Page 87 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady
He must have seen the defiance in her eyes because he turned and walked away. Helena heard him tell his driver to drive away, followed by the clatter of hooves and rumble of wheels on the stone floor.
Helena stood up and walked out of the garden. Miss Justina followed closely behind. Helena saw her mother at the top of the stairs, staring out to Lord Jeffrey’s departing coach.
“Helena, where were you? Lord Jeffrey just left,” the Baroness said.
Helena walked up the stairs and stood beside her mother.
“I just came back. I was in the garden,” she replied.
The Baroness edged close to her daughter and spoke in a lowered voice, “Lord Jeffrey really is a fine young man.”
Helena couldn’t convince herself enough to say yes. She nodded.
“So what do you think of him? I know you think I’m always eager for you to marry, but he would make an even better husband,” the Baroness said.
She didn’t speak. She wasn’t sure about that. Lord Jeffrey’s highhandedness was everything she didn’t want in a man.
“You aren’t responding,” the Baroness said.
“I am not sure of anything yet. I don’t know what you discuss with him, but I would advise that we make no assumptions yet,” Helena said.
“What does that mean?”
Helena just shook her head. She didn’t know what it meant either. She needed to marry him. Did she want to marry him? She wasn’t sure anymore.
“Lord Jeffrey will take good care of you. Look at the things he’s doing even while you are yet to marry,” the Baroness said.
Helena thought about Lord Jeffrey’s harsh words and threats at Miss Morgana’s party. She thought about his attitude with servants and stewards, his attitude with Miss Justina. She thought about his most recent words. Her mother’s last statement was so apt, though not in the way she meant it.
“You don’t know him, Mother. If you did, you wouldn’t say that,”
Helena replied.
“I need to turn in, Mother. I’ve not had a great day,” Helena said before turning and walking inside.
*******
It might have been the air’s sudden stillness, or the easy warmth that rubbed at her skin, or the tiny crunch sound that the mown of the garden made. Helena wasn’t sure what woke her up. She opened her eyes. The light was too much, and she couldn’t see properly at first. Helena sat up and rubbed her eyes. After a short while, her eyes got acclimatised to the rush of light. Dr Frederick’s smiling face stared back at her.
What a sight to wake up to see.
Helena wrapped her hands around Dr Frederick’s neck. She kissed him. Dr Frederick stood up and eased her to her feet. His hands rested around her bottom and pushed her into his erect crotch. Helena wrapped her hands around his back, holding on to his stiff muscles. Dr Frederick broke the kiss and helped her back to her sitting position. He bent in front of her in a squatting position such that their eyes were level.
“I’d been expecting you for so long,” Helena said.
She knew she was smiling broadly, a bit too much, but she found it difficult to control. She was happy; delighted that Dr Frederick was here.
“We just saw about two days ago,” Dr Frederick said.
“We did?” Helena asked, rolling her eyes because she knew they did.
“Well, it seems so far,” Helena added.
Dr Frederick sat beside her.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?” Helena asked.
“We both know your ankle is fine. There was no need to wake you up. And you were such a delightful sight as you slept. I’m not overly elated that you even woke up,” Dr Frederick said.
