Chapter Six #2
“Matthew!” Caroline’s face distorted, her skin crinkled at the top of her nose. “Stop.”
Matthew laughed.
Caroline blushed.
“Who?” Jasmine asked.
“The only man who doesn’t want her.”
“I’m smothering you in your sleep, Matthew!”
“I am still on this walk,” Mr. Langford pointed out.
“Haven’t the faintest idea why,” Matthew said to him.
“Children, please behave.” Cassandra sighed. “And Matthew, stop talking.”
“Two against one.” Matthew tsked. Turning to Jasmine, he said, “Do you see the disrespect I endure?”
“I agree with them.” Jasmine furrowed her brows. “You’re being cruel.”
Matthew inhaled deeply. He slowed their pace, increasing the distance between them and their companions.
“I’m being thorough,” Matthew explained quietly. “If he’s afraid of me, he isn’t the right man for Caroline. Look around you.”
As they walked, she studied each person they passed. She knew most of them. Women who simpered for her approval at tea parties clung to the edges of the path to avoid them.
“It’s hard to be related to us Coopers,” Matthew continued. “We need to marry someone fearless.”
Fearless.
That she understood. Jasmine also needed someone who would fight for her. Glancing at Mr. Langford—and how his eyes darted away from Caroline as they walked. He wasn’t brave enough to stand with them. She glanced down at her hand on Matthew’s arm and wondered what that made her.
“Does it bother you?” His expression softened with his voice. “Their treatment?”
Jasmine shook her head. “Hmph. Of course not. You know that I don’t concern myself with the opinions of necios.”
Matthew’s eyes shot to her mouth.
“What is that word?”
“Fools,” Jasmine said. That wasn’t quite correct, but it was close enough.
“No, say it in Spanish.” With his gaze fixed on her lips, he drew out his next word. “Slower.”
Coyly, she mouthed, “Necios.”
“Necios.” He repeated the word, as if savoring it on his tongue. He swallowed thickly, and his voice deepened. “Do it again.”
Eyes widening, Jasmine asked, “Do what?”
He leaned closer to her. Near her ear, he purred, “Talk to me in Spanish.”
A blush rose on the back of her neck. He was goading her again. Jasmine considered what she wanted to say to him. It was her turn to make him feel foolish. Feeling bold, Jasmine rapidly fired off, “Desde anoche he sentido el ansia de daros diez bofetadas, pues os portáis como un canalla.”
Matthew swallowed, and his voice came out hoarse. “What did you say?”
Airily, Jasmine replied, “I said you should be nicer to me.”
“What does canalla mean?”
Flushing to her ears, Jasmine lied, “A friend.”
“Canalla means friend?” he asked slowly, his brows cinched as if he were working it through in his head. “I never would have guessed that.” He leaned in and teased, “You’ll have to teach me your Spanish words, mi canalla.”
“Whatever you do, don’t say it tonight at the soirée.” Jasmine held back her laughter. “It isn’t proper.”
On the path, they approached two ladies Jasmine would recognize anywhere. Blonde-haired, blue-eyed, Lady Samantha Penrose, and petite, red-haired Miss Georgiana Davenport. Jasmine had never liked them. Lady Samantha had endlessly belittled Cassandra since their debut.
Lady Samantha’s cornflower blue eyes shot to the ground when she saw them.
Before, she had nearly tripped over herself to fawn over Jasmine.
What would their next interaction be like?
How long did this effect last? Testing her limits, Jasmine leaned more into Matthew’s arm and tried to meet Lady Samantha’s eyes as she passed.
“Good afternoon, Lady Samantha.” Jasmine greeted her as she walked past.
Lady Samantha positively scurried away!
She could get used to this!
“It’s Lady Stretton, now,” Matthew murmured. “We’re trying to keep a low profile. Behave.”
“Why? You don’t,” she challenged. “Watch this.” She smiled wide and waved her hand in the air. “Lady Stretton!”
Lady Stretton turned to her with a ghastly expression. Heads swiveled in their direction as Jasmine shouted, “It was wonderful to see you at the Reeves’ residence this morning! I’m glad we’re all such good friends!”
