He frowned at her reaction. He was rather uncertain what really was going on. Her eyes wandered over his body and rested somewhere along his chest. What was the meaning of it?
"What are you doing?" She asked nervously as he halted just inches away from her.
"Help you to the sofa." he replied shortly as he gripped her upper arm and pulled her up. She rose from the settee, too late to realize her body was shaking like a leaf and suddenly a rain of blinding spark fell on her vision, the room was smothered by darkness.
Her head crushed something sturdy and she felt a strong grip on her other arm. Everything was black for a while and when she began to regain her consciousness again the first thing she recognized was her own breath, short and unsteady, then a scent, a familiar scent of clean male skin and fresh linen, and a subtle smell of oil paint, and that warmth generated from the body holding her still. Next, she was cradled in his arms and carried somewhere and lowered until she was sitting on a plump cushion. She felt his hand on her nape, pushing her head down to her knees.
"We need to bring the blood back into your head."
She heard him saying.
"Feeling any better yet?" he asked after some time.
"I'm not sure..." she replied as she didn't feel any better. Her head was spinning and her body limp.
"Have you had breakfast?"
"No." she murmured, figuring out the cause of her fainting. She hadn't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon. Suddenly she was terrified, she was completely defenseless against him in this state. She was completely at his mercy now. She prayed she wouldn't lose the little consciousness she was still having right now. If she passed out completely, she would never know what he did to her while she were unconscious.
"It's not going to work then."
He gripped her shoulders and pulled her up, settling her to the back of the couch, but she had no strength to sit upright, she looked like she was going to collapse anytime he released his hold. He lay her across the sofa and she kept her eyes shut when he lowered her, struggling to control her rapid heartbeat, knowing he was bending down toward her so close. He settled her head on the armrest.
"You need to eat something."
She heard his voice and felt his warm fingers brushed her forehead gently, wiping away the coating dampness there. Her eyelashes fluttered as she opened her eyes and looked at him.
"I will send words to my servant. Is it all right if I leave you here for a little while?"
She nodded weakly.
"Good. I'll be but a moment."
He pulled away from her and a moment later, she heard the door opened and shut. He didn't seem to have any intention to seduce her at all. When she looked at him, there was a look in his eyes that she thought was a deep concern, or worry. She felt a bit guilty to have a nasty suspicion of him.
Minutes later, she heard the door opened, she opened her eyes and saw him strolling up near her. He helped her sit upright, holding her upper arm so she wouldn't slump against the back of the sofa. She rested her head on his shoulder. This felt unreal, she had no strength to control her body, barely able to stay upright, this was very scary... She sensed something cool in her lips, running into her mouth and flowing down her throat, and realized he was helping her to drink. The next moment, he brought some cheese to her mouth.
"It's the best I can get for now. Try to eat a little bit, can you?"
She bit a little of it and chewed, still feeling awfully dizzy.
"A bit more, you'll feel better in no time."
She made it to have a few more bites. Slowly, her body started to recover a little, her blurred vision went clear, and she just realized she was resting her head on his shoulder while he was holding her in his arm with one hand, and feeding her the cheese with another. She withdrew abruptly to make a space and he released his grip.
"Feeling better?" he asked. He looked thoroughly concerned, and there was nothing like, well, a gleam of desire in his eyes. Drat, she copied Lady Byrne's curse yesterday. Was Amanda Chapman that irresistibly attractive? She cursed inwardly, at both Amanda Chapman and herself. How come she thought about such a thing at the moment?
Ashton watched her with his observant eye. She was a bit weird today. She looked wary and curious. Now she was staring at him blatantly, without the slightest bit of concealment.
"Are you all right now?"
She startled. "Oh..." She darted her gaze away, looked slightly embarrassed.
"Yes, thank you."
"Good, but it's apparently not enough. Finish it, my servant will come soon with more sufficient food." He handed the cheese to her.
"What? It's really not necessary..."
"If you don't consume enough, you won't be able to get on your feet."
She couldn't deny it, so she obeyed. He got up and headed to sit before the canvas again, continuing his job. She watched him in silence.
"Except for your mother, did you ever paint a woman before?" She asked quietly.
His hand ceased to move, as if the question startled him. Something flickered in his eyes. She guessed it was passing memories. Memories of what, or who? He was silent for a long moment, she thought he would never answer it.
"Yes."
Unexpectedly he answered her question.
"Did you use women for your object quite often?" She asked again.
