“Only if you can convince Lady Lindley to marry you. I already see you cannot bully her. She is, the gossip tells me, a king’s daughter herself; and her relatives are influential with the king. Her stepfather is his cousin, the earl of BrocCairn. Her uncles are the earl of Lynmouth and Lord Burke of Clearfields. Her grandmother is the old countess of Lundy herself. Why she locked horns with Gloriana, Bess Tudor, brother, and has not only outlived that queen, but survived to tell the tale. Lady de Marisco dotes upon this particular granddaughter, Piers, and the family does what she tells them. If you threaten Lady Lindley, they will gather about her to protect her, then reach out to destroy you for your impudence. It is a very large family. There’s an aunt married to the earl of Alcester, and another who is Lord Blackthorne’s wife. Jasmine Lindley is extremely wellconnected. You will have to charm her into marrying you, and you are quite capable of such an act.”
“I must have her!”Piers St.Denis said fiercely. “She excites me as no other woman ever has. Her wealth, her beauty,her royal bastard.But even without the brat, I would desire her, Kipp.”
“First the earl of Glenkirk,” his half brother counseled. “If he remains too near Lady Lindley, you will have no chance at all. Look!” He pointed across the room. “The earl and Lady Lindley are departing even now. Quickly, Piers! You must see the king now!”
The marquis of Hartsfield moved gracefully across the room, blocking the earl of Glenkirk and Jasmine even as they turned away from bidding the king farewell. “Sire!” he said loudly. “If Lady Lindley is to give me a fair chance at courting her, I do not believe that Lord Leslie should be living in her house and sharing her bed, do you?”
“What’s this?” said the king. “Jemmie, is it true? Yer at Greenwood wi Lady Lindley?”
“Aye, my lord,” the earl of Glenkirk said tersely, casting an angry glance at the marquis of Hartsfield.
“Nah, nah, Jemmie, we canna hae that,” the king replied.
“Sire, he may be my guest,” the earl of Lynmouth said coming forward, and bowing low. “Jemmie and I are old friends.”
“Excellent, excellent,” said the king. “Ye’ll stay wi Robin Southwood, Jemmie, eh? ‘Tis a fair solution, is it nae?”
The earl of Glenkirk bowed to his king. “I will, of course, escort Jasmine home,” he told James Stuart.
“And I shall come, too,” the earl of Lynmouth said, “and we’ll get you settled at Lynmouth House.” His look warned both his niece and Lord Leslie to silence.
“Lynmouth’s house is next to Lady Lindley’s,” murmured Kipp in his brother’s ear. “Is that not a little too near?”
“If I speak further, I shall appear to whine,” the marquis said low. “I will not debase myself with any further puling complaint.”
“My lord,” Jasmine said to St.Denis as they departed the room, “you are wasting your time, and will make a fool of yourself. Let matters rest as they are. The king will find you an heiress of your own if you ask him prettily, and I am certain you know how to beg, do you not?” She smiled sweetly at him as his handsome features darkened in anger.
But then Piers St.Denis laughed, sweeping the ire from his handsome face. “Ahh, madame, you but fascinate me with every word. I do not believe anyone has ever been able to infuriate me as you do. I shall not give up my pursuit of you. You are much too intriguing, and I vow I shall win you from Glenkirk.”
“Never!”Jasmine said vehemently.
The marquis of Hartsfield took her arm, edging out the earl of Glenkirk, who fell angrily behind with the earl of Lynmouth. “Now, madame, do not be unruly with me. You will like me. Everyone likes me, except perhaps Villiers, but then I see him for what he really is when others do not. He is naught but an upstart. I am a most charming fellow as you will learn if you will but give me a chance.”
Jasmine laughed in spite of herself. “My lord,” she said quietly, regaining her composure, “this is a difficult situation in which we find ourselves. I must seem a shrew to you, but you must understand that I have known James Leslie for years. I have come to love him. Ours is an ideal match. My children adore him. I cannot be swayed even by your most prodigious charms. This is a futile quest upon which you embark, and, frankly, I am furious with the king for proposing it.”
“You are adorable when you are angry,” he purred.
“God’s blood!” Jasmine swore.
Piers St.Denis chortled, his blazing blue eyes dancing devilishly. “Your little son swore in Hindi,” he said. “Can you swear in Hindi, too? He was quite a delightful little fellow, your royal bastard.”
“I can swear expertly in at least seven languages,” she replied.
They had reached the courtyard, where their carriage was awaiting them. He helped her in, smiling toothily. “I shall call upon you tomorrow, madame,” he said. “If the weather is fair, perhaps we shall lunch along the river somewhere. I will come in my barge.” Slamming the door shut, he signaled the coachmen to depart, waving gaily at Jasmine, then turning about and saluting both earls as he made to retrace his steps back to the king, and the court.
“The bastard!” Glenkirk swore. “I came with Jasmine, and have no horse. How the hell am I supposed to get back to Greenwood?”
“In my coach,” Robin said. “I didn’t ride. Clever of Hartsfield to edge us out so neatly. I have noticed that he is not a man who likes to lose. He will drive Jasmine to distraction until you leave for mother’s.”
“We have made our peace with the king,” Glenkirk snarled. “We will leave for Queen’s Malvern as quickly as we can be packed up.”
“Oh, no, Jemmie,” Robin Southwood said quietly as they settled themselves in his coach. “The king has decided Jasmine is to have a choice of husbands. A bit after the fact, of course, but then timing has never been old king fool’s strong point. He has offered up his favored minion for Jasmine’s delectation. If you depart for Queen’s Malvern, the king will be angry all over again, and Hartsfield will probably come after you. You have a bit over five weeks until your wedding day. You will remain herein London for four weeks, give or take a day. You will let Piers St.Denis play the eager suitor, and then Jasmine will announce her decision to marry you after all. Only then can you depart for mother’s with the king’s blessing, which you must have. The queen, as you well know, favors your marriage to Jasmine. Now promise me, Glenkirk, that you will not be foolish, and you will follow my plan.”
“Why do I want to punch our pretty marquis in the mouth?” growled Glenkirk.
“Because he is a slimey little turd,” Robin Southwood replied.
“What the hell does Jamie see in him?”
