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Chapter 100
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2024-10-29 19:42:56The words knocked the wind out of her. His expression remained blank when she gaped at him in profound shock.
"After I left you at the inn, I was keeping close watch on you. I knew you went to see him and asked him to come away with you. I saw and heard everything. You were waiting for him to come at midnight, weren't you?"
She riveted on the spot, stunned to the point of speechlessness. Vaguely in the midst of bewilderment, she heard his quiet voice.
"It was a shame he never came."
Tears guttered down her cheeks in a helpless stream, and when she realized that she was weeping, it was already too late to conceal it.
"Don't cry. What are you crying for?"
He frowned with a severe look of irritation.
"He doesn't deserve your tears. He is unworthy of you."
"You were there?"
She choked out a broken whisper.
"The night you met me before I ran away....
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Disgraceful Chapter 101
Is it real? Or is it just a beautiful dream?The thought drifted around her consciousness as Ava awoke the next morning. She got up and started the day just like any other day. Polly helped her to get dressed and arrange her hair, then she went to the dining room. She stopped in the doorway when she saw him there, sitting on the opposite side of the table. He was reading a local newspaper. He lifted his eyes from the paper, meeting her gaze, and her mind strayed back to last night."Good morning."He greeted her in a calm, self-possesed manner, pulling her wandering mind back into the present."Good morning."Returning his greeting in the same formal manner, Ava glimpsed a servant waiting for her in the corner. She stepped into the dining room and let the servant seated her."You slept well, I hope?"He asked her as the servant put a napkin on her lap."Yes,
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The words robbed her breath for words. Before she could think of anything, he bent toward her and cradled her face in one hand, another hand took her arm. When he pulled her closer, she thought he was going to kiss her rightaway, but he only ran his fingers along the silky cheek. He stared silently into her face as if he was memorizing every line and contour, as if he wanted to have a lasting imprint of her visage. Heart pounding in violent rhythm, she sat very still under his close observation. Without warning, he caught at her wrist and pulled her towards him. Startled, she resisted a shriek when he brought her into his lap.She was not prepared for such intimate situation. In the castle and during the morning walks the other days, they were never alone for a long while. So far, every touch and kiss in the stolen moments was brief and light. Now that they were in the privacy of the enclosed space, she had no ide
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The hallway was empty and quiet as usual when Ashton made his way downstairs. The hands of the big clock in the hallway pointed eight past ten. Unusually for him, today he was several minutes late for breakfast. He got into the large dining room to find no one waiting for him at the table. Hubert greeted him and he headed to his chair. Apparently he wasn't the only one who was late this morning."She isn't here yet?"He asked as he occupied the seat drew back by Hubert."Miss Banks has gone early in the morning, Sir. She asked me to tell you not to wait for her.""Gone?"Ashton turned abruptly, startling Hubert who was going to set up the napkins on his lap. The butler regained his composure swiftly."For a morning walk, I suppose..."A sudden alarm surged up within him."Is Brock or Garrison with her?"
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His voice was not loud, but being in close proximity to the staff behind them, obviously they could hear him very clearly."Keep your voice down, for goodness sake. You don't need to humiliate me in front of your staff."She whispered under her breath.Glancing down at her, for a moment he turned silent. A few seconds later, he released her and muttered for her ears alone."From now on, you will stay within the grounds of the castle. One step over the gate, and I'll have you locked in your room for a full month. Do you hear me?"For a moment, Ava could only stared at him in utter bewilderment. The current incident had showed her the bloody possessive side of him."I haven't the slightest intention of running away."She tried a softer tone in hopes that he would come to his senses. She didn'
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A soft rustling voice from behind stirred him from his musings. He turned to see her feminine form in a short distance, wearing a long, ruffle-laced nightdress. The hem of her gown trailed along the dampened grass as she walked across the lawn.Storming over her in a flash, he grabbed her arm in an iron grip. Flinched, she opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something but he ignored her."Blast it! Garrison!!"He called out, hauling her with him as he started for the house."Wait! What are you going to do?"She exclaimed, struggling in his grasp."I'll have him fired."She stopped abruptly and wrested her arm free, forcing him to take a halting step."He does nothing wrong. He is right outside my door."His brows furrowed as he sent her a suspicious gaze."T