He glanced at her, and she blushed, realizing how terrible it sounded if somebody interpreted it the wrong way.
"I mean... object of your painting..."
"No."
He didn't let any emotion escape his cool facade, but somehow she knew he was uncomfortable with this topic.
"Why? As I know, women have become painters' great inspiration throughout centuries."
It took time for him to answer the question.
"I always paint an object because it has something that moves me in certain way, I rarely found that thing in women. I did find it in women, but there hasn't been many."
"There hasn't been many of...?"
"Women who inspires me and stimulates my imagination."
And stimulated anything else, she thought.
"How many women have you ever painted until now?"
"Three, including you."
One was his mother, one was her, and another one was... Amanda. The thought was awfully irritating. Amanda Chapman. Why did she believe her? Everybody knew Amanda was a horrible liar. Perhaps everything she said was a total lie. Perhaps the woman he painted was someone else. Unexpectedly, she found that she didn't like it either.
"I haven't seen her picture, the woman you painted before me."
"It's not here." he replied shortly.
He kept it somewhere else. It was probably in his bedchamber, or in his private study where he could sit and stare at it to his heart's content.
"Is she beautiful?"
"Indeed."
She felt a prick of some unpleasant emotion. No, not a prick, a stab precisely. She couldn't really explain it, she just knew she felt an increasingly intense dislike to Amanda.
A soft knock at the door interrupted their conversation.
"Do come in." he responded.
The door opened with a soft click and a young man with a friendly face appeared in the doorway, apparently his servant. The servant gave a low bow and brought them a basket. Ava felt both awkward and embarrassed, what would the servant think about her? She watched the servant drawing out some food and dining tools from the basket and settling them on the table in front of her. She expected a curious glance, but the young man was utterly professional. He bowed shortly at her and did his job efficiently without stealing a glance at her. Another thought occurred to her. Has the servant been accustomed to this kind of thing? Of women came and went in his master's place?
"Should I wait here or perhaps should I return home, Your Grace?" the servant asked politely.
"Wait here, Freddy. You are to take this lady home within the hour."
"What? No need to do that."
Ashton dismissed the servant before responding her refusal.
"You are not perfectly well. It's not safe for you to go anywhere alone, you could possibly pass out on your way home. Now finish your meal, you're going home right after."
It greatly surprised her. She didn't expect this day to end so soon.
"But, it isn't midday yet."
"You need to rest, and the picture is done actually..."
Actually he didn't need a week to finish it, he didn't even need her actual presence, it was only an excuse.
She fell silent at the knowledge that the picture was done, it was supposed to be today, but how unexpectedly fast everything went this day.
"Can I see it?"
"After you eat."
She glanced down at the sandwiches in the plate placed on the table. The delicious smell of freshly baked bread and the smoked meat quickly aroused her appetite and suddenly she realized that she was very hungry. Had he wasn't there with her, she would have taken it with her hand and devoured the sandwich in two sizable bites like she did at home. But she wouldn't do such a thing before his very eyes. To eat in front of him was already embarrassing. She brought the plate to her lap and started to tear the sandwich using knife and fork.
Watching her from his seat, he was fascinated by every movement of her
dainty hands, the way they held the dining tools, the way it brought the chunks into her mouth. She ate slowly and silently. Everything about her was utterly sweet and feminine. Even her simplest movement enthralled him. He could just stare at her all day and never get bored.
Even when she wasn't looking at him, pretending to be busy with the food, she could feel his silent observation. Despite her craving, she stopped after the first sandwich, setting the knife and fork at the plate.
"You're not consuming enough to recover your strength. Eat more."
"It's enough."
