Page 42 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady

Lord Jeffrey looked at Helena and raised an eyebrow.

“True,” Helena said.

With a flick of his fingers, he discharged the quivering steward. Fear was evident in the steward’s composure. He wasn’t easy in the presence of Lord Jeffrey.

Helena looked to her friend for any signs that she also noticed. Lady Lavinia had all her concentration on Lord Jeffrey. Helena looked to Lord Jeffrey’s face. Even up close, his eyes were too shrouded for their colour to show. She couldn’t match his dark gaze for long. There was something scary, something imposing in it. Helena realised he had not smiled since he got to her.

It would take just more than salutations to get this man to smile.

“You do not smile often, do you?” Helena asked him.

Lord Jeffrey broke into a smile. It lit up his face and opened up his eyes. Helena finally saw his pupils. They were black.

That is probably what makes his eyes so difficult to read, they are black.

Wrinkles appeared at the top of his face, extending from the edge of his eyes, and creases appeared in his cheeks. He had a boyish smile, seeming to take years off him.

“No one has ever put it to me that way,” he said with the smile lingering on his face.

“Well, welcome to Helena. I say a lot of stuff people don’t say. My friend behind you,” Helena pointed to Lady Lavinia. “She just talks too much.”

Lord Jeffrey spared Lady Lavinia a look. When he looked back, he was still smiling. He neared Helena, close enough that his lips tickled her ears. Helena fought off the urge to touch his face.

“I know.”

Helena laughed. There was no need to come so close to say something so mundane.

Even the dark Lord knows how to pique Lavinia’s interest.

Helena saw the curiosity in Lady Lavinia’s eyes. She was surely going to ask what he said when he left. Helena saw Prince Drew and Miss Justina talking as they walked back. Their dance had taken a while. Her concentration was taken again by Lord Jeffrey as he stood back up.

“You still owe me one dance, Miss Helena,” he said.

“That is a debt I can very capably pay, and very soon too,” Helena said.

He nodded.

“I will come to check you and your foot at your home within the week. Expect me,” he said.

Helena couldn’t classify if that was a request with a note of finality or an order. It was obvious he was a man used to having his demands carried out. She nodded her head in response. Only then did Lord Jeffrey look at the twins. He nodded. Helena didn’t see them behind her, but she assumed they nodded back. He turned to Lady Lavinia and both of them walked back to the dancing floor, eagerly discussing. When they passed beside Prince Drew and Miss Justina, Lady Lavinia stopped to greet them, but Lord Jeffrey just continued walking. Lady Lavinia shouted something that made him turn back to her; he nodded and turned back. Lady Lavinia came back with Prince Drew and Miss Justina.

When Miss Justina got back to her mistress, she was beaming.

“You really enjoyed yourself,” Helena said, feeling a tinge of self-pity as she was unable to participate in the dancing.

“Fairly well, Prince Drew was such a dear until Lady Lavinia came to break us up,” Miss Justina said.

Lady Lavinia didn’t hear Miss Justina’s comment. Helena was sure she would have immediately replied. Miss Justina sat on the arm of the chair Helena was sitting on.

“I see she managed to drag Lord Jeffrey here.”

“Yes, she did,” Helena said, looking back at her best friend.

“So?” Miss Justina asked.

Helena looked at her with an asking smile. She knew what Miss Justina wanted to hear.

Why not make her ask for it directly?