Page 56 of Love and Other Disasters

On her return to the front hall, she felt a breath of air stir across her cheek and turned about, looking for the source. A breeze seemed to come from the morning room. The only room she had forgotten to check.

Sophie rushed in, calling out the boys’ names again, and found a door to the rear lawn standing open.

Liam was outside the palace, and he was alone.

She rushed out and turned him to face her. “Liam! What are you doing? Where is your brother?”

“He went out.”

“Out?”

Liam nodded solemnly and pointed to the estate grounds. “I told him to wait for your permission. Where were you?”

“I was in my room, dearest,” she lied, smoothing his hair mostly to calm herself because she was truly frightened now.

“I couldn’t find you and Thomas wouldn’t wait.” Liam sobbed suddenly, and he turned into her skirts. Although he was a big boy, Sophie picked him up and held him tight in her arms, but her stomach sank with dread. She’d been with Jasper when the boys must have come looking for her. But how long ago had that been?

“I’m here now. Hold tight to me.”

Sophie glanced desperately around the gardens, looking for signs of Thomas, and then set out, carrying Liam. But after a few yards, she realized there was no way to know which way the other boy had gone. The dew was long gone from the grass, leaving no sign of anyone’s passage. There seemed no gardeners about either, who might have seen a solitary child pass them by. She glanced over her shoulder as she heard someone come up behind her.

Jasper had followed, and he held Isabelle. “I’m having the palace searched again, but I see you’ve found one of them.”

“Yes. Liam wanted to wait for me, but Thomas has gone out there somewhere. He wouldn’t wait. Oh, Jasper. I’m so worried!”

Jasper’s arm snuck around her back. “I know. He shouldn’t be out there alone.”

Sophie stepped out of his embrace. “It’s all my fault.”

Jasper drew closer again.

“I have to find him.” She put Liam back on his feet. “Can you take Liam back to the nursery maid, my lord?”

Liam wrapped his arms about her skirts tightly and held fast to her, even as Lord Jasper caught her arm to prevent her from going off alone. “No, Sophie. You take Liam and Isabelle back to the nursery, and I will find Thomas and bring him back to you. I will have a few words to say to him about his behavior first, though.”

Sophie worried her lip, but she could see Jasper was annoyed by his nephew’s behavior. “Are you sure I shouldn’t go with you? He is my responsibility.”

“We’re in this together—partners, remember? This morning is as much my fault as yours,” Jasper whispered grimly, and then he brushed his fingers across her cheek. A sweet, affectionate gesture that touched her deeply. He nodded. “I think I have an idea of where he’s gone.”

“Where? He’s never done this before to me and he has no special place on the estate that I know of.”

Jasper winked. “‘Tis a secret between us men in the family. Never fear, I will have him back to you shortly.”

And with that, he passed Isabelle into her arms, kissed her brow, patted Liam on the head and ran off, coat flapping as he sprinted through the garden and disappeared out of sight.

Sophie considered swooning and then soundly rebuked herself for reading too much into his kiss goodbye. If she hadn’t given in and gone to Jasper this morning, the boys would never have left the nursery without her.

She would be relieved when Thomas was recovered and everything could return to the way it used to be. While she was here at Ravenswood, she belonged in the nursery. With the children every single moment. That meant not sharing kisses or pleasures with the rake in residence. Helping him with his schemes, while fulfilling, had to stop, as well. She would have to spurn Jasper, although that thought brought her no happiness.

She had become complacent. Relied upon others in a way she’d not experienced since her time with Madam Clover.

Sophie stood there a moment longer. Torn. She wanted to find Thomas herself, but Jasper was much quicker on his feet. And he did say he had an idea of where to find the boy while she had none at all.

She soothed Isabelle as the child seemed to realize her papa had gone off without her. Sophie caught up Liam’s hand and led him back to the palace. She turned before entering, to look out over the gardens one last time. If anything happened to Thomas, she’d never forgive herself.

Reluctantly, she went inside and shut the terrace door to keep the chilly breeze out. She glanced down at Liam, who was wearing a frown still. “We had better get back upstairs.”

“Is Thomas in trouble?”