Page 56 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady
“You didn’t get to see the gift I brought you, from Drew,” Lady Lavinia shouted to her as she was getting into the carriage.
“I’ll be back soon. Maybe you should give it to Justina. You really should have given it to me long before now, Lavinia. Thank you very much, tell Prince Drew I said thanks,” Helena replied.
She got into the carriage, and Lord Jeffrey got in beside her. He looked at her eyes and down into her peering cleavage. Helena smiled.
Men could be so predictable.
She no longer felt any dissent at him. She was elated she had obviously charmed him.
The things we do for family.
Helena touched Lord Jeffrey on his right arm, finally snatching his eyes away from her big bust.
“So tell me about the play we are about to see?”
*******
Helena waved the fan at her face as the carriage started its return journey. It was still hot but would cool down when the carriage got into a proper run. Helena looked to Lord Jeffrey beside her. He was staring out the window back at the huge door that was the entrance to the Beaufort theatre. Helena could not count the number of members of the peer and other people of high station that came to share greetings with Lord Jeffrey. Many accorded respect to him and therefore accorded her with the same esteem. Many of these people were women, some young debutantes or daughters of members of the peerage. It was obvious Lord Jeffrey was very hot commodity as an eligible bachelor. Helena felt proud that she was the woman Lord Jeffrey had chosen to attend the play with.
The play itself was interesting but familiar. Helena had read about the secret life of Henry I many times from her father’s books. She ended up explaining many a scene to Lord Jeffrey. Her explanations drew appreciative glances from the young man and woman sitting beside them. She made sure to speak seldom and mutedly, in order not to disturb other viewers.
“You know so much about the lives and acts of the English royal family,” Lord Jeffrey said as he took his gaze away from the window.
“The English peerage,” Helena corrected.
Lord Jeffrey grabbed her right wrist and held it between his palms.
“You never cease to amaze me, whether by looks or by brains,” he said.
Helena smiled. It could have been a blush; she wasn’t sure she managed to stop her cheek from reddening.
“How is your ankle?” Lord Jeffrey asked.
“It’s much better. Dr Frederick is coming to check it during the week.”
“I met him at my house. He’s a calm man.”
Helena felt her heart lurch as she remembered Dr Frederick. She looked at her wrist in Lord Jeffrey’s hands.
If it was Dr Frederick holding me, my wrist would be burning. A deep yearning would have enveloped my lower gut.
Helena felt nothing with Lord Jeffrey.
He has the solution to my father’s problems and that’s reason enough to be with him.
She wondered if she could ever have anything with Dr Frederick. She wished she could.
But we don’t always get our wishes.
Chapter 12
If she had tarried
Dr Frederick waited in the sitting room as the steward went in and told Miss Helena he was around. The sitting room was cool, even in the afternoon’s heat. He had been glad he wore his black hat as he rode to Strabolgi.
Who could ever have thought a sun so scorching hid behind the morning clouds?
He had dressed simple in short knee-length breeches and a white cotton shirt. He decided against bringing his medical box.
