Page 66 of Treating a Sinful Earl
“Because I will provide her with everything that she needs for a lifetime,” Jasper assured her. “That is my one last wish on this earth.”
“Are you sure that your intentions are not sordid, Jasper?”
He could not believe that now his own mother was taking the same line of questioning as Selina took. “There is nothing sordid about loving someone and wishing to provide for them. There is also nothing sordid about longing for someone. These are all gifts that God provides.”
“Listen to you speaking of God. How can you believe in a benevolent God, considering what has plagued you? No, I do understand what you convey, but I must say that I find all of this rather surprising. You need to rest. What you do not need is to be chasing after someone in your final days. You must rest!”
“I shall rest when I am dead,” Jasper said through his teeth, exiting the parlour and making his way to the study.
What was most vexing was the notion that Felton got a hold of the doctor’s letter and informed his mother with haste. Why could the two of them not let him be? Why did everyone seek to control him when he had so little time left? He seated himself at his desk in frustration, turning to the rubbish bin where the doctor’s crumbled letter still remained. It was a plague, over and over again.
From now on, there would be no more doctors. Jasper was done with it. If he was to die, then he would allow nature to take its course. But nature still needed to take its course in his body and heart. By that, he meant that he would still make Catherine his. Even though ill, he was a man with hot blood running through his veins, and this could not be ignored or denied. Catherine must be his, whether his mother, Selina, or Felton liked it or no. In fact, whether or not society liked it or no.
He leaned back in his chair and stared out the window. Jasper would come up with a plan.
Chapter 31
Having no sophisticated plan that he could put in place, Jasper thought it best to venture to the forest the next morning in hopes of discovering Catherine there. To his dismay, she was nowhere to be found. He walked for some time, recalling every moment they had shared in that same forest, and all of these thoughts only made his pain greater. Had he lost her forever? Just at the time when he needed her most, would she flee from him?
He took the time to sit upon the same stump he had once sat on, gazing up at the tall trees that provided respite and shade. If he could not have Catherine back, Jasper came to the conclusion that he could simply leave Bath and spend the rest of his days in a foreign country, dreaming of Catherine and the life he could have had. Sod it! He pulled his hand through his hair and tried to collect himself. No, he would not sink into anguish and bitterness. Jasper would choose to be happy that there were so many good memories to cherish, and that would occupy his mind.
Jasper heard the footfall of a horse and turned. As if the timing could not be any better, Walter Pembroke came riding down the path, a rather tall hat upon his head. Jasper called out to him, “Hello there, good man!”
Walter seemed to be confused at first as to who was calling him. It was only when he came closer that recognition took hold. “Is that Simmons?”
“It most certainly is.”
A smile came to Walter’s lips. “My lord, never have I encountered you here before. I expected to see that young lady yet again. I wished to thank her for her suggestion to brew dandelion tea.” Once Walter was close enough, he dismounted his horse and tied it to a tree.
The very mention of Catherine made Jasper’s heart sink yet again. He stood. “You are a lucky man to have encountered her,” Jasper said softly.
Walter approached and remarked, “You are a lucky man for having her affections.”
Jasper’s brows rose. “What makes you think that I have her affections?”
“She wears her heart upon her sleeve. It is not difficult to tell.”
Jasper turned downcast and heaved a deep sigh. “I fear that I have her affections no more.”
Walter froze and fell silent. Without being asked to do so, he seated himself and motioned for Jasper to be seated once more. “It seems like you need someone to talk to, my lord.”
Jasper nodded. “I think that your timing is impeccable.”
Walter removed his hat and toyed with the brim. “Whatever has happened, I would not let it upset you.”
“It is upsetting me greatly.”
“These matters are always trying. In the beginning, after putting so much effort into pursuing my Minnie, I was able to obtain her. I felt like I was the victor in some way! Sadly, this was all for nought, for Minnie pulled away her affections, and I was left a bereft man.”
“Did she do so? But you are still married to this day.”
Walter nodded plaintively. “As they say, the course of true love never did run smoothly. In hindsight, Minnie said that she was terrified of the prospect of falling in love. She went to a nunnery.”
Jasper could not help but laugh. “A nunnery?”
“Indeed. She said that she was done with mankind and wished to devote herself to the Almighty. The only satisfaction that I gained from this was that I knew that no other man could have her! But alas, I thought that I might never see her again.”
“And what happened next?” Jasper asked, curious to see how the story panned out.
