Page 27 of Love and Other Disasters

“Yes, I do have one,” he assured her, grimacing. “I’ll have you know if I wasn’t so taken by surprise, and knew who her mother might be, I would have accepted the blame as my due.”

“At least that is something in your favor,” she conceded. “Many so-called gentlemen do not.”

“Now, while I have you here with me and she’s quiet, I wanted to return to our discussion of last night. You had more to say on the subject of my parties, I suspect and I want to hear it now.”

Sophie didn’t feel equal to offering her advice anymore. For a foolish moment, she had forgotten her place in the grand scheme of things. He wouldn’t want her advice on how to run a proper pleasure house. He was merely dabbling in the trade. “It’s not important now.”

“No, it must have been. Otherwise, you would not have summoned me like a recalcitrant child in your care,” he said, throwing a teasing smile at her that made her skin heat with a blush.

“I should return the children to their lessons,” she told him, instead. Eager to get away. It had been an idle fancy, borne of a moment of foolishness, and nothing more needed to be said. She was better off staying out of his business. He had more important things to worry about now.

When Isabelle began to fuss, the new father rushed to pick her up, and the girl quietened immediately.

Sophie gathered up the children and went to leave, but Lord Jasper followed her into the hall. “Walk slowly and tell me when my brother’s children are beyond hearing you. Your concern for the prostitutes’ welfare was unexpected…and truly kind, by the way.”

She pursed her lips, and after a moment of debate, told him about the flaw in his plan as she saw it. “I suspect I know what this week is about.”

“Do you?”

“Every servant at the palace is aware that money had become a scarce commodity.”

Jasper pursed his own lips and nodded. “Go on.”

“You’re looking for an effortless way to replenish your funds. But to make money of the size you must need, you must understand what drives men like yourself to spend. Men like you want luxury in everything and expect to snap your fingers and have it delivered immediately.”

“You hardly know me.”

“I’ve known men like you. Rakes with means and little care for what they take from others.” She shrugged away her resentment of that attitude to focus on practical matters. “When it comes to running a profitable business, everything and everybody in it is a commodity with a short lifespan, unless it is managed well.”

“What does that mean?”

“The women you hired were already exhausted, and it was only the first night. In a pleasure house, a madam of experience would have sent each of the ladies to rest and refresh themselves several times during the night. She would never expect them to entertain all those men, all night long.”

“Well, of course not.” Lord Jasper asked, stopping suddenly in the hall. “That is obvious, now I consider it further. But how do you know so much about the workings of a pleasure house?”

Sophie held his stare and chose not to answer that immediately. “You must think on a different scale. Hosting a party in a large and opulent home might have been a simple decision for you, but such a vast setting is problematic. It is too easy to lose control of proceedings. The pair on the stairs making love last night, for example.”

“Seymour mentioned them,” Jasper confirmed.

“The gentleman was drunk and held a lit candle?”

Jasper reeled back. “No!”

“You could lose everything through carelessness like that. They could have pitched down the stairs or over the railing and died or been severely injured. Every guest needs to be controlled.”

“I did try, but I was called away to the stables,” Jasper complained. “These fellows are used to having their own way.”

“One man is not enough to control the dozen you have here, if they are allowed to roam. You cannot be everywhere at once, which is why you need the right sort of help.”

Jasper wet his lips. “All right. Let’s say I agree with your criticism that setting a party here was not my brightest idea. How do I fix that now?”

“You need a madam. A strong woman to keep an eye on all amorous proceedings, protect her ladies from misuse, and collect the funds to share from each tryst. That leaves you and your second—a dedicated servant would be best—free to mingle and encourage the gambling. Makes sure no one wanders away. At the end of the night, the combined profit should be greatly increased over last night.”

“Seymour has been run off his feet helping me already. And what makes you think I can just snap my fingers and a madam will appear?”

Sophie turned away. “It’s just a thought I had. A foolish one.”

Jasper hauled her back. “You may as well tell me the rest now, or I will hound you until you do.”