Lady Stretton shot her gaze back to the ground and ran in the opposite direction, dragging a confused Miss Georgiana in her wake.
“What else can I do?” Jasmine giggled. “Oh! How about a cartwheel into the Serpentine Lake? I bet I could sing God Save the King from that tree.” Jasmine pointed ahead. “No one would bat an eye.”
“They would certainly write about it in their gossip column,” Matthew replied.
She hadn’t considered that. A proper smear article would make her undesirable in the eyes of the ton.
“Even better.” Jasmine laughed, tugging him to the tree—only half-joking, she said, “Come on, let’s climb. We can sing a duet!”
“I’ll sing with you elsewhere.” Matthew laughed and led them back onto the path. He whispered low, “You’re wild. You need someone to take you in hand.”
Her breath caught as his playful eyes met hers.
A challenge.
Not one to back down, she raised a brow.
“And you think you’re the man for the job?”
“Right now, I think I’m the only qualified man in the entire world,” he parried.
Haughtily, she asked, “Are you volunteering?”
In an instant, the smile fell from his face.
His amber eyes smoldered, intent on hers.
His arm tensed, his jaw clenched, and she thought she had crossed a line.
Ready to take back her words, she opened her mouth to speak, but Matthew gently guided her body closer to him.
He reached for her hand, then indecently laced their fingers together.
The air left her lungs as his thumb dragged deliberately over hers, tugging at the tip of her glove, as if he was considering removing it.
“I could teach you a lesson.” His voice deepened, and he whispered, “But I don’t think you could handle it.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she adjusted her bonnet so he couldn’t see her face. She huffed. “I certainly could. I’m much stronger than you think.”
“I’m counting on it. Later, we’ll find out how much you can take.” Leaning in, his breath ghosted against her neck. “And I’ll teach you anything you wish.”
The rest of the park blurred.
Jasmine squeezed Matthew’s hand. Feeling unstable, she rested her weight against him.
“Later?” she breathed.
He lifted her bonnet and held her gaze.
“Whenever you want.”
Between her breathing and her heartbeat in her ears, every sound of the park silenced—
Except for Caroline shouting, “Brother, are you coming or not?!”
Reality crashed down on her, and Jasmine blushed to her toes. She took a shuddering breath and looked straight ahead. Matthew gave a long, forlorn sigh, and released her hand. She stepped away from him and rushed forward, needing space. She couldn’t think properly when he touched her.
Whatever had just happened between them was something she would deal with later.
Jasmine swallowed hard.
Later.
She increased her stride until she caught up with Cassandra and Caroline. Mr. Langford had disappeared. Caroline pursed her lips and held her parasol as a weapon, pointed at Matthew.
“Lady Jasmine, move aside. I’m going to thrash my brother.”
“You should be throwing yourself at my feet in thanks,” Matthew replied. “I’ve saved you weeks of courtship, all to arrive at the same conclusion.”
“At least I’m trying to find a match,” Caroline snapped. “It would be easier if you didn’t scare off everyone!”
“I think Matthew is right,” Jasmine told Caroline. “Mr. Langford wasn’t right for you.”
Mouth agape, Caroline accused, “You’re only saying that because you’re a professional spinster!”
“Not for long,” Jasmine grumbled.
Cassandra took Jasmine’s arm and gave her a comforting pat on her hand. They resumed walking, with Matthew two steps behind them.
“You won’t be forced into marriage,” Cassandra said. “We’ll get around this. I’ll speak to your mother, maybe I can sway her mind.”
“Or…” Matthew offered, “Have you stopped to consider that maybe your mother is right?”
“Not for a minute.” Jasmine huffed. “But now I’m considering allowing Caroline to thrash you.”
“You’re looking at marriage as if it’s a bad thing,” Matthew said. “It has several benefits.”
Incredulous, Jasmine asked, “Which are?”
“Women are offered children, protection, stability, and freedom of movement!” Matthew counted on his fingers. “Take Cassandra for example. In a strange turn of events, she’s the one chaperoning me.”