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The following day after the unexpected reconciliation that was initiated by her, Ashton secluded himself in the quiet privacy of his study. He had a lot on his mind, he needed some time to get accustomed to the new situation, and to contemplate the sudden swing of emotion that overtook him lately.For the first time in a very long time, he felt truly alive, and he was glad for the chance to live life like he had never felt before. But along with joy and happiness, he was also bedeviled by the fear of losing her, and the long-ago heartache caused by painful parting. It had long gone, and he thought he had buried it in the pit of his being, but the ghost of the past wouldn't let him send it away.Yesterday morning when he thought he had lost her, a sudden burst of recollection flashed through his mind, and he was taken back to his youthful days, almost a decade ago.Vermont
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Ignoring him, Ava quickened her pace. Brock, misunderstood her reaction as fear, stormed toward Freddie."Blast your eyes, bastard! Get out!"Startled, Ava opened her mouth to stop him, but the hefty man already clasped Freddie's collar."Brock! No!"Ava darted toward them, gasping in shock when Brock hauled the poor Freddie up into the air."Let him go!"Brock seemed reluctant, but finally he jerked the scared, breathless man free from his clutch."Thank you, miss..."Freddie panted, stumbling several steps back."Please tell His Grace, Lord Carlton sent for him. There's an urgent matter in the estate. His presence is required immediately.""How come he could find this place?"Before long, Ava stood by the window in his study, staring idly at the garden outside. She was completely perturbed by the fact that someone who knew her, no matte
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The kinder woman sputtered in clear indignation."Don't be so quick to judge. What if she is really his relatives?""For heaven's sake. Only a fool would believe that."Ava turned around and left as quietly as she came, unable to take it no more. Later when she told it to Polly, her friend didn't look a bit surprised."Everybody knew about you and him, from day one." Polly said. "I was going to tell you, but later I decided not to. For the first time in a long time, you looked really, really happy and I didn't want to spoil it."Polly stopped momentarily from doing her job, regarding her with a reassuring gaze."It must be difficult at first, but you'll get used to it. You'll come to a point where it can't hurt you anymore."Ava flinched at her friend's casual remarks."What do you mean?""Your mother has gone through this, and she survives and thrives
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Carrying the old, unsent letter in his hand, Ashton took a determined step to Lord Carlton's bedchamber. The door was left slightly opened, as to make it easier for the servants to hear if the lord rang the bell. He stopped in front of the doorway and peered inside. Through the narrow opening, he could see his uncle across the room, sitting on the wheelchair by the window, gazing out into the wintry garden outside."Do come in."The lord called without glancing his way. Despite the head injury, his uncle hadn't lost his usual alertness, and the wheelchair didn't make him look less forbidding. He was very fortunate the injury didn't cause him any permanent damage, and though he hadn't quite regained his normal strength until this day, the doctor said that he would no longer need the device in a couple of weeks.Lord Carlton turned in his wheelchair to face him as he entered the room."What is it?"His uncle
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Present DayWhen Ava peered into his chamber this morning, she found that he'd been able to get out of bed without any help. He stood in front of the mirror with a brush covered with lather in hand, meeting her gaze within the reflection. He paused, watching her breeze into the room and walk toward him."Oh, you're up already. Do you feel any better today?"She asked casually."Very much so. I think I'm going to have some fresh air. I'm tired of being confined in this room."Stopping within a foot from him, she glanced at the shaving equipment on the dresser."Let me help you.""There's no need-""Sit over there."She ignored him, motioning him to sit on the sidetable. Obediently, he did her bidding, half-sitting on the edge of the sidetable. With a brush, she smoothed the lather evenly ove
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For a moment, she was quite bewildered by his request, but then she realized, by asking her to do so, he was trying to be completely truthful to her, to share his darkest secrets with her, no matter how sordid and shameful they were, to let her see the ugly side of him and to trust her without reserve.She settled back into the chair and took the letter from his hand. She opened the envelope and unfolded the letter, clearing her throat before she started reading,"Dear Carlton,I hope you will understand why I choose this way. I can no longer carry on in this fashion. It's not that I don't love you enough to go on. No words can express how much I love you. I die a little inside each time I see you. You can't imagine how difficult it is for me, but we both know that this is the best for us. I know you can't desert your family, and I don't blame you, for I can never do that to my son eith
