“I never know whose team you’re on, Honora,” Matthew grumbled.
“Caroline’s.” Honora waved him away. “Take the evening off, Lord Lincolnshire, and go do something else.”
Mama gestured to the other side of the ballroom. “General Ortiz is across the room with my husband. Perhaps your time would be better spent there?”
“Notbetterspent, but I’ll go.” He gave a sad smile to Jasmine. “I’ll be back for our waltz.”
She was overcome by the preposterous urge to kiss him goodbye. Every step he took from her felt like a mile. He exchanged pleasantries with Papa and General Ortiz. With every conversation, Matthew inched closer to securing an arms contract with Spain. It would be a matter of time until his weapons spread through Europe.
With one impassioned speech, she had given that to him.
Matthew always thought five moves ahead. No longer poor andhelpless, he had the money and the means to influence.In seconds, he developed a plan to ruin someone’s life without lifting a finger.
What else was he capable of?
Mama tapped her shoulder and recaptured her attention.
“You can’t be with him all night,” she reminded her. “We had an agreement. You have other tasks to attend to.”
“Who am I dancing with next?”
“No one else has asked you to dance.” Mama gave a flippant wave of her hand. Feigning disappointment, she sighed. “I’ll be surprised if anyone asks for the remainder of the evening.”
“Not with your proclamation earlier.” Jasmine raised a brow. “Aren’t you always talking about discretion?”
“Sometimes you need to speak louder if you want someone tohearyou.” A hint of a smile tugged at Mama’s lips. “Don Lorenzo might have taken the hint.”
Further down the dance line, Don Lorenzo danced with Lady Ravenshaw. Lady Ravenshaw’s diamond jewelry shone as bright as Don Lorenzo’s pomade-slicked hair. She executed her steps gracefully, with her head held high.
Don Lorenzo kept his eyes on Jasmine while he danced with her mirror image. But never in the mirror had she seen such coldness—especially when Lady Ravenshaw followed Don Lorenzo’s gaze and met hers.
Jasmine knew how badly it hurt to lose Matthew.
Would my face look like hers if I were in her shoes?
“What do you know about Lady Ravenshaw?” Jasmine asked her mother. “Of her relationship with Matthew?”
“There was a public split from aprivateaffair.” Mama’s eyes narrowed. “She struck him in Hyde Park in full view of onlookers this weekend. It’s safe to say they’re finished.”
“Shestruckhim?” Righteous anger rose within her, and sheunderstood the appeal of ruining someone.
“Rise above it, Jasmine. Tonight, I want you to focus on benevolent ladies.” Mama gave Honora a pointed look. “Lady Worthing, would you mind making the introductions?”
“You’ll watch after Caroline?” Honora asked.
“My eyes will be on her the entire time,” Mama said. “Your charge is safe with me.”
“As yours is with me,” Honora said.
Jasmine’s eyes widened as Honora linked arms with her and strode away—as if Jasmine was merely another Cooper fledgling under her wing.
“Whydoyou like the Coopers?” Jasmine asked. “Aren’t you worried about your reputation?”
“My reputation is iron-clad. Ask theton, I’m tactless, high in the instep, and there are rumors that I poisoned my husband.” Honora kept her face trained ahead, but she lowered her voice. “When I was at my lowest, I lashed out like a snake. Instead of slapping me down, the Coopers welcomed me into their home.” As if to herself, she whispered, “Is that not worth my loyalty?”
Honora dropped her guard long enough for Jasmine to see a glimpse of the true woman underneath the title. And then it was gone.
“What about me?” Jasmine asked. “Where do I fit into that?”
