The Tempestuous Debutante: Book 4 in the Cotillion Ball Series (Crimson Romance) by Becky Lower

were still a bit swollen from Parr’s kisses.
Puffy lips can be enticing
, she thought as she smoothed out the skirt of her rose-colored silk dress, and tried to hide the soiled hem. Straightening her shoulders, she moistened her lips with her tongue and entered the room where her father and Alistair were sitting and smoking cigars.
    Alistair glanced up at her. “There you are. We were getting worried about you. So, did you get to see the colt?”
    Jasmine sat across from him, making sure to tuck the soiled part of her dress behind her leg. She inhaled the fragrant scent of the cheroots and hoped the smell of tobacco would hide her hem’s smell of dung. “He’s an absolutely gorgeous horse, Mr. Wickersham. Have you selected a name for him yet?”
    “No, I haven’t given it a thought. I need to see him again. Do you have a suggestion?”
    Jasmine caught her lower lip with her teeth. Now was her chance. “Well, since he has that blaze down the middle of his face, I think the name should refer in some way to his markings. Something such as Lord Blaze, Blaze of Glory, or, if you want to give credit to Parr, who delivered him, maybe Emerald Blaze?”
    “Hmmm. All good names. I’ll have to think about it and make my choice in the next few days. Will Parr be joining us for dinner, do you think?”
    Jasmine searched his face, to see if he guessed what really happened in the stable, but she couldn’t read him. She shrugged daintily. “I believe all Parr wants to do right now is to fall in bed.”
With me
, she added silently.
    “He was exhausted when I checked on him, right after the delivery. He’s been up with the mare for more than a day and a half. I’m surprised he was still awake when you went to the barn.”
    “He couldn’t tear himself away from the colt just yet, I think.”
Or from me
.
    “The next colt produced on this property is going to have Parr’s stallion, the Grey Ghost, as the sire. We were going to use Belle as the dam, but seeing as how this birth was so difficult, we may need to change our plans slightly. But, however it happens, the Grey Ghost will be at the root of our eventual dynasty.”
    Jasmine was uncomfortable with the way this conversation was going. Alistair was talking about horse reproduction when her thoughts were filled with taking the first steps in the very human process of lovemaking with Parr. She needed to change the topic, and fast. Neither topic was appropriate dinner conversation. “Why is Grey Parr’s horse? Can’t you just buy it from him? After all, he’s only the stable boy.”
    Alistair stared at her for a long moment. “No, let me correct your assumption. It’s time you knew. He’s an equal partner in this venture. I provide the necessary funds, but he provides the horseflesh and his expertise. We think it’s an even exchange.”
    Jasmine shook her head. “It doesn’t sound even to me. Money always wins out.” Then she granted Alistair her best smile. “But enough of Parr and the colt. I’m starving!”
    “Jasmine,” her father interjected. “Is that any way for a young lady to talk? What would your mother say?”
    Alistair smiled. “We were waiting for your return before we began dinner, but it’s ready.” His chair scraped the floorboards as he rose and extended his arm to her. “I know you must be weak from hunger. May I escort you to the table?”
    Jasmine rose in a graceful motion and wrapped her arm around his. Now this was more of what she had in mind. She glided into the sumptuous dining room and studied the table settings. Normally, the man sat at the head, his wife at the foot, and the most important guests on either side of the man. This evening, there were places ready for Alistair at the head of the table, and settings on either side of him. She raised her eyebrow at him for clarification.
    “I prefer to keep my guests close, so I told the staff to set the table this way. Saves us from tossing the rolls to you down at the end all by