Page 29 of Love and Other Disasters

“I should go,” she whispered, and turned toward the children’s room, perhaps keen to forget his problems and his kisses. Jasper certainly wouldn’t allow the latter for long. He stewed over the fundamental problem—how to control a roomful of rakes—and came to a swift and startling realization. He needed Sophie.

Jasper could do this alone, but he didn’t want to.

“If I follow your advice, I will need your help and I will pay you well for it,” Lord Jasper called out softly. “With Isabelle, as well. Something for something. Everyone wins. What do you say? Partners?”

Sophie glanced back at him and seemed confused by his suggestion. “Partners?”

“I could not offer you any less since you risk your position to help me,” he said. She should be outrageously flattered by his offer. He was wicked, a rake, but not unfeeling or selfish.

Jasper hardly ever cared about other people’s opinions or his own reputation. But he suddenly cared about Sophie’s. If she lost her position for helping him, she would not be sent away empty-handed. She would have money from his own pocket to support herself and a letter of recommendation from him, if that at all helped her. He was a father now. He could say she’d been his daughter’s governess and write her a glowing character reference.

He glanced down at the child and smiled. “If my brother were to dismiss you, Isabelle still requires a governess, don’t forget.”

Sophie returned to him. “I’m not sure I could work for you.”

“I could promise a vastly more pleasurable situation with me if you ever wanted it. You can arrange things to suit your own rules rather than my brother’s. That must be a chore. You know more about the raising of a child than I ever could, and I would defer to your opinion, I’m sure. And when you’re done with the child, there’ll always be me to spend your evenings with.”

Her brows shot up. “Such a rake.”

“Always a rake,” he answered. “But I do have some other sterling qualities.”

“Such as?” Sophie asked as she tickled Isabelle’s cheek.

“Loyalty,” he promised sincerely. “I would treat my partner, my governess, very well indeed.”

She swallowed and looked away, seemingly not at all accustomed to flirtation or the thought of a future with him.

“We can discuss this in greater detail later if you like,” he said.

“After the party,” she whispered.

“Yes,” he promised. The matter of them kissing could wait. Sophie wasn’t going anywhere until the party was over, anyway. “What do you need from me? I assume you mean to begin immediately.”

Sophie wet her lips and then met his gaze. “I need to speak with the ladies you hired. Then you need to speak to Seymour and the footmen about why I’m there. They need to understand they must follow the madam’s orders and not question me in front of the guests.”

“I can do that,” he promised. He looked her over. Sophie’s attire was utterly suitable for the nursery, but not for a scandalous house party. She looked like no madam he’d ever met. Would any of his guests believe she was one? “What are you going to wear to my party?”

Her smile burst over her face. “Something entirely appropriate for presiding over wickedness, I promise you that. I will need a mask, though.”

He nodded, wondering if one was possible to find. The only women’s clothes he’d seen about belonged to the ones wearing them. “I can loan you my own mask. I doubt my sister-in-law left many articles of clothing behind when she left.”

“Lady Win?”

“No, Lady Laura Sweet.”

“Oh,” she said, wincing. “I ought not to wear something of hers. Yours will have to be good enough.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Very well then.” He delayed a moment more. “Are you certain about this, Sophie?”

“You need me,” she asserted. “Here, give Isabelle to me for the day. You need a shave and you’ve responsibilities with the guests and the estate. Ask Seymour to send the maid Kate to me at three o’clock and I can begin my preparations for the evening ahead.”

He nodded, burning with curiosity about what those preparations would entail, but gladly handed Isabelle over to her, knowing she’d be treated so well she might never want him to take her back. But he would take the child back. Isabelle was his responsibility for now.

Jasper leaned toward Sophie and dropped a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Thank you.”