Chapter 16

Darling, I hope I didn't make you wait too long..." Magnus came to an immediate halt when his gaze met another person waiting for him there. Ashton turned from the canvas, leaving the paintbrush and the palette to the easel.

Damn, Magnus thought. What a perfect timing.

"Ash... I think you're someone else."

"Obviously."

Ignoring his taunting reply, he looked around at a glance. He hoped Ava had not come here yet.

"She has gone."

Magnus got stiffened at once.

"You've met her? Damn, what have you done to her?"

"It's nothing important. I have to tell you, forget that wench. She's not right for you,  at all."

"And I have to tell you, mind your own fucking business."

"Anything regarding our family honor is my business. Do you know who is she?"

"I damn well know." Magnus snapped. "She is Livingston's offspring."

"So you know she is far below our socially acceptable standard. I have to remind you, you're obliged to avoid everything that will bring shame and disgrace on this family ..."

Magnus held out his hand and shook his head while deliberately giving him a dramatic sigh.

"Pardon. I'm not the least bit interested in listening to your paramount lecture."

"Fine." Ashton replied with the same indifferent tone.

"From now on, you're done with that chit."

Magnus took a quick step toward him, standing just inches away from him, challenging his gaze.

"You don't have authority over me. Damn you, you might be the bloody duke, but you can't dictate my life!"

He considered to do something entirely shocking like gripping his collar and putting a fist into his proud face. God, that would feel terribly great.

"And if you ever, ever offend her again, I swear I will break your neck."

"Go ahead, then." Ashton arched his brow in a mocking way, challenging Magnus' scathing glare.

"Because I don't plan to stop as long as I see it necessary."

Magnus squeezed his fingers until they hurt. He had sworn that the next time he had a duel with him again, he would take nothing but victory. Unfortunately it was still too early now, and he knew better than anyone that Ashton was as dangerous as he was with his sword in fistfight. He couldn't risk another defeat.

One day, he promised to himself. One sweet day.

*****

Standing by the bedroom window, Ava stared at nothing but darkness in the distance. The recent incident had left her in turmoil. Soft moonbeams shone through the room and she looked down at her wrist. A tiny yellow dirt stained the delicate skin there, it must be the spattered ink from the duke's hand.

All the bitter rejection was only a beginning. If she wanted to carry on with this relationship, there would be millions of obstacles to come in the future. Would they have the strength to stand in the storm? Would they ever make it through?

Have faith, she reminded herself again. If a little setback could weaken her will, how could they face a bigger challenge? A great storm might be on its way, but she believed, they would overcome no matter how hard it could be.

*****

"Who's coming at this hour?"

The dawn was just about to set and the sky had just turned into a lighter shade. Polly rushed to the window and peered through the misted glass. She glanced at Ava and gave a teasing smile.

"Guess who?"

She opened the door and Magnus appeared in the doorway.

"Hi Polly." Magnus smirked then his eyes riveted to her.

"Hello,"

His eyes were laced with guilt.

"I apologize I couldn't make it yesterday, dear." He came towards her.

"The old man kept me training. He insisted I shouldn't leave before he thought it was enough."

Ava gave him a thorough glance. Magnus had been training so hard recently. He really determined to prove something to his parents, to himself even more, that he could be better than his cousin, at least in one thing. She could see changes in his appearance. He became more muscular and a bit rough, and it just made him looked so ruggedly handsome.

Polly had disappeared somewhere, leaving them in privacy and he came closer, his hand brushed her cheek.

"I hope he wasn't so mean to you yesterday? I'm sorry if he made you feel so bad."

Terribly, she thought. But she didn't want to provoke him into an unnecessary confrontation.

"Ava, dear. What are you thinking? You should tell me if he hurt you. I will go now and kill him."

"No, no. You need not to worry." She assured him. "It was quite unpleasant, but not something I can't deal with."

"My brave girl" His eyes flickered with admiration. "Today is for you, every second of it. Come on, I'll be with you all day."

He stayed by her side the whole morning, walked her along to the market, his hand never left hers. He asked her the details of what happened in the tower yesterday, and she had no choice but to tell him.

"Bloody arrogant" He grumbled, seemed deeply irritated.

"Sometimes I feel, I've been misplaced for all my life. Really, I don't belong to my family. I can't wait to quit and forever be free from them."

He thought for a moment before continuing.

"Their conceit overwhelms me. They think and act like they are the most perfect, dignified, flawless persons in the world. I can't stand such hypocrisy any longer."

"One could hardly blame them for that.

Your family has an impeccable reputation for hundred of years. Thus far they has never been touched by any scandal or indignity. No wonder they despise me. I was born from misdeed, I live in disgrace, and now I've been soaking in scandal."

He squeezed her hand gently in his hold.

"It's entirely not your fault. You cannot choose the way you came to this world, dear, it was given to you, you can't help it."

She could feel sincerity and acceptance in his voice. Magnus, why did he have to be so perfect? She never met a man as genuine, honest and humble as him.

"And my haughty family, they have their flaws too, although they have successfully kept it hidden from anyone until now. And no matter how great Ashton thinks he is, he cannot escape his tainted past, too..."

In an instant, she got curious. As though he could read her mind, he smirked and pulled her hand.

"Come on, I want to show you something."

***

They arrived at a fancy cottage made of stone before a lake. Although it was just a small property, the structure was designed to perfection in a classic architecture style, and made with the finest materials to the very detail. She had no idea what was the purpose of the cottage. To her surprise, Magnus brought her to the back of the building. He didn't find any difficulty unlocking the back door with a thin wire, like he had done something like this a hundred times before. She smiled at the imaginings of him as a naughty boy. Undoubtedly he had thrown himself into mischief very often.

The door opened with a soft clicking sound, and they ventured into the dark room. He moved in the dark easily, obviously he had been very familiar with this place. He reached the window and pushed the curtains open, soon the room was flooded with natural light.

Dozens of paintings crowding the walls. Hundreds of them were on the floor, some were arranged in horizontal lines leaning to the wall or stacked in a heap. Some of them were held by easels. However, the room was large enough to provide space for the total disorder. There were only a minimal set of furniture in the room. A couch, a large wooden table and two chairs.

"What is it?" Ava looked around in wonder.

"It was once a studio."

"Is this yours?" Ava was puzzled, if this studio was his, they shouldn't come from the back door.

"No..." Magnus grinned, a mischievous glint sparkling in his eyes. "Actually it was the late duke's studio, and now it belongs to Ashton."

"Magnus!!!" She exclaimed at once.

"We have to get out of here soon! What if he finds us here?"