Page 50 of Treating a Sinful Earl
Felton crossed his hands in front of his chest. “Dear friend, try to rest some more. Your mother would be most pleased, and I would, as well.”
Jasper turned his head to the side and fell into silence. Yes, not only was he being scolded by his mother, but also by his best friend. But did they have a point? Should he be resting more so that the symptoms would not return with the same strength?
He shook his head. It was all nonsense. This had been one occurrence where his symptoms returned, and Jasper would not be thwarted in his intentions. He would find a way to make Catherine his wife, and she would heal him. He was sure of it.
With this new resolve, he stood to his full height. “I am grateful for the concern but know that all shall be well. I do not intend to slow down, as there is much that I wish to accomplish in the time that I have remaining. I hope that that is accepted, but of course, there is no reason for me to convince you of it. With that, I should like to retire to my room.”
His mother was the next to stand. “And I as well, for I have been a mess of nerves all morning.” She initiated her exit but stopped abruptly. “Still…I must admit that Catherine’s remedies have been helping my fatigue. I feel…rather buoyant most days. But today, my mind is getting the best of me. Adieu.”
She departed the room, leaving Jasper and Felton in a wave of silence. Felton was the first to break it. “I had to come. She was troubled.”
“I am glad that you came, but I did not need the scolding.”
Felton smiled broadly. “I admit that part of that was for show. I promised her that I would be harsh with you, and so I was.”
Jasper rolled his eyes. “And here this whole time I thought that you were concerned for me. Aren’t I foolish?”
“I am mildly concerned for you,” Felton quipped. “But I do not think that your mother has it all figured out. I do think that…you are improving.”
Finally, a wave of relief.
“And I am. There was no sense in making a fuss over the blood. And more importantly, I wish to know how you got on with Abigail.”
Felton gazed up at the ceiling. “More of the same.” He returned his gaze to Jasper. “Sometimes, I fear that I am wasting my time and my heart. Why pick a difficult woman? Why not pick a simple woman? I require an answer to these questions and so many more.”
“I do not think that we choose who we love,” Jasper surmised. “You have fallen for Abigail, and that is the reality of your situation. Me? I have fallen for Catherine, and I made my intentions clear this morning.”
There was shock written on Felton’s face. “Do you speak the truth?”
He nodded. “Indeed. I told her the truth of my diagnosis, as well as the truth of my intentions.”
“And how did she respond?”
“In a dismal way.”
Both men leaned back in their chairs as though sensing that they were going through similar experiences, though Jasper knew his to be different. “She turned you down?” Felton asked.
“Not in so many words. She was thoughtful, and everything that she said was of importance. But like you, I want the simple solution. I want her to merely say yes.”
“And alas, that is the only response that I care for, as well. What are we to do? Drink our lives away? The morning is young, and I have a mind to pour brandy.”
Jasper shook his head. “None of that nonsense. We shall endure, all the same. In truth…I was encouraged by her response.”
“Because she refused you!” Felton exclaimed.
“Nay, nay. Because she has a head on her shoulders and a true heart. She expressed that this is done with haste. That perhaps, I might have feelings for her simply due to the fact that she is helping me. This, I assured her, was not true, but she is being cautious. And because she is being cautious…I love her all the more.”
Felton turned pensive. Yes, they were on the same page in many regards. They were both men in love who could not figure out for the life of them how to make their situations work. Jasper surmised that Felton’s predicament was much more confusing, but for Jasper, the situation was much more dire.
He stood, asking his best friend, “Have you broken your fast?”
Felton shook his head. “Have not had a lick of appetite.”
“Then let us feast. I need the strength, and we both need the distraction.”
The cook was informed of their desire to dine, and when they reached the breakfast room—although it was far too late for breakfast—the table was set for two, and hot food permeated the room with its aroma. Jasper seated himself, excited to be nourished.
It pained him to think that the little picnic basket that he had brought to the forest had never been consumed. But Jasper had truly left in fear, thinking that his symptoms might alarm Catherine. Why was it, that upon having that frank conversation with Felton in the parlour, his symptoms had lifted? Was it true that all of it had been caused by emotions?