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Several hours later..."This is unspeakable. I can't believe it."Magnus' voice carried clearly across the hall. He turned around abruptly, wild sparks shooting from his eyes as he gazed furiously at the woman sitting in an armchair on the other side of the room."For Christsakes, why would you do this, Mother. How could you?"Lady Cecily stared into the void without so much as a word. Her eyes devoid of emotions, her refined feature as hard as granite.Sitting in a wheelchair pushed by a servant, Lord Carlton entered the parlor. Behind him are two of the guardsmen. Shooting a bitter look at his wife, he uttered with a composed voice."You'll be up before the magistrate to face the legal consequences of your crime. I've sent words to the authorities. The Constable will pick you up at first light."The lady took the notice with a pr
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With soundless steps, Ava sneaked her way to Lord Carlton's bedchamber. The door was slightly opened, allowing a shaft of light from inside the room to spill out into the dark corridor. Stopping by the doorstep, she peeked into the room through the small opening. In the middle of the large bed, the lord lay as white and still as death. A candle burned in the nightstand, casting a dim glow in the gloom of the chamber.Drawing a long, fortifying breath, Ava slipped into the chamber. Crossing the room, she moved around the bed and sat in the chair nearby, gazing regretfully upon the lifeless face.To have a death on her conscience was too great a burden to bear. Perhaps she was a fool to think that to confess her sin and beg forgiveness from the insensible victim would give her a little comfort, but she just couldn't help it."I'm so sorry, My Lord." She began."I thou
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There hadn't been much progress on Lord Carlton's condition the following day. He remained unconscious, only a faint pulse indicated there was life in there, yet it hung by a tenuous thread. In the morning, Doctor Haynes returned to check on him. Ashton asked him if there was any hope, and the doctor shook his head slightly in answer.In contrast to her dramatic reaction over Lord Carlton's condition the day before, Lady Cecily showed little interest in taking care of her husband. Instead, it was a loyal servant that had worked for the family for nearly fourty years who seemed to care deeply about him, feeding him with broth and water every hour, and applying soothing balm to his chapped lips. When she had finished her gentle ministrations, the old maid would kneel beside his bed and folded her wrinkled hands, praying for the master's recovery.Inside one of the sitting room in the secluded West Wing, Ashton stood gazing into the fire where
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Ava blanched upon hearing his oath. She'd never heard such ferocity in a person's voice. Quick to notice her sudden pallor, Ashton took her hand, murmured some excuse to Aunt Cecily and Magnus, and led her out of the room."Your hands are so cold," He looked down at her hand in his hold with concerned frown. Too overwhelmed with distress, she let him take her to her chamber upstairs."Nobody will know about it." He said once the door closed behind them, and when she remained mute, pale and cold with fear, he headed to the sideboard and poured a glass of brandy. He made her finish the drink in two long swallows, and took the empty glass from her trembling hand. Setting the glass in the nearest sideboard, he placed his hands on her arms, forcing her to look directly into his eyes."Listen, I've told the guards never to breathe a word about it to anyone. I'll replace them immediately. Don't be afraid, I won't let anything bad happen to y
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The next thing she knew, Ashton and the guardsmen already moved with mad haste to save Lord Carlton's life. By sheer luck, one of the guards had managed to get a wagon from a local farmer to bring the wounded lord home. She fixed the bandage and tried to slow down the bleeding, doing the best she could without further question, since the severity of the lord's injury left no time for explanation. Unfortunately the process of removing the lord from the building into the vehicle and the rough journey back home seemed to worsen his condition. Once they arrived home, a servant rushed to fetch the new doctor. During the wait, Ashton could hardly think of anything else. He was too distraught with fear, not certain Lord Carlton would survive another minute. Thankfully, within minutes the doctor arrived with his nurse."I'll do my best."Doctor Haynes promised before closing the door to Lord Carlton's bedchamber.
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It seemed like the matter was urgent and highly confidential, Uncle Carlton didn't even leave his name on the message. Pulling the top drawer, he slipped the note beneath the piles of documents and rushed out of the room.*****By the time Ava returned to the study, an empty room greeted her. A sudden sense of premonition settled over her, and she instantly suppressed it. He might have retired to his chamber, or he might have been doing some other activity in another parlor somewhere in the house, she told herself. Still, she couldn't help but quicken her pace as she rushed through the house, desperate to find him as soon as possible."Edward, where's my husband?" She asked when she came across the butler in the corridor. The butler halted and bowed."His Grace has left the house a few minutes ago, Your Grace."Her heart immediately missed a beat."What?! Where?""I
