Page 10 of Treating a Sinful Earl
As they chatted and carried on, Catherine found herself wondering when she would see the Earl of Simmons again. Would she have to attend several balls in order to encounter him? No, he had invited her to his estate! Certainly, she would invite Selina and Abigail to come along. Catherine was unsure of how she could bear it without their company.
The evening came to a close when the chaperones finally decided that the hour had grown too late. They each found their separate carriages and departed, but not before several embraces and plans to meet again the day after tomorrow. During the ride home, Catherine gazed out the window at the moon, which was now brighter than ever.
Where was Simmons right now? Certainly, he had returned to his estate, or he and Mr Andrews were out late carousing. Though Simmons did not seem like the sort of fellow that cared for such things.
The chaperone finally said, “I am sure that your father will be pleased that you encountered the Earl.”
“It is of no consequence. He is merely a new friend.”
“A new friend with a great deal of money, he is.”
Catherine assured her, “As I said, it is of no consequence.”
Chapter 5
Jasper did not wish to attend yet another ball on Friday evening, but he secretly hoped that Catherine might be there. Since the previous ball, she was all that he thought of. Every time the Dowager Countess spoke to him, Catherine was in the back of his mind. Why had she transfixed him so?
And whilst venturing to the ball in his carriage, Felton seated across from him, Jasper surmised that it was probably too soon to tell his friend the truth. “You are rather silent,” Felton said.
“There is a lot on my mind.” Jasper looked out the window of the swaying carriage, watching as the sun came down and made space for the moon.
“I hope that ladies are on your mind for there shall be plenty to marvel at tonight. The Duke of Brighton always holds a good party. I daresay, I hope that Abigail will be there.”
In response to this, Jasper could not help but smile. Felton was much more honest about his feelings than himself, and it was nice to see Felton so blatantly head over heels for a lady that just happened to be Catherine’s friend.
“I am confident that she shall be there, from what I know of her character.”
Felton seemed to take this as an insult. “What of her character?”
“You said yourself that she attends all the balls and parties. That was why I made the statement.”
“I do not stand a chance, I think,” Felton said with a huff.
“There is no reason to give up hope. She danced with you twice and did not care who was there to witness it. I would say that is a good sign,” Jasper said by way of encouragement.
Felton brought his hands to his face. “I fear that I am far gone. She is all that I have thought of since the last ball and I fear that I shall never clear her from my thoughts.”
To this, Jasper could not reply, for he was under the same spell. Oh, why could he not be honest and tell his closest friend? Perhaps it was the one secret that he had ever kept from Felton.
“All will be well. Take a sip from your flask and muster your courage,” Jasper advised.
After this, Felton presented a rather large smile and pulled his flask from his waistcoat, taking a hearty sip. “You know me too well,” he exclaimed once the sip was done, returning the flask to his breast. “Why is it that ladies hold so much power? Once a particular lady infiltrates one’s thoughts, there is no removing her. This is the case with Abigail Hatcher.”
Jasper shook his head whilst he smiled. Yes, Felton did seem rather intoxicated with infatuation. So, why did it make him so moody? Jasper felt as light as air when he thought of Catherine. In fact, his symptoms had even abated for a day or two in the afterglow of her presence.
"Dance with other ladies,” Jasper said. “Perhaps it would help you to take your mind off of things.”
“Hogwash. Nothing will take my mind off of these matters.”
Just then, a fit of nerves took over, and Jasper said, “Hand over that flask, old man. I do not know how I am to survive yet another ball.”
Felton heartily complied to Jasper’s request, handing over the flask, and watching as Jasper took a swig. “I knew that there was a reason why we are friends,” Felton said, grinning from ear to ear.
“My god, man!” Jasper exclaimed, looking down at the flask in dismay. “How on earth do you survive spirits so strong?”
“It puts hair on your chest.” He retrieved the flask from Jasper and took another swig. “At least, that is what I keep telling myself.”
“You are going to need a whole gallon of it if you want hair on your chest. There’s scarce a hair upon your body,” Jasper teased, recalling how every time they went to take the waters in Bath, he teased Felton for being so bare.
