Page 20 of Love and Other Disasters

“The governess.”

Jasper groaned. Sophie Radcliffe should have no further dealings with him. She should stay out of his way if she knew what was good for her, and he planned to stay well out of hers for a while, too. “The governess should be tending my brother’s children.”

“Yes, my lord, and I reminded her of that.”

He frowned. “When?”

Seymour’s expression grew sour. “When I found her downstairs earlier tonight. She is most insistent that she speak with you before dawn.”

“I’m starting to think most insistent is her middle name,” he complained. “What is she doing roaming the halls?”

“Some guests wandered upstairs, and the noise of them disturbed her.” Seymour smiled slightly and then shrugged. “It is Regina.”

“What?”

“The governess. Her middle name is Regina. Sophie Regina Radcliffe.”

“Well, Sophie Regina Radcliffe is a pain in my backside.”

“That is becoming clear, my lord,” Seymour replied, nodding. “She said she was willing to seek you out downstairs herself, with the children in tow, if you did not agree to her request.”

Jasper choked. “My guests do not want to see a governess and two brats looking on while they are enjoying themselves!”

“I believe she knew that when she made the offer,” Seymour murmured.

Jasper ground his teeth again. “Very well. Inform her I will arrive at the nursery shortly.”

Seymour nodded and went on his way again.

Jasper headed back the way he’d come, glad the evening was almost over. He went to his chambers first, slid under his bed, and deposited the funds he’d gathered tonight, winnings from the games of chance, into a secret hiding place.

He slid out again and breathed a sigh of relief, but wished the amount might have been more. Jasper calculated he’d need to arrange at least six more similar events this next year to be as successful as he wanted to be. But the slow pace of his efforts was frustrating, not to mention the pain of the cost of repairing any breakages. The recurring question about his oldest brother joining them for the party had particularly soured his mood in his friend’s company, as well.

He smoothed his hair and braced himself for the coming confrontation with the governess before he trudged upstairs. He found the woman waiting in the dark hallway in her robe and nightgown, arms crossed under her breasts, feet bare. Jasper slowed his steps as he drew near—stunned. He’d never particularly found women’s night attire provocative, but tonight he was forced to change his mind.

With her hair down, tumbled about her shoulders, and her bare toes peeking out from under her garments, Sophie Regina Radcliffe had turned into a siren.

He coughed into his fist, disconcerted by that discovery. “Radcliffe. You should be in bed,” he said, but it came out as a growl of demand as he pictured her in his.

She put her hands on her hips, scowling. “What were you thinking?”

“I beg your pardon.”

“Those girls downstairs are from the local village.”

“So?”

“Do you not think they will tell everyone that Ravenswood has become a brothel?”

“It’s not a brothel and it wouldn’t be the first time scandal took place here, either. My father…”

“Your father is gone, and it’s your reputation you should worry about. You hired young women to provide unlimited sex for your drunken friends. In London, or anywhere at all, this would be termed a pleasure house, but you seem to have not the faintest idea of how to go about it.”

Jasper scowled. “The women were convenient.”

“There are other women better suited to the party this could have been,” she complained.

He scoffed. “What would a governess know about the comforts men expect at a house party?”