Treating a Sinful Earl by Henrietta Harding
Chapter 10
Jasper had noted that Catherine had stolen away with her friend, and he was dying of curiosity pertaining to what they were speaking of. The whole evening, he had enchanted her, but tried not to let on as such. It was so refreshing to encounter a lady who did not fall into his lap after a few moments of conversation.
Not that he had ever taken advantage of these situations. It was merely frustrating because Jasper liked a good challenge and so far in his life, women had afforded him none. But then again, he would not call Catherine a challenge or some sort of conquest. She was so much more than that, which is what made the hunt even more appealing.
He liked her shyness, in fact, he felt that he had gotten to the bottom of what it all meant. Catherine was just like him in many respects, and this made her all the more alluring. Seeing that he was lost in reverie, Felton approached. “What a perfect evening.”
“That it has been,” Jasper agreed.
“I can see why you like Catherine. She is a charming girl.”
“She is more than charming. I am beginning to think that I might lose my wits.”
Felton laughed. “That far gone? I suspected as much, but now you are finally telling the truth. Why do you hide so much from me?”
Jasper frowned. Felton had no idea just how much he was hiding, but the evening had been such a success that he entirely forgot about his illness and basked in Catherine’s presence. Could she somehow heal him, merely by being near? She had already beheld some of his symptoms and had not been filled with ogling fear. She had comported herself whilst still having concern in her eyes.
“It seems as though you got on well with Abigail.”
“I would give anything for a moment alone with her, but sadly, that cannot be.”
“Pull her aside,” Jasper suggested, if only so that he might have a moment alone with Catherine.
“It cannot be done. Abigail plays little games, and although I find these charming and amusing, I must play the game too, if I am to win her.”
Jasper was troubled by this. With Catherine, he did not feel that she was playing any sort of games, and this pleased him greatly. It was refreshing that she was not like Abigail, and it only made the challenge greater for Jasper because she was a woman of substance, and such a woman needed to be treated in a particular way.
“Shall we invite them to dine again?” Jasper asked, not wanting to wait long before he saw Catherine again.
“No, no, too soon,” Felton admonished. “It is of the utmost importance that we keep our wits about us now, so that the game remains in play.”
“I do not care for your game,” Jasper assured him. “I merely delight in their company. I shall send another invitation in the morning.”
Felton rolled his eyes. “Never have I seen you so easily give yourself away to a woman. Take care, old chap, for you may find that if you are too easy to obtain, Lady Trowbridge might lose interest.”
This last statement troubled Jasper. Was it true? If he was honest about his affections, would Catherine lose interest? He had to admit that it would break his heart if this was the case, for never had he had a broken heart before and he did not care to have one now.
“I shall send the invitation, nonetheless. Life is too short for such nonsense.”
Felton looked at him quizzically, as though he wished to understand that statement more. Was this the right time to tell his friend the truth? No, then he would be the dying friend, and he and Felton would not have nearly as much fun. Everything was about enjoyment in life now. There was no time to waste.
“Come, let us summon them,” Jasper said, wishing for the ladies to return.
“You may go ahead and do so. I shall stand here casually, staring off into the distance like a man who hasn’t a care in the world.”
Jasper laughed. “Except that you are a poor actor and I fear that it will not have the desired effect.”
He left Felton, approaching the ladies who were still deep in conversation. “I hope that I am not interrupting,” Jasper said, his eyes instantly turning to Catherine.
She replied, “Not in the slightest. Lady Hatcher was merely reminding me how to be social.”
“I think that you have been expertly social this entire evening,” Jasper observed.
She smiled broadly. “That is because it is a small party. I think that you can agree that it is much more favourable in such a climate. If this were a ball, I might have fled by now.”
He replied warmly, “But I can see that you have not fled.”
“No, I have not,” she replied faintly.
Abigail finally broke her silence. “I shall go and join Mr Andrews. I fear that he is entirely alone over there, staring off into the distance.”
She fled, and Jasper considered that Felton’s playacting must have worked, for it encouraged the lady to come to him! How very cunning. Perhaps he had underestimated his friend. And now, he and Catherine were alone….
“The moon is full, as I had read,” she said, tilting her face up to the moonlight.
“Indeed. It is remarkable. I am impressed that you know so much.”
“I have always been curious, and there are so many books in our library. My father always encouraged me to read, and I am most grateful for that.”
“I have an impressive library as well.” Jasper had to laugh to himself, for he was trying to impose himself upon what Catherine had just said! “I should like to show it to you. You may borrow whichever books stand out to you.”
