“You might not as well have bothered, Miss Justina. I am done with my examination. The foot is good now. I was about taking my leave,” he told her.
“Oh,” Miss Justina exclaimed.
Dr Frederick turned to Miss Helena, meeting her eyes which were wide open with anticipation.
“Have a great day, Miss Helena.”
Dr Frederick walked away quickly. He just kept walking till he got to his horse. He mounted it and rode out of the compound. It was only when he was out of the compound and into the street that he allowed himself to think.
Miss Helena was a living temptation that he was not sure he could stay away from. He wondered what would have happened if the noise from Miss Justina’s feet had not made him move away from her. Dr Frederick was confused on what to do next. He only knew one thing, he wanted Miss Helena, and there was just one way to kill that want.
Having her.
*******
“Why did he leave so hastily?” Miss Justina asked, dropping the bowl at Helena’s foot.
He left because you came.
Helena shook her head.
“I don’t know,” she lied.
Helena didn’t know whether to feel angry that Miss Justina came or to feel saved. There was still a burning desire in her that made her skin bristle with every current of wind. Her lips felt swollen. Helena cleaned them again, the third time since Dr Frederick had left. She felt a wetness that still gathered between her legs. Helena clasped her thighs together in an attempt to get rid of the dull sweetness she felt there.
His hand had gone back between my legs. He would have met my wetness, cured some part of my ravishing need, if Justina hadn’t come.
Then Helena felt happy somewhat that Miss Justina came. Her emotions were running through her like a gale of wind on a cold, stormy night. There was no rationale in their actions. Now, she could properly think about what they were to do and what it meant.
Helena remembered her plan to get Lord Jeffrey to marry her.
It’s like I am attempting to sabotage my plan before it even properly begins.
She had felt no such want with Lord Jeffrey. Her skin did not bristle when he touched her. There was no rush in her veins from the dark focus from his eyes. The thought of him did not wet her between the legs.
All that would not provide money for my father. Lord Jeffrey has the capability to do that, Dr Frederick doesn’t.
“I forget that time is ticking,” she said, under her breath.
“Ma’am, I didn’t hear you,” Miss Justina said.
Helena looked at Miss Justina.
“I wasn’t talking to you, Justina.”
Miss Justina nodded.
“You look rattled,” she said, “Like you didn’t want him to leave.”
Helena didn’t look at her maid. Miss Justina knew her too well. And she was a bright young woman too. She didn’t need to know too much to guess what had happened.
“I didn’t,” Helena admitted, deciding saying something along the lines of truth would be better than telling a lie that Miss Justina would see through.
“So why did he leave?”
“He said he had somewhere important to get to. He will be back next week.”
Helena hoped he would come back. She still wanted to see him.
“He’s a nice, young man, humble too,” Miss Justina said.
Helena knew she meant that in comparison to Lord Jeffrey. And she was right.
Lord Jeffrey is an arrogant man.
Helena didn’t like that, but it was the custom of men of the ton. Highly stationed men were usually very arrogant. Helena had been surprised when she discovered that the society even expected them to be so. Miss Justina picked the bowl up.
“Do you still need this warm water?” she asked her mistress.
“No,” Helena replied, “I don’t need it.”
Miss Justina carried it and walked away from the bench and around the short trees till Helena couldn’t see her anymore. Helena stood up and walked in the opposite direction to Miss Justina, deeper into the garden and to the small fountain. The spring didn’t work now, and the water there was calm. Helena looked into the water, and her image stared back at her.
Her breasts rose, pushing the dress up as she inhaled, then fell again. Dr Frederick had said a cursing word when he placed his head on her bust. She didn’t remember which word. His mouth had nibbled at her nipple. If Miss Justina had not come, he might have gotten her bust bare enough to feast on it. His hot mouth would have engulfed her dark nipples, wetting them with his tongue. Helena felt a cold wind move gently past her. Her red hair rose a little, free strands twirled in the air. She turned around and walked back home.
She was confused, and it was not meant to be. Her heart yearned only for Mr Frederick, but she knew the right thing to do, even if it was difficult. Unless her father had miraculously gotten his head out of water, there was really only one choice.
Chapter 13
Bad News
Helena waited as Miss Justina came down the stairs with her bag. Miss Justina gave the green fur bag to Helena as she opened the carriage door. Mr Booth, on seeing they were both about to enter, went around the carriage to the driver’s seat. Helena got in, and Miss Justina got in after her.
“All settled?” Mr Booth asked.
“Yes,” Miss Justina replied.
