Page 83 of Treating a Sinful Earl
Jasper got up from the desk and came around, taking her hand in his. He led her from the study and up the stairs directly to his room. Once they were inside, he closed the door and finally had Catherine in the very place he wished for her to be.
When she looked at the bed, there was a tinge of fear in her eyes. “You are safe,” he assured her, going to sit on the bed and motioning for her to join him. She came, and after she was seated, Jasper began to undo his coat, waistcoat, and shirt. Catherine seemed surprised by this.
“You are undressing,” she said.
“Indeed, I am. You are welcome to do the same.”
Once Jasper was completely nude from the waist up, he watched as Catherine examined him in wonder. “You are so strong,” she said in awe.
“And you are so lovely.”
He could not help but assist her in undoing her own apparel, and once she was in her underclothes standing before him, Jasper drank her in with his eyes, noting every last curve. She was a vision, and there were so many things that he wished to do to her, but not on this occasion. For now, he would merely take her in his arms and let her know what it felt like to be completely protected.
He was the first to lay down, and Catherine brought herself beside him, placing a hand upon his bare chest. He covered her hand in his own and looked deeply into her eyes. “You shall have nothing to fear in life,” he assured her.
She moaned. “You are too good to me.”
“Nonsense. I wish to do even more.”
Catherine nestled her head against his shoulder, and Jasper closed his eyes in rapture, delighting in the feel of it. She fit into him perfectly, only confirming that their love was meant to be. Holding her tightly, he felt her breath become steady, and it was not long before Catherine was fast asleep in his arms. He gently kissed her upon the forehead and prevented himself from drifting into sleep as well, for he wished to bask in every moment of this delicious occurrence.
As he lay there, Jasper was in a dream of happiness. He had everything that he wanted in life right in his arms, and he was never going to let go until the Lord forced him to. He thought of their future children, and their children’s children. If only he would live long enough to see them all.
Just then, dread took over, and he had to wonder if the doctor’s prognosis in London would be the very same. What would they do then? He supposed that they would carry on just as they were now. He would hold Catherine tight for every moment that he could, knowing that she was his destiny.
***
Rushing through the bustling streets of London, Jasper held Catherine’s hand tightly. He did not care for all of the commotion but since this was what Catherine wanted, he was obliging. She had made arrangements for them to see a special doctor near where the apothecary was. When they finally reached the establishment, Jasper said, “I shall meet you when it is done.”
“I am going in with you.”
“I thought that you were going to the shaman,” he said.
She shook her head. “I must be with you. I want to know.”
Although Jasper did not wish for her to hear the next diagnosis, he could not refuse her. He opened the door to allow her in, and once they were inside, they discovered the doctor seated behind a desk. The doctor stood, his hair impossibly white and spectacles in front of his eyes.
“You must be the Earl of Simmons,” he said.
“I am.”
“My name is Doctor Clark.”
“This is my betrothed, Lady Catherine Trowbridge,” Jasper said, delighting in the introduction.
Doctor Clark nodded. “It is very nice to meet you both.”
They were invited into the examination room, where there was a table covered in white cloth and another doctor, equally as old and serious. Jasper seated himself upon this table as the two men examined him using various gadgets. Catherine sat in a chair in the corner. Jasper looked to her and smiled, showing his strength and courage. But the truth was that he was nervous. What if the diagnosis was the exact same or even worse? It would haunt them both.
“I see,” Doctor Clark said, examining one of Jasper’s veins.
“What do you see?” he asked.
“Your diagnosis is very clear but also hard to detect. It makes sense to me that other doctors have got it all wrong.”
Jasper’s face fell open in anticipation. “Wrong?”
“Indeed. This is certainly not a heart condition.” He walked over to a ledger where he scribbled some quick notes. “What you suffer from is a condition known as chlorosis. It is a rather rare condition but not what you have heard before.”
