Page 80 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady

“If you will excuse me, Dr Frederick, I need to find Miss Helena,” Miss Justina said.

“Of course,” Dr Frederick replied her.

“I am also on my way outside. It seems I need some air,” Mister Frank replied.

Dr Frederick saw that Mister Frank did have droplets of sweat on his face. He kept pulling his collar, trying to put a gap between the shirt’s collar and his neck. The room was stuffy, Dr Frederick agreed, and could demand a momentary escape from some.

“If I could be your escort,” Mister Frank said to Miss Justina.

“I would love that,” she replied.

Dr Frederick watched them walk out of the room. The supper dance was soon to start, and the room was already full of people. Dr Frederick started towards the door, intending to seek out Miss Helena before the supper dance started.

Lord Jeffrey might attempt to have a second dance with her, to stamp his intent and make it public.

Miss Helena’s appearance with him to the ball was a signal of acceptance to Lord Jeffrey, Dr Frederick assumed, since she had rejected his request just to attend the dance with Lord Jeffrey. Dr Frederick still couldn’t push the curiosity away. He needed to talk to her.

Everything that happened in the garden, was it just child’s play to her? Does she give her body to men as she fancies?

Dr Frederick shook his head; a futile attempt to shrug the confusion that tormented him. She had prevented him from ultimate satisfaction, and he thought it was because she had come to a particular realisation.

A woman like that does not go to such extents of flirtation or coquetry.

Dr Frederick was reaching the door when Miss Helena walked back into the room. Her left hand held a handkerchief and mopped her face rapidly. Dr Fredrick wondered why there was so much fuss over balls, a character he sometimes exhibited, as they were so uncomfortable at times. He called at her as he neared her, causing her to look up to him.

“Miss Helena, I had been meaning to talk to your all evening,” Dr Frederick said.

Even to him, his voice was much more cheery than he felt. He clamped down on the discontent that had gathered from her actions that day.

“Even I,” Miss Helena replied.

The effect of sweat showed on her face as the room’s lighting bounced off her skin. Her brow shone with water reflecting the light. Miss Helena dapped her brow again, cleaning off the watery mirrors.

“I see you made it to the ball.”

“Yes, I did. The engagement I had was cancelled; I decided to accept Lord Jeffrey’s invitation,” she explained.

Dr Frederick compared what she said with what Miss Justina had told him.

She’s lying.

“So where is your partner now?” Dr Frederick asked.

“I cannot find him anywhere. Surely, he is held up somewhere by a person or group interested in making small talk,” Miss Helena answered.

The supper dance was starting. Couples moved back in pairs to the dance floor. Dr Frederick saw his chance and took it.

“Could you spare me one dance, Miss Helena?”

Miss Helena smiled. The way her face brightened thawed Dr Frederick’s icy ire; he stretched his hand to her.

“I would love to,” Miss Helena replied.

She placed her small palm in his. Dr Frederick held on tight to her gloved hand. For someone who was looking so hot, her palm felt very cool.

“Helena.”

Dr Frederick was about to look to see who called her, but Miss Helena pushed him forward.