Page 119 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady
Helena walked to Lord Jeffrey and the Duchess, curtseying when she got to the Duchess. The Duchess nodded but said nothing. Her smile was warm and welcoming, but she made no further attempt at camaraderie.
“Can we speak, alone Jeffrey?” Helena said.
Lord Jeffrey nodded, and placing an arm on her shoulder, led her some way to the side. The Duchess turned to a steward and said something Helena couldn’t hear.
“What is it, Helena?”
Helena took a deep breath. She attempted to speak but her lips kept trembling. The words kept diffusing in her throat. Helena looked away from Lord Jeffrey, finding it easier to look at his magnificent house before she spoke.
“I am calling off the engagement,” she said.
She heard Lord Jeffrey laugh and looked at him. He shook his head and called to the steward the Duchess had just finished speaking to.
“Go to my room. In my drawer, you will see a handwritten letter. Bring it to me now,” Lord Jeffrey told the steward.
Lord Jeffrey only looked amused at what she had just said. Helena readied herself. Lord Jeffrey was cunning. She wondered what the steward would bring.
The steward came out with a piece of white paper in his grip. When he gave it to Lord Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey handed it over to Helena. Helena took a deep breath as she made to open the letter. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a young woman enter the compound on a horse. She was alighting. Helena looked back at the open letter and read it.
She made sure to read it twice. It was a letter to the King, inviting him to investigate the finances of all peers and the domains under them, especially the Baron of Strabolgi.
“My father is highly favoured by the King, Helena. And by extension, so am I. Your family is nothing to the Crown. Your father will be removed faster than your horse can get home; forget that charade about asking the view of the people in his barony. This is politics,” Lord Jeffrey said.
“So think again about what you are doing. You are going to be my wife.”
Helena shook her head. One way or another, the King would find out about her father. There was no silver lining.
Jeffrey can do his worst.
She looked directly into Lord Jeffrey’s eyes.
“My father has already–” Helena looked away as she heard shouting from the Duchess.
She noticed that Lord Jeffrey was already looking there. He started walking away from her.
What is going on?
Helena followed Lord Jeffrey as he walked towards his mother. The Duchess was looking sternly at Lord Jeffrey as he drew closer.
“This woman says she is with child, Jeffrey, your child,” the Duchess said.
Helena covered her mouth with her hand. She didn’t know which was more appropriate, a gasp or a laugh. Lord Jeffrey turned to the young debutante who looked at him with no fear at all.
“What preposterous claims do you make, Ramilda?”
“It’s not preposterous. I warned you this would happen, but you underestimated me,” the debutante said.
Lord Jeffrey grew angry and squeezed his hand into a fist. He moved closer to the chit and raised his hand, but the Duchess moved between him and the chit.
“Drop your hand, Jeffrey. You will do no such thing,” the Duchess said.
Helena didn’t know what to say. She heard her name and turned back to look at who had called her.
Dr Frederick.
Helena walked towards him, away from Lord Jeffrey. Dr Frederick rode his horse to her side before alighting.
“I have been to your house, Helena. I need to speak to you,” Dr Frederick said.
