Page 69 of Love and Other Disasters

“I was not sure how you would feel about her. She had abandoned her children. I also didn’t want you to worry about her trying to steal the children away from you. Together, we have kept them safe, but you need to know she distrusts you without even knowing you. She has learned where Nash met you, and Nash retired the last governess, her choice to watch over her children, against her wishes. She is suspicious of you. She suspects you and Nash have grown too close to be respectable.”

Sophie grimaced. She would have to set the woman straight herself. Sophie would have encouraged the woman to reunite with her children, had she known she was near. But Sophie could understand Jasper’s fears about a second abduction attempt, too, and did not blame him for keeping that quiet.

As much as she wished for a reunion, Sophie would not have allowed the children to be taken from their father while he was gone from the estate. She would have tried to stop Laura. Nash was back now, and he had responsibilities to his family, to keep them together. Yet he was downstairs, without a clue, imagining they would be married one day.

Jasper squeezed her hand but he was so very sad that she knew he had something painful to tell her. “There’s something else I have to tell you about Isabelle.”

Sophie gulped, but somehow she already knew what he was about to say. “She belongs to Nash, doesn’t she?”

“Yes. She is his and Laura’s offspring.”

Sophie closed her eyes over the news. So much for her employer’s supposed estrangement from his wife. “If that is true, he cannot be allowed to divorce Laura.”

He exhaled loudly. “I am glad you agree with me on this.”

Sophie put her hand on Jasper’s chest, clutching his cravat. “What can we do to bring them together again?”

“I don’t know,” Jasper admitted with a shake of his head. “There are not two more stubborn individuals who ought never to have wed on this earth. I’d like to lock them in a dungeon until they make peace. Unfortunately, we don’t have one at Ravenswood.”

“Yes, that is a great pity,” she agreed. “Their marriage is really none of our business though.”

“Agreed but the children are.”

Sophie bit her lip. Yes, the children were her reason for being at Ravenswood. Should they try for some sort of reconciliation or truce for their sake? She met Jasper’s gaze. “It would not be easy getting them to stay together under this roof.”

“No,” Jasper replied, looking worried. “There would probably need to be some sort of calamity or bargain made to prevent them from going their separate ways immediately.”

“Short of shackles or a locked bedchamber door, I’ve no suggestion,” Sophie mused. “But His Grace might have a better idea? He knows his brother well.”

“Yes, he might help with this. He’s always been keen for a reconciliation. He does not want the scandal of a divorce.”

“Or me as Nash’s second bride either, I imagine, too,” she said.

“It’s not about you, Sophie.”

“I know.” She held fast to Jasper and marveled at how easy it was to talk to him still. They had changed so much over the summer. She had considered Jasper the worst sort of libertine and philanderer from nearly the first day they’d met. But over time, she had seen another side of him. A good man lurked beneath all his swagger and handsome features. Yes, he had his flaws, but then so did she.

She’d accused him of neglecting his responsibilities. Yet he cared about his family, his brothers, sister-in-law, and nephews happiness. He’d grown to love Isabelle. And he was helping her now figure things out as they went along together. She loved that Jasper confided in her, turned to her when he didn’t know what to do.

She felt she could do the same with him as well.

“Getting that pair to admit they care about each other still would be a herculean feat,” he said. “Nash never speaks of his feelings. He will also become angry if I meddle too much.”

“If we meddle. Partner.” She could not leave right now. Not until she knew Laura and her children had been reunited. Sophie moved away from Jasper, back toward the window and looked out. If she left, the children would have no governess.

The children would not have a governess but could have a mother instead.

Sophie smiled slowly. Laura was out there, somewhere. Biding her time. Waiting for a chance. An invitation of the right kind. Sophie saw movement and grinned when a shape emerged from the tree line some distance away. That was a woman on horseback.

Laura was out there now, hoping to see her children still.

They could have a mother if Sophie could just convince Laura to come back to take her rightful place. If that happened, Sophie could return to Madam Clover with an easy heart.

To begin, though, she needed to take the children to see their mother right now, before she disappeared once more. She did not know what the woman looked like, so she would need Jasper to accompany them as well.

She spun about—and found Jasper right behind her. “What answer you will give Nash?”

“The same one I already gave him. No.”