Helena shifted the rope hanging below her chin from the two ends of her hat. The hat was a bit wide, somewhat uncomfortable to wear in a constricted space like a carriage’s cabin, but Helena was in a stubborn mood. She wasn’t pulling it off. She had not planned to go to Lady Lavinia’s at Albemarle that day.
I had to move away.
Her father received a letter from the Bureau of District Accounting earlier that morning. Helena was present as the stone faced rider dropped the letter off and rode away without saying more than four disheartening words. He had ridden into the compound completely in black. Even his horse was black.
I knew a messenger so dressed could not bring good news.
The rider stopped by the five-step stairwell in front of the house. Miss Justina, who was standing beside Helena, went down the stairs to collect the letter the man stretched out.
“From whom?” Helena asked the dark rider.
“Bureau of District Accounting,” he answered before turning his horse around and riding off.
Helena felt a cold chill crawl around her chest as he rode away.
The missing funds have surely been discovered.
Miss Justina walked up the stairs with the small smile still on her face. Miss Helena shook her head. Her heart felt heavy. Whatever was written in that letter could not be good news. Miss Justina stretched the letter to her mistress. Helena wasn’t sure she could bear holding that letter.
“Go and give it to the Baron,” she said.
Miss Justina’s eyes showed doubt as if she detected the change in demeanour from her mistress. She turned and walked to the entrance door.
I have to be there when Father reads this. I’m supposed to know what’s in the letter.
“Bring it,” Helena said as Miss Justina’s hand touched the doorknob.
Her maid turned. Her expression was worried now. Helena walked to her and collected the letter.
“Is something wrong?” Miss Justina asked.
Helena shook her head. She couldn’t find the words to answer. She opened the door and walked slowly down the corridor to her father’s chambers. She knocked once and didn’t wait for an invite before going in. The waiting room was empty. The door to the balcony was open.
Father is in there.
Helena walked to the open door and saw her father standing by the railings. His hand hung over the edge as his elbow rested on the balustrade. He was in a soft plain shirt he only wore indoors and grey knickers. His red hair was tussled and scattered. Helena could see the folds of skin below his hairline.
He doesn’t know I’m here. What is he thinking about?
Helena walked close to him and was about to speak when his cold voice halted her in her tracks.
“Do you have the letter?” he said.
Helena was surprised that he knew she was behind him. She was even more surprised he had known about the letter.
“I saw the rider. I saw him give Justina the letter. I knew the most likely source,” he explained.
“The Bureau of District Accounting,” Helena confirmed.
She stood beside her father and rested her elbows on the railings. She stretched the white envelope to her father. He stared at it for a short while without collecting. Helena was about to return her outstretched hand when he collected it from her. He broke the seal, taking his time to open the letter.
“What of mother?” Helena asked.
“She’s in my bedroom. I think she’s asleep. She would have heard you come in and come out to meet you if she was awake,” the Baron responded.
He lifted the letter above the yawning downward space and read intently. He offered it to Helena after reading it. Helena collected it and read.
They hadn’t found out about the missing funds. They were asking for the annual finance report. Helena assumed each barony submitted a statement every year.
“What does this mean for us?” Helena asked.
“It’s not good,” the Baron said.
Helena waited for her father to give further information, but it looked like he wasn’t willing to speak.
“What,” Helena started to say.
“It means we have less time to solve this problem. I have a shorter time to save my head,” her father said, interrupting her.
“Every Baron submits this financial report to the Bureau every year. It should be a signed statement from the bank detailing all credits and debits since the last submission and how credits were generated and how debits were used. A reduction in funds is greatly frowned upon, but if it can be properly explained, there’s no punitive measure. Our accounts are missing an incredible amount of money, and we have no explanation that could come up to scratch. I have a month to respond to this letter, if not I get summoned by the King,” her father said.
“Dear, oh dear,” Helena said gently.
This was very bad news. Helena thought about her plan to save her father from financial ruin.
Can I get Lord Jeffrey to ask my hand in less than a month?
Helena was sceptical. It wasn’t a feasible prediction.
What if I get him to help Father before asking me to marry him?
Helena didn’t know Lord Jeffrey too well, but she could tell from the little interaction she had with him that he wouldn’t gift her father such a large amount without expecting something in return.
Something of importance, like my hand in marriage.
“So what can you do, Father?” Helena asked.
Her father shook his head.
“Nothing.”
