Page 14 of Treating a Sinful Earl
Simmons swallowed down hard as he gazed into her eyes, as though he were moved by the sentiment. For Catherine, she had merely spoken the truth. She had expected the Earl to be intimidating because of his handsomeness and his prowess, but his presence was one of the most calming that she had ever known. Oh, but Catherine was getting ahead of herself! It was best to not think of such things, as she feared that she might think of Simmons constantly and she did not know what his feelings were.
“Here, I have attended a ball and I am not even dancing,” Simmons said, gazing back towards the ballroom.
“Do you wish to return inside? I am sure that there are many who wish to dance with you.”
He shook his head. “There is no one that I wish to dance with, unless…you would be agreeable to it.”
Catherine froze. It was the moment that she feared. She wished for nothing more than to dance with the Earl, but she feared that her knees would go weak, and she would make a fool of herself. “I am a horrid dancer. I have expressed as much.”
“Then we can be horrid together. I do not care for it myself.”
“But you danced so elegantly with Selina,” Catherine protested. “Surely, you are a much more accomplished dancer than you think.”
“You are being kind. I have many accomplishments in this life and being a capital dancer is not one of them. Perhaps you have mistaken me for someone else?” he quipped.
“No, it was you. I am sure of it.”
Catherine was sure of it because she could not take her eyes off of him as he moved. It was uncommon to see a man so large and tall with such grace. Simmons seemed like the sort of fellow that was rather hard on himself. Catherine understood this well, for she was hard on herself often.
“It is perfectly all right if you do not wish to dance. We can attempt it on another occasion,” he assured her.
“Do you think that you will attend more balls? Oh, I am doing the best that I can to be out in society more. I wish to be more like Abigail.”
Simmons’ face fell. “You should not seek to be anyone but yourself. You are perfect, Catherine.”
Simmons was impossibly close, and Catherine felt a flush come to her cheek. Was he going to kiss her? From the look in his eyes, it seemed as though he was about to do it! He then grasped the balustrade tightly and closed his eyes.
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
“I became faint. Give me one moment to recover.”
Instinct took hold and Catherine placed a hand upon Simmons’ broad back. “Was it the heat?”
“No, it was not,” he assured her.
“Let me fetch you a glass of water,” Catherine said, departing with haste and running into the ballroom to the refreshments stands. She quickly secured the water and returned to the veranda where Simmons was standing in much the same position. She handed him the glass with deep concern written upon her face. “This may help.”
He took a sip of the water, and Catherine could see that his hand was unsteady. She desperately wished to know what happened, but Simmons was not saying a word. Finally, once half of the glass of water was gone, he said, “That helped considerably. I thank you.”
“I am glad to hear it. You gave me such a fright.”
“It is…common for this to happen. Do not allow it to frighten you.”
It was common? What was Simmons referring to?
“Why does it happen?” Catherine asked.
He cleared his throat and finally opened his eyes, turning those blue orbs upon her. “It is rather difficult to explain Catherine. Perhaps another time…I can reveal it to you.”
From the gravity in his voice, she knew for certain that it was something serious. Catherine could not banish the fear from her breast, and although she wished to know instantly what had gone wrong, she sensed that it was something that Simmons did not wish to speak of.
“Very well,” she said softly. “I am merely happy that you have recovered.”
“As am I.”
Catherine could not help but think of what Selina had described when she and Simmons had finished their dance. Was this the same occurrence?
Catherine explained, “When I fell faint, there is a certain remedy that I use from my garden. A tincture that I have fashioned.”
