Chapter Seventeen #2
Jasmine shook with her laughter. Matthew was sure every eye was on them, but when she laughed like that, he didn’t care. He had no control over the women’s schemes, for now. Knowing that, he fell into a comfortable silence with Jasmine. It was nice to be near her.
No pressure, just them.
“Caroline knows how to captivate.” Jasmine studied him and raised a brow. “It’s a wonder she hasn’t found a match.”
“That isn’t my fault. Don’t let her fool you, she rejects more men than I scare away.”
“Why do you fight off your sister’s suitors? You thrashed Seth for compromising Cassandra.” She lowered her voice, “When you’ve done similar things.”
He gritted his teeth. “That was different. Seth lied to me and I caught him in the act. He got us disqualified from a contest, shackled me to an arms contract, and—”
Ruined my plans to propose to you.
“He deserved it, he knows it, and we’re square now,” he finished. Then he leaned in close to Jasmine’s ear and whispered huskily, “Just know, I’d suffer a thousand thrashings for you.”
She laughed and elbowed him in the side. “I’d rather you not suffer any.”
Her foot slipped on a slick part of the hardwood floor, and she fell forward with a gasp. he caught her hand with his.
And she flinched.
“You keep doing that.” Concern laced his voice. “Are you hurt?”
“A little.” She averted her gaze. “But it’s nothing.”
“You don’t have to be strong all the time.” Matthew furrowed his brow. “We’re communicating, aren’t we? That means you telling me when I’ve hurt you. Was I too rough during the dance?”
“It wasn’t you.” Her voice wobbled, and in the mirror on the wall, he saw her bite her lip. She was afraid to tell him! A bolt of panic zapped through him.
“Was it hurting after you—” He looked around and whispered, “Was it hurting on Monday?”
Blast it!
He should have held her instead of allowing her to shoot on her own. His heart sank at the thought that his negligence might have caused her pain.
As her silence stretched between their steps, Matthew pleaded, “Jasmine, talk to me.”
With an unsteady breath, she met his gaze and raised a fan to her mouth. If he hadn’t been in tune with the rhythm of her voice, he might have misheard her.
“I had an altercation with Lord Rothwell yesterday.”
Through gritted teeth, he asked, “What happened?”
“I rejected him, and he grabbed me.”
At her weak whisper, his nostrils flared, but he kept his expression stoic as she continued, “I punched him, like you taught me, but my knuckles are split. And there’s a bruise around my left wrist.”
“There’s visible damage?!”
Imagining finger-shaped bruises on her body made Matthew’s blood burn. As soon as he left this building, he would hunt Rothwell down and give him some bruises of his own.
“Show me what he did.”
“Not here. I don’t want anyone thinking it was you.”
“I don’t care—”
“I do.” Jasmine shot him a glare. “We can’t fix your reputation if you do anything brash.”
“I thought you didn’t care about reputation?”
“I’m starting to see things differently. What happens in this building echoes outside of it. Reputation is a currency. I’m to be your viscountess. I want to donate to an orphanage in our name.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“There’s power in perception. I need you to protect our reputation, not sink us further.” She lowered her voice. “And I need you to protect us. Lord Rothwell saw us, and he threatened me. Now, I don’t know what he’ll do.”
“He won’t do anything. I’ll take care of it.”
Jasmine eyed him warily. “Don’t hurt him.”
“I’m not going to hurt him,” Matthew promised. “I’m going to ruin him.”
***
Despite the heat, a chill ran through Jasmine at Matthew’s catlike smile. The sharp line of his jaw could have cut through metal. His voice was low and cold, and her father’s words came to mind: a man is capable of great wrongs if he thinks he’s right.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ll purchase his debts. I assume they’re substantial, if he would go so far as assaulting you.
” His lip curled at the word. “After that, I’ll own him.
We’ll see how he talks once I have his purse in an iron grip.
But first, I’ll make his word worthless.
Tomorrow morning, I’ll have Blackmoor look into him.
If he has a black mark, Caroline and Honora will spread that gossip.
” Matthew shot a glance at Honora. “Right, Lady Worthing?”
“Gladly,” Honora assured them. “If there’s kindling, we’ll burn him.”
“Won’t that enrage him further?” Jasmine asked.
“If it does, I’ll handle it. I’ve dealt with a rabid dog before,” Matthew said. “There are other ways to solve disputes among gentlemen.”
“Do not duel for my honor,” she hissed. “It’s not that important.”
“You are important. No one will threaten you and get away with it.” He held her gaze. “I doubt it’ll come to a duel. Men like Rothwell are weak. Once they’re reminded of their place, they stay down. Trust me, I’ll keep you safe.”
“I do trust you.”
More than anyone else.
Their conversation halted when they returned to her mother. Caroline and Don Alejandro stood across from each other on the ballroom floor. Violins rose with the orchestra’s first notes to a quadrille. Laughter and movement accompanied the tune.
“Thank you for returning my daughter,” Mama said. “You can’t stay now, Matthew.”
Matthew stood his ground.
“I’ll stay long enough for someone to explain to me why Caroline is dancing with the Spanish Ambassador,” he said to both her mother and Honora. “Need I remind everyone that she is my sister?”
“They’re dancing because he asked,” Honora cut in. “And she’s not your concern tonight.”
“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?”
“Not better spent, 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 and helpless, 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 to hear you.” 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 a private affair.” 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.”
“She struck him?” Righteous anger rose within her, and she understood 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.
“Why do you like the Coopers?” Jasmine asked. “Aren’t you worried about your reputation?”
“My reputation is iron-clad. Ask the ton, 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?”
“As the new matriarch,” Honora said simply.
“You earned my respect yesterday. You fought back.” Her voice wavered, but then she hardened it.
“To keep my respect, you need to be a viscountess in your own right. It’s a different world from debutante to titled lady.
Marry Lord Lincolnshire, but rule society with me. ”
“I don’t want to rule society,” Jasmine complained.