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Chapter 141
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Much to her dismay, his face changed at the mention of the other woman, and he went to answer the door.
Madame. So that was the way his servants addressed Amanda. Of course. What better way to call a mistress of a magnificent French house?
That was when Ava realized, by marrying him, she must learn to accept the fact that her fate would forever intertwined with Amanda. Since they shared a child together, Amanda was an inseparable part of his life. And hers. Until forever.
Entirely displeased, Ava watched indignantly as he opened the door and took the paper from the butler's hand. After dismissing the servant, he unfolded the letter and began to read. An instant frown appeared between his brows.
"What happened?"
She asked as she came up behind him, but he folded the letter before she could read it.
"It's Lillian. She is serio
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Disgraceful Chapter 142
The next few hours felt like years as he waited outside Amanda's chamber while Doctor Engelbert and his nurse wife taking care of her. After what seemed like an eternity, the doctor finally came out the room."She is going to be fine." said the doctor with a reassuring smile."I must say it's a miracle that her injury is not life-threatening. She could have split her head open."The words brought him an instant flood of relief, that soon fleeted when he saw the severity of her injury. The doctor had put roughly twenty stitches on her face and, with his positive yet ambiguous statement, had indicated that even if the wound healed well, Amanda would never look the same. The accident would leave her a permanent mark on the most visible place.Soon as the doctor left, Ashton withdrew to his chamber. He dropped onto the nearest sofa, gazing into the crackling blaze in the fireplace. H
Disgraceful Chapter 143
Despite her resolve to face her new family with her head held high, Ava found herself sighing in relief at the sight of the empty table when she stepped into the dining room the next morning. The prospect of facing her new relatives was thoroughly disconcerting, even more so when she knew they were not entirely pleased to welcome her.A male servant seated her next to the big chair at the head of the long table, which seemingly belonged to her husband. As she waited for the food to be served, she glanced nervously over her shoulder at the door, half expecting somebody would appear there.She was beginning to regret her decision to go downstairs. Polly had offered to send her breakfast to her chamber, but she declined. She decided to face her new family instead of avoiding them. She was mulling over her foolish decision to show up on her own when suddenly a plate landed on the table with a loud clattering noise. Startled, she turned to find a
Disgraceful Chapter 144
Ignoring the maid's panicked apologies, he cursed his own negligence. He should have Amanda removed to one of the room downstairs. He should have fastened the balcony door with a bar."Amanda,"He called softly, as if she was a scared animal that must be approached slowly and steadily. His heart stopped when she turned her head and spun around to face him. Moonlight cast a ghastly shadow over her wounded face. She peered at him with a cold, menacing look."You lied to me. I will have to live with this ugly scar for the rest of my life."Despite a rising surge of terror, he attempted a firm yet gentle voice as he carefully took a step forward."Get down, Amanda. Let's talk inside.""I don't want to listen to your shit!!!"She yelled loudly, making him stop with a start."What will all the men think of me now?!!! They will say I'm a monster...""You're still beautiful
Disgraceful Chapter 145
Sometime later, rumpled and sated, Amanda crawled atop him like a drowsy cat. Purring in satisfaction, she snuggled comfortably against his chest."Promise me you'll never try to hurt yourself again."He said, staring idly to the ceiling. She turned to look up at him."Why does it matter to you?""Because I truly care about you."The simple words seemed to touch her, because she went still. After a long moment, the pensive look replaced by her usual playfulness."I forgot how good it was."She drew circles on his chest with her fingertip, and smiled as she noticed what the careless touch did to his body."Did you miss me when I left?""Yes." He admitted reluctantly. It was strange that they could talk about their feelings like this. In the past, they had never talked to each other after lovemaking. Yes, they did talk during the torrid session, but it w
Disgraceful Chapter 146
When he finally managed to get away from Amanda and returned home, he was glad he met nobody but some scurrying servants on his way to his chamber. Once the door closed, he settled into his bed. He'd never felt so weary, so lightheaded, so spent. And so terribly wretched.A faint odor of his male substance mixed with Amanda's feminine musk still lingered on his skin, clinging to his nostrils. He left her house without taking a bath, knowing that it would only lead to another torrid session in the tub. Amanda was talented and she knew how to please him more than any other woman. But this, his secret tryst with Amanda, no matter how righteous the purpose was, could never be justified.He cursed himself for his lack of judgement. If only he could turn back time he'd never given Amanda access to an extravagant sum that she could buy a horse. He shouldn't have lavished Amanda to a large extent. No.
Disgraceful Chapter 147
"It smells like hell!"Amanda complained once the cover of the pot was removed. A strong herbal odor wafted through the air. They were in a large salon in the French house, sitting on a velvet upholstered coach."Try it. It works wonders."He showed the faint, faded line across his palm, persistently convincing the reluctant Amanda to try the Gypsi medicine. After a good long while, finally she allowed him to apply the ointment to the stitched wound."Let it absorb for a while. Don't touch or wipe it."Amanda crinkled her noise and started complaining again, but he insisted, carefully smearing the foul cream all over her wound."You'll look just the same as before. You'll forget you ever got this wound."To his great relief, the stinking medicine decreased her mood for amorous act. When he first arrived, she had pulled him down to kiss him and climbed onto his lap, but now she was reclining on
Disgraceful Chapter 148
"No," She pulled away from his touch abruptly, startling them both."Not like this. Not here."Hastily she slid down the desk and retreated a step away from him, her hands slightly trembling as she adjusted her robe. This didn't feel right. There was no honest passion in his touch, no fierce, genuine urgency. It felt like he saw her as another duty, another chore to get through."I... I think I'd better go. You still have a lot of work and you need a good rest afterward. See you in the morning."And without waiting for his reply, she fled out of the room.Something was terribly wrong. She didn't have any concrete proof, or even clues of what was wrong, but every instinct in her told her that he concealed something from her. She determined to find out what was behind his strange behavior and she wouldn't stop until she got to the bottom of it.*****Ava awoke to a light kiss on he
Disgraceful Chapter 149
Later in the evening, Ava checked her reflection in the mirror, and couldn't help but feeling satisfied with what she was looking at. She looked fine, to say the least. Today she was feeling beautiful. Her flawless face was fresh and glowing, her black hair tumbled in glorious mass over her shoulders. She was wearing a muted purple nightgown. The shade flattered her pale skin and accentuated her eyes. Entirely happy with her look, she stepped out of the bathroom and into her chamber.Ashton was sitting in the middle of her bed in his silk dressing gown, leaning against the headboard with a book in his hand. When their gazes met, he tossed the book aside. Eyes locked with his, she climbed into bed and came toward him. She wasted no time in showing what she wanted. Without a moment's hesitation, she unfastened his robe and pushed it off his shoulders. In return, he ran his hands up her smooth haunches, pushing the hem of her nightgown up over her hips to cup her b
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Disgraceful Chapter 187
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
Disgraceful Chapter 186
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
Disgraceful Chapter 185
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
Disgraceful Chapter 184
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
Disgraceful Chapter 183
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
Disgraceful Chapter 182
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
Disgraceful Chapter 181
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
Disgraceful Chapter 180
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
