Darling Jasmine by Bertrice Small Read Free Book Online Page A

James Leslie, the man King James had made guardian of her four children. James Leslie, the man the king had ordered her to marry and from whom she had fled. Her temples began to throb, and she fell back against her pillows. She had to think. She had to speak with Skye. It was not going to be an easy day.
    The door to her chamber opened, and her two maidservants entered. Rohana carried a small silver tray upon which sat a tea carafe, and a handleless round cup of blue-and-white porcelain. Bringing it to her mistress’s bedside, Rohana set the tray down, uncorking the carafe as she did so. The aroma of the pale golden Assam wafted up faintly spicy from the two cloves that floated in the tea. Rohana poured half a cup and handed it to Jasmine, who first breathed deeply of the hot liquid, then sipped it gratefully, murmuring her pleasure as it warmed her innards.
    Across the room Toramalli was choosing her mistress’s garments of the day. A black velvet skirt and a bodice of silver-and-white brocade. The appropriate undergarments were laid out along with silk stockings, simple black velvet slippers, and jewelry. Rohana, meanwhile, was seeing to her lady’s bath in the small inner chamber that Jasmine had designated as a bathing room when she came to Belle Fleurs. A pump had been installed in the room, and hot water was heated in a small fireplace to warm the water drawn from the pump.
    Finishing her tea, Jasmine arose from her bed. She could already smell the night-blooming jasmine oil that was being poured into the bathwater by her servant. “Are the children awake?” she asked.
    â€œThey are already in the hall,” Rohana said, helping her mistress from her chamber robe and into her tub.
    â€œThe nursemaids knew that Lord Leslie was here,” Toramalli volunteered. “The children are dressed in fairly proper fashion.”
    Jasmine nodded, but said nothing further on the subject. “I cannot dally,” she finally remarked. “I will seem a poor hostess if I am not downstairs shortly. Is my grandmother awake yet?”
    â€œMadame Skye has elected to remain abed this morning,” Toramalli said. “That ancient Daisy of hers came into the hall to tell Lord Leslie and to fetch something to eat for the old lady.”
    Jasmine bathed and dressed quickly. She could barely sit still while Rohana did her hair. Slipping a strand of fat pearls about her neck, she affixed large baroque pearls in her ears, and, jewels bobbing, she hurried from her chamber and down into the hall. Approaching the entry, she could hear her children’s excited voices. She stopped a moment in the entry to observe the scene before her.
    James Leslie, in black velvet, his short dark hair brushed straight back and just barely grazing his white linen neck ruff, sat in a high-backed chair by the fire. “Excellent, my young lord Henry,” he said to the little marquis of Westleigh. “Your bow improves with each try. You shall not shame your late father, your mother, or me when you are presented to the king, and pledge him your fealty for yourself and for Cadby. Remember, a gentleman is first judged by the reputation that precedes him, and secondly by his manners.”
    â€œWhat of his purse?” Lady India Lindley demanded boldly.
    James Leslie’s mouth twitched as he repressed a smile. Then he said seriously, “That, my lady India, should be no one’s business although there will be speculation a-plenty when a handsome and interesting man as your brother will undoubtedly become one day arrives at court.”
    â€œWill you teach us to curtsy, my lord, as you teach Henry to bow?” India asked him.
    â€œYour mother will see that your manners are polished before we return to England, my lady,” the earl answered the little girl. “I will speak with her myself on the matter.”
    â€œAre you still to marry Mama?” Henry wondered.
    â€œAye,” the earl said.