“I will ascertain if an advance on your part would be met with favor by Toramalli,” Adali told him diplomatically. “Now, you had best attend your impatient master, Fergus More.” Then he moved into his lady’s bedchamber, where the twin maidservants were helping Jasmine to disrobe. “We have a great deal of work to make the castle habitable again, my princess,” he told her. “It has been virtually shut up for most of the years the earl has been in England. Will Todd did his best, but there is a lot more for us to do.”
“It isn’t as bad as Jamal’s place on my wedding night,” Jasmine said laughing. “I will never forget that. I gained great satisfaction from selling off those appalling women in his zenana.” Naked, she stepped into the tub that had been prepared for her, quickly washing without the help of her servants.
“There is enough wood by the fire for tonight, and for the morning,” Adali said. “I have seen that wine was placed on the sideboard in the dayroom, and there is a basin with a supply of love cloths by your bed, my lady. Rohana and Toramalli have made it with our own linens and featherbed. You will be comfortable, and tomorrow we will make it even better. The rooms have a smell of mustiness about them, but it is not surprising considering the circumstances.”
“It’s a wonderful castle,” Jasmine said softly. “We have finally come home, Adali. You knew it too, didn’t you?”
He nodded, smiling. “Aye, I did, my princess. I would not have thought this pile of stones in the hills of Scotland wouldhave felt like that to us, but it does.” Then his eyes twinkled, and he changed the subject completely. “Would you object, my lady, if Toramalli had a suitor? Fergus More has indicated he would be interested in paying her court, if she would have him do so, and with your permission.”
“Toramalli?”Jasmine asked her servant. “It is your decision.”
“The cheek of the man!” Toramalli, who was hot-tempered began.
“He’s a lovely man,” her sister Rohana said. “You are very fortunate. And he has asked permission before approaching you. What delicacy of feelings, my sister.”
“He probably means you, and can’t tell us apart,” Toramalli said, grumbling, as she dried her mistress off, but she was smiling,
“If you think so, then let Adali have him approach the lady he would court,” Jasmine suggested as Rohana lowered a nightgown over her head, and it slid down to cover her body. It was white silk, with a round neckline and long sleeves.
“An excellent suggestion,” Adali said. “Come, ladies, let us take the tub from the room. Together, the trio lugged the small oaken tub from Jasmine’s bedchamber.
When they had emptied it down a stone chute in the garderobe, they stored the tub away and returned to the dayroom. Fergus More had just exited the earl’s bedchamber. He looked hopefully at Adali.
“Toramalli wonders if you really know the difference between herself and her twin sister, Fergus More,” Adali told him. “Do you? If you do, then you have her permission to court Toramalli, she says.”
The twins stood side by side, identical in features, but for one difference. Dark-haired and dark-eyed with golden skin, each possessed a flower-shaped birthmark at the corner of hereye. Toramalli’s was on the right. Rohana’s on the left. Without hesitation Fergus More walked directly to the correct twin and stood before her.
“Of course I know which one ye are, Mistress Toramalli,” he said quietly.
“Well,” Toramalli answered him pertly, “if you are clever enough to know the difference between Rohana and me, I suppose we could keep company for a while, Fergus More.”
“Come to the kitchen with me now, lassie,” he invited, “and we’ll hae a cup of ale. Yer sister can come to,” he added as an afterthought.
“You go,” Rohana said. “I’m much too tired, but I thank you for the invitation, Fergus More.” She yawned broadly.
The two servants departed from the apartment, Adali remaining just a moment longer to snuff the candles and bank the fire. Rohana found her way back to her bedchamber, which was located within the apartments, bidding Adali good night as she went.
James Leslie had entered his wife’s bedchamber by means of the connecting door between their rooms. Jasmine stood silently looking out of the windows across the moonlit hills. Hearing his entrance, she turned, smiling, and held out her arms to him. “My lord,” she said softly, and enfolded him within her embrace.
Wordless he caressed her face as if for the very first time. His green-gold eyes adored her. Then his two hands tangled within her hair, and he kissed her deeply, his mouth warm and firm. “I love you,” he finally said. “I have from the moment I first laid eyes upon you. I know I have said it before, but I shall say it to you for the rest of our lives that you never think I might grow tired of you. I will always love you, darling Jasmine.”
“Ohh, Jemmie,” she responded, “you fill me, heart and soul, to overflowing with your love for me. I love you, too. Iwould have to be the worst bitch created not to love in return the man who loves me so, but your love is so overwhelming that I wonder if I am worthy of it. How happy I am to carry a child created of such love!”
In response he picked her up and laid her upon their bed, coming down next to her, to cradle her in his arms. “Thank you,” he said simply, and then he kissed her again. His lips, tender at first, became more demanding as their passions rose. He loosened the ribbons on her gown, sliding his hand beneath the sensuous fabric to fondle her breasts. She moaned as his fingers brushed her sensitive nipples and, laying her upon her back, lowered his head to suckle upon them.
The touch of his lips upon her susceptible flesh was almost too much to bear. She shivered with pleasure as her nipples tingled almost painfully with the exacting pressure of his mouth drawing so strongly upon them. She caressed his dark hair, fingers twining about the thick tendrils, and here and there she saw a wisp of silver among the ebony. Closing her eyes, she sighed deeply when he removed himself from her breasts. His big hands drew her nightgown from her and stroked her still slim body. Bending, he kissed her belly, sending shivers of excitement down her spine.
“I want to feel you against me,” she said softly.
In response, Jemmie pulled his own nightshirt off and drew her back into his arms so that their bodies touched, transferring the warmth between them. Jasmine reached out with her hand to stroke his manroot, petting him with a delicate touch. He was warm and firm beneath her hand. “Make love to me, my Jemmie,” she purred at him.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he fretted.
In response Jasmine slipped from his embrace and quickly mounted him, letting his solid length slide deeply into her. “We do not have to deny ourselves the pleasure of each other’sbodies quite yet, Jemmie, my dearest lover. If we are careful we may have several months of delight. I know what to do, and as I have had more experience in this than you, you must follow my lead. Rowan and I never denied ourselves when I carried his children.” She rotated her hips gently into his groin, and he groaned with enjoyment. Reaching up with his hands, he fondled her breasts, watching her through half-closed eyes as she moved upon him. “Does this please you, my lord?” she teased him.
“Witch!” He squeezed the tender flesh of her bosom.
“Ummmmmm,” she murmured. God’s boots! She was going to peak. He would have no joy of his own, but then she felt his love juices burst forth within her, and she fell sobbing with relief upon his chest.
