Page 97 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady
“Yes, unless there’s a miracle.”
“Someone is here,” Miss Justina said.
Helena looked at the gate as it opened slowly. There was a man on a horse talking to the stewards by the gate. When the gate was fully opened, she saw the man properly. Her heart plummeted with the failed expectations. It wasn’t Dr Frederick; it was Lord Jeffrey. He rode slowly to her, and by the time he got beside her, Helena noticed Miss Justina was gone.
“It’s a lovely day, Helena. How are you?” Lord Jeffrey asked.
“The day was lovelier a few moments ago,” Helena replied.
“Hmmph,” Lord Jeffrey reacted, not understanding what she had meant.
Chapter 21
To Learn to Lose
Dr Frederick stared at his image in his big mirror. He was dashing, the grey breeches working fantastically with the black jacket and white shirt he wore underneath. He nodded. He saw that behind him, Mister Frank had a philosophical expression across his face.
“You want to say something, Frank?”
“Sir, you have developed a taste for balls,” Mister Frank said.
Dr Frederick laughed. He didn’t reply because it was true.
Ever since I met Miss Helena, I have been attending the parties. Well, it isn’t about her anymore.
Dr Frederick spared himself a last, long look before turning away from the mirror. He took his shoes from the shoe rack and wore them.
“The horse is ready?” Dr Frederick asked.
“Yes, sir, ready and waiting.”
Dr Frederick nodded and started walking outside. He watched Mister Frank drop his pen back on the smooth top of his wooden reading table. The polished table top reflected the late afternoon light. Dr Frederick removed his eyes from its focused beam.
Mister Frank had decided not to go. He wanted to make some notes and do some reading, he had claimed. Dr Frederick couldn’t force him.
A man has a right to attend or not to attend a party.
The party was being hosted there in Beaufort by a high class, gold merchant, a friend of the Duke of Beaufort. Dr Frederick had received the invitation from the Duke through his messenger. Dr Frederick had at first thanked the messenger without giving him a definitive reply. His heart was heavy, pre-occupied with musings about Miss Helena and not ready to harbour party preparations. But as the day drew near, Dr Frederick became more convinced that he needed to attend a party like this, so he could dash away the depressing thoughts of what could have been.
He left his house, looking back to shut the wooden door quietly into its frame. He readied himself before mounting the horse. Mister Frank came out of the house, holding a grey hat.
“Sir, you just might need it,” he said, lifting the hat to Dr Frederick.
Dr Frederick looked up at the sky. This was past mid-afternoon. The sun could not get any higher, or harder. But he had been in all day and probably didn’t get a proper gauge of how hot the sun was.
“Fine, thank you,” he replied, collecting the hat and setting it on his head.
“I’ll be back soon.”
Dr Frederick rode gently at first, trying to prevent his hat from flying off in the afternoon wind. He went past the houses down the street, tipping his hat and nodding to more than a few neighbours, some of whom were also customers. At the end of the street, he went past the house with the tall chimney.
The Chimney house.
Dr Frederick chuckled as he remembered how Mister Frank always described it. He never said anything, but he always remembered the house because in it lived the most beautiful damsel he had seen since he came back from medical school, if he didn’t factor in Miss Helena. He’d never spoken to her but had nodded to her more than once. She was the second daughter of her parents, the second child too. It seemed her sister was married and only came to visit sometimes. Dr Frederick sometimes rode past in his curricle or on horse-back and would see her working outside. He had always enjoyed watching her work. Just as his horse was going past the house, the small door in front of the house opened and out came the chit. She looked up and saw Dr Frederick, caught him staring, and she smiled. Dr Frederick smiled and tipped his hat. He looked away uncomfortably.
He would have stayed to talk, maybe that could cover the pain that tore at his heart, but she seemed to have worsened matters. Her brown hair was red in the afternoon light, and when she smiled, she had two crinkles in her cheeks. She was too much of a reminder of Miss Helena. Dr Frederick shook his head. It was of bad report that a respected man should get drunk at a party, but Dr Frederick felt he owed himself one or two strong shots.
I might not be able to bear this pain without it.
