Page 67 of Love and Other Disasters

Jasper’s heart stopped beating. “Difficulties?”

“She could have died if I’d not been there,” Nash murmured. “She lost a child.”

Jasper was appalled to hear that. Was it any wonder Sophie could not speak of such a past? Nash should have held his tongue. He had no respect at all for Sophie or her privacy.

Jasper was different from Nash in one essential respect. When it came to Sophie, there was nothing he wouldn’t do to protect her and her reputation—even from his own brothers.

They were partners, or had been until guilt had gotten in the way of their friendship, romance, whatever it should be called. He deeply regretted what had happened to her and would change things if he could. If Nash had asked her to marry him today, she hadn’t looked happy about it at all. For all Nash’s certainty, Jasper could not believe Sophie would ever agree to such a cold match. The pair had nothing in common.

He stared at his brother…and realized the tiny fact Nash had forgotten to mention about his choice. Sophie would inherit all of Madam Clover’s money and a thriving pleasure house one day, when she passed away.

He would pretend not to know any of that for now. “Why would you choose to marry a penniless orphan?”

“I trust her,” Nash murmured, looking slightly unconvincing.

Yes, Sophie could be trusted, but that wasn’t the only reason Nash had picked her. Nash would marry Sophie for her eventual inheritance, too, and say nothing about it to anyone.

Jasper turned away, disgusted with his brother. He’d learned nothing since marrying Laura for the same reason. Jasper could not allow such a match to take place. He would not let Sophie commit her future to his brother’s cold keeping.

Sophie should not live out her days in chaste misery when she didn’t have to. She was much too passionate in nature for that fate.

Nash sighed. “She is the woman I want, brother. I brought her to be my children’s governess and I like her. With her education and affectionate nature, she’s perfectly fond of the children.”

“So is Seymour,” Jasper bit out, “and he would not require a ring should you ask him to watch over the children.”

The duke smothered a laugh.

Jasper put his hands on his hips. “So why Sophie Radcliffe when any woman would do?”

“You’ve made no secret of your dislike for her, Jasper,” the duke noted. “I imagine that’s why you cannot understand his decision. I admit, I’m struggling, too.”

“Anyone can care for the boys,” Jasper threw out. He wanted to give his brother one last chance. “But Nash, to marry a woman in your employ when the children will leave for proper schooling so soon? Why her, brother? Why now?”

“The offer has been made,” Nash said as if that were final.

And to his mind, it probably was. Nash was stubborn, inflexible in his opinions, and his decision today was cruel to Sophie. He would not change his mind about her, now that he’d told them all what he’d decided. He had to give his brother reason to doubt himself. “Brother, tell me, when was the last time you attended a masquerade in London?”

“Really, Jasper,” the duke cut in. “What does that matter now?”

“Oh, it matters.” He caught Nash’s eye. “Well?”

Although taken aback, Nash answered. “Last year, end of the season.”

“Were you with a woman that night?”

Nash shuffled his feet. “Why do you ask that?”

“Answer the question. Were you ever unfaithful to Laura during your marriage?”

“Jasper?” the duke said quietly, “that is none of our…”

“Oh, but it will be, I suspect.” He kept his gaze on Nash. “Were you with someone that night?”

“I might have been,” he murmured, looking decidedly uncomfortable. “I was drinking a lot last year and my recollection of that night is hazy. I am ashamed of that.”

“So you should be,” Ravenswood cried out. “You swore to me there’d been no other woman in your life besides your wife. So much for your supposedly high morals. Taking me to task for keeping a mistress when I’ve no chance to marry her at all.”

Jasper nodded, but his heart was heavy. Isabelle was not his daughter after all. She belonged to someone else. A man, his brother, that might never love her the way Jasper already did. “Rejoice brother. I am confident you were not unfaithful to your vows that night.”