Page 70 of Love and Other Disasters

Jasper dropped his head to touch hers, and Sophie found herself in his arms at last. “Did the idea that you could be a mother to my nephews tempt you at all?”

“No.” She looked at him sharply. “Did you think it would?”

He smiled. “I hoped not. I had hoped you might prefer me, but rakes are universally considered lesser to supposedly proper men like my older brother.”

“You’re better than him in so many ways I cannot count them all.” She laughed softly and kissed his cheek. “You took the time to know me. He never did.”

Jasper held her hand tightly in his, and then kissed all her fingertips. “I hope I might be given a chance to know you even better one day. To prove I will always listen and consider your feelings.”

“I’d like that, but something must be done about Nash and Laura today I’m afraid. We can’t live under the threat of her stealing away her children when there is no reason for her to do so.” She turned her gaze on him. “We need to find her and clear the air about me.”

“How the devil do you propose we do that?”

She smiled at him and rushed away to snatch up her shawl. “I’ll need your help and a proper introduction. Children we are going outside.”

“But it’s almost time for a story?” Thomas complained.

She moved to Thomas and ruffled his hair. “My dear boy, sometimes it’s necessary to set your father’s schedule aside.”

Jasper followed her across the room and caught her hand. “I would be happy to accompany you, but not quite this very minute if you don’t mind. There’s something else I have to tell you.”

“Yes?”

“Are you aware that Madam Clover plans to leave you the entirety of her fortune?”

Sophie frowned. “She mentioned something about leaving me some money once, before I came here to be a governess, but she’s not mentioned it since. Why? How do you know about that, anyway?”

“Nash knew about the inheritance,” Jasper whispered. “And he led Madam Clover to believe that he would marry you to see her wishes carried out.”

“What wishes?”

“The continuation of her business,” he said. “The care of her ladies. She’s leaving it all to you.”

Sophie shook her head. “I highly doubt your brother would have any interest in running a pleasure house.”

“So do I,” Jasper agreed. “And I suspect he never would have done it. But she believed you would make sure her ladies were cared for when she was gone, and I think that a fine idea.”

“I would be honored to carry on her work,” she promised, and narrowed her eyes suddenly. “Nash knew about my inheritance, you say?”

“Yes.”

“Why that bounder.”

“Well, that’s far kinder than what I wanted to call him today,” Jasper said. “I pilfered these from my brother’s chamber just now. I found them stuffed into the back of a drawer. They are yours and open. I was not the one who did that.”

Sophie took them from him, recognizing the items at once. “My letters! Her letters! Madam Clovers.”

Jasper scowled. “Yes, it seems my brother did not care for you to keep the acquaintance of a madam after all and failed to mention that fact to anyone involved.”

Sophie took them to the window and sorted through them. A half dozen letters she’d written to Madam Clover was here. And more of Madam Clover’s letters, besides, including one that was very thick and looked to be important. She unfolded all the letters and scanned them quickly.

She nearly cried at the contents of the thickest one. “This is about her last will and testament, naming me as sole heir.”

“Congratulations,” he murmured.

Sophie stomped her foot, trying not to weep over the matter. “She might have said something while she was here! I don’t deserve this.”

“Madam Clover believes in you, as do I Sophie. She told me to take care of you. She knew, suspected, my brother was using you ill and tasked me to fix things. Life is short, Sophie. You should be with people who care about you, not someone who will ignore your needs.”