Seduced by an Irresistible Lady: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Henrietta Harding

  She fit him like a sheath, a tight sheath. Waves of pleasure rang through Dr Frederick as his member lay buried inside her. He waited, patiently keeping time till the first wave of pleasure had passed before he started his strokes. His strokes were long, slow, and measured. She was warm, moist, and sweeter than anything he knew. He started moving faster, attempting to match the waves of current that swept through him. He couldn’t, the pleasure was too strong and too quick. She wrapped her legs tighter around him, burying him deeper in her. Dr Frederick heard her breath become hoarse. He kept stroking. He felt it building like a horse running to the top of a hill; he felt the nectar filling. Her moans were soft now, breaths uneven. Dr Frederick knew he would come soon. He was at the peak of the mountain when he felt Miss Helena’s hips buckle too. She gasped, and there was a tightening around him as he spilled his seed into her.

  Dr Frederick kissed her again and carried her to the chair before dropping her. He lay beside her and looked outside the window. There were moments of silence before he finally spoke.

  “It’s almost dusk,” he said.

  Miss Helena looked outside the window.

  “I have to go.”

  She looked at him, placing her left palm on his right cheek.

  “You didn’t come to see me. You said you would.”

  He watched the motion of her lips as she spoke, the thinning and widening movement of her mouth. He was satisfied, but already, another wave of want brewed. Dr Frederick answered her, attempting to suppress the yearning in him.

  “I’m sorry. On my way home, Lord Jeffrey stopped me.”

  Dr Frederick thought about saying everything Lord Jeffrey did but changed his mind.

  He is engaged to her. There’s no need to make matters worse.

  “He told me to stay away from you.”

  Miss Helena didn’t look surprised. Dr Frederick saw resignation and pain in her eyes.

  “I’ll come see you. I promise,” he said because of the forlornness that he saw in her eyes.

  She bent and picked up her gown, slipping it around herself. She turned, and he helped her tie the strings before she wore her scarf around her neck and walked out of his house. Dr Frederick didn’t follow her.

  He was too confused to do so. He had the money and the will to free her of Lord Jeffrey’s clutch.

  Do I have the courage to break an engagement of peers?

  Chapter 27

  Nothing binds Tighter

  Helena said nothing as the family ate. She had never felt so much emotional turmoil. She was torn and distraught. Words were not a balm that could help her. Only Dr Frederick was. She had not been surprised to find out that Lord Jeffrey had talked to Dr Frederick, but since she left Dr Frederick’s house last night, she wasn’t at rest. Now she understood how it felt for one to be angry and helpless.

  “What burdens you and makes you so sullen, Helena?” the Baroness asked.

  Helena looked up to see her father and mother staring at her. She shook her head.

  “Nothing, Mother, I just feel a bit introspective today.”

  Her mother nodded; her father looked unconvinced but said nothing. He finished eating first and excused himself. When he got to the door, he paused for a moment to speak.

  “Helena, see me in my chambers when you are done,” he said.

  Helena nodded and watched him leave. She didn’t wonder what he wanted to talk about.

  He wants to ask why I am so melancholic, and I am not telling him anything.

  When she was done, she went to his room and met him in the reading room.

  “Father, you asked of me,” Helena said.

  “Yes, sit down Helena,” he said, pointing to the chair in front of his table.

  He waited till Helena sat before speaking again.

  “Are you sure you want to marry Jeffrey?”

  Helena was shocked and managed not to react. But her father was astute, and his wry smile told her he knew.

  “Yes Father, with all my heart,” Helena said.

  Her heart lurched as she said so, and the pain clutched tighter. Helena dropped her gaze, fearful that her eyes would soon water and give up her ruse.

  “Look at me, Helena.”

  Helena shook her head. Water had pooled in her eyes, and she had no ’kerchief with her to dab at them. They fell in steady streams, breaking off at her lashes and splashing as they hit her lap.

  “Why did you encourage him if you didn’t want to marry him?” the Baron asked with the most caring voice Helena had ever heard from him.

  “I want to marry him,” she said in a voice that refuted her words.

  “No, you don’t. I would have asked you for your say before accepting his proposal. But I was excessively excited; Lord Jeffrey had just paid off our debts, and it made me lose focus.”

  Helena managed to raise her eyes to look at her father.

  Was he giving her a way out?

  “Do not marry him Helena if you don’t love him.”

  Helena shook her head vigorously.

  “No Father, what will happen to us? We will lose the barony. We will lose everything,” she said, her voice rising higher than she would have wanted. But she could hardly control it now, it and the tears that gushed down her cheeks.

  “Love is the most important ingredient in a marriage, Helena. I will not sacrifice the rest of your life for mere economic status. I have discussed with your mother and we have agreed that you break the engagement if you don’t love him. If he wants a refund, we will give it to him,” the Baron said.

