Page 23 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady
“More than surprising,” Helena said.
Helena looked down at her book. She was about to open it when she heard Miss Justina speak.
“Speak of the devil, and she will appear.”
Helena looked up and saw Lady Lavinia coming from the front garden. Helena spied behind her if any of her cousins were with her, but she came alone.
“We were just talking about you,” Helena said.
“You are always talking about me,” Lady Lavinia replied, taking a seat between maid and mistress.
“So what were you talking about now?” Lady Lavinia asked.
“How your handsome prince has held your attention captive and not allowed you to remember your dear friend anymore,” Helena said.
Lady Lavinia threw her arms around Helena’s neck and kissed her on her cheek.
“I could never forget you,” she said.
“We thought you’d come yesterday so we could go shopping for the Somerset ball,” Miss Justina said.
“Oh! You’ve not heard. The Somerset ball has been cancelled. That’s why I didn’t come yesterday. And it’s also why I didn’t come with my cousins,” Lady Lavinia answered.
Hot emotion rose in Helena. She had been looking forward to attending the ball, why cancel it? She was about to release her pique as an angry criticism of the Somerset court when she realised it wouldn’t make any difference.
My anger doesn’t change anything.
Helena cooled down and looked back at her book.
“Little wonder,” Helena said.
“Guess who I ran into yesterday,” Lady Lavinia said.
Helena looked at her friend.
“Justina will guess for me. I don’t think I have the energy,” Helena answered.
Lady Lavinia didn’t wait for Miss Justina to guess.
“I saw Lord Jeffrey at the library. He asked of you,” she said to Helena.
Lord Jeffrey? Could it be the same Lord Jeffrey?
As if Lady Lavinia read her thoughts.
“Lord Jeffrey Routledge, the son of the Duke of Beaufort, asked of you.”
Helena was confused. She couldn’t remember ever clashing eyes with the man talk less of having a conversation.
“Why would he ask of me?” Helena asked, partly to herself and partly to Lady Lavinia.
Lady Lavinia looked at her like she said something unbelievable.
“He is the most wanted bachelor in the whole of England. He is said to have had more flings than feathers on a turkey. And he is eligible. I think you should be excited,” Lady Lavinia said.
“You were the same person telling me about the shackling character of marriage, something about … having freedom to dance with any man I like,” Helena said, posing in a voice similar to Lady Lavinia’s.
“So what has changed?” Miss Justina chirped in.
