Page 50 of Love and Other Disasters

“I don’t have to be involved at all.” She shrugged. “It would be wise to move the event from place to place, anyway. Intrigue and secrecy add to the excitement. They might even pay more, too.”

Jasper’s arm snuck back around her waist, and he pulled her close again. “You and I are of the same mind, then. Exclusivity makes a difference. You must be involved in all the planning and execution. I insist.”

She blushed in his embrace, wondering if such displays of affection between them were wise. He called them partners, but if she was a man, and this truly a business arrangement, he’d never behave in such a manner.

They stood there in companionable silence for a few moments more, listening to the indistinct sounds of the distant revelers. Judging from the occasional burst of raucous laughter, the evening was going very well. “Do you intend to stay out here all night?”

“Yes, to be sure they all leave before dawn without incident,” he replied, releasing her again.

Jasper stepped back and made so much noise that Sophie eventually turned to see what he was doing behind her back. He was leaning against a tree now, one foot propped on the trunk. The pose was as carefree as she’d ever seen him in the whole of their acquaintance.

He glanced her way. “What will you do now?”

“I don’t know. I had thought of going back in case the children need me.”

He gave her a look. “They are amply supervised.”

“Yes, but Kate is new and Isabelle has the butler but…”

“The palace servants can manage without you for one night, and perhaps the morning, too.”

Sophie turned to the distant source of light again and worried her lip. This was the longest she’d ever been away from the children. They were the only reason she was at Ravenswood.

Yet she would like to stay near the orgy, for exactly the same reason as Jasper—but to know the ladies were treated well. Men could be beastly. Sometimes there was no warning when a change would come over their temper. Even though the ladies were no doubt more accustomed to dealing with such situations, they were not in London, where a dozen footmen could be easily summoned to protect them.

She squared her shoulders, prepared to stand here all night simply for her own peace of mind. “I will stay, too.”

“I thought you might. Come over here and sit yourself down. There’s an hour or more yet before the dawn.”

Sophie turned, looking for a suitable place, and spied a log—and before it on the ground, a large wool blanket spread out and pillows. Another blanket was folded neatly on top. She was taken aback by the sight of such comforts sitting there out in the open. She’d not brought them. Jasper must have done so. “You were expecting me to stay?”

“I was expecting a chilly, uncomfortable night. Go sit down and keep warm,” he said, jamming his hands under his arms.

“Thank you,” she said and moved toward the log, keeping one eye on Jasper as she sat down alone. He seemed content to lean against the tree and made no move to join her, but he, too, would feel the chill soon. She shivered as a sudden breeze stirred the air around her face, sending a fallen tendril to tickle her nose, and thought about inviting him to sit with her.

Jasper moved then and picked up the other blanket. He unfolded it, shook it out, and moved toward her slowly. He gently wrapped the heavy blanket snugly up to her shoulders and down over her legs, making her blush. “There you go.”

When he drew back, he seemed a little embarrassed by his act of kindness and went back to his tree and his earlier pose. Sophie watched him, his handsome features softened by the flickering light of the distant torches, and dreamed an impossibility.

If she were any other woman, she might want this man to look only at her forever. But she was Sophie, a woman far, far beneath even him. An orphan and a governess. What family would ever want her to join their ranks? Certainly not a family in need of funds. Jasper would only marry a woman with money, if he ever did.

Jasper could have and do anything he wanted though. He was sought by other women, not just those seeking to meet his elder brother’s as well. He was also a man determined to distinguish himself any way he could, too. She understood what drove him. He wanted to prove he was good enough as he was.

Sophie wanted the same.

But Sophie sometimes dreamed of living another kind of life. One where she had a home, a husband, and children; where she could be with her friends, too, and be loved no matter what she did. None of that seemed likely here, where she was only a servant. Perhaps it was time to return to London and rejoin her friends. At least there she could be herself, like this, always and never have to change to fit in.

Jasper turned to her suddenly. “You know, you’re very interesting, Sophie.”

She was taken aback by the sudden remark. “Interesting?”

“If I’d said pretty, which you are, you might have hated me for saying it,” he teased.

“I would have.” Sophie drew her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around them, laughing softly. “There are far prettier women than me. They are over there, entertaining your friends.”

“Not to me right now, and that surprises me more than I ever thought it could,” he confessed. He walked away a few steps, hands under his arms. “I’m going to take a stroll around, make sure everything is in order.”

“But it’s so dark?”