  “What will happen to us?” Helena asked, rubbing her cheeks.

  “I’m not sure, but I know things will work out. If you do not love him, don’t tie yourself to him. Marriage is a bond. Nothing binds tighter than love,” the Baron said.

  Helena opened her mouth to refuse her father’s offer when her mother spoke from behind her.

  “That is final, Helena.”

  Helena turned back to look at her mother. The Baroness stood with arms outstretched, urging her daughter to her. Helena ran to her mother, throwing herself at her and hugging onto her tightly. The tears didn’t stop coming down, so she pushed her face into her mother’s shoulder pads.

  This means there’s nothing holding me to Lord Jeffrey. I have to go to Beaufort. I have to end this now.

  Helena pushed away from her mother and ran to the door.

  “Thank you, Father, Mother,” she screamed as she ran out of the room and down the corridor.

  Helena ran out the house and met Mr Booth in front of the stairwell.

  “I need to get to Beaufort now, Mr Booth. Prepare the coach.”

  *******

  Helena alighted from the coach. Her excitement at cancelling the engagement with Lord Jeffrey had become apprehension as she neared the Duke’s house. And now that she saw him discussing with the Duchess, apprehension had become fear.

  “Helena,” Lord Jeffrey exclaimed on seeing her.

  Helena walked to Lord Jeffrey and the Duchess, curtseying when she got to the Duchess. The Duchess nodded but said nothing. Her smile was warm and welcoming, but she made no further attempt at camaraderie.

  “Can we speak, alone Jeffrey?” Helena said.

  Lord Jeffrey nodded, and placing an arm on her shoulder, led her some way to the side. The Duchess turned to a steward and said something Helena couldn’t hear.

  “What is it, Helena?”

  Helena took a deep breath. She attempted to speak but her lips kept trembling. The words kept diffusing in her throat. Helena looked away from Lord Jeffrey, finding it easier to look at his magnificent house before she spoke.

  “I am calling off the engagement,” she said.

  She heard Lord Jeffrey laugh and looked at him. He shook his head and called to the steward the Duchess had just finished speaking to.

  “Go to my room. In my drawer, you will see a handwritten letter. Bring it to me now,” Lord Jeffrey told the steward.

  Lord Jeffrey only looked
amused at what she had just said. Helena readied herself. Lord Jeffrey was cunning. She wondered what the steward would bring.

  The steward came out with a piece of white paper in his grip. When he gave it to Lord Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey handed it over to Helena. Helena took a deep breath as she made to open the letter. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a young woman enter the compound on a horse. She was alighting. Helena looked back at the open letter and read it.

  She made sure to read it twice. It was a letter to the King, inviting him to investigate the finances of all peers and the domains under them, especially the Baron of Strabolgi.

  “My father is highly favoured by the King, Helena. And by extension, so am I. Your family is nothing to the Crown. Your father will be removed faster than your horse can get home; forget that charade about asking the view of the people in his barony. This is politics,” Lord Jeffrey said.

  “So think again about what you are doing. You are going to be my wife.”

  Helena shook her head. One way or another, the King would find out about her father. There was no silver lining.

  Jeffrey can do his worst.

  She looked directly into Lord Jeffrey’s eyes.

  “My father has already–” Helena looked away as she heard shouting from the Duchess.

  She noticed that Lord Jeffrey was already looking there. He started walking away from her.

  What is going on?

  Helena followed Lord Jeffrey as he walked towards his mother. The Duchess was looking sternly at Lord Jeffrey as he drew closer.

  “This woman says she is with child, Jeffrey, your child,” the Duchess said.

  Helena covered her mouth with her hand. She didn’t know which was more appropriate, a gasp or a laugh. Lord Jeffrey turned to the young debutante who looked at him with no fear at all.

  “What preposterous claims do you make, Ramilda?”

  “It’s not preposterous. I warned you this would happen, but you underestimated me,” the debutante said.

  Lord Jeffrey grew angry and squeezed his hand into a fist. He moved closer to the chit and raised his hand, but the Duchess moved between him and the chit.

  “Drop your hand, Jeffrey. You will do no such thing,” the Duchess said.

  Helena didn’t know what to say. She heard her name and turned back to look at who had called her.

  Dr Frederick.

  Helena walked towards him, away from Lord Jeffrey. Dr Frederick rode his horse to her side before alighting.

  “I have been to your house, Helena. I need to speak to you,” Dr Frederick said.

  “I need to speak to you too,” Helena said.

  “Let me go first. I have had this in me since you left my house. Helena, I would be a miserable man if you married Lord Jeffrey,” he said.

  Helena tried to interrupt him. She wanted to tell him that she had rescinded the decision, but Dr Frederick held her wrist, stopping her while he continued speaking.

  “I love you, Helena.”

