Page 27 of Treating a Sinful Earl
“You are speaking of the situation as though it were already a failure. I know that Abigail is fond of you,” Jasper offered.
“Not as fond of me as I am of her.”
Although they had arrived, Jasper took a moment to let that sink in. Trying to calm Felton down once more, he said, “It is common knowledge that the man must love the woman to a greater degree. It does not work any other way.”
Felton cocked his head in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Between a man and wife,” Jasper explained, “it is important that the man be more amorous than the woman.”
“This is utterly perplexing, explain.”
Jasper leaned back in his seat, trying to glean the proper words. “When you shower a woman with love, when you treat her as though she is the gem of the world and a goddess in your estimation, she will be everything that you hope for in life.”
Felton asked, “And how do you know this?”
There was truly no time to explain but Jasper did so anyhow. “It is what my mother imparted to me as a young man. My father loved her dearly, perhaps more than he had ever loved anything in his life. When my mother first met him, she had trepidation about the match. Of course, my father had a remarkable title, but my mother wanted to be free. She was the kind of lady who wished to marry an artist. My father was nothing of the sort.” He continued to explain, “Finally, my father convinced my mother to marry him, and she said that after she agreed, her love for him grew every day.”
Felton seemed in awe of this story. It all made sense to Jasper when his mother had expressed it. And he, too, wished to find a woman that he loved beyond compare, if only so that he could shower her with love for the rest of her days.
Felton finally replied, “I have enjoyed your mother’s story, and I hope that much the same will play out for myself. Even though…I have no fancy title, and my reputation is not sound.”
Jasper raised his brow. “Yes, that does create complication.”
The two men finally exited the carriage, and Jasper was delighted that they were paying a call, for there was a very good chance that Catherine was within that edifice this very moment. He followed behind Felton, considering that the mission at hand was of his friend’s choosing. Once the door was knocked upon, it was pulled open by a footman, and Felton asked, “Is Lady Hatcher within?”
The footman nodded. “She is receiving guests at the moment. Did you send your card?”
Felton scratched his head. “I fear that I did not. The matter requires some haste and there was no time to dispatch it.”
“May I ask whom I am speaking with?”
“Mr Felton Andrews.”
“I shall return promptly,” the footman replied, closing the door, and leaving Felton and Jasper standing on the front step.
“What if she refuses to see me?” Felton asked.
“Nonsense. If she is accepting visitors, she shall see you.”
Felton expression became horrified. “What if there is another man in there paying a call? Oh, I wish that I had brought my pistol!”
“Steady now,” Jasper imparted.
Within moments, the footman reappeared and stated that Abigail was willing to see Felton, and they were escorted into the Hatcher parlour, which was simple and refined. Abigail was seated upon a chaise, and when Felton and Jasper entered, she got up and extended her hand.
“I did not expect you, Felton.”
“I was desperate,” he replied, taking her hand and kissing it.
Abigail seemed perplexed. “Whyever were you desperate?”
His reply was soft and gentle. “Please understand, I had to see you. I know that we spent time together last evening, but it was not enough for me.”
Just then, right as Jasper’s heart was breaking that Catherine was not present, she came bursting through the door with Selina by her side. The two ladies were giggling, out of breath, and their hair was askew. Jasper constricted his brow in curiosity. Where had they come from?
Catherine’s eyes immediately met his, and she blinked several times before saying, “Jasper? What are you doing here?”
“I have accompanied Felton,” he said. “He wished to pay Abigail a call.”
