Page 46 of Love and Other Disasters

“Jasper,” he whispered, correcting her. He did not enjoy women my lording him once they’d shared his bed. “A blush suits you.”

Sophie caught his eye in the mirror and she smiled shyly. “Jasper I never knew you could be so sweet.”

The softness of his name tumbling from her lips made his heart melt just a little. “The smile suits you, too.”

Jasper normally would ruthlessly quash any sentiment attached to lovemaking. Sophie had come to him for pleasure. And now it was over, she’d go on her way, as all others had. Resuming the duties of a governess and proper woman, at least on the surface.

But Jasper had her measure now. Perhaps that was why he’d been compelled to argue with her all these many months. He’d been seeking ways, poorly, perhaps, to draw her out of her shell. She had never been true to herself around him and he’d sensed that somehow. The only people she’d ever been genuine with were her friends from the brothel and those under four feet tall.

She was exceptionally good for Nash’s children, too. She cared enough about them to be herself at all times. He remembered his promise to his nephews though and sighed heavily. “In light of our unexpected guests’ arrival, I will have to postpone the ride I promised Thomas and Liam.”

“I’ll tell them.”

“No, I will tell them myself and now. I will not have you make excuses for me like you do for my brother. That is not fair.”

“Thank you,” she whispered to him, nodding.

Jasper set his fingers lightly at the base of her throat. Sophie had such soft skin, and he would like to see more of it too. “Will you come to me tonight?”

Her eyes widened, not in shock, but with a renewed glimpse of desire. Sophie’s needs would never again become neglected while she was his. She swallowed. “The children?”

“Yes, the children and our guests require entertaining.” Isabelle was in the care of Seymour still and he ought to check on her welfare soon. “Some other night, perhaps.”

He released Sophie, determined not to reveal his disappointment that it must be so.

Sophie turned to look at him though. Her gaze dipped to his groin, and a smile tugged on her lips. “Some other time, certainly. Soon.”

Jasper put an arm about her shoulders, ready but reluctant to part with her now. “I really do like you better now, Sophie Regina Radcliffe.”

He walked her to the door and peeked out first. There was no one about in the hall, so he gently propelled her from his bedchamber. He waited a few moments and then followed, heading directly to the nursery on the upper floor. Sophie was already there and surrounded by the boys. Jasper explained he could not take them out riding. They were disappointed, but Sophie promised them treats from the kitchen. They were satisfied with a compromise. Boys always thought with their stomachs.

Jasper dismissed the butler and took up his position beside Isabelle.

As Sophie passed him, she lightly tapped his backside, giggling as she tripped out the door following the children.

Jasper shook his head and grinned. Yes, he quite liked Sophie Radcliffe after all. She knew how to have fun and he would look forward to the day, the hour, when he got her alone again.

He scooped up Isabelle, despite her still being asleep. She grumbled, but immediately went back to sleep in his arms. The child was adorable indeed, and his heart swelled with happiness to have her in his life. To think he’d tried to deny any responsibility for the child. He couldn’t imagine not having her around after just a few days.

He went to the window and peered out in time to see the children sprint away to the kitchen garden. Sophie followed at a more sedate pace.

“Ah, I see I am too late,” Madam Clover said, entering the room and catching him by surprise.

He pointed to the open window with one finger. “Only just.”

The older woman drew close. “Perhaps it is for the best as it is really you I wished to speak to, anyway.”

“Oh, is there a problem?”

“Indeed, there could be.” She inhaled. “When your brother, Lord Nash, first posed the offer of employment to Sophie, I assumed—we all assumed—she would not be hidden away here the way she has been.”

“What do you mean, hidden?”

“I had expected to see her in Town again, and yet she mentions no plans to return from the countryside. And now I discover that Lord Nash has gone off for the entire summer, abandoning her here alone with his children. That was not the conditions I imagined her living under.”

“‘Tis the life of a governess, madam,” Jasper reminded her.

“Your brother hinted Sophie would become more than a governess to him.”