Thank goodness.
“Please where did you keep my mount?” he asked the steward.
The man looked at his face for a few seconds. He was trying to recognise him.
“Dr Frederick?” Dr Frederick said, pointing a finger to his chest.
“Oh yes, the physician,” the man said.
“Your horse is not here. You asked that it be close, so I put it in the shed outside,” the man said.
“Thank you,” Dr Frederick said.
He walked outside and turned to his left. There was an arrangement of horses tied beside the stable. His horse was the second to the last from the right. He walked to the mare, rubbing it on the nose before moving to its side. He opened the flap of the bag hanging by its side and looked in. He picked up the small metal case at the bottom, opened it, and lifted it to his nose. The stinging sensation from the open unguent made him turn up his nose. He pushed back the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes.
What a biting odour.
Dr Frederick placed the lid back on top of the case. He double tapped his mare on its head and walked back to the front of the house. He could see Lady Lavinia and the other dark coloured woman, probably Miss Helena’s personal maid, talking to her. The tall man who had kissed her hand stood behind Lady Lavinia with his hands crossed; he was the first to see him approaching. He said something that had the chattering twins turn to face him before the others turned to look at Dr Frederick. He looked at Miss Helena’s face. It was far pinker than it had been when she first fell. She was flushed. She tried to smile when she saw him, but it came off as a grimace. She wiped even that off before he got to her.
When he got to her, he bent beside her.
“So it’s here,” he said, opening his closed fist to show the small case.
“Will it sting?” she asked.
“Pretty much, but that will be over in a bit.”
She nodded her head. Dr Frederick opened the case and used his index and middle finger to scoop a bit of the ointment. The smell rose to his nose. He saw Miss Helena breath out noisily too. He held her foot just above the ankle.
“Are you ready?” he said softly.
She nodded.
He placed the ointment on her ankle and used both hands to rub it in vigorously. Her leg shook as he rubbed and squeezed all over her ankle. Miss Helena yelped at first, but she quickly sealed her mouth. She inhaled and exhaled consciously, her breath caressing Dr Frederick’s cheek as he massaged her ankle.
When he looked at her eyes, she could only manage a glimpse before dropping her eyes again. As she dropped her eyes, her head bent lower, allowing Dr Frederick a glimpse into her cleavage as the neckline of her gown dropped. The beginning of the mounds of her breasts was pure white. Dr Frederick imagined how white and flawless her bosom would be. He imagined their soft feel in the skin of his palm. He imagined the dark areola sure to surround her nipple and the fleshy softness of her nipple in his mouth. He rubbed the swollen ankle a bit causing her to whimper. The gentle sound of her voice was like the ocean’s cool breeze. Dr Frederick was suddenly desperate to satiate his imagination. In a ruse to see into her cleavage, he pulled her foot closer, pushing his head closer to her. His face was directly opposite hers. His eyes met hers before dipping into the gentle split evident under the neckline of her gown. Her smell was sweet like exotic perfume and salty like the ocean, and this was too much for Dr Frederick. He closed his eyes and only her touch on his arm made him slam his eyelids open again. He saw the want in her eyes too before she broke their eye contact.
Or is that something else?
When he was done, he dropped the ankle gently. Only then did he realise that she had placed her hands around his shoulders.
“Just sit down for a bit; the pain will subside,” he said. Dr Frederick wasn’t so sure that she had put them there because of pain.
Miss Helena nodded but removed only her left arm. Her right hand she dropped to his elbow and held it there gently. He felt a tingling sensation in the skin under her fingers. Her palm was soft.
Even a tight hold from her creates a soft caressing feel.
He didn’t want her to remove her hand. Till he finally stood, she didn’t.
“Oh Doctor, I forgot to introduce you to my friends,” Miss Helena said.
“No, let me,” Lady Lavinia butted in.
“Of course, you know me, but let me give you a formal introduction. I am Lady Lavinia Audley, the last daughter and child of the Earl of Albemarle. I’m as beautiful as I am outspoken, even you can attest to that,” she said.
Dr Frederick laughed. Miss Helena shook her head.
“These are my cousins, Abigail and Alistair Boroughs. They are twins, obviously. They came over from Ireland to spend the holiday with me,” Lady Lavinia said pointing to the young man and woman he had already decided were twins.
“And this is Prince Drew McAllister. He’s from Ireland too, came with my cousins,” Lady Lavinia said. She walked to him and wrapped her right hand around the Prince’s arm unconsciously. Dr Frederick looked quickly to Miss Helena before returning his gaze to Lady Lavinia. Miss Helena’s eyes were on the lock of their arm.
She noticed just as he did. This was the man I saw with her that day by the tree. They are definitely in some kind of relationship.
The Prince extended his right hand for a handshake. Dr Frederick shook his hand. It was bigger than his, and the grip was firm.
