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Chapter 104
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2024-10-29 19:42:56His 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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"Rest assured that I don't plan a future in which you have no share."The deep, solemn note in his voice stunned her. She watched unblinkingly as he dipped a hand into his pocket to extract a small velvet box. Her heart leaped at the very sight of it."I believe it's yours.""What is it?"She asked, her voice quivering a bit.Instead of answering with words, he flipped the lid open. Ava caught her breath, for a long while, she forgot to blink.Before her was the most breathtaking jewel she had ever seen. It wasn't extravagant or ostentatious in size or design, but it was just perfect. It was beautiful in its classic simplicity, a timeless, oval-shaped emerald ring adorned with little diamonds around it. The brilliant stone sparkled as he held it between his fingers, studying the ring with a look of reverence."It has belonged to my family for several generations. Ev
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The last morning before the day of departure, Ava and Ashton took a stroll along the orchard behind the castle. The weather was perfect for a long walk around the immense field. Ava gave one last look at every corner of the estate. Tomorrow she would leave it all behind, along with her old life. Consumed by the prospect of seeing her father and her mother again after a good long while, she felt a mixture of fear and longing. She wondered how her father would take this unpredictable turn of events.Will her father allow this union? He has no reason to object. But she suspects her father would prefer a lesser, more manageable candidate. From his previous choice, Ava supposed her father would like to have his son-in-law eating out of his hand, for he assumed a man of some sort would be easier to control.After going around the orchard, they turned back for home, but as they reached the edge of the orchard, he asked her to rest a while under a m
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Ava tore her mouth from Ashton's and opened her eyes abruptly when he was hauled away from her with a brutal force. The attacker swung Ashton around and the next second, a sharp, heavy thud rang out as his head spun from the force of the sudden strike."Oh God!"Ava gasped, covering her mouth with both hands. A sudden chill seized her as she caught sight of the intruder. It was Magnus, as she had never seen him before. His face was contorted with rage.A hot blush spread across her cheek, as it occurred to her what Magnus had just witnessed a moment ago. Shaking with mortification, Ava wished the ground beneath her would split open and swallowed her. She knew it was only a matter of time before Magnus found out about them, but she never imagined that he would come upon them in such an embarrassing situation.With a grunt of effort, Ashton managed to shove Magnus backward several steps. Watching Magnus with a stony
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"What I wanted?!"Magnus bawled and she flinched. Her eyes widened in anticipation of the violent outburst of his anger, but when he spoke, the anguish in his voice wrung her heart."All I want is you. I wanted to defeat him for you. For us."Magnus lurched back as tears sprang from his eyes. He withdrew his sword and tossed it aside. The metal clattered quietly as it hit the ground. He sank to his knees, his voice broke as he wailed."What happened to us, love? When did your heart go? You loved me just the other day."Ava turned to stone, suddenly choked with guilt. Magnus' face wavered and blurred as tears filled her eyes, rolling down her cheeks in a plentiful stream. She began to tremble, covering her mouth as helpless sobs shook her entire body."I'm sorry, Magnus, I..."Her voice trailed off. She never felt the way she was feeling right now. Never crossed her mind that she would be the reason of his despair. Never
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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.
Disgraceful Chapter 179
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
