Page 68 of Love and Other Disasters

Nash’s eyes snapped to his. “What do you mean?”

“You were not unfaithful because the woman was Laura.” He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly in the profound silence that followed his statement. The duke looked utterly shocked and Nash turned pale. He’d obviously had no idea about Laura or the pregnancy. “Laura had a child, a daughter, named Isabelle. The girl was delivered to the palace during your absence.”

Nash collapsed to the floor, completely missing the seat of a chair, and the duke rushed to pull him up again in vain, calling his name.

But Nash could only shake his head. “It cannot be true.”

Jasper stopped beside Nash, and pitied him for the first time in his entire life. “You will rethink your plans for divorce, brother. Laura will come home soon and you will have your family back though you’ve done nothing to deserve such a boon,” Jasper hissed. “If you’ll excuse me, your grace, there’s something I need to look for.”

Chapter Twenty

“There you are,” Jasper said, smiling broadly as he strode into the nursery.

Sophie straightened her spine and turned away from him. Today was not the day to deal with her favorite rake. Her mind was too much in a whirl to make any sense of her emotions. She could hardly concentrate on what the children were saying to her half the time since her meeting with their father.

She’d had a proposal from a man she did not love, and the one she did care for would never offer one instead. It was ridiculous to feel happy just for having Jasper near on such a troubling day.

He moved to stand at her side, watching the boys play their games together across the room with Isabelle. His presence made her feel less alone. But she pressed her lips together, fighting the longing to turn toward him, to have his arms wrapped about her body again. He made her feel good about herself without even trying.

And it was not easy to deal with her emotions when he was standing just inches away and yet so far out of reach.

He turned her around to face him. “My brothers will be busy for some time, and I’m afraid I have some news that might distress you.”

Sophie nodded, glad that Lord Nash would be busy elsewhere. She would have a little more time alone with the children before she must say goodbye to everyone.

She had decided to leave. To return to London and her friends, who she missed desperately. She did not have to be a governess, or a proper lady if she didn’t want to. Madam Clover had appreciated her company and work. It might not be respectable, but it was honest work and she was needed at the pleasure house, too.

“My brother told us about his intention to divorce Laura and marry you,” Jasper told her bluntly.

Her face grew hot with embarrassment and she peeked at Jasper from the corner of her eye, frozen and uncertain of what to say. Lord Nash had told Jasper, and the duke, even though she’d denied him once already? Of course, he had. He never listened. “Oh.”

Jasper moved to stand in front of her, blocking her from the children’s view. “I love my brother. But he is the complete opposite of me. Once he sets his mind to something, it’s impossible to change it.”

Sophie hugged her chest. “You are alike in that.”

“I would like to believe I learn from my mistakes,” Jasper told her. “I have changed because of you. Getting to know Sophie Regina Radcliffe was not a mistake. We are alike. I had hoped we might remain close in the years to come, and we will, no matter what you decide about my brother.”

Sophie turned her face away. She was in love with Jasper, and he didn’t even know. “Friends?”

“Partners,” he corrected. “Partners who put their trust in each other. Look out for each other’s best interests. I’m going to trust you now with a truth my brother knows only half of yet.”

She turned to face him, unable to hide her dread. “What is this great truth you share?”

He drew closer to whisper, “Laura has visited Ravenswood Palace. Just after Nash left, she found me out riding and demanded to see her children. I tried to bring her to Ravenswood, but she refused to come, and then, later, she tried to abduct her sons.”

Sophie met his gaze, shocked. “Was that why Thomas went off alone?”

“Yes. She was not successful then, or since,” Jasper whispered, capturing Sophie’s hand and holding it tightly against his chest. “Thomas had almost reached her when I caught up with him the other day, and then she disappeared into the woods. He only saw her from a distance. I don’t believe Thomas recognized her, but his curiosity remains strong.”

At that very moment, Thomas left his brother and Isabelle and drifted toward the windows.

“He’s looking out the windows more often, isn’t he? I do the same thing.”

“Yes, but I never imagined…” Sophie went to Thomas and suggested he show Isabelle his toy soldiers. She glanced out the windows now, herself. She’d wanted to meet Lady Laura Sweet for so long, but never imagined she’d already come home. She returned to Jasper. “Will she come back soon, do you think?”

“I believe so,” Jasper warned. “We have something she wants. Her children. But she’s like the wind. Swift and fleeting, not to mention as stubborn as Nash. Distrustful and bitter. I think she fears this place and my family.”

Sophie closed her eyes. The poor woman. “Why did you not tell me you saw her before now?”