“Mama?”
“Yes, my darling?”
Jasmine hugged her with all the love in her heart.
“Thank you for all of your meddling.”
Mama gave a watery laugh and dabbed a tear from her eye. She wagged a finger at her. “I’m not finished with you yet. You may be a married lady, but you’ll always be my baby. I’ll be worse as a grandmother.”
Jasmine grinned. “I don’t doubt it.”
Wiping another tear from her eye, Mama moved to read the clock on the mantel. “It’s almost time. I’ll go fetch your father.” She moved to the door, but lingered before leaving. “I love you.”
Jasmine returned her smile. “I love you too, Mama.”
After her mother left, Jasmine gathered enough bravery to look out the window. It truly was a marvel how quickly it had all come together. Within two days, her backyard became a cathedral. A cloudless blue sky acted like a canopy over rows of white chairs on green grass. Potted flowers lined an aisle leading to a laurel-covered arch. Underneath stood a vicar, Mr. Sanderson, Seth—and Matthew.
Wearing a charcoal suit with a silver waistcoat, he greeted guests with a wide smile. Huddles of pastel dresses and dark tailcoats moved over the lawn, and Jasmine was most surprised by the amount of people there.
There wouldn’t be an empty seat.
One would think there wouldn’t be anyone in attendance, but not only was hers the biggest scandal of the season, but it was also the biggeststory. A far-reaching tale of how Lord Lincolnshire heroically carried Lady Jasmine to safety after Duke Kendall failed to provide necessary medical treatment. The flames of gossip were fueled by Mama’s righteous fury, a copy of a physician’s bill given to the papers, and witnesses.
Honest ones.
All three Benevolent Ladies were on the street that night. Lady Alverton, Lady Linwood, Mrs. Winslow—and their husbands. All stepped forward the morning following her attack, attesting that they heard Matthew ask for help, only for Duke Kendall to stand in his way and mock him. It turned out the ladies’ benevolence only extended so far when faced with injustice. An attack on one was an attack on all, and when those women fought, they went for blood.
Jasmine couldn’t wait to count herself among their number.
A woman’s words can break a man in one breath.
She would build an empire with hers. Within moments, she would speak the most important words of her life, but she wasn’t confident she could speak at all. Moisture collected in her palms, and her heart beat as fast as a rabbit’s. After all of her years avoiding marriage, she was about to walk down the aisle and promise to obeyMatthew Cooper.
She might have laughed at the irony, if her corset allowed more air.
A knock at the door captured her attention, and Papa entered the room, dressed in a deep navy tailcoat with a silver waistcoat and cravat. Gentleness softened his features, and he whispered, “You look just like your mother.”
“Thank you.” She turned back to the mirror and smiled at her reflection. “I think so too.”
Papa’s brow furrowed, as if unsure what to say—a first for him. She waited for him to gather his thoughts.
“I didn’t know how to raise a daughter,” he admitted quietly. “I thought it better left to your mother, but in doing so, I’ve lost valuable time with you. Time I’ll never get back. What’s worse, my inaction has caused you harm.” He paused and swallowed hard. “I must know… do you resent me for it?”
“No, Papa, I don’t resent you.” She rushed to him and threw her arms around him. “Iloveyou. Mama made me strong. For better or for worse, I am who I am because of both of you. I’m proud to have you as my father. Thank you for allowing me to marry Matthew.”
“I should have done it sooner.” He released a sigh. “I should have listened to you, and I deeply regret not doing so.”
“I’ll forgive you if you’ll forgive me,” she said. “We’re all doing the best we can to take care of each other, and we’re communicating as a family now, are we not? That doesn’t change because I’m married.” She gave him a half-smile. “I’ll be just down the road, and you’ll join me for breakfast on Saturdays.”
“I won’t miss it,” he promised. “Tell me one more thing, daughter.”
“Yes, Papa?”
He cupped her cheek tenderly and met her eyes. “Do you love him?”
There wasn’t a question about it.
“Yes, I love him.”
