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Chapter 162
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Soon after Amanda was gone, Ashton wasted no time to search for his wife, and
before 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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Disgraceful Chapter 163
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
Disgraceful Chapter 164
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
Disgraceful Chapter 166
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
Disgraceful Chapter 167
"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
Disgraceful Chapter 168
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
Disgraceful Chapter 169
"Nothing."He softened his voice. Inside the drawer was the fake scar stuffs. One look and it might well be the end of him. Before she could ask another question, he put gentle hands on her arms and pulled her to her feet."I think we still have some time to have breakfast together before the lawyer arrives. Why don't you get dressed now?"She returned to her chamber with a question in mind. What is inside the drawer? Is he still keeping a few mementos of Amanda in there? But she immediately dismissed the thoughts. It was no use looking back to yesterday and dwelling on jealousy. She should move on and leave Amanda in the past where she belonged. Starting from this day, she was all set to scrap the old chapter of her life and begin anew.*****For the next few days, again time rolled by in peace and seclusion. They had the entire time and place to themselves, indulging in leisure pursuits and interests. Ash
Disgraceful Chapter 170
Two stories above the main entrance to the manor, Ashton stood waiting by the window, observing the snow-covered frontyard below through the frosted windowpane. A gilded carriage with Vermont monogram was waiting by the portico, ready to deliver Lord Carlton and Lady Cecily to their new house. Beside him, Ava turned to look into his face. Though he refused to share his true feelings about it with her, she knew that it wasn't anger or pride that was keeping him from saying goodbye, but the unbearable sight of his family stepping out the house for the last time."Won't you bid farewell?"Ava asked, but instead of answering her, he turned around and left. At first she thought he was going downstairs, but he walked past the stairs and headed to one of the parlor that overlooked to the formal garden inside. She followed behind him but halfway down the corridor she halted and waited.Ava knew she shouldn't interfere with his family affair,
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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
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
