Page 35 of Love and Other Disasters

“Another time, perhaps,” she murmured. “It is imperative I continue to speak with Lord Jasper right now. I’m sure you understand.”

“Until later, then,” Threadwell said, kissing her hand again and letting his fingers draw slowly along her palm before he took himself off to where the other ladies were holding court.

She glanced back at Jasper and laughed. “Do you have any friends who are not rakes?”

“Probably not,” he warned in a low tone, gaze dipping to her breasts briefly. “Perhaps this was a bad idea.”

Sophie linked her arm through his. “Nonsense. I am alert to all the tricks a rake uses to charm a lady into his bed. They are obvious, after all.”

“What tricks?”

“The fingertips tickling my palm,” she said, but Jasper looked baffled. “Oh, do you not use that one? Here, let me show you.”

She reached for his hand the way Threadwell had done and slowly drew her fingers across his palm.

Jasper’s spine straightened, and he turned to glare at Threadwell’s retreating form. “Devil take it! He was attempting to seduce you right before my eyes and he already has a mistress.”

“He’s a rake. Seduction is all you all think about.”

“True, but tomorrow, you and I are going to discuss what other tricks rakes have used on you,” Jasper warned, turning for a moment into her protector and would-be champion.

“Why?”

“So I never try them on you myself,” he said with a soft chuckle. “You won’t fall for any of them, so I may as well not bother.”

Sophie laughed, caught up in the night’s excitement already. “I like you more now, you know.”

“And I like you, too, and the dress as well,” he said, eyes dipping to her breasts again. “I’d like nothing more than to peel you out of it with my teeth right now but we have guests to entertain.”

“Indeed we do,” Sophie murmured, fighting a blush as Jasper led her deeper into the drawing room with one hand firmly settled at the small of her back. She looked about the chamber, noticing the changes. “The chair’s gone.”

“What chair?”

“The chair we squabbled over last time we were in this room together. Your favorite chair.”

“It was damaged last night,” he said sourly.

She sighed. “I will miss that chair.”

“When it is repaired, you can sit on my lap rather than me on yours,” he offered, and then began the lengthy process of introducing her as the madam to everyone.

They parted ways not long after and for the next several hours, Sophie collected payments, chaperoned the couples to and from rooms for lovemaking, and made sure the women, if not satisfied, were well afterward.

The largest guest haggled heatedly for the privilege of bedding the youngest whore, but it was clear she was not in favor of the match. Knowing he would be more trouble than she could handle alone, Sophie stretched up and rubbed the back of her neck.

The man was staring at Sophie’s breasts as Giselle smoothly stepped up to his other side and kissed his cheek. Sophie sent the younger woman away to rest with a discreet flick of her hand without the fellow noticing she’d even done so. Giselle stretched up as he stared at her breasts, too, and Sophie could slip away from the pair, knowing she’d be replaced by another lady soon. The fellow was in expert hands. Giselle knew how to conduct her business well.

Sophie headed to the gambling table to see how Lord Jasper was faring. He looked to have won more often than not. In fact, his game seemed to be near its conclusion.

She leaned over his shoulder boldly and picked up a coin from the center of the table to admire, even though some protested. Then, just as carelessly, let it slip from her fingers back to its spot on the table’s surface.

However, in leaning over the table the way she had, she’d offered Jasper’s opponents a glimpse of her breasts too. Those men now tracked her movement round the table, and she let her fingers drag over their shoulders as she went round. Madam Clover had done that often when a distraction was needed during heated games of chance. It was a way to cool tempers. She paused behind Jasper, briefly resting her hand on his shoulder, and then turned away, swaying her hips more than she ordinarily might as she left the table behind.

It was just like being back in London, and yet she’d never been brave enough to do all she’d done tonight at the pleasure house. But she’d done it for Jasper. A rake who made her forget the last one. She did not understand how that could be good for her heart. For now, she had a role to play in making his evening the success it should be.

Someone grabbed her hand, and when she looked, it was Jasper by her side again. He scowled at her suddenly. “Lean over my shoulder like that again and you’ll start a riot.”

“But did you win?”