Treating a Sinful Earl – Extended Epilogue

Felton and Abigail’s wedding was no less splendid than his own. As Jasper was seated beside his wife, he held her hand tightly and felt a warmth penetrate his chest. Yes, this was what true happiness felt like. He watched as Abigail and Felton kissed, then he leaned over and kissed Catherine. “If it were not for them, we would have never met,” she whispered. 

“Nonsense. We would have found a way to meet anyhow. It was destiny.”

“Do you believe in fate?” Catherine asked. 

“Indeed. I must. There is no other reason why everything came together with such perfection.”

She leaned in and kissed him again, and it was as though the audience of Felton’s wedding entirely disappeared. 

Yes, they had been painfully happy since their own wedding day. They made love every night and often several times. Jasper felt as though he could not get enough of Catherine, and he was eager to begin their family. It did seem as though God had blessed them with much. And even though this wedding was proving to be a delight, Jasper could not wait to take his wife home so that he might be alone with her again. 

The audience cheered and they watched as Felton and Abigail walked back down the aisle hand in hand. Abigail stopped when she reached where Catherine was seated, and the two women embraced. Jasper winked at his friend Felton, and the two men shared a knowing glance. How marvellous it would be if they could raise their families together. 

As the guests stood and made their way to the wedding breakfast, Jasper stopped Catherine. “Give me a few more minutes alone with you,” he pled. 

“You have plenty of moments alone with me,” she quipped. 

“Just a few more.”

They waited until all the guests had departed, and Jasper brought his lips to Catherine’s forehead. “So much happiness. It does not seem real,” she said. 

“It is very real. Love is transformative. You have transformed me. I am a healed man.”

“Do you think that you are entirely healed?”

“I do. I can feel the like. I still take the tinctures that you prescribe. I feel stronger and stronger every day.”

“That is funny because you were rather strong when you were a dying man.” She placed a hand upon his large bicep.

“It is within me where I am strong now. I feel more courage and conviction than ever before.”

Catherine gave a wry smile. “You have no idea how appealing that is to your wife.”

“I only wish to be appealing to you. You and you alone.”

“Then you are succeeding, for I find you captivating.”

“And I you.”

Catherine leaned her head upon his shoulder, and Jasper felt utter contentment with her there. He rested his chin on the top of her head. It was strange how their difference in size only added to his love of her, for their bodies seemed to fit together perfectly. His favourite nights were when Catherine would remain in his arms for the entirety of it. 

“I hope the cottage shall be finished soon,” Jasper said, aggrieved. 

“Patience, my love,” Catherine replied, placing a hand upon his knee. “I enjoy spending time with your mother.”

“As do I, but that estate is yours and mine. I wish for it to remain that way.”

“Be still. All in good time.”

For the most part, the dowager countess did manage to keep her distance, but she would sup with them at night, and Jasper anticipated dining with his wife and his wife alone. The cottage was quickly commissioned upon his grounds, and now it was a matter of waiting. Till then, he looked forward to sitting at the head of the dinner table with only one guest: the most beautiful woman in the world. 

“We must go now,” Catherine suggested. 

“Just a few moments longer.”

“But the other guests will think that something is amiss.”

“If you insist.”

Jasper did not wish to go, but when Catherine wanted something, he always gave it to her. He stood and extended his hand to help her up. Once she was standing, Jasper escorted her to where the other guests were already dining upon their breakfasts. It was a perfect day, nearly as perfect as the day that he and Catherine were wed…a day he would never forget. 

Once Catherine was seated, he excused himself in order to quickly speak with Felton. He found his dear friend as he was pouring a drink. “You have done well for yourself,” Jasper said. 

“I do not understand my good fortune. You appear ridiculously happy,” Felton commented. 

“I am. I have everything that I need in life.” He glanced across the way to admire his wife as she chatted with another guest. “We must be sure to take care of our treasures.”

“What an odd thing to say. Take care of our wives?” Felton asked. 

“Indeed. Although I suppose there is no sense in even mentioning that.” Jasper watched as Felton poured a second drink and handed it to him. 

“There is no sense in mentioning it.” He gazed off to where Abigail was holding someone else’s child. “My God, Jasper! I am so terribly in love. The sensation is thrilling…and also terrifying.”

“Yes, we are afraid of losing what we love,” Jasper mused. “But if we live in fear, then we can never fully love. You are in for quite a sumptuous adventure.”

“My wedding night,” Felton sighed. “It is all that I can think about.”

Jasper could not help but laugh. “Yes, I know the feeling. Although these days, everything still feels like the first time. It is rather vexing.”

“Why is that?” Felton asked. 

“Because I always want to be alone with my wife,” he replied darkly. “But enough talk of this, for a fear that you might be picturing my wife in your mind this very moment.”

