Page 59 of Love and Other Disasters

“I hope so.” Seymour worried his lower lip. “It isn’t right to punish the boy if he went to his own mother.”

“My sentiments exactly,” Jasper said, and straightened. “Alert the gardeners and the household staff. I cannot risk losing the children before my brother comes back.”

“Agreed.” The butler stood. “Perhaps it would be prudent to write to Lord Nash and beg his premature return from the house party.”

“I’d already planned to once my temper cooled a bit. I’ll write him and he can deal with his family himself.”

Jasper would write to the duke as well. Ravenswood would be alarmed by any attempted abduction. He sat himself down at his desk and scratched out a note for his brother, and another for the duke, and gave them to the hovering butler. However, given the time it would take for the note to reach them, he could not expect any response for weeks.

And notes could go astray.

The missing correspondence between Sophie and Madam Clover was very much on his mind. Months of missing letters were unusual and smacked of interference. He would do a little more snooping about when he had the time to spare.

Now, though, he would have to keep a close eye on the children. Spend more time with Isabelle and make sure the governess never left them alone. That meant he could not lure her back to his bed. Not until his brother returned to take charge of his family. Jasper had to keep the situation contained for now. But he hated the idea of it, and of keeping Sophie at arm’s length, too.

He stood and tugged down his waistcoat. Starting today, he was going to become the most constant uncle that had ever existed.

Jasper heard steps as he glanced at the clock on the mantel and smiled tightly. He knew the children’s schedule by heart now. He knew exactly where they’d be every single day, and when.

He could always find Sophie. He would not be deprived of her company.

Jasper strolled out to meet them in the long gallery. Sophie appeared startled to see him and dipped a curtsy. “My lord.”

He bowed in return. “Radcliffe. How do you do?”

She rose, a frown of confusion on her face. “Very well, thank you.”

He turned aside, nodded to his nephews. They were on the floor around Isabelle and even from here, he could tell a bond existed between them. It surprised him that Sophie hadn’t considered the possibility that the child might just belong to Nash instead of himself. But the note had suggested he was the father, and he had no way to prove otherwise yet. Jasper would carry on until Isabelle’s parentage was confirmed by Laura or Nash.

He glanced out the window.

To have that conversation with his sister-in-law would require her to return. He wasn’t sure where she was staying, but it couldn’t be very far away. Most likely, she was at her family’s old estate, or with old friends. Yet her family had moved away soon after the marriage. He should have gone round to see if she was there already, but he’d had guests that required his attention.

And so had Isabelle, too.

He glanced down at the babe. As far as children went, he’d not be upset to learn Isabelle was still his. But the question of her future would have to wait until his brothers’ return to the estate. The sudden appearance of a surprise daughter would stir up gossip Ravenswood might not like. They might have to take her and Laura away from the estate for a while, away from Sophie, unless they took her with them.

He faced Sophie. “What games are afoot today?”

“We haven’t decided.” She crossed her arms over her chest, drawing a little away from him. But she whispered, “Thomas is very cross with me.”

He shrugged. “That is to be expected of anyone when their will has been crossed.”

She wet her lips. “What are you doing here?”

“Seeking Isabelle. I thought I might take her out on the lawn with me.”

The governess frowned. “I cannot stop you.”

“You could if you tried,” he teased. He strolled down the hall and went to the cupboard. He knew few games that might appeal to a child so young. But he found a ball…a bowl that she could roll about with her hands. Something easy would be best. He scooped up Isabelle, threw a smile at Sophie and whispered, “Join us if you care to.”

From the lawn, he could watch the grounds for signs of Laura lurking about. She might still be close. The children might lure her back.

It took all of ten minutes for Sophie to emerge from the long gallery, followed by two boys, one of which looked very uncertain about his welcome. Sophie, too, looked worried about joining him, so he gestured them to come closer. “What kept you?”

The trio stopped nearby, and the children fell to the ground near Isabelle again, attempting to teach her how to share the ball with them.

Thomas glanced his way. “We wanted to join you.”