Lord Dorchester opened his mouth to retort, but Matthew didn’t care to hear any more of it. He turned on his heel and made his way to the center of the room. Lord Dorchester said it himself—it was Jasmine’s decision. If she didn’t want him, and he had to mourn her again, he had to know.
Hewouldspeak with her after her dance.
And no one could stop him.
***
The hurt on Matthew’s face tugged like fractured glass in Jasmine’s chest, mixing with the unpleasant sensation of Duke Kendall’s hands on her body.
Only then did she regret her decision.
But she was doing this for him. There was no place for Duke Kendall in her marriage. She would not spend her nights comforting a husband at his wit’s end, trying to satisfy an unrelenting duke. Their friendship had gone on long enough.
She needed to break it.
Duke Kendall watched her with eyes so dark they seemed black. Where Matthew was sturdy, Duke Kendall was gangly and shorter than her by a hair. Wispy white hair shone brilliantly, matching his teeth. His pale skin looked graceful from afar, but shallow and sickly up close.
And they wereclose.
Closer than Matthew dared dance with her.
She tried to put a half step of distance between them, but Duke Kendall kept her close with a firm grip.
“I’m surprised you accepted my invitation.” He raised a thin eyebrow.“I thought you would put up more of a fight.”
“You aren’t a man one can easily say no to.”
“One of my many virtues. It pleases me to have you on my arm tonight—who doesn’t want a diamond?”
“I didn’t think you had an interest.” She kept her smile up, acting like a demure debutante. “When we spoke last in Earl Bolderwood’s yard, you seemed displeased with me.”
“I don’t recall,” he said wistfully. “I was preoccupied with a disappointment.”
She clenched her jaw.
“You said I had a heart of stone,” she reminded him. “What made you change your mind?”
“Oh, I haven’t changed my mind,” he sang. “You’re positively loathsome.You’re unrefined, and your blood isn’t clean. That you wore black tonight speaks to your ill-breeding.”
Jasmine’s nostrils flared, and Duke Kendall laughed.
“Why did you request my company tonight?” She narrowed her eyes. “If you find me soloathsome?”
“The same reason you accepted—to force Lord Lincolnshire to act.” He grinned, then lowered his voice. “And it worked. One dance with another and he’s seething with jealousy. See for yourself.”
She glanced over the crowd to where Matthew stood with her father. Matthew seemed ready to go to blows, gesturing animatedly while he spoke, but her father’s face remained hard. Reluctantly, she tore her gaze from them and focused on Duke Kendall.
“I didn’t plan to make him jealous.”
“No, but you knew he would be. As did I.” In one turn, he brought her closer. His breath ghosted over her ear. “Do you think it pains him to see you with a better man?”
Jasmine fought the urge to jam her heel into his toe, and she pushed herself away from him to a respectable distance.
“Isn’t that what you wanted? To hurt him?”
“Not entirely. I am on the hunt for my future duchess, after all. But it hurts my heart to see Lord Lincolnshireyearn,” he said the word as if he might vomit. “He wishes to marry you, so I’ll give you to him.It’s the least I can do for such a dear friend.”
“Giveme to him?” Jasmine spat.
