“I understand the feeling.” Jasmine turned to her mother. If onlyshehad a chaperone to look after her like that, instead of throwing every single eligible bachelor at her hoping thatonemight land. “All anyone wants from me is my face and dowry too.”
Mother clapped her hands.
“We are not talking about dowries in public!” She smiled at both of the Coopers and pulled Jasmine closer to her side.
Jasmine shrugged her off and stood with her arms crossed.
“We should be going,” Mother said pointedly to Jasmine, then spoke to Matthew. “You can’t haveallof her dances, Lord Lincolnshire.”
“I don’t see why not.” Matthew glanced at Jasmine adoringly. “But fair enough, we’ll take our leave.”
As they walked away, Caroline called out, “We’ll see you tomorrow morning!”
Matthew said nothing, but his eyes lingered on Jasmine until he disappeared into the crowd.
Out of earshot, Mother said in a no-nonsense tone, “Aword, Jasmine.”
Smiling politely at those she passed, her mother escorted her by the elbow to the terrace. Once outside, the muffled orchestra clashed with the chirping of night bugs. The cooler air soothed her flush, even as rage burned within her.
Torches swaying in the light breeze lined the gravel path around the mansion. Rocks dug into her delicate slippers with each step. Itmustbe serious if Mother risked injury toclothing.Once they were alone, her mother pointed her fan at her.
Jasmine huffed. “What is it now?”
“Need I remind you that you’re here to find ahusband? Whateverploy you’ve worked up with Matthew Cooper to avoid that, you can forget it.”
“Whatploy?” Jasmine removed her mask. She wanted out of this heavy dress and all of its trappings. The jewels scratched against her skin as she moved her arms.Thiswas the ploy—pretending she fit into this costume!
“It’s childish,” Mother snapped. “Your act has guaranteed that no other gentleman will dance with you for the rest of the evening, as I’m sure you’re aware. Your little display might have fooled others but it didn’t fool me.”
“You’re not as astute as you think you are, and you don’t knoweverything,” Jasmine said. “For once, it wasn’t my fault!”
In all the etiquette lessons her mother forced her to endure, none covered what to do when a man threw himself on her in a crowded ballroom. Wasn’t it better to dance with a man twice than to slap him? With this treatment, she may as well stroll in there and finish the job!
“You need to get serious about this season. This is your last chance,” Mother said. “If you cannot find an acceptable husband in the next month, one will be chosen for you.”
“A month is no time at all!” Jasmine hissed. “I’ve told you before—I don’t wish to marry.”
“You are a marquess’s daughter, Jasmine. Youcannotbe a spinster!”
“Of course not! It’s not as though we have hundreds of perfectly acceptable homes to put me in and leave me be! No, I’m a high-value match, no matter which country I’m in—”
Mother threw her hands in the air. “You could be aduchess,if you so choose! Instead, all you do is act like one!”
“I’m sorry to be such a disappointment.” Jasmine kicked a rock on the path.
Mother sighed and held her hand. She led her to a wrought-ironbench along the path. The bones of Jasmine’s corset dug into her midsection as she sat down, and the cold metal bit her shoulder.
Mother sat next to her, and her voice gentled.
“My darling girl. You don’t understand thepoweryou hold.” She reached for Jasmine’s face and held her cheeks. “If you take half of this energy and pour it into a good cause, you could make genuine change in this world. Marrying well will allow you to have influence over society—”
“I don’t want your life.” Jasmine turned her head. “You should have left me in Spain withAbuela.”
Mother clenched her fan in her hand and took a deep breath. “Your grandmother lives a simple life.”
“And she’s happy!” Jasmine argued. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted—a simple life with a man I love!”
“Your grandparents and I have worked hard to give you this life you scorn. We didn’t have the option of simple when I was a girl. Simple wasearned,” Mother said sternly. “You have to grow up, Jasmine. You’ve been waiting for a fairy tale. There is no magic moment where you instantly fall in love.”