Page 34 of Treating a Sinful Earl
“I was about to say the same about yourself. How was it that you were under the impression that you were no good?”
Catherine laughed faintly. “I suppose that I just do not have enough practice. I admit that it is difficult, knowing that so many are looking at us in this moment.”
Jasper did not take his off of her to inspect. Instead, he continued to gaze at her. “Do not pay it any thought. I am sure that they are merely admiring your beauty and nothing more.”
Catherine exhaled, now feeling perfectly at ease. “I have never felt beautiful and so I do not know why you say such a thing, but I must admit that it makes me feel…beautiful, when you say it.”
“Then I suppose that I shall say it over and over so that you might feel as beautiful as you really are.”
They continued to dance, at once moment, placing the palms of their hands together and circling around one another. As they did so, Catherine felt a hot flush come to her cheek, and she said, “I feel like you make me a better dancer. It is as though your grace is having an effect upon me.”
“That is rather good to hear, for every other lady that I have danced with has tripped all over me.”
“That is what I feared I might do! Oh, they were probably just nervous in your company.”
“Why should that be?” Jasper asked, cocking his head to the side.
“Because of your handsomeness, and your goodness.”
After saying this, the music slowly came to a halt and they stopped, everyone around them clapping. Catherine looked all around her and sure enough, all eyes were upon them, but she felt more fortified than when the dance began. She herself clapped jubilantly. “I rather enjoyed myself.”
“Good, because I am going to ask you to dance with me several more times.”
“Certainly not tonight! That would create a scandal,” Catherine protested.
He eyed her affectionately. “Catherine, would you be so good as to accompany me to the veranda once more? I wish to speak in private.”
She looked all around for her chaperone, and when the lady was not spotted, Catherine decided to be daring and go along with him anyhow. Oh, if only her parents knew! Yet again, perhaps they would even approve.
Out on the veranda, the temperature was just as favourable as it had been days before. There were other guests standing out there, and this gave Catherine a bit of comfort knowing that she was not entirely alone with the Earl.
“It’s so beautiful here,” she said, walking over to the stone balustrade.
“Catherine, I wish to speak of Felton and Abigail, if you do not mind.”
She turned to him. “I do not mind in the slightest. Here, I feared that you were going to give me an unfavourable health update!”
“Well…perhaps later,” he said, clearing his throat. “I am concerned for Felton, as I love my dear friend and do not wish for his heart to be broken. Perhaps you can tell me…if he stands a chance? You gave me a glance at Abigail’s home, but I fear that was not enough to assuage my growing nerves.”
Here, Catherine had to be diplomatic. On one side stood Abigail, one of her dearest friends, and on the other side was Felton, one of Jasper’s dearest friends. Oh, she did not wish to muck any of this up!
“I can tell you this,” Catherine said with a hushed tone. “Abigail is rather difficult to decipher at times.”
“I can see that,” Jasper replied flatly.
“And for this reason, I can see how poor Felton might be struggling to understand her intentions.”
“That he is.”
“But I do think that she is fond of him. I do! If only Abigail could let go of her pesky ways and do what her heart is instructing her to do! I should like to teach her that, since she is teaching me how to be social. That way, we can both benefit from one another’s knowledge.”
Jasper seemed to consider her words, for he fell silent. Once this was done, he said, “As long as you think that there is affection in Abigail’s breast, then Felton should be free to pursue her. However, if she is leading him astray…I shall need to have a word with him.”
“She is leading him astray as that is the very reason that she plays these games! But I know that she has affection for him. I will try to convince her to bare her heart.”
Jasper smiled broadly, then looked out towards the dark field. “And you? Do you bare your heart easily?”
Catherine was struck by this question. Did she bare her heart easily? Perhaps the answer was yes, for she was not concealing anything from Jasper when in his company. “I am told that it might be a flaw of mine,” Catherine said. “But I am out in society so little, that there is very little chance of getting hurt. So, because of this naïveté, I do believe that I bear my heart easily, for it has never been broken.”
