Page 39 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady

The hall was a wondrous site. There were so many gold ribbons flying from their attachments to the wall that they gave the place a kind of lustre. They caught light and reflected it in all directions. Helena rubbed her eyes. They hadn’t gotten used to the multiple reflections of light. There was a strong flowery scent but very few flowers. Helena wondered how they had achieved that.

She felt silly for being so self-conscious of her entrance. She thought all eyes would turn to the door as she came in late. She could not have been more wrong. The dance was already going on at full throttle. There were countless couples on the dance floor, all moving in harmony with the easy tunes played from the stage at the front of the hall. Helena saw Prince Drew and her friend. They had eyes only for each other and didn’t even notice her entrance. A few people stood at the periphery of the dance floor speaking with each other. Some picked up cakes and glasses of drinks from the trays of passing stewards. Helena’s throat suddenly felt dry.

I need one of those.

“I think it would make better sense for us to find a place where you would be able to sit, instead of standing and staring as you are doing now, ma’am,” Miss Justina said into Helena’s ears.

Helena smiled.

“Yes, it would,” she replied.

Helena walked slowly behind Miss Justina as she was led to the edge of the hall where there were cushions unoccupied. She tried to mask her injury as much as possible, but amidst groans and grimaces, was sure she was not doing a very good job. When she got to the blue, single-sitter cushion chair just beside the window overlooking the garden at the back of the house, Helena flopped into it. The ankle had started aching once again. Helena pushed away the temptation to take a look at it for fear that it would have swollen once again.

The dance was going really well. Most people were still on the dance floor. Many dance partners had been changed, but Lady Lavinia was still in the Prince’s arms. They looked to be even in closer proximity than they had formerly been. Helena started scanning the dancing crowd for Lord Jeffrey. She hadn’t seen him since she arrived.

She touched Miss Justina on her arm. Miss Justina was startled. She had been lost watching the dance. Helena laughed. Her maid seemed to want a dance.

“You want to dance?” Helena asked.

“I’d have to be asked to one first,” Miss Justina replied.

Helena smiled.

“I’ll ask Prince Drew to give you one when he comes back with Lavinia,” Helena said.

Miss Justina said nothing in reply.

“Have you seen Lord Jeffrey since we arrived?” Helena asked, thinking about the man on the stairs.

Miss Justina squinted as she scanned the crowd.

“No, I haven’t. The doctor isn’t in this hall either,” Miss Justina replied.

“No, I don’t think he is,” Helena agreed.

Helena’s heart almost flipped at the mention of the doctor. There was warmth settling at the pit of her stomach, starting to spread once more. She exhaled. She hoped to see him before they left the dance. She did not know this feeling, the one she had whenever she saw him, even before he touched her. It was heat that reached in the far recesses of her heart and didn’t allow her to react normally.

Physical proximity doesn’t help it at all.

The episode while he treated her this afternoon had told her that.

And the look in the doctor’s eyes ... Could I be mistaken to think he feels the same way? He looked uncomfortable sometimes. It could be that he didn’t like the way my body kept rubbing into his.

“It is a bit inappropriate,” she said.

“What?” Miss Justina asked.

“Nothing,” Helena answered.

“Just keep your eyes open, especially for Lord Jeffrey,” Helena said.

Miss Justina nodded.

The music was starting to slow down. A few couples had already curtseyed and were leaving the dance floor. The din of many mouths speaking was rising. Helena saw the twins come out from among the crowd and walk towards Lady Lavinia and her partner. Lady Lavinia looked reluctant to end the dance, but Prince Drew’s bow made her do it. The twins walked to them, and they started talking. The Prince said something that made everyone laugh. Lady Lavinia slapped him playfully on his shoulder.

Their eyes scanned the hall.

They’re looking for us.