And she kissed him the way she should have all along. Soft and slow. Savoring him. Lingering on his lips, she gave him a kiss to hold his heart.One that would tide him over until she could kiss him again.
A kiss to remember.
After one more crushing hug, he released her then strode from the room. She turned to the wall and slammed the pad of her fist into it. A fractured sob caught in her throat. Tears threatened, but tears would do nothing.
Iwill not waitweeks!
She stormed from the room and stomped to her father’s study. The footman dove out of her way. She flung the door open, then slammed it behind her. “You’re suspending my courtship?!”
Papa lifted a glass of amber liquid to his lips and drank the contentswith one swallow. He stood and faced her with a glower. “Lower your voice when you speak to me. I have been lenient with you, and you spit in my face. Consider yourself fortunate that I am only suspending your courtship. I should refuse the match outright.”
“Matthew did nothing wrong!”
The door opened behind her and Mama came into the room. “Why are we shouting?”
“Did you know?” Jasmine demanded. “Is this why you had me wear mybestdress today?”
“Know of what?” Mama’s eyes went from Jasmine to Papa. “Someone had better give me answers, now!”
“Papa told Matthew he wasn’t to speak to me!”
“And he already disobeyed!” Papa snapped.
Mama scowled at Papa. “Last night you told me you would allow him to propose!”
“You were going to give him permission to propose?” Jasmine repeated numbly. They were so close.“And you changed your mind over Lord Rothwell?!”
“This is not what we discussed.” Mama stomped her foot. “That boy has done everything right.”
“Thatmanis blackmailing another viscount because my family keeps secrets from me!” Papa turned to Jasmine. “Show me your hands!”
Shaking, she stepped forward to obey. She removed her gloves, exposing a yellowing bruise around her wrist and healing knuckles.
“Damn it!” Papa roared. “I should not have to find out from Matthew Cooper that my daughter wasassaulted!”
“You’ve been busy.” Mama lowered her gaze to the floor. “I didn’t want to put any undue pressure on you—”
“I am never too busy for that. If my child has been injured, I am the first to know! Am I understood?!”
Both women flinched, then nodded.
“Yes, my lord,” they said together.
“If you had come to me instead of hiding this, an Earl would not have screamed at me over an injustice that not only did my daughter break his son’s nose, but her preferred suitor publicly and financially humiliated him!”
“He deserved it, Papa!”
“Do you think scandal so easily undone? And don’t think I don’t know about a high-flyer phaeton on my street at three o’clock in the morning—you could show some discretion!”
A gasp escaped Mama. “Jasmine!”
“I am twenty-six years old!” Jasmine cried out. “I shouldn’t need your permission to be with the man I love!”
She slapped her hands over her mouth, trying to take the words back and swallow them. The first time she spoke those words should have been to Matthew.
One tear escaped her, and then another. Tears fell hot and heavy down her cheeks, flooding her vision. Warm pressure surrounded her, enveloping her in the sweet scent of sherry, and Jasmine fell into her mother’s embrace and sobbed.
Mama pleaded over her shoulder, “Edward, you must let them marry.”