Bertrice Small by Wild Jasmine

Author:Wild Jasmine [Jasmine, Wild]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-06-21T10:13:50+00:00

Chapter 11

The Countess of BrocCairn sat beneath a willow tree in her mother’s garden working upon a tapestry. Beside her sat her two daughters: Sybilla, embroidering her monogram upon some fine linen pillow slips, Jasmine reading. The late afternoon was unusually warm. There was no breeze, and the air was somewhat heavy. The Earl of Kempe lounged lazily in the green grass by Sybilla’s side, gazing up at her admiringly while handing her fresh threads from her workbasket as she required them. He had made it quite clear to everyone in the de Marisco household that he was paying serious court to the young Lady Sybilla.

Sybilla pricked her finger and cried out. “Ohhh! How I dislike sewing, Mama! I shall be glad to go to court come the autumn.” She snatched her hand away from Tom Ashburne, who was ardently kissing the injured digit.

“Sewing is a skill that every gentlewoman should possess, my dear,” her mother told her. “What if some clumsy fellow should step on your gown and tear the hem from it? Your skill with a needle would enable you to quickly repair it, and you would not be thought a slattern.”

“I have never learned to sew,” Jasmine said, putting her book aside. “In India I had women to do such tasks for me.”

“Do you never stop your ridiculous boasting?” Sybilla asked nastily. “You may have been a princess in India, but here you are nothing more than a common ba—” She stopped short, seeing the dangerous look in Jasmine’s eyes, and smiled sweetly. “Well, we all know what you really are,” she finished.

“I cannot understand how so sweet a mother could have raised so spiteful a shrew,” Jasmine replied in equally sugary tones. “You must really be more careful, Sybilla dear. We all know what you really are. Your true colors are showing. You will surely frighten away my lord earl.”

“I should adore my darling beauty if she were naught but a beggar maid,” Tom Ashburne said gallantly.

“Well!” Sybilla huffed, rising to her feet and throwing down the cloth upon which she had been working. “I am not a beggar maid, my lord. I am related to the king. I am the only daughter of the Earl and Countess of BrocCairn. Do not ever forget it!” Then she dashed off into the depths of the gardens, the earl in pursuit, eager to make his apologies and regain a place in Sybilla’s good graces.

“You should not bait her,” Velvet admonished Jasmine.

“She should not take every opportunity to attack me,” Jasmine replied. “I was not boasting about my life in India.” Her face grew hard. “I will not allow her any latitude, Mama. Even Lord Gordon was good enough to speak with her, but she will not obey him either. If I continue to defend myself, perhaps she will eventually cease. She is my elder by six months, although I am certainly far more grown-up than Sybilla. I would like to try and be friends with her, but she will not let me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.