Page 22 of Treating a Sinful Earl
“No, no, too soon,” Felton admonished. “It is of the utmost importance that we keep our wits about us now, so that the game remains in play.”
“I do not care for your game,” Jasper assured him. “I merely delight in their company. I shall send another invitation in the morning.”
Felton rolled his eyes. “Never have I seen you so easily give yourself away to a woman. Take care, old chap, for you may find that if you are too easy to obtain, Lady Trowbridge might lose interest.”
This last statement troubled Jasper. Was it true? If he was honest about his affections, would Catherine lose interest? He had to admit that it would break his heart if this was the case, for never had he had a broken heart before and he did not care to have one now.
“I shall send the invitation, nonetheless. Life is too short for such nonsense.”
Felton looked at him quizzically, as though he wished to understand that statement more. Was this the right time to tell his friend the truth? No, then he would be the dying friend, and he and Felton would not have nearly as much fun. Everything was about enjoyment in life now. There was no time to waste.
“Come, let us summon them,” Jasper said, wishing for the ladies to return.
“You may go ahead and do so. I shall stand here casually, staring off into the distance like a man who hasn’t a care in the world.”
Jasper laughed. “Except that you are a poor actor and I fear that it will not have the desired effect.”
He left Felton, approaching the ladies who were still deep in conversation. “I hope that I am not interrupting,” Jasper said, his eyes instantly turning to Catherine.
She replied, “Not in the slightest. Lady Hatcher was merely reminding me how to be social.”
“I think that you have been expertly social this entire evening,” Jasper observed.
She smiled broadly. “That is because it is a small party. I think that you can agree that it is much more favourable in such a climate. If this were a ball, I might have fled by now.”
He replied warmly, “But I can see that you have not fled.”
“No, I have not,” she replied faintly.
Abigail finally broke her silence. “I shall go and join Mr Andrews. I fear that he is entirely alone over there, staring off into the distance.”
She fled, and Jasper considered that Felton’s playacting must have worked, for it encouraged the lady to come to him! How very cunning. Perhaps he had underestimated his friend. And now, he and Catherine were alone….
“The moon is full, as I had read,” she said, tilting her face up to the moonlight.
“Indeed. It is remarkable. I am impressed that you know so much.”
“I have always been curious, and there are so many books in our library. My father always encouraged me to read, and I am most grateful for that.”
“I have an impressive library as well.” Jasper had to laugh to himself, for he was trying to impose himself upon what Catherine had just said! “I should like to show it to you. You may borrow whichever books stand out to you.”
She smiled wryly, perhaps catching that he had amended himself. “I must say that is a most appealing offer. I can read all day when I have the time.” She looked towards the ground, and her expression changed to sadness.
Jasper had to know what had changed. “Is everything all right?”
She looked back up at him, hope behind her sorrowful expression. “I fear that…I fear that the man that I am to marry might not care for my habits.”
Jasper’s face fell. What on earth was she referring to? “Surely, if you find the right man, he will be made happy by what makes you happy.”
“But there is no time. There is no time…to find the right one. Oh, I do apologize!” she exclaimed, gazing out towards the field. “I have heard some troubling news from my father, and I fear that it is occupying my thoughts. I do not wish to impart my worries.”
“And I would very much like for you to impart your worries. I like it when you smile.”
In response to this, Catherine actually did smile, which brought contentment to his breast. “Well, my father said in so many words that I am to be married within a short interval. He will send me to London if he has to.”
“And you do not care for London?” Jasper asked, concern filling his voice.
“I admit to hating it. I do not care for so many people! I love the quiet of Bath, and the healing waters. What’s more, it’s dreadful to think that I am being sent there to find a husband with haste.”
