Page 70 of Treating a Sinful Earl
Abigail replied, “Your love might heal him.”
Tears swelled in Catherine’s eyes. “I should hope so. But I have already given him my love and his health has taken a turn for the worse. You do not know how horrible the feeling of it is.”
Abigail embraced her, and the two girls held each other for some time. Finally, Abigail pulled away and said, “Promise me that you will be courageous, and I shall do the same. There is no reason to fear when love gives us strength. I am confident that we shall endure, and in the end, we shall find trust and devotion.”
She got up from the bed and made her way to the door. “I must be going,” Abigail said.
“You cannot stay for tea?”
“I fear not. There are matters to attend to. Write to him…and tell him the truth.” With that, Abigail blew her a kiss and departed.
Catherine was left in the silence, wondering when she would see Jasper again. Although writing a letter was not as suitable as seeing him, she would undertake it, if only to make up for what had happened in the forest.
Sitting at her desk, Catherine took the quill pen and began.
Dearest Jasper,
I must apologize for the days since discovering the doctor’s letter. Know that I have been in a great deal of pain, and Selina has been feeding me false information that I took to heart. Please forgive me for doing so. I thought that I could trust Selina, but as it turns out, this is not so. Know that I desperately love you, and this has not changed since learning the news. Oh, Jasper, I am so afraid! I wish to give myself to you fully, but fear gets in the way.
I shall inform you that I am still determined to heal you. This is something that I cannot give up on. I do not know why, but my mind and my heart are still telling me that there is a way. The doctors are perhaps missing something, and this can be remedied! Oh, you perhaps think that I am foolish, but I am someone that always holds onto hope…and to love. Forgive me for being so distant and trust that I think of you often. I still love you and wish to be yours,
Forever my love,
Catherine
No, she would not cry again! Too many tears had been shed for this man, and there was no reason to continue in such a manner. The letter would be dispatched at once and hopefully Jasper would have the heart to forgive her, although she already knew that he would.
There had been such deep love, affection, and anguish in his eyes in the forest. Her woman’s intuition was not wrong: this was the man that she was supposed to love, whether he was ill, or no. Catherine would embrace that courage that Abigail had instilled in her.
A new thought came to mind, and a postscript was necessary.
And so you know, Abigail has been in seclusion due to her love for Felton. Please tell him to not lose hope. The love that he seeks is on the horizon.
Chapter 33
Jasper read the letter in his study, entranced. He had almost entirely given up on the notion of Catherine making a sudden return. He was willing to wait for her, no matter how long it took. Now, she was returning of her own volition, and Jasper could not be happier with the outcome.
Still, it troubled him that she was holding onto the hope of still healing him. For Jasper, this seemed improbable. Still, her determination only made him love her more, and he would certainly do anything that she instructed him to do.
He walked over to the window, the letter still in his hand. Was there a chance that everything would work out? He wished to see her that very moment, but seeing as it was rather late at night, that would not be possible. He would go to her the very next morning. Jasper was quite sure that she would be in the forest, and he would meet her there, where he would ask for her hand in marriage once more. But should he do that? Should he press her again so quickly when every ounce of his being wished for it?
There was a knock upon the door, and Felton saw himself in. “How are you getting on?” Felton asked.
“As well as can be expected.”
“Is that another letter from the doctor?” Felton asked, deep concern in his voice.
“It is from Catherine.”
Felton stepped in closer, then seated himself upon a chair in front of the desk. “Does she still refuse you?”
A wide grin came to Jasper’s lips. “I think that she is coming around.”
“That is surprising. She must be a lady of true courage.”
Although Jasper wished to touch upon that further, there were more important matters to attend to. “She mentions Abigail in her letter.”
At this, Felton perked up. “Is that so?”
