Page 8 of Treating a Sinful Earl
“Do you wish to travel one day?” Jasper was unsure why this question was released from his lips.
Catherine’s face lit up with her response. “Very much so! I have been confined to Bath all of my life. There are so many places that I wish to see and adventures I wish to have. I imagine, because of your position, that you have travelled much.”
Jasper’s chest constricted. “That is untrue. I, like you, wish to see much, but there are certain circumstances which prevent it.”
“Such as?” Catherine asked, knitting her brow, and cocking her head to the side.
Before Jasper could get a chance to respond, he felt a clap upon his back, and Felton said, “How are you carrying on, old man?”
Although Jasper dearly loved his friend, it was vexing that Felton chose to intrude at such a moment. “Lady Trowbridge and I were delighting in conversation.” He lifted his brow. “Right before you arrived.”
It was apparent that Felton sensed the invisible jab, for he visibly softened, looking towards Catherine, and saying, “I have intruded.”
“Not in the slightest, Mr Andrews. Your company is most welcome.”
Despite Catherine’s affability, Jasper did wish to tell Felton to back away and give him more time. But seeing that Catherine truly did enjoy Felton’s company, Jasper decided to let it go. “How was your dance with Miss Hatchet?” Jasper asked.
Felton cleared his throat and straightened his cravat, clearly proud of himself. “She is a most excellent lady and I delighted in her company. I must say, Lady Trowbridge, you choose exemplary friends.”
“She has always been a marvellous friend, and if it were not for her, I would scarce attend any of these events.”
Jasper could not help but add, “And if it were not for Mr Andrews, I would never do the same.”
Andrew added, “That is what friends are for, my lord. I would hate to see you wasting away in that impressive estate of yours, listening to the Dowager Countess all day long.”
It was another delightful jab, and Jasper found himself grinning with teeth closed. Was his estate truly impressive? He really did not think so, but if Catherine was impressed by this statement, then all the better.
But why did he wish to impress her? Catherine seemed the sort of lady that was very much not impressed by such things. It was the simple things in life that she had a taste for, and that was why Jasper was so instantly fond of her.
“Where is the champagne?” Felton asked, looking all around.
Jasper replied humorously, “If you have to inquire, then you already have had too much champagne, for it is in the same spot where you found it the first time.”
“That is not true in the slightest,” Felton assured him. “There were footmen passing it on trays. They have entirely disappeared. Surely, this is a poorly managed ballroom.”
To this, all of them laughed, and Jasper’s attention was returned to the chaperone, whom he had nearly forgotten was in attendance. The woman scowled as though displeased with this latest interaction. So be it. If Catherine was having a good time, as she seemed to be, then that was all that mattered to Jasper in that moment.
Felton finally mentioned, “We should invite Lady Trowbridge and Lady Hatchet to supper sometime at your estate. I am sure that their parents would be amenable.”
Jasper examined Catherine’s response to this. She seemed at a loss for words, and so he decided to be of assistance. “Lady Trowbridge, you would be most welcome at my estate… any time.”
Chapter 4
Once the ball had concluded, Catherine was on cloud nine, but she could not understand why she had ascended to such a great height! Was it because she finally let down her inhibitions, ever so slightly, to attend the ball? No, it was certainly because of the presence of the Earl of Simmons.
“What a marvellous night!” Abigail exclaimed as they walked through the gardens with the moon overhead. “I had such a wonderful time dancing with Mr Andrews.”
Selina remarked, “It seems that you have a new man that you are in love with each week, Abigail. I beg of you not to break Mr Andrews’ heart.”
“I would never do such a thing,” Abigail assured her. “In fact, I have the mind to tell him that I am equally as fond of him as he is of me.”
“How do you know that he is fond of you?” Catherine asked, genuinely interested.
“It is the way that he looks at me,” she replied dreamily. “The way that he dances with me. There is no doubt in my mind that he is in love with me.”
Catherine thought this nearly preposterous. How could Abigail make such an assumption? She also hoped that Abigail would not break his heart, for Mr Andrews seemed like an amusing and kind man.
Oh, why did it even matter? Why was Catherine asking for the signs of love? It was all too clear. She wished to know if Simmons might have such feelings for her.
