The Charmer

Chapter 27

While she was still mouthing curses and holding her wrist, the door tone sounded, and Rihlia went to answer it. “All right. Bring it on in.” Jasmine glanced in irritation at the doors as Rihlia swung them wide and stood back. A man pushed a wheeled platform into the room. A giant granite pot rested on the platform, and inside it grew a six-foot fruit tree, loaded with ripe avocados.

She looked at Rihlia in bewilderment.

The deliveryman stepped forward and nodded his head respectfully. “Lady Jasmine, may I present a gift from the cadet Marcus Bustos? He sends his hopes that you might recover swiftly and prays that his gift will cheer you in your convalescence.”

When she only blinked stupidly at him, Rihlia apologized, “Jasmine’s voice is almost gone at the moment, but if she could speak I’m certain that she would say thank you, the tree is very lovely. Why don’t you set it right at the foot of the bed, where she can have a good view of it?” 

She grinned at Jasmine while the man slid the heavy pot off the platform. “They’ve been arriving all morning.” She gestured to the window, where three other potted plants and a small waterfall surrounded by mushrooms formed a miniature grove. “So far you’ve collected a banana, an ulu ristu fruit and an apple tree, and I can’t wait to see what shows up next.” She rubbed her hands gleefully. “Apparently, instead of ‘say it with flowers’, here they say it with fruit.”

“It’s an old tradition,” Jayems said, entering the room as the deliveryman left. He walked to Rihlia. Jasmine’s eyes widened as he slid an arm around her friend’s waist and then kissed her neck in greeting. Rihlia blushed and avoided her eyes. 

“Your suitors are very organized, Jasmine. I’ve heard they have a list going at the barracks to avoid duplicating any gifts.” He smiled in good humor and she reflected with surprise that she’d never seen him so relaxed. 

It could only mean one thing.

Before she could speculate further, he continued, “Keilor searches every gift to be certain that it is safe and Fallon scowls every time another delivery is made.” He flashed her a wicked grin. “I haven’t had so much fun just watching them in years.”

Jayems, wicked? Feeling a little disoriented, Jasmine just grunted a reply. How much had she missed while she’d been sleeping, anyway? “I guess I’ll have to see them and tell them thank you.” She blinked sleepily at her hand. “Thank you notes are out of the question.”

Rihlia gave her a bright smile and adjusted the covers. “I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to hear it, Jas, but you might want to wait a couple of days. How about I make up a schedule for you?” Rihlia grinned. “You’re quite the celebrity. I don’t think you’d want all your fans mobbing you at once.”

Jasmine murmured something in the affirmative and closed her eyes. In moments she was asleep.

***

Keilor watched Jasmine sleep, deep in thought. Three citrus, an illupe vine, a pineapple plant and a hairy sugar fruit later, her room looked and smelled like a garden. As Jasmine’s public liaison, Rihlia had finally suggested that Jasmine’s admirers switch to another form of gift, and since then baskets of blooms and bushels of tempting treats (all carefully and discreetly tested for dangerous additives) had begun to arrive in place of the plants. Not that she would be able to taste any for a few days; her tender stomach wouldn’t be able to process much than liquids for a while. 

He smiled mischievously and popped a truffle into his mouth. No sense letting them go to waste.

Jasmine opened her eyes, smiling a little when she saw him, and he felt a warm wave slide through him. The girl had a way about her.

“Morning,” she murmured, and elbowed herself into a sitting position. He adjusted the pillows for her. “Are my guests scheduled to arrive yet?”

He surveyed her tousled hair and slumberous eyes ruefully. “I don’t think you’ll want to greet them just as you are.”

She yawned behind her bandaged hand. “You’re right. I guess I probably ought to do something about my hair and at least wash my face. I probably look kind of scary.”

A fire kindled in his eyes as they brushed over her body. Even hidden under a soft sleep shirt and a velvet quilt, her pull on him was strong. “That wasn’t my concern.” He handed her a glass of thick, almond milk eggnog. “Your breakfast.”

She sighed. After two days of subsiding on near liquids, even that tasty concoction lacked appeal. She eyed the truffles in the crystal dish near her hopefully. “Those look good.”

He flashed a devilish grin at her and selected a chocolate ball coated in nuts. He bit into it slowly. “Mmm. They are.” He licked his fingers as she scowled at him. “Hazelnut filling, I believe.” 

She harrumphed and sipped her eggnog.

“I brought you something.” He lifted a small package from the floor and placed it on her lap, pleased to see her eyes light up.

She traced the smooth surface of the silver paper. With a shy smile, she teased, “It’s not a plant, is it?”

Keilor raised a brow. “You do not enjoy your new garden?”

“Actually, I love it, though I’m a little afraid of killing everything off,” she admitted. “I’ve never had a garden before. Do you think I might be able to find someone to teach me how to take care of it?”

He propped his chin on his fist and leaned on the arm of his chair. “I’ll teach you.”

Surely he was teasing. Men like Keilor did not run around with pruning shears and w**d flowers. “You, a gardener?”

He winked at her. “It impresses the ladies.” He waved a graceful hand towards her present. “Open your gift.” He watched as she awkwardly held the package steady with her right wrist and worked at the seams with her left, making no move to interfere. When the paper parted, spilling a cool wash of ivory silk across her lap, he gently removed the paper and helped drape the straps of the chemise over her bandaged hand. 

He lowered his eyes, feeling an unaccustomed touch of self-consciousness. “For your comfort, when you sleep. Do you like it?”

“It’s very pretty, thank you,” she said, coloring faintly. “But if...Keilor,” she whispered, and there was a touch of pain in her voice, “I can’t feel...the doctor said…” She had nearly died, and at the moment she felt no reason to hide her feelings. Besides, what else could he mean with such a gift but that he cared?

His brow cleared as he understood what she was saying. For a moment, he’d feared something else entirely. “It doesn’t matter,” he assured her. “It is a gift, freely given.” He brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheek. “Enjoy it. I hope for only your pleasure in return.”