Page 69 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady

“So why do you have a grim face?” Lady Lavinia asked.

Helena shook her head.

“He has something against Justina,” she said.

Lady Lavinia burst into quiet laughter. Helena didn’t join her.

“What could the Marquess of Beaufort, the son of the Duke, one of the richest men in England, have against your maid?” Lady Lavinia asked.

“We both know Justina has become more of a friend than a maid,” Helena argued.

“He isn’t to know that. He has been surrounded by eager servants all his life. Please allow him some room if he doesn’t find it easy to understand why a steward would be so close and free,” Lady Lavinia said.

Helena said nothing in response. Lady Lavinia was right. She would have to talk to Lord Jeffrey.

Her wait to speak with Lord Jeffrey took far longer than she thought it would. Lord Jeffrey and her father discussed long into the day. Helena was seeing Lady Lavinia off in her carriage when Lord Jeffrey stepped out of her house. Helena watched Lady Lavinia’s carriage move out of the compound before turning to meet Lord Jeffrey.

“I didn’t know you would speak for so long,” Helena said.

“I didn’t plan it like that, my dear. I am sorry for being such a bad guest,” he said.

Helena laughed.

“You aren’t in the least a bad guest.”

Lord Jeffrey held her hand and walked her to the side of the house. Helena led him to a bench that lay in front of a small statue beside the house.

“So did you meet my mother?” Helena asked.

“Yes, I did. She’s a very jovial woman. The Baron is more subdued,” Lord Jeffrey said.

Helena nodded her head. It wasn’t necessarily true. Her father was more cheerful than her mother. His current worries had subdued him.

“Did you receive an invitation to attend Miss Morgana’s ball?” Lord Jeffrey asked.

Helena remembered her discussion with Lady Lavinia at Albemarle. She hadn’t received any invitation.

“No, I haven’t.”

Lord Jeffrey dipped his hand into his coat and brought out a white envelope. He offered it to Helena.

“She asked that we bring partners. That is strange, though, but everything about Miss Morgana is different,” Lord Jeffrey said.

Helena collected the invite but didn’t respond to what he said. He spoke like he knew Miss Morgana personally, and rather well. She looked into his dark orbs, and he shifted his gaze away from her.

“When is it holding?” she asked him.

“It’s in the invite, in two weeks I suppose. I will come and pick you up. I’ll be here before ten,” Lord Jeffrey said.

Helena didn’t reply. Lord Jeffrey held her hand. His grip wasn’t hard, not what she expected for someone who looked so strong and menacing. His fingers were soft. Helena waited for the rush, the tripping over her heart would surely suffer, the tingling at the point where their skin touched. Nothing happened. She looked into Lord Jeffrey’s eyes and couldn’t read him even though she felt like he was reading her like an open book. He drew closer. Helena felt his breath on her, hot and brushing. His lips were sharply outlined with vivid edges, not like Dr Frederick’s which melted into his skin. His mouth opened a bit. Helena’s breath caught.

“Miss Helena.”

Helena jerked backwards. Lord Jeffrey was more relaxed in his reaction and looked back with an intense frown. That was Miss Justina’s voice. Miss Justina came around the turn after a few seconds and curtseyed when she saw Lord Jeffrey.

“The Baron asked that I call Miss Helena,” she said.

There was a groan from Lord Jeffrey. He looked very displeased at seeing Miss Justina. Helena remembered her planned discussion with Lord Jeffrey. She stood up.