Read Online Darling Jasmine by Bertrice Small - Free Book Online

“A Scot without a doubt, but there is that slight, almost imperceptible slant to those green eyes of his. A tiny bit of Tartar in the blood. Interesting, indeed. Now what to do about him indeed, darling girl. Since you must wed him, you have no choice but to win him over, I think.”
    â€œWould the king not reconsider, Grandmama?” Jasmine wondered.
    â€œNay, he would not. James Stuart is every bit as intractable as his late cousin, Elizabeth Tudor, and the truth of the matter is that you must have another husband, Jasmine. I would have liked it if you could choose for yourself this time, but it is not to be. You must marry James Leslie, so the sooner you begin to soothe his ruffled feelings the better. I think I may have an idea,” she chuckled.
    â€œWhat?” Jasmine asked, curious in spite of herself.
    â€œI think that you and the earl would do better without the encumbrance of an old lady and four children,” Skye said. “In a week or two I shall take the children to visit their relations over at Archambault, and then we shall go on to Paris. By then the worst of winter will be over, and I shall return to England with my great-grandchildren. You and James will follow when you will. You will have all the time in the world that you need to become reacquainted. Then when you return to England to marry it will be a happy occasion. I would like you wed at Queen’s Malvern, and I shall make my desire known to the earl.”
    â€œHe wants us wed before the entire court,” Jasmine said glumly.
    â€œA wish hatched in the heat of anger,” Skye replied. “If I say Queen’s Malvern, he will acquiesce,” she concluded with a smile.
    Jasmine laughed at the arch tone in her grandmother’s voice. “Even at your age, madame, no man will refuse you,” she said. “God’s blood, I wish I were more like you!”
    â€œYou are too much like me, I fear,” Skye chuckled. “I hope you will attain a degree of wisdom far sooner than I did. I look back upon my life, with all its wildness and adventures, and I am amazed that I am here today to tell the tale, darling girl.”
    Jasmine looked up into her grandmother’s face. “Don’t ever leave me,” she said quietly.
    Skye patted the younger woman’s hand comfortingly. “One day I will go,” she said, “but not yet, darling girl; and even when this weary old body of mine has released its hold upon my soul I shall yet be with you, Jasmine. You will only have to remember me, and I will be there to whisper in your ear.” Then she chuckled again. “There is one very good thing about your marriage to Lord Leslie,” she told her granddaughter. “You shall not have to change your monogram. Lindley and Leslie both begin with L!”
    Jasmine laughed in spite of herself. “You are extraordinary!” she said to Skye.
    â€œIndeed I am,” the older woman agreed. “And you are not the first to tell me so, darling girl. Oh, no! You are not the first.”
    â€œShameless when she was young, and still shameless,” said Skye’s elderly tiring woman, Daisy Kelly. “Well, lady, are ye going to lie abed the whole day, or shall I prepare yer bath?”
    â€œA bath, you old harridan,” Skye told her servant and friend. Then she turned to Jasmine. “Where is himself?”
    â€œIn the nursery,” Jasmine replied, “playing ball with Charlie. He is quite amazing with the children. I came into the hall this morning to find him teaching Henry a proper court bow, and both of the girls are taken with him, too. How many children did he have, and how did he lose them?” she wondered. “You know, grandmama, ’tis the only time I see him soften, with the children. He is hard otherwise.”
    â€œYou cannot rely upon the children to soften him,” Skye counseled wisely. “They will grow up and leave you together. If