Treating a Sinful Earl by Henrietta Harding
Chapter 24
Catherine held the letter to her breast, thinking it the most breathtaking that she had yet read in her life. Yes, her love for Jasper was full, and knowing what she did not, it would not prevent her love in the slightest. But why had he left the forest so abruptly? These and other thoughts plagued her as she strolled through the forest alone, wondering when she might see him again.
More determined than ever to heal him, Catherine got to work at foraging for herbs that would set him free. She felt a tension in her chest, thinking that there was a very good chance that all of this was for nought. Jasper had revealed himself to her, so why did she feel such trepidation? Was it because her feelings were too real and true to bear? She had never been in love before, and now she was beginning to find it frightening for there was so much at stake.
Just then, an elderly man on a horse came down the path. Catherine thought this odd, for she rarely encountered horses in the forest, let alone other people. The man tipped his hat to her and introduced himself. “Hello there,” he said, looking deeply into her eyes. “What is a beautiful lady such as yourself doing alone in the forest, might I ask?”
She felt a flush come to her cheeks. It had become a habit to come to the forest alone, and the chaperone seemed to turn a blind eye. Was her father informing the chaperone that it was alright? Did he know that she was meeting with the Earl of Simmons?
“I am studying to become an apothecary,” Catherine replied, although this was something of a fib.
The man showed keen interest. “Is that so?” He massaged his shoulder and winced. “What would you suggest for soreness that lingers much?”
“Dandelion tea is most efficacious,” she informed him, having used this remedy before.
He raised his brows. “Well, I had never thought of that. I suppose that I should inform the wife.” The old man got down from his horse and stood before her, no taller than herself, which made him a very short man indeed.
“One day, I shall open a shop, and I can provide all the remedies that you need,” she said with a smile.
He smiled in return. “You are a rather ambitious young lady. My name is Walter Pembroke. Haberdashery is my trade.”
She found it very odd that there just so happened to be such a fellow in the forest. “What are you doing here?” she asked.
He petted the mane of his horse. “Before I supply a reply, why do you not tell me your name?”
“I am Catherine Trowbridge. I have lived in Bath all of my life.”
Walter nodded. “As have I. I am surprised that I have never encountered you here. I go on rides every Sunday morning. I like to take the fresh air.”
“As do I.”
As he continued to inspect her, Catherine was beginning to think that perhaps he was just a curious fellow looking to strike up a conversation. Considering the state that she was in, she found this welcome.
“Old Blue here,” he said, continuing to pet the horse, “if she does not get her Sunday ride, she is rather cross with me.”
Catherine laughed. “I know the feeling. I get rather cross with myself when I do not take a walk in the forest most days.”
“Life is a funny thing.” Walter walked over to an old stump and seated himself. “It is the simple pleasures that are the most profound. When I began my haberdashery business, I was convinced that nothing would give me more pleasure than to make my hats and be a great success. Well, now I am something of a great success, and all that I wish to do is remain out of doors. My wife is most frustrated with me for this, for she thinks that I have a mistress! But Old Blue is my only mistress.”
“How long have you been married?” Catherine asked, walking over to a second stump, and seating herself upon it.
“Thirty-seven years. Do you know, I love the woman more and more with each passing day! But women are women, and they become distrustful when they do not have you in their sights.”
“Is that so? I do not consider myself one to be distrustful.”
Walter pointed his finger in the air. “And that is a mistake. Men are a sorry lot, I tell you. When you find a man that you can truly trust, hold onto him for the rest of your days.”
This suggestion gave her pause. Were men really a sorry lot? For her, Jasper was the only man in the world, and there was nothing sorry about him.
“I think that I have found such a man, but I cannot understand why I falter.”
Walter cocked his head to the side. “You falter?”
“I mean…he has made his intentions clear, and I find myself full of fear. Why should that be.”
He sighed to himself and massaged his shoulder once more. “That is a sign that you are truly in love. It is frightening, it is. For when one is truly in love, there is no protection for their heart when they are in the presence of their beloved. There is no escape. They hold you in the palm of your hand and have the power to crush you.”
“But this man will not crush me,” she insisted. “In fact, I have never trusted anyone more.”
“Trust is a form of faith, and that faith is not proved until years pass. Even if you trust this fellow, he has not proved himself, and there is no way of knowing whether your feelings are real…whether you are giving yourself to the right man. Once he has you, he owns you completely. This is a tricky business.”