She smiled wryly, perhaps catching that he had amended himself. “I must say that is a most appealing offer. I can read all day when I have the time.” She looked towards the ground, and her expression changed to sadness.
Jasper had to know what had changed. “Is everything all right?”
She looked back up at him, hope behind her sorrowful expression. “I fear that…I fear that the man that I am to marry might not care for my habits.”
Jasper’s face fell. What on earth was she referring to? “Surely, if you find the right man, he will be made happy by what makes you happy.”
“But there is no time. There is no time…to find the right one. Oh, I do apologize!” she exclaimed, gazing out towards the field. “I have heard some troubling news from my father, and I fear that it is occupying my thoughts. I do not wish to impart my worries.”
“And I would very much like for you to impart your worries. I like it when you smile.”
In response to this, Catherine actually did smile, which brought contentment to his breast. “Well, my father said in so many words that I am to be married within a short interval. He will send me to London if he has to.”
“And you do not care for London?” Jasper asked, concern filling his voice.
“I admit to hating it. I do not care for so many people! I love the quiet of Bath, and the healing waters. What’s more, it’s dreadful to think that I am being sent there to find a husband with haste.”
“Why with haste?” Jasper asked.
“Because my father has always wished to depart from Bath. I guess that his desire to do so comes with more expediency than I realized. Oh, it’s dreadful.” She shook her head mournfully. “But I understand that he is my keeper, and I must do as he advises.”
Jasper did not care for this one bit. Yes, her father was her keeper, but Catherine had a mind of her own and was able to make her own choices. Should he amend this situation right now by asking for her hand? But what was he thinking! That would be absurd, to say the least, and there was no way of imparting to her the direness of his personal situation.
Still, Jasper wished to help in more ways than one. “I can understand how this would be distressing.”
“I was not prepared,” Catherine shared. “I was blindsided by his haste, but now I realize that had he not set these new rules, I might have taken ten years to find a husband!”
They both laughed together, and Jasper admired this about Catherine very much. She was a woman with her own mind and her own will, and that made her so much more appealing in his eyes. What should he do? Should he speak to his mother about the situation and come to a conclusion? The Dowager Countess would most likely be pleased, but it would also make her more sorrowful because it would remind her of the fact that he did not have long for this world.
He let the silence linger, not wishing to puncture it with inconsequential words. He watched her chest heave, and heavens, he had to turn away, for her décolletage was deliciously exposed.
“Have I disturbed you?” Catherine finally asked, appearing ill at ease in the silence after sharing her news.
“Not in the slightest. I have heard of ladies in similar situations, and I am sympathetic to your plight. I wish to help you….”
“It might be impossible. May I be candid?” Catherine asked.
“I wish that you would.”
“I have a great fondness for you, my lord.”
“I imparted that you should call me Simmons. You can even use my given name if you choose.”
Catherine protested, “That would be far too forward!”
“Would it be forward if I called you by your given name?”
She seemed to consider this, her cheeks colouring. “I should very much like it if you referred to my given name.”
Jasper relished in this next word. “Catherine,” he uttered with a smile.
She peered into his eyes breathlessly. “Yes, it does feel good to hear you say that.”
“Say my name, pray?” Jasper instructed her.
She took a moment before she spoke, seemingly hesitant. “Jasper.”
He was in a cloud of happiness now. Everything seemed mistiness with happiness all around him. The familiarity was all too intoxicating for words and Jasper wished to continue the conversation lest he lean in for a kiss. “Catherine, how much longer have you in Bath before you are to depart?”
“Two month’s time. I tried to convince my father to allow me to remain for a year, but he said that was too much time.”
“Pity.”
Now, Jasper’s jaw was clenched. Two months was a very short amount of time, as was a year. It was made all the more dire, for he did not know how much more time he had.
“I am going to help…in any way that I can,” Jasper shared.
“Abigail is already such a help. She is teaching me to step outside of myself.”
“Please, never step outside of yourself. Always remain within yourself.”
He was in over his head. Jasper wished to settle the situation that very moment by telling Catherine that he would be hers, and she would be his. This would solve her problem and also afford him more time in her exquisite company. But would this offer frighten her?
Truly, he would need to explain that very soon he would be a dead man. Although this would temporarily save her from her woes, it would open up a whole new world of troubles that he did not wish for Catherine to witness. Alas, there was no solution in that moment, only more difficulties.