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Chapter 160
Stung at the unexpected jab, Ava was temporarily speechless. Just then, the woman's husband came wrapping her arms around his wife. Perfectly unaware of what just happened, the man nodded and led the woman away. The woman flashed her a scornful glance a moment before leaving. Ava froze, too dazed that she was unable to react until she felt Ashton's hand on the small of her back.
"I told you it's not as tough as it seems. Actually it's quite easy, isn't it?"
She tried to think of a direct, clear way to tell him, but none came to mind. Another peer came to greet them and she stood beside him as still as a statue. Though she directed her gaze straight ahead without really looking at anyone in the crowd, she could feel the burn of curious eyes around her. Just as the growing tension became excruciating, she caught a familiar face amidst the crowd.
It was Lady Byrne, gawking at her as if seeing a ghost. When their gazes met,
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Disgraceful Chapter 161
Soon as Amanda disappeared through the door, she dropped into the coach, laid her head on her crossed arms, and burst into sobs."Darling, are you alright?"Lady Byrne's voice startled her and she looked up to see the lady regarding her with concerned frown. The lady gasped at her tearful face."You poor thing! Come here my dear."Sitting beside her, the lady hugged her and stroked her hair consolingly."I heard everything. That's complete nonsense. Don't listen to that slut Amanda. Nothing comes out of her mouth but lies.""But how-" Ava gasped, then faltered."I was just about to come in when I saw her talking to you.""Mrs. Puck?" Ava's anxious gaze swept around the room, worried that another person might have heard the shameful conversation."I can't find her. Perhaps she has returned home without me. Anyway, you shouldn't listen to that dirty whor
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Soon after Amanda was gone, Ashton wasted no time to search for his wife, andbefore long, found her with Dowager Countess Byrne in a sitting room. He stopped by the door and stood listening to their conversation.He almost choked when he heard Ava spilling the whole story of Amanda's scheme to the countess. Not only he was taken aback, he was also terribly embarrassed and strongly disapproved of her openness in such private matters. But he knew at this point he couldn't interrupt without humiliating himself or anyone. He'd never understand the ways of women. They tended to confide personal secrets in their friends, something that he, and most men, would never do.Much to his surprise, the countess was vehemently on his side. The older woman strongly supported him in her opinion and firmly convinced Ava to trust him and not to doubt his f
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The day began as usual in the Bailey's large countryhouse. Shortly after daybreak, the kitchen was already filled with the delicious aroma of smoked bacon and eggs with freshly baked toast, for the family would start the morning, as any other, with a hearty yet humble breakfast.With a dissatisfied frown on her face, Amanda stared down at the messy scrambled egg and overcooked browned potatoes in her worn tin plate. Her mother, a plump, middle-aged woman with hair the same shade as hers, walked around the table with a plate of sautéed bacon. She took a seat next to her husband, who was stuffing a huge piece of toast into his mouth."You want to eat that food before it gets cold."Mr. Bailey motioned at the untouched food in her daughter's plate. Shaking her head with narrowing eyes, Amanda let out a desperate sigh."I've lost my appetite even before I taste it. This food l
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Mystified by the strangeness of it all, he flipped through the pages, quickly reading through the book, and immediately froze, rooted to the ground as what he discovered in the pages snatched the air from his lungs. Totally unforeseen, unthinkable, and unbelievably devastating, the long-buried secret revealed in the book struck him as a bolt from the blue. It was as if his entire world had been turned upside down in the blink of an eye.Heedless of all else but one thing on his mind, he took the picture and notebook with him, rushing out of the study and right to his chamber. Without thinking, he tossed several random clothes into a valise before snapping it shut. After having his things brought down by his valet, he threw on his winter coat and bounded downstairs."Have a carriage readied for me as soon as possible."He ordered the butler, who seemed more than a bit startled."Pardon me, Your Grace, but Mr. Ingwald is still wa
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"That's complete nonsense!"Lord Carlton bristled, his face flushed, either from anger or mortification."I believe the whole tale in that diary is anything but nonsense, and since you are a constant presence in it, I am sure that you know that everything written in that diary is no fiction. If you have forgotten it all, perhaps a look inside the book will help refresh your memory."He countered with undisguised sarcasm, recalling pages after pages that implied his mother's forbidden liaison with her husband's brother.He wished he never knew such sordid things about his mother, but the words and the undesirable images of the affair had forever burned into his memory. Dear God, he would never be able to remember his mother the same way as before.Under his accusing stare, Lord Carlton's face drawn in stark, forbidding lines. When he finally spoke, his voice p
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Vermont, three days laterFor the rest of the week, time had hung heavy on Ava's hands with nothing to give her relief, not even showers of motherly affection and words of comfort from Lady Byrne. Until the indefinite, agonizing wait eventually ended one fine afternoon, as abruptly and unexpectedly as it had begun. She was having her tea alone in the sitting room when she heard clatter of hooves from the drive, followed by the echo of footsteps in the corridor as the servant hurried to the front door.Setting her cup carelessly on the table, Ava stood up rightaway and hurried out of the room.It's time for her thoughtless husband to explain the reason of his sudden departure and his failure to inform her properly about it. Oh, he better has a good one, because she won't let him get away with this so easily.With an angry swoosh of her skirt, she took a brisk, determ
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"Oh my..." Ava gasped as the words sent a chill into her heart. Ashton paused, as if struck by his own words, but the next second he resumed in the same chilly voice."You can collect all your worldly belongings now or they will be sent to you later. You are free to reside in any other Vermont property, except this one, and you won't be deprived of your birthrights and your allowance, but you are not to show your face in this house ever again.""You're saying that I'm banned from this house?"A look of shocked disbelief registered on Magnus' face, a moment later his expression turned hard."Of course. I have no wish to stay longer in this accursed house. You can have all this godforsaken place to yourself for all I care."He turned to Ava, a determined look painted on his face."But you can't keep her if she choose to leave with me.""Goddamn you!!!"Ashton launched forward, and halted when Ava darte
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He lifted a hand to cup her face, sifting her hair through his fingers."Darling, you don't need to say that. Even if you have, it wouldn't change what I feel for you.""No, you must know the truth. I never let anyone else touch me like you do. Never."Her voice trailed away, her gaze traveled downward for a brief moment, only to raise back to his."Do you really think I would let him kiss me if you didn't come?""It doesn't matter now. All I care about is you stay with me, because I can't bear to lose you."She grasped his hand, stopping it from stroking her hair, and jerked it away."Wait, that means you really think I would just let him, like you said. You're doubting my faithfulness. I can't believe it. After all this time, do you not know me at all? It hurts to know that you think so low of me."She drew away, but he quickly grabbed her by the arms,"No, it's n
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