“It’s nice meeting you Doctor …” the Prince said in a very Irish accent.
The doctor sounded like doctuh.
“Frederick, Dr Frederick,” he completed for the Prince.
“Although it would have been much preferred if we had met in less injurious circumstances,” the Prince said looking at Miss Helena. Dr Frederick grinned.
This is certainly an injurious circumstance.
Dr Frederick turned and bent back down to Miss Helena.
“Your friends are nice folk.”
He reduced his voice to a bare whisper.
“The Prince is a handsome one. He seems mighty close to Lady Lavinia.”
Miss Helena blushed. She looked at Lady Lavinia then quickly moved her eyes away. Dr Frederick turned and saw that their hands were still clasped, Lady Lavinia and her tall handsome prince.
“She likes him. I think he likes her too. It’s a wonder how he likes her and her loud mouth,” Lady Lavinia said softly.
Dr Frederick chuckled.
“Enough gossip about your friend, let’s get you to your feet,” he said.
“Are you sure?” Miss Helena asked.
“Are you asking a doctor if he’s sure the ankle he just treated is good?”
Miss Helena laughed aloud, drawing the attention of the other people.
“So I’ll help you. You just rest all your weight on my shoulders and try to avoid putting anything on that ankle; if you could stand with all your weight on the other leg, even better,” Dr Frederick said.
Dr Frederick placed his arms around her waist as she wrapped her arms around his neck, putting her weight on his shoulders. Dr Frederick felt her breasts press onto his chest and chin. The softness of her bust fueled the hardness of his member, pushed back by his tight breeches. Dr Frederick drew in a deep breath.
I have never been so tempted in my life.
Dr Frederick leaned into her, compressing her big bust even more as she struggled to stand upright. She stood on one foot, attempting to drop the injured foot gingerly. She did once but jerked it back upwards, throwing her face dangerously close to Dr Frederick’s face. Dr Frederick saw up close the small round opening between her lips, the white line that formed where her lips met. The deepening of pink to red as his eyes followed the skin of her lips inwards. He pushed back a maddening drive to quash his lips into hers. And when she looked up and met his eyes, he almost swore aloud. Their empty space was so endearing that it quickened his heart rate. Her eyes mirrored him.
Dr Frederick dropped his gaze, majorly for fear of
losing control, but he only managed to drop it from face to her open cleavage. While her fingers bit into his shoulders as she tried to maintain balance without using the injured ankle, her bust shook and swam, almost taking Dr Frederick’s faculties with them. His eyes followed their every shake and swerve. He didn’t move back when she bounced on her strong right foot and forced the injured left down. Instead, he stood as she was forced to rub her boobs on his head. Dr Frederick closed his eyes. If she moved her legs any closer, she would feel the hardness in his member. His member had risen strong and hard, pushing itself against the fabric of his breeches. His face was hot, tingling where they had been rubbed upon. And when he lifted his eyes to meet hers again, there was a weary smile on her face.
Pain mixed with naughtiness surely; she must know what effect she has on me.
She finally managed to put a bit of weight on the foot. Slowly, Dr Frederick moved backwards, away from her. She extended her arms outwards like wings.
“You have to try to maintain balance without pushing your arms out like a mother hen protecting her chicks,” Dr Frederick said.
There were chuckles all round. Even Miss Helena managed a smile. She managed to stand normally. Lady Lavinia went towards her and started speaking to her about something Dr Frederick couldn’t hear.
He looked around. Most of the visitors had arrived and gone in. Even the stewards who had been standing by the entrance at the top of the stairs had gone into the hall. The light from the sun bounced off the staircase’s shiny floors, straight into Dr Frederick’s eyes. Dr Frederick blinked, attempting in futility to stop the pricking rays from coming into his eyes. When he was done blinking, there was a steward coming down the stairs. She wore a white gown, unlike the blue overall most of the other stewards had worn. But he knew she was a steward, the way she caught his gaze and quickly looked to the ground but still came towards him, and the plain style of her dress.
That is definitely not for the party.
She walked straight to Dr Frederick and bent with her knees.
“Good day,” Dr Frederick said to her.
“Good afternoon, sir; thank goodness that I found you. I have been told to find and bring you as soon as possible, sir,” she said.
The chattering behind him had stopped. They were listening to what the young girl was saying.
“Is there any problem? And who summons me, if I might ask?” Dr Frederick asked the girl as he dropped the small case back into the pocket in his jacket.
“The Duchess of Beaufort, Her Grace, asked that I summon you, sir,” she answered.
Dr Frederick nodded his head. He turned around to face Miss Helena.
“I hope you can manage the foot now,” he said.
Miss Helena nodded her head. Her eyes were shiny and watery.
Was she about crying?
“I need to leave now. I have been summoned.”
