the day before. Her bust was more pronounced.

Surely, it is bigger. Or is it this dress?