Page 51 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady

Lord Jeffrey looked away from his mother back to Dr Frederick. His eyes made a slow and deliberate appraisal, moving from the doctor’s head to his feet then up again.

“So this is Dr Frederick,” he said in a tone that suggested he expected someone more impressive.

Dr Frederick was surprised by the tone of his voice. He had expected something deeper.

“Yes sir, I am Dr Frederick.”

“So what is your verdict on the ailment that disturbs my father so?” Lord Jeffrey asked.

His eyes looked playful as if he was bemused by Dr Frederick’s face or gait. Dr Frederick looked at the Duchess’ eyes. They were focused on her son, and when she met his gaze, it was only for a moment.

“I have not made a definitive call on the ailment, Lord Jeffrey. But I suspect it to be a passing seasonal sickness. I only brought medicine to make him feel better. It will leave soon,” Dr Frederick said.

Lord Jeffrey seemed satisfied at the doctor’s answer and said nothing.

“Have a lovely day, Doctor,” Duchess Mona said as she turned and entered her husband’s bedroom.

Dr Frederick made to walk away when Lord Jeffrey’s voice held him back.

“I was told you were at our ball yesterday. I was busy downstairs. We would have met,” he said.

Dr Frederick nodded and looked into Lord Jeffrey’s eyes.

“Yes, we would have. I suppose we might have met in the hall if I had got in any earlier. I had to attend to someone who had a sprained ankle,” Dr Frederick said.

“Sprained ankle?” Lord Jeffrey asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Would that be Miss Helena, the daughter of the Baron of Strabolgi?” Lord Jeffrey asked.

“Yes, my Lord. How did you come to guess so accurately?”

“I met her yesterday. I wanted a dance, but she couldn’t because she was injured,” Lord Jeffrey said.

Lord Jeffrey stooped close to Dr Frederick. He spoke with a lowered voice.

“I will have that dance, maybe in the next ball. I hear that she is a tough nut to crack. She engaged one of my friends, Mr Harding, in an argument at a ball once. Harding felt hard done by, no pun intended, by what he labels her preposterously untrained mouth.”

Dr Frederick laughed.

“Well, I have had a few interactions with her,” Dr Frederick said.

A few intense interactions.

“I had heard of her courage before now, but she was missish all through, nothing out of character for a cultured woman of the ton,” Dr Frederick added.

“Yes, I noticed the same thing. I have designs for her, though, and will surely get to know more of her,” Lord Jeffrey said.

Dr Frederick nodded his head. He did not like the turn of the conversation.

“I need to get going, Lord Jeffrey. Let me not bore you with reports of my mundane doings,” he said.

Lord Jeffrey stared into his eyes. His dark brown hair shone in the heat of the room. He nodded, giving his permission for the doctor to leave.

Dr Frederick pushed the door open and walked down the stairs. He thought only about the Marquess’ comments as he got to the corridor at the ground floor.

Lord Jeffrey’s interest in Miss Helena is more than amicable. He is a notorious rake and surely a more attractive man than I am.

Dr Frederick walked till he got to the porch in front of the entrance of the house before walking down the short stairwell leading into the courtyard. He signalled to one of the stewards standing at the gate. The steward walked up to him.