"It's enough.""It's not. You're not going home before the plate is empty."It was no use denying him, and she was overwhelmingly hungry anyway, she managed to finish the meal, resisting the urge to demolish the crumble of the sandwich. She placed the empty plate on the table, took the half empty glass and drank a little. She glanced nervously when he got up and approached her."Give me your hand." he said"Just in case you have yet to recover, I don't want you to fall on the floor."She took his hand and let him help her to get up, feeling her cheeks warm. Why did she react like a silly fool? He just wanted to help her."I'm all right now." she looked down to hide her blushing face."Are you sure? Walk slowly."He released her carefully as they walked to the canvas, but he stayed close beside her
"Please stop here." She exclaimed when the familiar road to home appeared in a distance. Her house was still a hundred meters meters away, but she didn't want to be seen descending from a fancy coach by anyone. The carriage drew to a halt, a moment later, the door opened and the servant appeared."Be careful, Miss." he said politely as he helped her climb down the coach. The servant looked at the row of cottages a distance away."Do you need me to escort you home, Miss?"She was just about to refuse his offer, when a sudden thought occurred to her."That's very kind of you, Freddy, it's your name? Isn't it?""Yes, Miss."Freddy followed behind her as they walked along the path."How long have you worked for His Grace, Freddy?" she asked casually."This is my fifth year, Miss.""I see that he treat
"What are you doing here?" she asked in astonishment, totally forgot about the standard polite greetings. She thought she would never see him again."Waiting for you." he replied as he stopped a feet away from her.Silly of her, the simple answer suddenly sounded so romantic."Why?" her breath caught in her chest."I want to give you this." He drew something from his pocket."Here, please take it."She glanced at him, then at the tiny, beautifully wrapped box in his hand."What is it?""It's only a small gift, I want you to have it.""I..." she hesitated."You said you didn't do it for money. I didn't mean it to be a transaction either. I just think you deserve it. Please don't turn me down this time."He had been waiting for her in this place to give it, and she would
How could he meet her here? He came to this sacred place to seek for guidance, for enlightenment, for peace, for serenity. He had just prayed to God to deliver him from evil, yet the moment he opened his eyes, the Lord Almighty put this pure temptation right before him. Looked like the Holy Father had decided to keep putting him to the test. Heaven kept sending her again and again into his gravity. Dazed, he ceased to move and stood still as if his feet was rooted to the floor.For a brief moment, she considered to curtsy or greet him with his title, but she decided quickly that it would be odd. She never curtsied nor greeted him from their first encounter. Looking back at it, she felt strange. What kind of relationship they had? From the first time, there had never been a usual formality between them. She observed him carefully, trying to decipher his reaction. He looked surprised, but there was no signs of irritation.
Polly tossed the dough and stared round-eyed at the lady."My goodness!!! Are you sure about it? How do you know?""I attend the party every year, and his family is always invited.""Go bring her, then! You don't need to compensate. Take her with you as long as you want!""My idea is brilliant, isn't it? But we must keep it a secret. I'm afraid she will refuse to go if she knows she will meet him there.""Agree." Polly nodded."Godspeed. Don't come back empty-handed.""Of course, I bet my plan will work," the lady said confidently."Or I'll compensate you, twice. No, make it three times. Pour me some more tea, Polly. These biscuits are really good.""Agree! Though I'd prefer you to win."Polly got up to fill the cup."Looking forward to hear
He dashed up the narrow road in rapid speed. His mind rioting and his heart pounding. The thought of losing her was extremely terrifying. He expelled a sigh of relief as the sight of her back in a distance caught his eyes. A sudden realization came upon him like a lightning. He thought he had accepted that he had to leave her alone and go on with his life, a life in which she had no share. And he thought he could do perfectly fine with that. But at the very moment he was realizing for the first time, he would only be able to do perfectly fine as long as she was within his reach. He never considered if she was really going.She was strolling along the sidewalk leisurely, no signs of her being in a hurry. She looked around and stopped a few times to see through the shop window.Following her in a relatively safe distance, Ashton battled his own conscience. What the blazes was he doing here? If she really left his to
"This one." She said again. He tried to perceive it but he didn't get it."What?""The mirror..."She looked confused. He just realized she was showing an oak frame mirror carved with leaves and acorns to him."What do you think?"It took a long while for him to recover from the momentary lapse."Lovely. I'll take this one."He took the mirror from her and pretended to scrutinize it."Thanks for your help. Really appreciate it.""You're welcome."She felt a bit nervous after the awkward situation a moment ago, so she made an excuse for leaving."I have to go back to the inn now.""Where are you staying?""Magnolia Inn. And you?"&nb
Oh, dear. He didn't care about it.The man turned toward them and looked down at the ground immediately. He groped beneath the fabric of his pocket reflexively as he saw the chain watch lying on the ground.The boy's eyes widened in fear, his mouth gaped open. The boy waited in pure terror, but the man who captured him said nothing more.The older gentleman glanced at the urchin in suspicion."Thank you, sir."The man didn't shift his gaze from the boy as he came near and bent down to pick the chain watch. He studied them in silence for a while before asking."Tell me, sir. Did that monkey try to steal it?"The boy suddenly quivered in his hand. Ava glanced at him, catching her breath.