Page 99 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady
“Yes, I have. You would have known had you paid a visit during that time,” Miss Helena answered.
Dr Frederick looked back at her, but she was gazing outside the window now. He knew she could see him, but she refused to meet his gaze.
Could she be finding it too painful, too raw, like I do?
He was surprised that she had said that. She had left without telling him a word in advance.
“You left without giving me a word’s notice. You left for more than two months. Only a man without pride would run back to you as you came back,” he said, daring to bare a bit of his soul.
Miss Helena looked at him, and Dr Frederick saw why she had refused to meet his gaze before. Her bland eyes were full with emotion, a spitting image of the turmoil he felt inside. She looked hurt.
I am hurt.
“I had to leave when I did,” Miss Helena said.
She opened her mouth, about to say more but looked back at the middle of the room. The room was quiet, the music had ended. Almost immediately there was an effusion of sounds from the instruments at the other end of the room, another dance had started. Dr Frederick remembered he had always wanted a dance. He bowed, spreading out one hand in a slow, expanding motion.
“I would love to share a dance with you,” Dr Frederick said.
“Dr Frederick, of course I would love a dance with you,” Miss Helena replied.
He led her to the tail of the dance, and they joined in the dance. It was a vigorous one, the dance. Reminding Dr Frederick of all the steps Dr Terry had taught him. Miss Helena wasn’t bad herself, catching up to every move and matching his swings and twirls. Dr Frederick was so excited as they danced that once when she leaned fully into him, pressing her breasts onto him, the tingle in his belly came as a shock, reminding him that Miss Helena was as much fun as she was a temptation. The dance ended all too soon and had them jostling between bodies to get back to their favoured position at the window.
Dr Frederick placed his hand on the windowsill. Miss Helena placed her gloved palm over his. It was an expression of intimacy as powerful as it was inconspicuous. Dr Frederick was tempted to draw her into his embrace and kiss her till her breath faltered. He licked his lips instead, feasting on the powerful images his mind conjured.
“What of Miss Justina? Didn’t she come with you?” Dr Frederick asked her.
“She chose not to come.”
“Why?” Dr Frederick asked, dismayed that it was even possible.
“She doesn’t like Lord Jeffrey, so she decided since he’s going to be present here, then she would avoid it. ‘He will be your chaperone,’ she told me.”
Lord Jeffrey’s name wiped the easy smile off Dr Frederick’s face. The air was colder.
“So where is he?” Dr Frederick asked, avoiding the mention of his name.
“He’ll soon be here. He offered to pick me up from home, but I rejected it. I wouldn’t want him repeating what he did the last time.”
Dr Frederick remembered how he had to take her home the last time. He didn’t regret Lord Jeffrey’s actions if she did, he appreciated them.
“Was I so bad that you wish away such an evening?”
Miss Helena smiled. It was the one he was used to, crinkling her cheeks and showing small, white teeth. Her red lips widened to form a small, thin line. She put more pressure on his hand.
“No, dear, you made my day,” she replied.
Her eyes wandered out the window and lingered. Dr Frederick turned to see what held her gaze for so long.
Lord Jeffrey.
He was coming out from a small carriage with huge wheels that had golden heads. He alighted from the open door, not sparing the steward who held the door open the faintest regard. Miss Helena wrapped her hand around his wrist.
“Come with me, dear,” she said.
She walked quickly, winding between pairs and trios of standing people. Dr Frederick followed her, his wrist still locked in her hand. She pushed him through a door, up a short flight of stairs till they got into a long room. There was a table set in its middle. Lord Frederick wondered how much food would have been prepared for supper. He wasn’t sure he had the stomach to eat, seeing Miss Helena was filling enough. She pushed through another door, and they wandered into a smaller room with a window at the far end. This room was darker. Dr Frederick looked to the open window. The sun was lower.
He turned back to Miss Helena just in time to see her raise her lips to his. She wrapped her hands around his back, pushing him into her softness. Dr Frederick held her at her waist and pushed her gently into the wall. His tongue swept into her mouth, touching every corner till her mouth could not satisfy anymore. Dr Frederick kissed her bottom lip, sucking it gently for a moment before going down and kissing her neck. His mouth wandered up again till it enveloped her ears and sucked at them. Her hand grabbed his erect member, through his breeches, making him gasp suddenly.
