Wordlessly, the servant ducked into the room. He emerged moments later and held the door open for her. “You may enter, my lady. He will be with you shortly.”
The door closed behind her, and she stood awkwardly in the center of the room. It was furnished with deep burgundy settees and leather chairs. The cream colored walls reflected the grey light from the windows. A door on one side led to an adjoining bedchamber, where a faint creaking of floorboards came from the other side.
Within minutes, Don Lorenzo emerged wearing a silk shirt and black breeches. With an unshaven face and his hair tousled from sleep, he seemed an entirely different person.
“Buenas dias.”He greeted her with a grin, raking his eyes over her. “If I knew you marrying another would have you in my bedchamber—and in last evening’s dress, no less—I would have recommended itsooner. Does your husband know you are here?”
“He does not.” Jasmine stifled her revulsion and curtsied to him. “Thank you for seeing me. I understand it’s earlier than you typically rise.”
“She’s thanking me. Perhaps I am still dreaming.” He laughed. “What brings you to me this morning, Lady Lincolnshire?”
Jasmine wasted no time.
“At my wedding, you asked if there was anything you could do to help me against Duke Kendall, did you mean it?”
“Anything within my ability and my obligations to the Spanish Crown,” he said pointedly. “You may ask, but I make no guarantees.”
She inhaled deeply. He was going to think she had gone mad, but she had nothing to lose.
“My family is in trouble. Duke Kendall is holding a man hostage to blackmail my husband into forcing my sister-in-law into marriage.”
Don Lorenzo raised a brow, as if considering whether or not to ring for a physician. He opened the door to the hall. She expected him to throw her out, but instead he spoke to the footman.
“Would you mind fetching us breakfast?” he asked. He closed the door and gestured for her to sit. “I believe you should start from the beginning.”
She sank into a leather chair. Having released the worst of it, a flood of words tumbled forth from her lips. He listened patiently while she told him everything.
Midway through her explanation, a breakfast tray arrived. The maid’s eyes widened only a fraction to see her there before scurrying from the room. Having talked herself hoarse, Jasmine sipped her tea. When she finished speaking, Don Lorenzo sat back with his fingertip on his chin.
“An unfortunate chain of events, but I fail to see how I can be of assistance.”
“I’m not certain either, but I need allies. Duke Kendall’s birthday ball is this Friday. Ask to be invited and he’ll be unable to refuse you.”
“After all of that, you’re asking me to attend a ball?” He regarded her skeptically. “What will you require of me there?”
“I want you to do the right thing—whatever that may be. Duke Kendall will have my husband shoot blindfolded.” She sighed, staring into the dark surface of her tea. “That’s where I’ll need help. If anything goes wrong, you can step in where others cannot.”
A notch formed between his brows. He raised a muffin to his lips, bit into it, and chewed slowly.
“If I understand correctly—you wish for me to ruin a duke’s birthday ball, stand in the way of his marriage, and possibly involve myself in a murder. All to your benefit?” He bent over with his laughter. “Your personal affairs ceased to be my concern when you married another man.”
“If you’re not interested in helping me, you shouldn’t have wasted my time.” She stood and crossed the room with steady strides.
“Wait,” he called out.
She paused in the doorway and turned to him.
He leaned forward. “What color is it?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“The blindfold,” he drawled. “What color will it be?”
“Black. Does it matter?”
“It may.” An unidentifiable gleam crossed his features. “We’ll see on Friday.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
