Page 30 of Treating a Sinful Earl
His mother raised her brow. “I would not mind in the slightest if I were to meet her more frequently,” she said suggestively.
“Mother, you know that my situation is impossible,” Jasper shared.
“Nothing is impossible, my son! I think that she is a fine lady, and you seem rather happy in her company. So…why not do something about it?”
Jasper leaned back on the sofa and sulked. His own mother was accusing him of not taking action, and he was not happy about it. Of course, he wanted to take action, but why could his mother not put herself in his shoes? He was bloody dying!
“If you will excuse me, Mother.” Jasper rose from his seat. “This all reminds me that I am to write her a letter this very moment.”
“Saying?” the Dowager Countess asked, expectation in her gaze.
“Saying that I shall request her presence at supper once more. If you will excuse me.” With that, Jasper bowed his head and departed. Upon entering his chambers, his valet was quick to ask what he might require, and Jasper stated that all he needed was privacy.
He seated himself at his desk, pulling out the pages with the family crest and his quill pen. He composed the letter quickly.
Catherine,
I must admit that I was surprised to encounter you at Lady Hatcher’s this afternoon, but also delighted. I secretly hoped that I might find you there. Felton is lovesick—that much is certain. If there is any way to relay to me the nature of Lady Hatcher’s feelings, I would be most obliged. Of course, none of this shall be shared with Fenton, but it merely instructs me on how to manage him.
In regard to other matters, it is clear to me and my mother both that your presence is wished for at my manor once more. Should you care to come to supper by week’s end, please send a reply so that I might make arrangements. The bit of information about your father’s news continues to haunt my memory. I hope that we can speak of that matter further.
In regard to my health, any tinctures that you might provide would be most suitable. I wished to mention this when we encountered each other at Lady Hatcher’s, but it seemed as though you and Lady Lockhart had come from somewhere amusing, and my attention was mostly stolen by Felton’s predicament…as well as your beauty.
Please, take your time to respond.
With deep admiration,
Jasper
It was perhaps the first time in his adult life that he had signed a letter with his given name. Even the most familiar received a signature from Simmons. He feared that he was in over his head when it came to Catherine Trowbridge. But he reminded himself of the advice he had given to Fenton: Love is patient.
Chapter 14
The following day, Catherine worked in the garden tirelessly, hoping to make Jasper’s tinctures with haste. Selina had been a horrible distraction the day before, insisting that they go to this shop and that. Although Catherine found the distraction favourable, she could not understand why Selina insisted upon capitalizing her time when she had informed her friend that she needed to work in the garden.
In fact, that very afternoon, Selina had positioned herself upon a bench in said garden, talking all the while whilst Catherine tried to concentrate.
“If you do go to London, I should like to go,” Selina said. “I think that I am tired of Bath.”
Catherine rolled her eyes. “Yesterday, you spoke of what a grand time you were having in Bath, and today, you wish to retreat to London. What is going through your head?”
Her friend examined her nails. “Nothing is going through my head. I am merely trying to make myself happy, that is all.”
Catherine thought Selina’s tone rather odd, but instead of inquiring after it, she carefully picked her herbs and recalled in her mind which ones would be beneficial for Jasper’s health. His letter had arrived that morning, and Catherine had no time to respond, for she knew that she must go to the garden instantly. Selina’s arrival was unexpected and a little vexing, even though she loved her friend greatly.
“I wish that you could go to London in my place,” Catherine went on. “I see no benefit in going there. Not when there is so much beauty around me.” She peered all around the garden, breathing in the freshness and the warm, bright sunshine. Butterflies flitted about, and there was the occasional bee. Once, Catherine had even spotted a bunny rabbit! All of these things lent a majestic air to the garden that she cherished.
Selina spoke in a hushed tone. “Do you think that anyone in London…will have me.”
Finally, Catherine could not help but inquire, “Selina, what is the matter? You were a ball of energy yesterday, and today you are sombre, wondering if you can find someone in London. There is something that you are not telling me.”
Catherine got up from where she knelt in the dirt, holding her straw basket in her hand. Selina admitted, “I am rather lonely, Catherine. It was unbearable, the evening that you and Abigail went to the Earl’s manor for supper.”
“You said that you did not wish to go!”
“Because that would have been unbearable too!” Selina exclaimed. “Oh, it is so dreadful knowing that the Earl is fond of you, and Mr Andrews is fond of Abigail. What am I to do?”
Finally, it all made sense. She finally understood the reason why Selina was such a distraction the day before and why she was something of a distraction now when Catherine had important things to do. She walked over to her friend and sat beside her, placing the basket on the ground.
