Page 35 of Treating a Sinful Earl
“I shall never break it,” Jasper said softly.
Catherine feared that she might have heard him incorrectly. “What was that?”
“I shall never break your heart.”
She regarded him with no small amount of affection. “And for that, it is guaranteed that I shall always be your truest friend.”
Even though, she was beginning to perceive that she was desperate for more.
Chapter 16
At had been decided upon at the end of the previous evening that Jasper would come to Catherine’s home to pay a call. She had mentioned that she wished to show him her garden, which Jasper was very enthusiastic about. So, upon arriving, it came as no surprise when he was filled with awe when she opened the door.
“You are early,” Catherine said with a smile.
“I was flooded with anticipation to see you.”
Oh, Jasper feared that he was saying too much! But there was a delighted expression on her face that informed him otherwise.
“I have anticipated seeing you, as well. All that I can think of is our dance from last night.”
“As well as myself. I look forward to when we might be able to share that again.”
As he was led through the home, which was stately and appealing, Catherine said, “My mother and father are out paying a call, but naturally, my chaperone is here and shall be close by at all times.”
“Naturally.”
“But none of that is of any importance because there is one beautiful task at hand!” Catherine flung open the back door and revealed the garden, glittering in the morning light. There was still dew upon the flowers, and the birds chirped loudly. “This is my respite,” she said with a wide smile.
“It is stunning.”
“Come, allow me to show you everything.”
As Catherine kneeled upon the earth and explained each herb and flower, Jasper felt as though he was as light as air. Everything about the garden was transfixing, and even more so with Catherine there, looking perfectly at ease and remarkably happy. Every so often, she looked up at him and grinned, then her attention returned to the herbs as she described what each could do to aid the human body in healing.
“I use nettle quite frequently,” she said, bringing a sprig of it to her nose. “You cannot fathom just how much it does. I brew a nettle tea most evenings to calm my soul.”
Jasper could not help but ask, “Have you anything for fatigue? I fear that my mother suffers from it frequently and is always looking for a remedy.”
“I do know what helps! It is raspberry leaf. I fear that I need to walk in the forest to find it, as I can never get it to consistently grow in my garden.”
Jasper clasped his hands behind his back. “Then we must go for a walk in the forest. That is one of my favourite pastimes, anyhow.”
Catherine stood from where she knelt and replied, “Yes, that would be most agreeable. Oh, I fear that I am boring you to tears with all this talk of healing remedies. But it is something that I think of so often and my mind is filled with information.”
Finally, a woman who was brimming with information and not some silly notions about being a wife and nothing more. It was exactly the realization that Jasper had had when attending the ball where he first met her. It occurred to him that he wished for a lady with a head upon her shoulders. That very lady was now standing before him.
“Would your chaperone be agreeable to going on a walk?” Jasper asked.
“I believe so. She is agreeable to most things, even though she does not often speak.” Catherine looked towards the chaperone, who was seated on a garden bench.
“Then come. Let us walk while the morning is young. Then, if you are at liberty, we can enjoy a bit of luncheon.”
“We can bring a picnic basket,” she suggested, seemingly trepidatious about this.
“A picnic would be lovely,” he conceded, closing his eyes and nodding.
Catherine was quick to make the preparations, and whilst she did so, he had time to observe her even more; the way that she moved, the manner in which she gave instructions to the servants, and how she exuded jubilation so effortlessly. She disappeared into the kitchens to inform the cook of the picnic, and whilst she did so, Jasper seated himself in the family parlour, which was rather quiet and serene.
