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you have nothing to begin with, there will be nothing when the children are gone. Now as to James Leslie’s history, I can remember this. He was wed to a cousin, a Gordon, I believe. There were two sons, and his wife was with child a third time when she took her lads and went visiting at a nearby religious house. The place was attacked by fanatics belonging to the Calvinist faith. They raped, slaughtered, and burned. The young countess and her sons were murdered along with the rest of the nuns. Although the king ordered a full investigation, and demanded the miscreants be caught and punished, none ever were. Naturally, James Leslie was very bitter about it. He still is, I suspect.”
    â€œAnd he has never remarried,” Jasmine said thoughtfully.
    â€œHis family has certainly implored him to,” Skye replied. “It has been fifteen years since his wife and children died. His sons would have been grown by now. ’Twas a terrible tragedy he suffered.”
    â€œGrandmama, when the king first ordered me to wed with the earl I remember that James Leslie told me he had come to Greenwood to ask your permission to court me after that tiny scandal we caused several days earlier. He said you sent him away because you had already arranged my marriage to Rowan. He said you told him it was best I not even know he had been there. Is that true, Grandmama?”
    â€œAye,” Skye admitted without hesitation. “The earl does not lie.”
    Jasmine looked reflective, then she sighed. “I’ve been very foolish,” she admitted. “I should not have run away.”
    â€œDo not distress yourself, my darling girl. You needed more time than it appeared James Leslie was willing to give you. Where you made your mistake was in staying away so long,” her grandmother told her. “And I hold myself responsible for that. Instead of enjoying myself helping you to intrigue against the earl, I should have offered you wise counsel and insisted you return home. The deed is done, and now there is help for it. You must win James Leslie over if you are to have a happy marriage. To that end you will agree with my plan of action, Jasmine. Shall I take the children and wend my way home?”
    â€œStay at Belles Fleurs a bit, Grandmama, then we shall spring this little idea of yours upon the earl as if we had just thought of it,” Jasmine said. “If he does not agree, we cannot do it, I fear.”
    â€œAnd he is apt to say nay if we spring it upon him too soon,” Skye agreed. “We will, however, have to keep the little ones out of the way while they remain here. I know! We shall find them a tutor, and they shall begin their lessons. That way they will be well occupied while I help you to soften up the earl. Then, when he is susceptible, we shall gain his permission, and I shall take the children back to Queen’s Malvern. Left alone, you may seduce the handsome devil, darling Jasmine, and once he is under your sweet spell you’ll wed and live happily ever after,” Skye finished triumphantly. “Ahhh, how such a strategy takes me back to my own youth!”
    Little girl, little girl! Do not interfere so.
    Skye stiffened. She had heard his voice! She had distinctly heard Adam’s voice. Or had she?
    â€œGrandmama?” Jasmine’s look was a concerned one.
    Skye shook off the eerie feeling. “ ’Tis nothing,” she said, wondering if she was going mad. Then she pushed the sensation far into the back of her consciousness as, filled with new enthusiasm, she began to design in her head new schemes to help her favorite grandchild. Enchanting a man and stealing his heart was not all that difficult, and when a woman was as beautiful and as clever as Jasmine, why it would be almost too easy, the old lady considered. A rival! Yes, the earl of Glenkirk definitely needed a rival for Jasmine’s affections. There was nothing like another man, eager and ready to