Page 52 of Love and Other Disasters

“Mine too.”

He offered his arm. “Shall we?”

Her arm wound through his, and her cheeks dimpled with a smile. “Yes, indeed. The children will be waking soon.”

“Not too soon, I hope,” he murmured. “You do need some rest.”

As soon as the children were up and running around, he would also lose any chance of talking to Sophie again that day. He’d always known their time together would be short because of the children, but it did irritate him now and then.

Because the grass was longish and damp with dew on the journey back, Sophie had to let him go to hike up her skirts to keep the bottom dry for a few yards. Jasper couldn’t help but steal a peek at her legs as they strolled along back to the manor at a leisurely pace.

He wanted to know Sophie better, see more of her than anyone else had. Without his brothers around, or the children taking precedence. He could not be himself, teasing or tempting Sophie in front of witnesses. But he did not want her to feel ashamed by their affair, such as it was, or pretend it had never happened. His own conscience was blessedly silent on the subject of getting too close and personal with his brother’s employee. She’d made it clear that she understood his intentions.

“Where do you come from?” he asked again, reaching for her hand when he could. “I know Nash employed you while in Mayfair, but is that where you are from?”

“No,” she said and looked away. “I was born far from there.”

He smiled at her answer. “Again, no specifics, Sophie Regina Radcliffe?”

Her lips were turned up in an impish smile when she faced him again and curled her arm through his. “I knew the lack of detail would annoy you.”

He grinned and patted her hand where it rested on his arm. “Are we not beyond annoying each other now, Sophie dear?”

She turned narrowed eyes on him, but she was fighting a smile. “I don’t know. Are we?”

“I swear I mean you no ill. In fact, my mind is awhirl with ideas that ensures my brother keeps you on long after the boys need mothering.”

“Why would you do that? I’ve always known I would have to seek a new position when they were gone.”

“But I still need you. We are partners, are we not?”

“Not really. Madam likes you, and enjoyed making money with you. She will not stop the arrangement simply because I go to another position or return to London.”

“London?”

She shrugged. “I really missed my friends. If I stay here, I might never see them again. Madam Clover is getting older. I don’t want to be trapped here when she might need me most.”

Trapped? He frowned and walked on beside Sophie in silence. Mulling over her words. He did not want Sophie to go away and for him never to see her again. The orgy, and his introduction to Madam Clover, would never have happened without her. His success, and the money in his pockets tonight, was entirely because of her insights and valuable connections. And he wanted to continue to be as successful as this in all his ventures. “I want you here, too. Stay and I’ll keep you busy and make you rich. I’ll make sure you see your friends as well. I would never keep you trapped here?”

“Lord Nash promised that, too.” Her hand slipped from his arm, and she stopped and faced him. “Helping you was never about making money for myself.”

He turned to look at her, utterly surprised. “But you said—”

“I know what I said. It seemed the only way you would let me be involved.”

“Why would you go to such lengths for no benefit?”

“Sentiment. Your family has been kind to me, and you needed the money,” she told him. “More important than that, I wanted you to succeed, to prove I was not against you. Your pride might not have allowed my help when there seemed no reason for it.”

Jasper felt a rush of gratitude sweep over him. He didn’t know what to say for a moment—but then he pulled Sophie into his arms and held her head tight against his chest. “Thank you.”

Sophie allowed his embrace a moment, then pushed him back. “You’re welcome, Jasper.”

Jasper caught her face in his hand and tilted it up to his. Sophie Radcliffe was a remarkable woman indeed, and she had become dear to him. “Clever and generous to one who surely did not deserve your help. What can I do to repay you? Name it and it’s yours.”

“I don’t need or want anything from you, Jasper. I never have.”

He brushed his thumb across her cheek, rediscovering her skin’s soft and intriguing warmth. Those petty irritations that had kept them sniping at each other for months were long gone now, and in their place was a warm friendship that he never wanted to end.