Cassandra rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’ve always been good with children.”
“None of that is promised,” Jasmine said, circling back to Matthew’s comment.
“It is with the right man,” Matthew challenged. “My future wife will be free to do as she wishes.”
“Your future wife…” Jasmine discreetly studied Matthew.
He looked at her, and the sunlight graced his face in a way that he seemed to shine.
If she had done the rational thing, she would have married him years ago, and this would be routine.
Spending Saturdays on her husband’s arm, enjoying the family’s company. This would have been her life.
And it could still be my life.
If she told her father Matthew had compromised her, she could force their hands. Matthew would be honor-bound to marry her. The thought simmered in her heart. But she wanted him, and if he wanted her—even physically—then why was she holding back?
“What are you looking for in a wife?” Jasmine asked casually.
“I don’t have high standards,” Matthew replied. “At this point I’ll settle for someone willing to be seen with me in daylight. I’d prefer someone intelligent. Someone I could have a philosophical debate with, if I choose. Kind. A woman who would be a good mother.”
“How many children?”
“At least one. Hopefully a boy, to pass the title to—now that it’s worth a damn. Though, I do enjoy having a full house.” He grinned and whispered low, “I might have a difficult time keeping my hands off an attractive wife, so she would have to set the limit.”
“So she needs to be attractive?” Jasmine raised a brow.
“It’s not necessary, but it certainly is—”
Matthew stopped on the path.
And in a blink, the teasing, boyish Matthew was gone. As he stared ahead, his expression hardened into the persona he often wore around her father.
Jasmine followed his gaze.
A woman approached, her face hidden under a parasol of black silk.
A charcoal grey dress clung to a curvaceous frame.
She was pale, as if the sun had never touched her skin.
Under a wide-brimmed bonnet, her dark hair was styled in elaborate braids.
Seeming to be in her early thirties, she carried herself with a regal air.
Her almond-tipped brown eyes lit up when she noticed them, and she walked straight in their direction.
Cassandra and Caroline tensed, but the woman greeted the family as if she were one of them.
“Caroline, Cassandra.” The woman came forward and kissed their cheeks. Her voice was musical and light when she asked, “Cassandra, my darling, how is Rose?”
“She’s well, Lady Ravenshaw,” Cassandra clipped, then shot a glare at her brother.
Lady Ravenshaw addressed Matthew with a sweet smile.
“Lord Lincolnshire. It’s wonderful to happen upon you, I was hoping for a word.
” She looked at Jasmine, gaze flicking over her in appraisal before saying, “But where are my manners? We haven’t been introduced, I’m Lady Ravenshaw. It’s wonderful to meet you, Miss…?”
“Lady Jasmine.” Matthew stepped forward to stand next to Jasmine. He kept his eyes on Lady Ravenshaw and gave her a winning grin. “My dear friend, returned to me from Spain. Can you believe it?”
Lady Ravenshaw’s sharp gaze narrowed a fraction. The surrounding air crackled with tension as—per custom—she curtsied. Jasmine gracefully returned the gesture and stood next to Cassandra.
“A pleasure to meet you, Lady Jasmine,” Lady Ravenshaw said. Then, she turned to Matthew and crooned, “Now, I really must speak with you, Lord Lincolnshire—on a private matter.”
Matthew turned to his sisters and cheerfully said, “You all go home, I’ll join you there soon.”
Standing before Jasmine, he took her hand in his. Slowly, he brought the back of her hand up to his lips. With his eyes on hers, he pressed a lingering kiss onto her glove, warming her skin with the heat of his breath. Voice like velvet, he said, “I’ll see you tonight, Lady Jasmine.”
“Yes,” Jasmine breathed as he released her.
“We’ll take our leave. Good day, Lady Ravenshaw,” Cassandra said. She linked her arm through Jasmine’s and guided her down the path. And it almost felt like fleeing. Behind them, Matthew and Lady Ravenshaw walked in the opposite direction.
Silently, Cassandra walked Jasmine out of the park and onto the road back to Mayfair. As the distance increased between them, Jasmine could only focus on one thought.
She looks like me.