Page 26 of Treating a Sinful Earl
“Lady Trowbridge, it has been an immense pleasure,” he said, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles.
“I agree, my lord. It has been a most pleasant evening for us all.”
There were no more words spoken as Jasper clutched her hand, refusing to let go. Oh, Catherine did not wish to pull away! Finally, he helped her into the carriage and released her gloved hand. She was utterly bereft after that.
Chapter 12
“I must see Abigail at once,” remarked Felton as he pulled his hand through his hair. “Or else I shall die.”
“My friend, what has gotten into you?” Jasper asked. “You saw her last night. Surely, you will not die,” he added humorously.
“You do not understand,” Felton said as he paced about Jasper’s parlour. “The situation has grown dire. Oh, the way that she looked at me! That twinkle in her eye. I cannot be without her.”
Jasper seated himself upon a sofa and laughed to himself. What Felton was describing was exactly how he felt, but he could scarce admit it. “Steady yourself, old man. I thought that you had a game to play. It seems like you have a losing hand if you cannot even maintain a poker face.”
“I cannot play the game anymore!” Felton proclaimed. “There is no sense in it. She is the only one that I desire, and I will make this known to her. Even if my heart gets ripped out of my chest, it matters not. If I do not try to obtain this one thing in life that I love, then I shall perish.”
Jasper knew all of this to be very dramatic, and he had never seen Felton in such a state. But considering his own feelings for Catherine, he understood how a woman could seemingly undo a man just by looking at him in a certain way. He could make fun of his friend, but to do so would be unkind. Instead, he tried to provide sound counsel.
“And if we went to her this afternoon, what would you say?”
“I would express my undying love.”
Jasper put up a hand. “Steady yourself once more. I barely know the lady, and I do not wish to see you hurt, my friend.”
Felton slumped into a chair. “Do you think that she will break my heart? I suppose that if I come to her as a bleeding heart, she will have every opportunity to pull it out of my chest. If this happens, I cannot blame her. I want her to have my heart, no matter the manner of removing it.”
Jasper chose his words carefully. “Let us not talk of getting hearts pulled out of chests. If she is right for you, she will never try to hurt you. That is the true nature of love and you do yourself a service by reminding yourself of it.”
Felton seemed to consider these words, for he scratched his chin and seemed to settle a bit. “You do make a point. If she is to be mine, she will accept my love. Oh, I was intent upon playing these games early on, but I have decided that I do not wish to play games any longer. I want a love that is true and timeless.”
“Then be patient.”
“But I cannot be patient! Surely, you cannot see that I am at my wit’s end. I did not sleep last night, nor do I think I shall sleep tonight unless I tell Abigail the truth.”
Jasper rose from his seat. There was no sense in arguing with Felton while he was in this state. He wanted to support his friend as best he could, so he offered, “We shall go, then. I want you to sleep tonight.”
Felton heaved a sigh. “Truly? You will go with me? I have not even sent her correspondence, so surely our arrival will come as a shock.”
“Then so be it.” He clapped his hands together. “Love is shocking in and of itself. We shall go.”
There were ulterior motives within this plan. Jasper desperately hoped that he would view Catherine while they were there. He had spent most of the morning trying to calm Felton down, and so he had not the chance to compose a letter to Catherine inviting her to another supper. If she was there, he could make the offer in person, which was what he preferred to do.
They made their way to Jasper’s carriage, and once inside, Felton looked out the window moodily. Jasper could not help but say, “Ecstatic one moment and moody the next. I suppose that you really are in love.”
“It is torture,” Felton muttered.
“Nonsense. If the object of your affection becomes yours, you shall be ecstatic once more.”
“But only for a moment,” Felton mused. “It will be a moment of happiness if she accepts my love. After that, we can spend a lifetime together of little disappointments that cause me to lose my senses. Do you not understand, old chap?” he asked. “Love is a constant storm of tempestuous feelings, and it is unending.”
Jasper inhaled deeply. Felton was making love sound as though it were the most exhausting enterprise on earth. There was something different about his love for Catherine. It was not imbued with such fear and pain. What he felt for her was as calm and smooth as a gentle river. Did this mean that he was not in love? Was it a different kind of love? Jasper was intent upon discovering this and so much more.
It did not take long for them to reach Abigail’s home, which was near to the centre of town. It was a delightful townhome done in white stone, and as Felton looked up at it through the carriage window, he wiped away a tear. “I am not going to survive this.”
Jasper stifled his laughter. “You shall survive it. I promise you.”
Felton turned to him in anguish. “There is no weapon that can protect the human heart. Had I brought my pistol, it would have done no good.”