Oh, but Walter’s words were not soothing her in the slightest! What a dreadful way to perceive love, and yet, Catherine knew very little about it. She could not help but share, “This man…this man is rather ill. He has professed his love and his concern that his illness is something of an impediment.”
Walter scratched his chin. “I see. That is a very unique occasion, indeed. Are you sure that he is telling the truth?”
“Of course, he is telling the truth!” Catherine exclaimed. “Why should he lie?”
He smiled broadly. “When I was courting my Minnie, I told her all manner of things to get her to love me. I admit to lying here and there, but I was a desperate man. I had to have her.”
“Is this true? You lied to her?”
“Naturally! When a man sees a good woman, he will go to great lengths to make her his. Now, I am not proud of what I did, but in the end, it was all rather worth it, I would say.”
Catherine was in shock. Was she to believe him? What’s more, was she to believe Jasper now that she received this information. But, of course, she still trusted Jasper. She had seen his symptoms, and one brief encounter with Walter Pembroke was not going to change her faith.
She shook her head. “He is not lying. The Earl of Simmons is an ill man. I have set out to heal him.”
Walter fell silent, seemingly struck by her words. “Did you say the Earl of Simmons?”
“Indeed,” she replied with pride.
“Well, this is a whole new ordeal entirely. I make hats for the Earl of Simmons. One of the kindest, brightest men I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Of course, the rumours are not true.”
She constricted her brow. “The rumours?” Were these the ones that Selina told her of?”
He nodded faintly. “Bath society is just as crude as London society if you ask me. I see it all, what with all the society gentlemen coming into my shop. When society is jealous of someone, they will say all manner of things to have the upper hand. No, I know that the Earl is a good man, and I can say with distinction that you are a lucky girl.”
Catherine exhaled deeply. “Trust that I know of how lucky I am, so why can I not accept the Earl’s advances? Why do I drag my feet when I know for sure that I love him?”
“What you speak of is true love, like the love I have for Minnie. This love cannot be rushed. Because you sense that it is real in your heart, your instinct is to slow down instead of advance. You are doing everything right, Catherine Trowbridge.”
She smiled broadly. Yes, this was the boost to her confidence that she needed. “But what am I to do now? My father has a mind to send me to London so that I might join the Season there. He wishes to remove himself from Bath and alas…take me off his hands.”
His expression turned serious. “I do not envy the plight of you ladies. Minnie was never a society lady and had no such restrictions. I will tell you this, follow your heart and do not allow your father to push you. What you have with the Earl of Simmons seems all too real. Inform him of this if you must.”
Catherine fell silent. Did she have the courage to do such a thing? What would her father say? Surely, her father would be pleased with such a prospect, but she did not know that it was so real until recently. Yes, she would have to tell him, and hopefully, this would buy her more time.
“What do I owe you for your council today? I feel that this was the very discussion that I needed to clear my mind.”
Walter smiled broadly. “Then I suppose that I have done my duty.” He got up from the stump and walked back towards Old Blue. “I have seen much in this life, and I have been through much. Any time that I can help someone that is not so far along, I feel as though I have done my duty for the day.” He got back atop his horse, and Catherine stood, grateful that Walter had stumbled into her day. “Now, I must depart. If I am not home for tea Minnie will be cross with me.”
“Then you should go. There is much that I must undertake today.”
Walter tipped his hat. “I shall remember that tip about the dandelion tea. I need something for these old bones. And pertaining to the Earl of Simmons,” his voice turned hushed. “Let him shake in his boots for the time being.” With that, he kicked his heels into his horse and walked back along the path, leaving Catherine standing there, a cool breeze running through her hair.
No, she did not wish to let Jasper shake in his boots. She wished to give him the same honesty that he had allowed her. Oh, she would need all the courage that she could muster! She would inform Jasper of her true affections. Then her father would have to be informed of it. Despite her fear, Catherine would lead with her heart, for Walter had assured her that that would take her in the right direction.
She continued her stroll along the path, feeling light as air but also feeling her heart skip a beat just as soon as the Earl appeared, walking up the path towards her. She did not expect to see him this morning! His letter was still lodged in the bodice of her gown. From a distance, she could see that Jasper was smiling, and she had the instinct to run towards him but prevented herself. As Walter had said, love requires steady patience.