A special day with her best dress? Her heart soared as she met her mother’s smile.
Could it be?
Mama held Jasmine’s face in both of her hands and kissed her brow. “But first, a bath.” She sniffed her and cringed. “You smell like turpentine.”
Mama rang for Minnie, who bathed and dressed Jasmine in her forest-green silk dress, with a light dusting of powder on her face. No rouge was needed. The apples of her cheeks glowed, and a smile tugged at her lips. Maybe her life was about to change for the better.
With a skip in her step, she made her way to her father’s study. She would wait for Matthew outside the door, so she could see him the second he emerged. But as she approached, a faint rumblingreverberated through the halls. It almost sounded like…
Shouting.
She slowed her steps and listened. With each step, the volume of Matthew’s voice rose until she heard his words, “I’m doing this for her!”
Followed by theCLAPof a slammed door.
Heavy footsteps thumped on the floor, matching her rising heartbeat. Rushing ahead, she turned the corner to her father’s study—
And collided with Matthew.
“Oh!” she called out.
Losing her balance, she tripped over her skirt. He caught her before she fell, stabilizing her against his chest.
“Jasmine?” he breathed. Face red and jaw tense, his bloodshot eyes blazed onto hers. For the briefest of moments, his face fell as if he might cry. Then, faster than she could blink, he grabbed her hand and tugged her into the closest room.
As soon as the door closed behind them, he took her face in both of his hands and kissed her. One hand moved to hold the nape of her neck, angling her for a better fit. A surprised gasp left her, and he deepened their kiss—roughly sliding his tongue into her mouth. Leaning over her, he created a cage with his body and pulled her to him.
Breathless, she turned her head to the side. She managed a shaky, “Matthew—” before he kissed her again, with such force her head spun, as if he was memorizing her. As if this was the last time he would see her.
She ripped herself from him.
“Matthew, stop.”
With a tortured groan, he tucked her under his chin and held her in his trembling arms. She placed her hands on his shoulders, easing him just far enough away to meet his eyes.
“You’re frightening me. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Your father has banned me from seeing you.”
“Not to see me?” Her heart dropped into her stomach. “Because oflast night?”
“Because of Rothwell. Our courtship has been suspended until I’ve forgiven every penny of his debts.”
She heard every word, but couldn’t make sense of any of them. Her father wouldn’t side with Lord Rothwell. Not over Matthew.
“I’ll talk to him,” she said. “My father is a reasonable man. He’ll see sense.”
“Reasoning is not going to work this time. I’ve tried.”
“What are you going to do, then? You cannot give in to Lord Rothwell’s demands. If you do—”
“It’s not an argument, Jasmine. If it’s you or him, it’s you.” He cursed. “But it’s not a simple fix. It might take weeks.”
“Weeks?!”
“I will work relentlessly to shorten that time.” He buried his face in her hair and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I need to leave, but I need you to know that I care for you, Jasmine. Only you. I promise you, I am yours.”
A truth she already knew. And there was only one thing to say in return. She brought her mouth to his and whispered against his lips, “I’m yours,Matthew. I’ll wait for you, I promise.”
