Page 21 of Love and Other Disasters

She shook her head. “The sensible decision would have been to invite a London madam to supply a better class of companion.”

Jasper shuffled his feet because that was what he would have preferred to do, money permitting. “A London Madam would require payment up front and time to prepare. Time I did not have to spare.”

She pulled a face. “Thankfully, you can easily explain away a singular event if this comes to your elder brother’s attention, but if you plan to make this a regular occurrence, and I suspect you have that in mind, you cannot have those women back at Ravenswood. They have no protection, no one to look out for their welfare either. One could have died tonight, along with an idiotic drunkard who decided the staircase was a perfect place to make love. He shouldn’t be here.”

Jasper bristled. “Who are you to lecture me about the company I keep?”

“I’m not. I’m…” She bit her lip. “The fellow said he only came to discuss a matter of business with Ravenswood.”

Jasper only just stopped himself from swearing out loud at the revelation. “Who was this man?”

“I don’t know his name,” Sophie whispered. “Blue coat, silver cravat pin. Tall.”

“Northcote.” Jasper ground his teeth, exasperated by his friends’ duplicity. He’d hid his motives for attending Jasper’s party very well. Northcote was ambitious. He rubbed his jaw. “It would be a feather in his cap, a boost to his political aspirations, to be known to consort with the Duke of Ravenswood.”

But thanks to Sophie, Northcote would not receive further invitations from Jasper or a second chance. No one ever used him twice.

Sophie’s hand twitched toward him but she let it drop. “I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, my lord. I just thought you should know what he said.”

Jasper studied Sophie again. She’d wanted to comfort him. He ought to thank her for the warning about Northcote and did. “Was that all you wanted to speak with me about?”

“No, my lord. About the drunkenness.”

“Yes, yes. I know.” He waved the matter away. “Seymour will water the wine for the remainder of the party. I will ensure the misadventure to the upper floors does not happen again, too.”

“Watering the wine will not be enough.”

He’d noticed a few of the men indulging a little too freely from the wine cellar and the women before he’d been called away to the stables. If he wanted to continue his enterprise in the future, he would need to make changes…and perhaps some new friends, too. However, the last person he’d ever expected to point that out was a supposedly prim governess.

“I suppose you think I should send them all home?”

“Then you assume wrong, my lord. I think you need my help.”

He couldn’t help it. He laughed. Mrs. Radcliffe could have no knowledge of how to maintain order at a scandalous house party. All she could do is glare at a man. “I think I can manage the party without your interference.”

“I don’t mean to interfere but to help you and ensure those women remain safe.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I have an acquaintance in London who might be interested in your future amusements,” she said, and then cocked her head to one side, watching for his reaction.

“Who?”

“I can write to her tomorrow and arrange a meeting,” Sophie promised, wetting her lips. “Madam Clover understands the trade intimately and is the soul of discretion.”

Jasper gaped. “How the devil do you know Madam Clover? She runs the most scandalous pleasure house in all of London.”

Her gaze lowered slightly. “No one begins their life as a governess, my lord. It’s not important how I met her, only that I can help you.”

He drew back, baffled and in shock. Madam Clover’s Violet Gardens Pleasure House was the preserve of the richest gentlemen and was expensive. Jasper had never had the pleasure, but he’d heard stories of what went on there.

And Sophie Radcliffe claimed to know the madam well enough to arrange an introduction.

He’d never known her to lie. A proper woman would never have mentioned such a connection unless she was forced. Why would Sophie tell him this now? What did she want from him?

He decided to play along, find out if she could be making a jest of the connection and see what she had to say. That did not mean he would believe her. He would make up his own mind, as ever. “What do you believe my party lacks that Madam Clover could offer?”

“Control.”