“Please.”
“Tonight?” She frowned. “Whatever he needs to say can wait until morning.”
Matthew shook his head. “No, I believe I’ve kept him waiting long enough.”
“You have.” Don Lorenzo smirked and walked back into the mansion.
Seth, Cassandra, and Caroline waited behind them. Huddled together, Seth had Cassandra wrapped in one arm, and Caroline in the other. Bursting into tears, Caroline launched herself at Matthew.
“You horrid, wretched,idiot.” Caroline slammed the side of her fist on his chest. “You insufferable lack-wit, how could you—” shesobbed. “How could you?”
Matthew held her and Jasmine close to him, and for long moments they remained like that, not saying a word, until a heavy exhaustion fell on Jasmine’s shoulders. “Let’s depart this place while we can.”
She linked her arm with Matthew’s, and in a line, the family made their way to the entrance of the mansion. Paths parted for them as they walked through the ballroom. Smiles and scattered applause followed them. Aristocrats danced to light music, oblivious to the real danger her family had been in.
Something prickled at her awareness, the hairs rose on the back of her neck. In the corner of her eye, she thought she saw her own reflection, a flash of bright skirts and black hair. Lady Ravenshaw dabbed a handkerchief to her cheek, speaking with her hands as she wove her tale. The ladies around her leaned in, hanging on to every word.
Jasmine stopped, and Matthew turned to her.
“What is it?” He followed her line of sight and hummed. “What would you like to do?”
“Do you mind giving me a moment with her? It won’t take long, I promise.”
He nodded. “I’ll be right here. Don’t go too far.”
Alone, Jasmine approached Lady Ravenshaw and curtsied. Lady Ravenshaw smiled and she gently waved the ladies away. “If you’ll excuse me, dears, I’ll be right with you. I must bid Lady Lincolnshire goodnight”—she looked to Jasmine pointedly—“seeing as we’ve become such good friends after our shared ordeal.”
With a collection of sighs and curtsies, the ladies left.
“Friends?” Jasmine raised a brow.
“Don’t dream of it.” Lady Ravenshaw huffed. “Did Lord Lincolnshire send you over here to grovel?”
She tried not to bristle at the insult. “I wanted to thank you. You putyourself at risk tonight, it was brave. I owe you a debt I cannot repay.”
“I didn’t do it for you,” Lady Ravenshaw spat.
“I know,” Jasmine said gently. “That’s why I’m thanking you.”
If Matthew felt any affection for her in the past, there had to be something redeemable underneath, something warm. Jasmine knew aside from appearances they had one thing in common.
They both loved him.
“Take care of him,” Lady Ravenshaw whispered. Then she snapped, “And take care of your problems yourself next time. Don’t expect me to intervene on your behalf again.”
“I’ll ensure we’re never in this position again,” Jasmine said through her forced smile. Lady Ravenshaw turned on her heel and walked away, and Jasmine wasn’t ashamed to admit she was glad to watch the other woman leave. Jasmine worried for her alone—but only for a moment.
She can take care of herself.
Jasmine had her own affairs to attend to. She returned to Matthew. With a smile, she placed her arm in his and settled at his side. “Now, what about this conversation with Don Lorenzo?”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“Silk gauze,” Matthew explained, handing the cloth to Jasmine. It was sheer black on the outside, but nearly translucent when stretched tight. He was glad to be rid of it. He never wanted to see another blindfold in his life—fake or not.
Don Lorenzo sat on their receiving room’s sofa and laughed. “Most convincing, is it not?”
“You could see everything the entire time?” Jasmine asked.
