Page 25 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady

Helena laughed.

“I am not going to do anything. If he really wanted to see me, I figure he would have come here to my home in Strabolgi and asked to see me. Surely, I would have given him a good audience,” Helena said.

Lady Lavinia was about to say something in protest.

“But similarly, I cannot behave as if I did not hear of his inquisition about me. I am going to the next ball. I am sure Lord Jeffrey will be there.”

“He attends almost every ball and party,” Miss Justina said.

“If he approaches me during the ball, I will mention that you delivered his message,” Helena said.

“And if he doesn’t,” Lady Lavinia said.

“Then I wonder what he was trying to trigger when he asked of me,” Helena said.

Lady Lavinia looked and smiled wryly.

“What amuses you, Lavinia?” Helena asked.

“About the next ball, you don’t need to go too far. I just remembered that Lord Jeffrey said his father was hosting a ten-year anniversary from the day he became Duke of Beaufort. He expects you … us there,” Lady Lavinia said.

“He said that?” Helena asked again.

“Yes, he did.”

“That makes it easier for you,” Miss Justina said to Helena.

Helena nodded.

“We’ll go surely.”

“I would suggest we still wear the white we had planned to wear to the Somerset ball. Let’s shop for them this week,” Lady Lavinia said.

Helena tried to remember if she had any white dress she could wear that day. She wasn’t sure she did.

“Justina,” she said softly

“Ma’am.”

“Do I have any white gown or dress that is fit for a ball?”

“I am not sure. Let me check now,” Miss Justina said.

Miss Justina stood up and walked briskly away.

“I thought we were just talking about buying new dresses,” Lady Lavinia said on hearing the question Helena asked.

“Let me do it this way,” Helena said.

“He will approach me if he has genuine intentions whether I’m wearing old or new. No one will even know whether the dress is old or new, only I and people like you,” she continued

Lady Lavinia nodded and said nothing. Helena was desperate for a change of topic. She was scared her motives were becoming too clear.

“What of your Irish prince? How is he?” Helena asked.

A bright twinkle appeared in Lady Lavinia’s eyes as Helena asked that. She blushed and fumbled to hide it behind a fan Helena had not previously seen.

“He’s fine,” she answered after composing herself.