Page 55 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady

“I’ll be right behind you,” she said.

Helena still had her plain morning gown on. She wasn’t planning to go anywhere; she just wanted to read in the garden for the rest of the day. Helena picked up the book she was reading on the centre table as she passed through the sitting room and continued her walk out into the courtyard. She went down the stairs and round the house into the garden. She sat on the bench and opened her book.

She was still sitting in the garden two hours later. Lady Lavinia and Miss Justina sat beside her, busy playing a game of cards. Helena was at the end of the book now. Her guess had been right. The book had a deeper story that meant more than the life of the initial protagonist. Helena closed the book and looked at its front page again.

“Priestly Desires,” its title read.

Helena was about opening it again when she heard her name.

“Miss Helena,” a young boy called her.

She looked up to him.

“There’s a man asking for you. He says his name is Lord Jeffrey,” the boy said.

Lady Lavinia nudged her friend on the arm.

“Helena, you didn’t tell me Lord Jeffrey comes here to see you,” Lady Lavinia said winking at the same time.

“He’s only been here once,” Helena said, disregarding her friend’s teasing tone.

She stood up and walked out of the garden. She saw Lord Jeffrey standing at the base of the short staircase leading to her house’s porch. He looked immaculate in a white jacket and tucked out white shirt over black breeches which ended in his black Wellington boots. There was a golden wristwatch on his arm that caught her eyes. His brown hair took on a black shade in the day’s light.

When he saw her coming, his plain expression became a frown. But he smiled again when she was a few feet from him.

“Good day, Miss Helena, happy birthday,” he said.

Helena smiled.

At least he remembered.

“Thank you,” she said, staring into his eyes.

“I felt you would be expecting me,” he said.

His eyes took her in. Helena could see displeasure in his eyes as he spoke. He didn’t like it that she was still in her morning gown. Helena wanted to address his demeaning tone, but she bridled her mouth.

Second time I’m keeping quiet with this man. I am in the wrong. I should have been ready for him. We planned to see the play.

“It escaped me. Give me a short while; I will be out and ready.”

She looked back and saw Miss Justina and Lady Lavinia walking closer. Helena gestured to Miss Justina to come after her. Miss Justina broke into a slow run as Helena walked into the house. Helena saw Lord Jeffrey take and kiss Lady Lavinia’s hand as she got to him. Lady Lavinia had broken into a smile and was already chattering as Helena closed the entrance door behind her and Miss Justina.

She appeared close to an hour after. She had taken a warm bath and dressed herself up in a low cut pink gown. The neckline of the gown had heavy lacy decorations, and the gown had long sleeves pinched at its ends. Helena had powdered her cheeks, making her appear even whiter than normal when she checked in the mirror before coming down. She added a bit of blush to her cheeks and rouge to her lips.

“He will be barely able to keep his hands off you. His eyes, he will be powerless to keep from staring,” Miss Justina said as she saw her mistress stroll out of her bedroom to meet Lord Jeffrey downstairs.

She was right. When Helena walked down the stairs to meet Lord Jeffrey and Lady Lavinia, Lord Jeffrey was so obviously impressed his first compliments were a clutch of fumbled words.

“You, you really look … You look, amazing, just amazing.”

Helena blushed.

“Thank you,” she replied and curtseyed.

“After you,” Lord Jeffrey said, pointing to a carriage waiting just in front of the gate.

Helena touched Lady Lavinia on the arm as she walked to the carriage. Lord Jeffrey walked beside her.