Page 62 of Love and Other Disasters

Yet that was for Jasper and Lord Nash to come to an understanding about. The manner of Isabelle’s upbringing was entirely out of her control. For the moment, she assumed, the child was safely tucked away somewhere with a servant watching over.

She waited her turn to return indoors and then ushered the children upstairs and regretfully left them in the care of Kate. “I’ll return shortly. Keep them here.”

“Of course, Mrs. Radcliffe. We’ll play a game until you come back.”

“Thank you.” Sophie stepped out into the hall and closed the door.

“Sophie?” Jasper stood not far away, a worried frown on his face. “What does Nash want with you?”

“I’ve no idea, but since he asked to see only me, and not the children, I assume it is about them.” She went to move past Jasper but he called out her name softly.

She stopped. “Yes, my lord.”

“I will miss the way things have been over the summer,” he whispered, “and the time we spent alone together, too.”

Sophie would miss him as well, yet she said nothing about her feelings, because he’d had plenty of time to move what they had to a more permanent footing already. She’d known he would not offer for her in the end.

Sophie trudged downstairs with her heart heavy but resigned to resume her role as a silent observer of the family she worked for. What she had with Jasper must be over, and it could never have been enough for him, anyway. She didn’t want to imagine the looks, the outcry, should the family discover she’d been intimate with him.

She headed into the drawing room and found the chamber empty. Lord Nash was occupied still, no doubt with the duke, and settling back in after such a long absence. He was always attentive to his duties. Serious about and concerned for the estate, too. Was it any wonder his wife had felt slighted, made to feel second when his priorities lie elsewhere? There was little room left in Lord Nash’s heart or head besides his brother’s concerns. He’d none for his children. At least Jasper was better. It was clear he doted on the little girl.

“Mrs. Radcliffe,” Lord Nash exclaimed, his voice booming through the empty room as he strode in, unchanged from his arrival. “Good of you to be so prompt.”

Sophie turned and smiled at her employer. “You wanted to talk to me.”

“Indeed,” he said as he snapped closed the doors behind him.

Sophie moved toward him, and he met her halfway across the chamber. “What about?”

His lips pursed momentarily, and he looked around. “Please take a seat.”

She did and folded her hands in her lap as she waited for him to continue.

“You are no doubt aware of the state of my marriage,” he murmured, settling nearby.

Although surprised he would mention it now, she nodded quickly. “Yes, my lord.” It was nonexistent. A subject he infrequently mentioned, but every staff member whispered about the scandal of his marriage. After her discussion with Jasper though, her sympathies might lay on Laura’s side now.

“I’m sure you’ve learned from others that the estate is in something akin to disarray. The duke will marry a wealthy woman soon, but I have already done so once for the good of the family,” he admitted.

She nodded again. “I am aware of that, too.”

“Some say I am ill-suited to wedlock, but it occurs to me that my children need a mother and always will.”

Sophie’s heart leaped. “Has your wife returned to you?”

“No. It may well be that she never shall.” He burst to his feet. “It occurred to me some time ago that, given the duration my wife has been absent from our lives, it might well be time to sever the knot between us.”

Sophie blinked rapidly, utterly shocked. “You’re not considering divorce?”

“I have it on good authority that she lives and breathes. I thought perhaps she might return once she heard of my father’s demise, but that has not been the case as far as I know.”

“Oh.” Sophie gulped. He should not be talking to her about his wife like this. She’d never met the woman and could offer him no advice.

He nodded. “So, I have come to a difficult decision to seek a divorce in the new year and marry again so my children can have a mother.”

Although Sophie knew better than to believe ending a marriage could be so simple, or as swift as he made out, she nodded and forced a smile to her face. “Have you someone in mind to marry?”

“Indeed, yes.” He met her gaze. “You.”