(Skye O'Malley #6) Wild Jasmine by Bertrice Small

Author:Bertrice Small [Small, Bertrice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Historical
ISBN: 9780345401342
Publisher: Ivy Books
Published: 1991-12-31T13:00:00+00:00

“Tis a pleasure to cook for Yer Majesty,” Mrs. Garman replied. She was then escorted out and returned to her kitchens to tell Priss and Mary, the kitchen maids, and little Wat, the knife boy, that though she could barely understand the king, for he spoke with a very thick tongue, he was a most fine gentleman indeed.

When the meal had been cleared away, Skye cleared her throat, saying, “I will now tell Your Majesty of how my granddaughter Jasmine came into this family.”

“Twill nae be necessary,” the king replied. “Lady Sybilla herself told both Jemmie and me before dinner the whole sad tale. Velvet, my dear, yer a brave lass, but then I always knew that ye were,” the king said with a warm smile at the Countess of BrocCairn.

“Just what did Lady Sybilla tell you, sire?” Skye asked pointedly of the king, and she sent both her daughter and son-in-law a fierce look.

Alex Gordon was visibly white about the lips, while his daughter Sybilla wore the pleased expression of a cat that had just cornered a plump mouse. The girl’s look was, in fact, such a look of pure triumph that Skye wanted to slap her.

The king looked quite confused. He could not understand what was wrong.

The Earl of Glenkirk came to his monarch’s aid, saying, “Lady Sybilla has explained to us how her mother was kidnapped years ago and forced into a shameful, carnal bondage, during which captivity she was forced to bear a child which she gladly left behind upon her rescue. Indeed, we have been told that Lady Gordon was so ashamed of this tawdry incident in her life that she did not even tell Alex. Lady Sybilla has elaborated on how this child, now grown, came to England and forced herself upon the good natures and good hearts of Lord and Lady de Marisco. Is that not so?”

“No, my lord, it is not so. What Sybilla has told you is an outrageous fabrication,” Skye said quietly, although those about her who knew her realized that those well-controlled tones represented just the merest tip of her outrage.

Sybilla, however, unwisely arose and cried out, “It is true! I have not lied!”

“Leave this table and go to your room,” Skye told the girl. “At once!”

“Jasmine seeks only to ruin my life!” Sybilla wept uncontrollably, obviously overwrought.

Skye turned to her horrified majordomo. “Bramwell, escort Lady Sybilla from the hall,” she ordered. Her gaze swung to her son-in-law, the Earl of BrocCairn. “I hold you entirely responsible for your daughter’s behavior, my lord. You will send her home to Dun Broc tomorrow. I will no longer have her in my house.”

Velvet cast a beseeching look toward her father. “Papa,” she pleaded weakly.

“I am in entire accord with your mother, Velvet,” Adam said.

“What is wrong?” the king asked, finally finding his voice.

“Lady Sybilla has lied to Your Majesty,” Skye replied.

“Lied? To me? To her king?” James Stuart looked astounded, as if such a thing were not possible.

“Jamie, I apologize for my lass,” Alex Gordon said, shamefaced.

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