Page 37 of Love and Other Disasters

“No, he has not.”

Jasper blinked. “Why would you think that?”

“Believe me, I know all about his secret London affair.”

Nash and Laura had married young and, until recently, Jasper had never doubted Nash’s fidelity to Laura. The flirtation with Sophie, if that was even true, would be forgotten now Laura was back. “Then confront him about the matter. Don’t let him get away with it.”

She glanced his way. “I thought you would have been on his side in this.”

Jasper shook his head. “My brother’s behavior has always mystified me at the best of times. But when it comes to you, I cannot fathom how he let you slip through his fingers.”

“I did not slip anywhere, Jasper. I ran.” She adjusted her grip on the reins. “I wish to see my children.”

“Of course, I’ll not bar your way into the palace.”

“I want you to bring them to me here.”

“I cannot do that, but please come inside.” And then he remembered he had guests who would see Laura and gossip about her return. He’d have to risk it. “Take tea with us in comfort. Ravenswood is your home still.”

“It never was. Bring them here and without the governess,” Laura demanded.

Jasper gaped. “She’ll never agree. Sophie is devoted to those children, and they are hardly ever out of her sight for long.”

“The nursemaid I left behind was devoted to them as well,” Laura bit out. “Delphine was more than capable of looking after the children in my absence. But as soon as I was out of the way, your father discarded a loyal woman and Nash replaced her with his tawdry bit o’muslin.”

Jasper was taken aback by her accusation against Sophie. “Delphine could no longer manage the stairs, or keep up with them. She was pensioned off with a generous amount of coin to go live with her sister. Sophie is a competent replacement.”

“How naïve do you think I am? Do you think I don’t know Nash met the current governess at a brothel?”

Jasper’s horse sensed his unease at hearing that information about Sophie’s past repeated and it pranced under him. He settled the horse quickly, but he was puzzled by his sister-in-law. Her accusations Nash meeting Sophie at a brothel, but how could she know that when he’d only just learned of it? “Sophie Radcliffe is the furthest thing from a light skirt.”

“So, he still keeps secrets from you?” Laura murmured. “Poor Jasper. Always the last to know what is going on in the family. The forgotten brother. Never told anything important until the last minute. I had hoped things might have changed for you with the passing of your father.”

Jasper blew out an exasperated breath. Laura had been his friend and neighbor before her marriage to Nash. He’d confided in her things he’d rather she’d forgotten all about. Being born third meant he’d felt slighted as a boy. Algernon and Nash had always been close and had been given the best of everything. Nash had taken Laura from him, in a way, not that they had been in any way romantic with each other. They had been friends once, but it seemed those days were a distant memory now. “I won’t be drawn into an argument with you, Laura. Stop this nonsense and come and meet Sophie yourself. You’ll see the only thing she cares about is the children’s welfare.”

“Are you in love with her?”

“Are you daft?”

“Oh, you are!” Laura laughed in his face. “No wonder you defend her so well.”

“I’ll not listen to your slander, either. Come to the palace and you’ll see your fears are for naught about Sophie.”

“In some respects, you are very much like your brother. Demanding all women to forget their principals to keep your favor.” Laura smiled tightly and leaned forward in her saddle. “Be your most persuasive with the governess. Women have been falling all over themselves to do you and your brothers bidding since you came of age. One woman should present no difficulty if, as you say, she’s not Nash’s creature. Bring me my children here in an hour.”

Laura wheeled her horse about and dashed back the way she’d come into the woods, headed in the opposite direction to her family estate. The other man nodded to him and turned to follow her more slowly. Jasper attempted to follow, but lost sight of them almost immediately when he entered the trees. They clearly knew where they were going, while he did not.

He cursed and turned about, and headed back to the open field to think. He wanted to reunite Laura with her children, but he was worried. The eldest rarely mentioned his mother. The youngest might not remember her at all. And there was also something sinister about Laura wishing him to bring them to the edge of the woods. Why not come to the palace? Nash was not even there. No one would prevent her from leaving if that was her heart’s desire.

He replayed their meeting in his head on the ride back to the stables and by the time he’d handed his horse off to the groom had decided not to tell Sophie about the encounter with Laura yet—or to give in to his sister-in-law’s request. The main reason being her accusations against Sophie. Sophie might find that upsetting.

Nash might have made Sophie’s acquaintance through a London madam, but he could not imagine Sophie entertaining countless strangers in her bed. After last night, the idea was ludicrous. Sophie might not be the woman she had first seemed, but she had held herself aloof from proceedings and not for one moment portrayed interest in any of the gentlemen who had circled her. She had only blushed for him and he’d been charmed by that.

No. Sophie was a proper lady. Nash would never have employed a whore to be a governess to his children, anyway.

Jasper hurried into the palace and immediately went looking for the children and Sophie and found them sitting in the nursery together. Isabelle was in the center of them all, on the floor, kicking her little legs into the air and gurgling about some nonsense only children could understand.

Sophie glanced up and smiled so warmly at him, he nearly tripped over his own feet. “Careful. How fares the estate today, Lord Jasper?”