Darling Jasmine. Bertrice Small

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      They sat upon an upholstered settle, and he took her hand in his. “I believe that Jasmine has become shy in things of an intimate nature, Madame Skye. She is not comfortable once matters pass a certain point. It is not in her nature, I believe, to be cold.”

      “Hmmmmmmm,” Skye said.

      “I considered other reasons for her reluctance, but the only one I believe true is the fact she has not known a man since some time before wee Charlie’s birth. I think she may feel at a disadvantage.”

      “God’s boots!” Skye answered him. “What is the matter with the girl? You are handsome, and well made, and she has shared your bed on one occasion and not found you displeasing.”

      “We are being pushed into doing our duty,” the earl replied. “I think I need to court her, Madame Skye, but how does one go about courting a woman with everything? What can I do, or say, or give her that she has not heard or received? My first wife and I were promised as bairns. I did not court Isabelle, but then we were both very young and used to one another. Our families had agreed to our marriage, and that was the way it was done in Scotland at that time.”

      Skye nodded. Now here was a small tangle that needed unknotting. She had not considered that Jasmine, once become sensible, would behave like a sheltered virgin, and her a woman with four children! It was simply ridiculous! “I will speak with my granddaughter,” she said.

      “Nay, madame, I beg you do not!” the earl implored her. “She would be mortified to learn that I knew her secret. Just instruct me in how to please her so that she will lose her shyness with me, and matters may progress naturally.”

      “God’s blood!” Skye swore passionately. “What is the matter with you young men of today? In my day the men were bold! They swept a woman off her feet and into their arms without their permission. None of my daughters were like me, but this one granddaughter is. You will gain your goal with her by being audacious and gallant, and not by pussyfooting around.”

      “But Madame Skye . . .” he attempted to interrupt her.

      “There are no buts where love is concerned, James Leslie,” she told him sternly. “Do you know that Jasmine’s grandfather seduced me the first time he met me? Like Jasmine I was mourning a loss and had been without a man, but Adam wanted me, and he took me.” Her gaze softened with the memory. “I should have seen that he was the man for me then and there, but I outlived two more husbands before he realized that his first manly and fearless approach to me had been the way to my heart. We were fortunate, and in those days it seemed as if time went on forever.” She was silent a moment, then sighed gustily before looking at him again. “Seize your opportunity, dammit! Give my granddaughter a taste of passion again. You cannot help but overcome her outrage with it.” She chuckled wickedly. “I envy the girl, my lord, I do.”

      He raised the hand he had been gently holding to his lips and kissed it. “Thank you,” he said.

      She nodded, her Kerry blue eyes twinkling, yet wise. Then she said, “I believe that you and Jasmine should be together alone for a few more weeks, James Leslie. What would you think if I took the children on to visit Paris, and from there home to Queen’s Malvern, where we will await you? It is already mid-March, and if I am to prepare for a wedding and notify the family, I cannot linger much longer in France. The children yet prove a distraction to their mother, so perhaps it is better they travel with their great-grandmother?”

      “I tend to agree, madame,” the earl said, restraining the chortle that threatened to burst forth from his throat. He had known that the old lady would not allow Jasmine’s bairns to return to Belle Fleurs, but he had not been certain exactly how she would manage this feat. Madame Skye was absolutely brilliant in her tactics. “I will hire a goodly force of the comte’s men to escort you first to Paris, then on to the coast. The roads are not all that safe, as you know, particularly now with another war threatening to break out.”

      “Aye, that is wise,” Skye agreed. “I know Alexandre will be more than happy to give you the loan of some men-at-arms.”

      The door to the salon burst open, and Jasmine, looking agitated, entered the room. “What is this that Henry tells me, grandmama? That you are taking the children to Paris? I will not allow it!”

      “Darling girl, do not be foolish,” her grandmother soothed her. “Aye, we are off to Paris in a few days’ time, and from there to England, where we will begin making preparations for your wedding, and notifying the family of your return. In the meantime, you and Lord Leslie will have more time to work out any little difficulties between you, and to know one another better. You are quite fortunate to have me relieve you of your responsibilities, even temporarily, Jasmine.”

      Jasmine glared at the earl. “And you agree with this plan?”

      He considered placating her, but remembering Madame Skye’s words he said, “Aye, I do, my dear. I realize that I am being selfish, but I very much want you to myself for the time being.”

      “Oh?” Her cheeks pinked slightly.

      “You know that I adore your bairns, Jasmine, but ’tis I am marrying, and not the wee ones,” he murmured, catching at her hand, and kissing it longingly. “This time alone is precious, and I will have it, my darling Jasmine!” As I will have you. The words were unspoken, but distinctly implied, and understood between them.

      “So,” Skye said briskly, “it is settled. Run back to the children and enjoy your day with them, darling girl. I must keep your betrothed with me a moment or two more to discuss certain arrangements about the wedding regarding his family.”

      Bemused Jasmine exited the salon.

      “What arrangements?” he questioned her when the younger woman was gone.

      Skye laughed. “There are none,” she chuckled. “I just wanted Jasmine to consider what had happened without further distractions. ’Twas nicely done, my lord. You were forceful, yet loving. Continue on in that manner, and you will gain your objectives.”

      Eventually, he joined Jasmine and the children, all of whom were delighted to see him, and rushed at him, crying, “Papa! Papa!” He shook young Henry’s hand and kissed the others warmly. The four youngsters were in excellent health and obviously having a wonderful time with their de Saville cousins.

      “We’re going home to England soon,” Henry said.

      “I know,” the earl answered him. “Your mother and I will come shortly afterward, and be married at Queen’s Malvern on the fifteenth day of June. Will you stand by my side as my witness, Henry?”

      The boy marquis of Westleigh nodded enthusiastically. “Aye, Papa, I will, and gladly!” Then he sobered a bit. “Do you mind that we call you Papa? I know you are not yet wed to our mother, but . . .”

      “I am pleased and honored that you would accept me in such a capacity, Henry,” James Leslie answered.

      “Will you teach me to use a sword properly?” Henry asked.

      “We will begin this summer,” the earl promised him.

      The rest of the day sped by. They partook of a lavish meal with the comte de Cher and his wife, Helene. The comte’s heir, Phillippe, his wife Marie-Claire, and the comte’s two daughters, Gaby and Antoinette and their families were also there to meet the earl of Glenkirk.

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