She hardly heard his answer. If she hadn’t seen his mouth part slightly, she wouldn’t have known he spoke. The Baron turned and went into his waiting room. He opened his bedroom door and went in. Helena stood at the balcony and looked into the horizon. Strabolgi was peaceful this afternoon. There was no sign of the financial ruin that was threatening it. A couple walked down the street just after theirs. The man carried a small boy who sat on his shoulder. The boy was screaming. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself. Helena wondered the state of her father’s mind at the moment.
Uneasy lies the head that carries the crown.
There was no crown, and her father’s head was still uneasy. Helena started to feel stifled. She could use Lady Lavinia’s immortal spring of cheerfulness at the moment. The bedroom door opened again, and her father came out. He walked to her in the balcony without the letter in his hand.
“You kept it,” Helena said.
The Baron nodded. Helena sighed.
“I’m going to see Lavinia,” she said.
Her father nodded his head. Helena walked quickly away to her room, meeting Miss Justina inside the room arranging the dressing table.
“Leave that, Justina. We are going to Albemarle,” she told her.
Miss Justina looked at her. Helena could tell she was about to ask why but held it in. Miss Justina nodded and walked out of the room.
Now they were on their way out of the compound, and Helena could not wait to be as far from Strabolgi as possible.
At least for now.
She was getting stifled due to the morning’s events. Everything at home kept reminding her about the bleak future. Helena looked outside the window. There was an arrangement of stalls where common wares were sold. There was a different expression on every face she saw. She didn’t see anyone with the look of silent alarm her father’s eyes held. Those were scary. Helena removed her gaze from the window and tilted the front of the hat down, blocking her sight. She wished she could just fall asleep immediately.
A blank mind bettered a troubled one.
Despite keeping her eyes closed and under the shade of the brim of the downturned hat, Helena found no sleep. She focused her thoughts away from the problems of her home but found no rest still. When they got to the house of the Earl of Albemarle, Helena was tired.
“We are there,” Miss Justina said.
Helena tilted the hat back to sit properly on her head. She rubbed her eyes then went down after her maid. She looked at Lady Lavinia’s house and smiled again.
Why would an Earl own a house that couldn’t be described as big?
Helena and Miss Justina had teased Lady Lavinia many times on the topic of her house. The building was big but only compared to the homes of common people. It was small for a peer, for an Earl it was puny. Lady Lavinia claimed it had been built within a tight deadline.
“Father will soon complete the new one,” Lady Lavinia had claimed.
Helena motioned to a steward standing at the entrance of the house. The young woman ran to meet her.
“Where is Lavinia?” Helena asked.
“She’s in the garden,” the steward said pointing to the garden along the path that diverged with the one going around the house.
The garden at the Earl of Albemarle’s house was detached from the house. That was the only home Helena had seen structured like that. It lay at the far right corner of the compound as if cast away from the rest of the property. Helena walked quickly. She was in a haste to see her friend so the demons that pillaged her happy heart could be cast away. She walked past the pots of hyacinths. Their flowers bloomed with a deep purple colour. Helena was impressed with their progress.
The last time I came here, they weren’t looking so good.
Miss Justina walked too close to them and got her skirt hooked on the thorns of one stalk. She raised the skirt up at the hooked point, showing the lacy designs of her petticoat. Helena waited for her maid to detach herself from the clinging thorn before she continued her walk into the garden. She knew where Lady Lavinia would be, sitting in front of the flower beds playing a game of cards with her maid or knitting. Helena was surprised to hear laughter and high pitched voices as she neared the flower bed.
She turned around the corner and saw Lady Lavinia and a young maid. Lady Lavinia was sitting at an end of the bench, talking excitedly to someone. The maid stood beside Lady Lavinia, looking downwards.
“Prince Drew,” Miss Justina whispered behind her.
Helena walked into their view. The Prince was sitting with one foot under him. He was smiling and speaking, seeing Helena a few seconds after Lady Lavinia had already seen her.
“Helena, what a pleasant surprise,” Lady Lavinia screamed.
She got up and hurried to her friend, hugging and kissing her on both cheeks. Her smiling face suddenly turned grave.
“Did the Baron’s library burn down?” she asked.
“No,” Helena blurted, shocked at Lady Lavinia’s train of thought.
“You look surprised. I was mentally going through a list of things that could cause you to visi
t me on a day like this,” Lady Lavinia said.
Helena smiled.
Lavinia still manages to shock me with her warped sense of humour.
Helena caught Prince Drew’s gaze from his position on the bench. Prince Drew then stood up and walked to her. He bowed slightly when he got beside Lady Lavinia. Helena suspected she had broken a very interesting discussion between the two lovebirds.
Seduced by an Irresistible Lady: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 15