He faced Lady Lavinia.
“I would advise that you find a way to get your friend back home immediately instead of staying to attend this. She would be verily tempted to use that foot inside, and it is much better if she just rests while the foot heals,” Dr Frederick said.
“I should go back home?” Miss Helena said.
Her tone was obstinate and angry like Dr Frederick had told her something unacceptable. She shook her head and laid the foot flat upon the ground. She grimaced and bit in the pain, but Dr Frederick only shook his head.
“I think if you stay, you would only injure the foot more. Rest is what you need,” Dr Frederick said.
“No.”
Her rebuttal was sharp and definite.
This is the Miss Helena I always hear of, a woman with a strong will unyielding to the opinions of another man. He knew she would not go home. Dr Frederick shook his head.
Sometimes it’s not a man versus woman contest. It’s just more sensible to listen to your physician.
He said nothing.
“Well, I need to answer my call,” Dr Frederick said.
He pointed forward, signalling the young steward to lead the way. He followed her. When he got to the top of the stairwell, he turned back and saw her trying to walk gingerly on both feet. She would not have made it if not for Lady Lavinia’s supporting arms. Dr Frederick shook his head.
This is a really stubborn woman, and enticing to the marrow. I must see her again before she leaves the ball.
The steward didn’t push the big entrance open. Instead, she walked down the balcony till she got into a corridor, and Dr Frederick followed her.
Chapter 8
A Visit Promised
Helena watched as the doctor disappeared into the building. Lady Lavinia was telling her something. Her ears were working well, but she did not hear a word. She was still trying to calm her heart rate down. Just seeing the doctor was enough to stifle her throat and make her feel hot all over. When he grabbed her leg to massage, Helena felt herself become wet. There was an uneasy moistness still at the junction of her limbs. His hands had not travelled without propriety, only wandered along the precipice.
His calloused fingers were a torture weapon.
That is probably from his holding hard surgery tools.
They were enough to trigger her skin and make her breath catch. Maybe if his fingers had been smooth and soft, she would not have been so enticed. But she felt every ridge in his skin, every bump that grazed her skin and tickled the underside of her knees. She had leaned into him several times, unable to defeat the temptation of pressing his head against her bust. And the few times her eyes had caught his, she could swear he wanted her just as much. His blue eyes had become the sea, what was once clear, foamed and rippled with primal emotion. He had quickly removed them, just as she had.
Everyone hiding their emotions.
Helena looked around her. Lady Lavinia upon seeing her friend wasn’t listening to what she had been saying was now talking to Prince Drew. The cousins were speaking quietly to themselves. Only Miss Justina had her eyes on Helena, very knowing eyes. Helena matched her gaze, and Miss Justina broke into a grin.
“Why do you stare at me so?” Helena asked her.
“Nothing much; you need to go back home. Let me get Mr Booth. I’ll be with you, of course,” Miss Justina said before walking closer to Helena.
Helena looked back down at the left ankle that caused her to rest only the front of her foot on the floor. It had really reduced in size. It wasn’t looking so bad anymore.
“It isn’t looking so bad anymore,” Miss Justina said, staring at the foot.
“My thoughts exactly,” Helena answered.
“You do not want to return and rest it,” Miss Justina said.
Helena shook her head.
“I want to attend the ball. We are late already. I’m very sure the hosts have had their dance,” Helena said.
“It’s not sensible for you to go in this way. You can hardly walk.”
Helena turned back slightly to see her friend just over her shoulder. Helena had not realised Lady Lavinia was no more speaking with the Prince.
“You behave as if you do not know that I came here for a reason,” Helena said.
Lady Lavinia’s eyes showed acknowledgement. She looked away before looking back.
“You can hardly walk, not to even mention dance. How do you hope to draw his admiration if you won’t be active? Push this agenda to another ball,” Lady Lavinia said.
Helena thought about her father and the state of finance of the barony. Her mind flew to the loss of status that awaited her family if she couldn’t lure Lord Jeffrey to her. She shook her head.
It wasn’t something to be bargained. She had to attend the ball.
“I am attending. Are you helping me up the stairs or not?” Helena asked.
Lady Lavinia rolled her eyes.
“Let’s go upstairs, we are late enough,” she said to the others.
Miss Justina moved to Helena’s left side. Helena placed her arm over her maid’s shoulders and leaned on her.
She took one ginger step after the other, hopping on just her right foot. Alistair and Abigail walked ahead, leading the rest up the stairs. They got to the top long before Helena and Miss Justina could even get to the middle of the well, but they waited. Helena heard Lady Lavinia’s voice as she spoke to the Prince behind her. Helena thought about the young man she had thought was Lord Jeffrey at the top of the stairs.
How can I allow a glimpse of a man to make me lose my comportment?
Seduced by an Irresistible Lady: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 9