“Ha! No, I was picturing my own. Although I cannot deny your wife’s beauty.”

“Let us stop talking about my wife’s beauty before I lose my mind. Tell me, plans for the honeymoon?”

“I’m taking a page from your book,” Felton said humorously. “We are spending the honeymoon here. There is no sense in travelling when there is nothing I wish to see more than Abigail. She has changed, you know.”

“What do you mean?” Felton asked. 

“She does not desire to go to parties and balls. We have spent countless nights alone, and although it has been rather difficult not putting my hands all over her, I must say that these nights have been some of the best in memory.”

Jasper smiled in recognition. “You need not say more. I feel the same about my own circumstances. It is amusing how we go through life thinking that we need so much. That we need to travel to distant lands and have adventures. In truth, one’s contentment can be found in the embrace of another.”

Felton took a long sip of his drink. “You have become sappy in your old age.”

“Ha! That would be the truth. I would not change it for the world.”

“Do you ever fear, old chap, that your condition might worsen again?”

Jasper had to think of this. “Yes, it has crossed my mind. In the end, there is no point wasting one’s life in fear. There is too much to look forward to, and I know that Catherine’s tinctures are keeping the ailment at bay.”

“Any remedies for fertility?” Felton elevated his brow. 

“Why would you ask such a thing?”

“Because I intend to produce many children with Abigail, and any help that we can receive is welcome.”

He placed a hand upon Felton’s shoulder. “I have a feeling that you will not need any help.”

They shared a knowing glance. Of course, Jasper was just as desperate for children, but it was too soon to tell. Even if Catherine was not able to bear children, Jasper would be content in her company all the same. Still, the prospect of seeing little ones with their mother’s beauty and their father’s good sense would be most agreeable. 

As he looked to Catherine once more, he felt the desperate need to return to her. But just as soon as he saw Selina approach her, he paused. “Will this prove to be trouble?” Jasper muttered under his breath. 

Felton examined the scene. “I am unsure. Abigail has said that she wanted nothing to do with Selina until after the wedding. I wonder how the girl knew to come here?”

“In case you have not realized, weddings are announced in the newspaper.”

“Right.” Felton scratched his head. “I fear that we might have to wait this one out or see if the wives need our assistance.”

Jasper examined Catherine keenly, looking for any signs that she might need his support. From what he could tell, this was something that Catherine wished to handle alone. 

***

“What are you doing here?” Catherine asked in shock.

Selina said, “May I be seated?”

She cleared her throat before replying, “If you wish.”

Selina sat and looked all around. There was fear on her countenance, and Catherine had to think what it must feel like to show up somewhere unannounced. “Such a lovely affair. I wish I could have seen the ceremony.”

“Selina, I must be frank with you,” Catherine went on. “You were not invited here, and I must ask for your reason for coming.”

“I feel dreadful. The past few months have been torture. I miss your friendship and Abigail’s. I know that what I have done is wrong, but I would like to make amends. The two of you look so happy.” She reached across and took Catherine’s hand. “I want to share in this happiness and put the past behind us.”

Catherine sighed. “It will be considerably difficult to put the past behind us now, Selina. We have been through too much. You were deceitful to us both, and that is something not quickly forgotten. I hope that you understand.”

Selina swiftly pulled her hand away. “But we all make mistakes. I thought that I was acting in the best interests of both of you. Clearly, this was not the case. Now, you are both in love and wed, and I must admit that I was wrong all the while. Please forgive me, Catherine. I do not know why I acted the way that I did.”

Selina was pleading with her, and Catherine was unsure of what to do. Yes, she wanted to forgive her friend and put the past behind them, but there was too much to consider. She had felt happier and more free since their friendship had paused. Was Catherine now strong enough to forgive the past and move forward? 

“We can try, Selina. But I shall not tolerate any lies in the future. What is most important to me now is my sacred marriage. Nothing can get in the way of that.”

“And I promise that I shall never get in the way of it! Oh, I will work so hard to win your trust again. I promise that I will not let you down this time!”

Catherine searched Selina’s eyes. Yes, there was genuine compunction there, and this led her to wonder if perhaps she was making the right choice in rekindling their friendship. “All right. Let us give it a try, moving slowly. Abigail might very well feel the same.”

Selina got up and embraced Catherine, holding her tight. “You shall not regret this. I want to see your family grow! I want to be there for all of it! Promise me that you will allow it.”

“Of course, I will allow it.”

Selina removed herself from the embrace and said, “I shall go to Abigail at once and wish her well. Oh, I hope that she forgives me too!”

With that, Selina rushed off, and Jasper came to take her place. “Are you all right?” he asked. 

