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Helena was about to reply when Lord Jeffrey brought his mouth to hers. His lips tasted salty. Helena revolted at what he was doing and tried to push him away. Her arms were weak against the strength of his upper body. Lord Jeffrey dropped his mouth from hers and dipped his face into her soft bust.

“Lord Jeffrey, Lord, Jeffrey, Jeffrey,” Helena growled, attempting in futility to push Lord Jeffrey away.

A laugh emanated from his hidden face, and Helena felt his hand go around her waist to grope her bottom.

This is the last straw.

Helena pushed him away and slapped him across his face. The slap was hard. Helena’s hand singed from the force of the impact. Lord Jeffrey grabbed his right cheek and moved backwards. Hardness replaced the mischief his eyes had just held. Helena wasn’t taken aback by the bitterness in his expression, it was becoming familiar.

“Why would you do that? You are not my husband,” Lady Helena shouted at him.

“I am not your husband, yet. And if you do not behave yourself around other men, I will take them away for good. Do not act under false assumptions; my intent is clear with you. I am soon to make this engagement official. I own you,” Lord Jeffrey answered in a very calm voice.

“What do you mean by that?” she retorted.

“What were you doing with the doctor before I came in?” Lord Jeffrey asked her.

Helena wasn’t prepared for the sudden change in topic, especially that topic. She fumbled for words when Lord Jeffrey cut her short.

“I do not care what you were doing that had you so startled when I got here. Know that you are mine, Helena. I advise you to recognise that quickly,” Lord Jeffrey said before turning to leave.

Helena placed her hand over her mouth. Lord Jeffrey was an excellent mood reader. He had correctly guessed what was happening. Helena thought about his threat.

He said he owns me. When I wanted to get him to ask for my hand in marriage, this wasn’t what I was thinking about.

“A lack of blunt has me dashed, on a good day I would not even give someone like Lord Jeffrey a whiff of my attention,” Helena voiced.

Helena thought about the possibility of a break with Lord Jeffrey.

Who would pull Pa out of his mess?

And Lord Jeffrey was going to be bitter about it. He would make any split as acrimonious as possible. And that could only function to hurt Helena’s stock. Helena shook her head, breaking up wasn’t an option.

Dr Frederick.

Helena blushed. She always felt at home when with Dr Frederick. Conversations were struck up naturally and they both wanted each other.

That is the problem. I keep comparing Lord Jeffrey with Dr Frederick. The situation demands that I keep away from Dr Frederick.

Helena shook her head. She was confused. She didn’t know how to keep away from the doctor. If he came to see her, Helena wasn’t sure she could send him back. She always wanted to see him, to be with him, to let him touch her.

“As long as I keep setting my eyes on Dr Frederick, I cannot possibly carve out a good relationship with Lord Jeffrey,” Helena admitted.

But how do I go about that?

There was a ruffling of leaves in front. Helena steeled her face and readied herself for Lord Jeffrey’s return. When a figure broke the light, it was a brown skinned woman, Miss Justina.

“Justina, you are back,” Helena said.

“I just came back. Lord Jeffrey is with your parents in their chambers.”

Helena nodded. He and her parents had a strong relationship.

“The men at the gate gave me this, from Lady Lavinia,” Miss Justina said.

It was a letter. Helena wondered if something was wrong because she was sure they couldn’t have gotten to Ireland just yet.

“I think she sent it from the inn they slept in overnight,” Miss Justina said.