  Helena could not hold the blush that emanated when she heard him say that. She had never felt so excited in her life.

  “I have loved you since I set my eyes on you that day in your house. I know you are about to marry him because of money; do not be bothered, Helena. I will cover the cost. I recently made a fortune due to my research.”

  Helena placed her gloved hand on his arm. He was surprised she would do that in the open and stopped talking.

  “I am not getting married to him anymore. I love you too. I–”

  “Get your filthy hands off my wife, Frederick.”

  Helena and Dr Frederick turned back sharply to see Lord Jeffrey walking towards them. His fury caused him to quake like a volcano. Dr Frederick shook his head and walked to stand in front of Helena.

  “She isn’t your wife anymore,” he said.

  The entrance door to the house opened, and Helena saw the Duke of Beaufort come out. The level of noise had attracted him. He didn’t shout. He only spoke to a steward who ran down the stairs to pass the message.

  “The Duke asks that you all come in,” the steward said.

  Lord Jeffrey looked as if he was going to come closer, but Dr Frederick stood firm. Lord Jeffrey walked in, immediately behind his mother and the pregnant debutante.

  *******

  “Did you really write this, Jeffrey? Did you do all this?” the Duke asked. His voice was weak, and Helena decided that was his normal manner of speaking.

  Lord Jeffrey didn’t answer. He hadn’t said a word since Helena had been giving her account of everything that passed between them. She didn’t embellish or lie. She was sure there was nothing he could counter.

  “Am I not speaking to you? Did you do all this that this woman and Dr Frederick claim?” the Duke said in a harder tone.

  Lord Jeffrey gave no reply.

  “And the young chit, she’s with child. What do you know about that?”

  Lord Jeffrey dropped his gaze to the floor. The Duke shook his head.

  “I have no knowledge about the letter in your hands, Lady Helena. And I am deeply sorry for my son’s ungentlemanly behaviour. And in the light of even this more recent development,” the Duke said, looking at the debutante. “If you want the engagement cancelled, it is.”

  Helena was elated and hardly held herself from jumping. There was sudden movement beside her. Lord Jeffrey was coming towards her, causing Helena to step back. He got to her and held her arm.

  “You cannot get away from me. You will marry me,” he said to her.

  The Duke shouted, telling him to stop, but he didn’t release her. Dr Frederick rushed in between them and broke the lock Lord Jeffrey had on her arm.

  “We are cultured men, Lord Jeffrey. Let us remain civil,” Dr Frederick said.

  Lord Jeffrey raised his arm, but his father’s warning voice became even louder. He dropped it.

  “I am sorry for that show of violence, Your Grace. We gave ourselves to our emotions,” Dr Frederick said to the Duke.

  The Duke nodded solemnly.

  “I wish to take my leave now,” Helena said.

  The Duke nodded. Helena watched as Dr Frederick bowed quickly to the Duke and Duchess before following her out.

  Chapter 28

  Sweet Climax

  Helena looked outside the window. The view wasn’t great.

  Frederick was right.

  She kept looking though because it meant she could still see him, tending to his horses. The past two weeks had been amazing for her. She had broken her engagement with Lord Jeffrey. The Duke of Beaufort gave her father the money given to him by Lord Jeffrey. “Please use that to forgive my son’s indiscretions,” his letter had read.

  Dr Frederick had gone the week before to make his engagement to her official, and her parents had been elated to see him. Now, she was in his home, waiting for him to come back. The door opened and in came Dr Frederick. “Frank has gone to attend to a client,” Dr Frederick said.

  Helena smiled. They both knew what that meant. She smiled and walked backwards, making Dr Frederick chase and catch her.

  “Release me,” she playfully said as she backed him and bent over on the bed.

  “No, I don’t intend to for the rest of my life.”

  Her gown was raised from behind her, leaving her drawers exposed to the air. Helena could feel the cool afternoon air on her underside. His fingers dipped into her, twisting and turning, causing her hip to buckle with pleasure. Helena gripped the bed sheets tightly. Her fingers clawed into the cotton fabric, making deep indentations in the soft mattress. He held her tight and pushed his fingers even deeper into her till she felt his knuckles rub on her cherry’s sleek lips. Helena moaned and leaned into the bed. The rush of air escaping her lips rebounded off the sheets and came back to her, caressing her cheeks.

  Helena squeezed her hips together, grinding his calloused hands against her thighs. Dr Frederick worked like a demon possessed man, pushing his fingers in and out of her with dervish speed. Pleasure
ran through her cherry, pumping as his fingers dipped in and out of her and causing her heart to race. She pursed her lips, shutting her airways to prevent the scream that rushed up her throat. Her skin burnt with pleasure, and the climax seemed very near. Suddenly Dr Frederick stopped, retracting the source of her pleasure from her cherry’s eager lips. Helena almost sighed in disappointment, turning to face the man she loved.