“Papa did! Papa fell in love with you at first sight.”
“It took longer for me,” Mother said softly. She allowed her words to settle in Jasmine’s mind before she continued, “Love is something that can grow, it’s not always immediate. You’ve denied every suitor without investigating whether or not you could find love with them. Have you stopped to consider that maybeyou’rethe problem?”
Jasmine shot her gaze to the ground, the off-hand barb sinking deeper than her mother intended. Yes, shehadconsidered it. At length. Surely if she could fall in love, it would have happened by now. She had met every gentleman in England, and every gentleman in Spain, and all would chip away at her until she fit the well-behaved mold of a perfect wife. Only one man respected her mind, captured her heart,and set her soul aflame—and Matthew made his point clear when he slammed a door in her face.
Tonight, he looked ready to devour her, voice rough and seductive, holding her like he wanted her. But they had danced that dance before, and Jasmine didn’t want to play guessing games. She wanted a drastic, all-encompassing love—desperate and wild.
Or nothing at all.
If she didn’t have any choice in the matter, she might as well get it over with.
“I have gone to every event. I have danced my feet sore, talked until my voice cracked, been paraded around like a prize horse, and now I am finished.” Jasmine stood and then turned back to the mansion. “If you’re going to arrange a marriage, get on with it. Write your list of acceptable gentlemen and I’ll choose a man from it.”
Jasmine turned on her heel and walked back to the ball, hiding her stinging eyes behind the mask her mother had chosen for her.
As she did witheverything.
“One day, you’ll thank me for all of my meddling,” Mother called out after her as she stomped away.
“A day I am eagerly awaiting,” Jasmine grumbled.
Chapter Three
“You were being aggressive, Matthew,” Caroline scolded him as Jasmine and Lady Dorchester walked away.
“I’m always aggressive,” he said, meeting the gaze of anyone who dared. “It’s the only way to get anything done.”
“I’m telling Cassandra about this,” she muttered.
“Good, do that,” he said. “She’ll be thrilled.”
It would make the courtship process easier if he had Cassandra in his corner, whispering his good qualities into Jasmine’s ear. The conversation might be brief, but Cassandra would help. Unlike Caroline, who woke up every day with a new plan to irritate him.
“You’re not off to a good start with her. I’ve seen kitchen maids look at roaches kinder than Lady Jasmine looked at you. Good luck.”
“I could be engaged to hertonightif I wished it, little sister,” he informed her. All it would take was one honest conversation with her father, and their marriage would be a done deal.
His subterfuge during their dance had been self-indulgent, but he had learnedso much.He had never been on the receiving end of her hostility. What a show of force! Blistering. Dark. His bloodsangfor her.
He wanted her more than he could stand it.
And she was right outside.
Control yourself.He took in a calming breath.There’s no need to rush.
Jasmine was back in London—a finite place with manyopportunities to have her on his arm. He had seduced plenty of women, and with a woman as fiery as Jasmine,it was best to leaveherwanting.
For once.
“Is that Duke Kendall?” Caroline whispered, discreetly gesturing to the staircase. “He’s striking.”
Silence descended over the crowd as the Duke of Kendall, Frederick Kendall the Third, descended the steps as if his feet weren’t touching the floor. A golden crown of thorns rested atop the Duke’s wispy platinum hair, and a cape of feathers graced his shoulders, appearing as wings over a long flowing white robe.
A primal voice in Matthew’s mind warned him to take slow and calculated steps. This angelic creature could slice his throat and none of these aristocrats would help.
Duke Kendall was the only man Matthewtrulyfeared. But he didn’t know which scared him more—the Duke himself, or that he considered Matthew a kindred spirit. Smooth and slithery, every sentence carried a double meaning. Matthew tried not to spendanytime alone with him, but it was often unavoidable.
As it would be tonight.