“I think so. But I am still unsure, my love. What she did was so egregious. It cannot be denied. She almost kept us apart.”

Jasper positioned a chair in front of her and sat, taking her hand. “Nothing was going to keep us apart.”

“Yes, but how dreadful it would have been. I trusted her for most of my life, and when I needed her the most, she did something to Abigail and I that we cannot soon forget.”

Catherine gazed off into the distance where Abigail stood with Selina. Abigail had her arms crossed in front of her chest, and Selina pled, using her hands for emphasis. “It seems rather dreadful that she would plead for forgiveness on such an important day,” Jasper shared. 

“I agree. If you ask me, she might merely be asking for more attention! It is so silly to think that one would interrupt a friend’s wedding day to ask for clemency.”

“Let it go,” Jasper instructed. “There is no sense in worrying yourself over it. Allow Abigail to make her choice and let us enjoy the rest of the day. We are free to do what we choose in this life, and thanks to you, I have a long and happy life.”

Finally, Catherine was able to smile. “That you do. How are you feeling now?”

“As I already said, better than ever. There is no turning back now.”

“No…there is no turning back.”

Catherine inhaled slowly. Her husband was right. There was no sense in worrying about Selina returning to her life. Selina could not harm her now that she had her husband to protect her. And what’s more, she had unbounded love, which was even more of a protection. 

“Come, let us go. I fear that I am tired,” Catherine said, instinctually bringing a hand to her belly. 

Jasper caught this immediately. “Do you think…?”

“I am unsure. I merely feel tired and like I would rather be at home. I see that Selina has departed. Allow me to say goodbye to Abigail and we can go.”

Jasper grinned broadly. “That sounds like a fine idea.”

Catherine went to Abigail, and Jasper went to Felton. When she and her friend were entirely alone, Catherine asked, “Have you forgiven Selina?”

Abigail turned downcast. “I told her that I needed time to think. Today is the most important day of my life, and I did not want it spoiled with quarrelling.”

“I cannot imagine how you must feel,” Catherine went on. “If she were to have shown up on my wedding day, I would not have dealt with it so well.”

Abigail shrugged. “What else was I to do? There were tears in her eyes. I told her that we would discuss the matter on another occasion. She left in a huff.”

Catherine embraced her friend. “Do not think of this now. You are still celebrating! And your wedding night is ahead of you.” She winked. 

Abigail coloured. “I know.” She looked to her husband. “And I am so impossibly excited.”

Catherine and Jasper made it home with haste, and once at the house, they went straight to their room which they had left some hours before, having to pull away from resting in each other’s arms. Now, they were back to their sacred space, and nothing could bring Catherine more joy. 

The ritual was always the same. Jasper undressed her fully and gazed at her, then Catherine undressed him, and they stood in one another’s arms, gently swaying. This could not last for long because the heat would rise, and Jasper would quickly bring her to the bed where their lovemaking would commence. On this particular afternoon, her husband went slowly, savouring each moment and taking the time to kiss her entire body. This kissing led Jasper to spend some time between her legs, and when he did so, Catherine threw her head back in rapture and tried not to scream. 

Behind her, she clutched the pillow beneath her head, exploding into waves of rapture that were too intense for words. When he was done, he came up to greet her and softly rubbed her head, looking deeply into her eyes all the while. Now, it was Catherine’s turn to pleasure him much the same way. She directed him onto his back, and from there, she went down to place her lips upon his most sensitive area, which was as hard as oak and only signified that his desire for her would never wane. 

“I cannot take this anymore,” he said, swiftly taking her face and bringing her back up to his, where they languished in a long kiss. Now, Jasper came over her, and Catherine felt that moment of nerves that she always felt before he dipped his large self inside of her. This he could do with ease now, for Catherine was quite accustomed to his body. Whilst he undertook his rhythmic lovemaking, his gaze bore into hers, and Catherine never wished to look away. She delighted in peering into his eyes while they shared their most intimate moments. 

Not having enough, Jasper rolled onto his back, taking her with him. Atop him, he praised her for the goddess that she was as she pressed her hands into his chest and rocked her hips along with his, savouring each sensation. This went on for some time before her husband gently and lovingly bit her forearm, pleading with her to not stop because he was close to ecstasy. Finally, Jasper let go, unleashing himself within her, and Catherine felt his manhood tense even more as he did so. 

This time, she as well felt herself on the brink as he was, and together, they felt one another’s climax, Catherine not being able to prevent herself from calling out. The exhaustion overtook her, and she collapsed onto his strong chest, her hair cascading over him. They both breathed heavily, but neither had the energy to move. Finally, Catherine smiled and said, “You shall always be my love.”

Jasper replied, “Yes, of course. It was written in the stars.”

THE END

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