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Chapter 71
"It's so kind of you to think so highly of me, my lady, but I'm afraid the opposite is true."
"I don't believe there's no man who would want to have you as a wife. I gather you have a very discriminating standard in that matter."
The lady's gaze swept over her face to her middle.
"No ordinary man can earn your attention, isn't it?"
Glancing at her surreptitiously, Ashton couldn't help a mixture of curiosity and anticipation to hear her answer. Even though he entirely opposed Selene's little scheme, at the moment he started to enjoy it.
Mildly shocked by her question, Ava replied immediately.
"I know perfectly my place in this world, My Lady. I dare to wish only what is proper for me to have."
A good answer, Ashton thought sardonically, and even better, she made it sound genuine. She said it like she meant it.
"Truly?"
The lady gazed steadily at her ove
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Disgraceful Chapter 72
He knew the underlying message beneath her words. She demanded him to stay there with her. But he really needed to clear his mind. He knew, sooner or later he should speak openly to her about the woman in the sketches, and he needed a moment alone to think about how to bring out the conversation."You don't need to. Just take anything you like and put it on my account.""Truly? How very generous of you."She stepped forward and smoothed his lapels, her dainty hands rested on his chest afterward."What if I like everything in this shop?"The proprietary gesture only added fuel to his escaping urge."Then buy them all."Watching the pair through the window, Ava was quite taken aback when the duke left his fiancée and headed toward the door. She moved away quickly, she didn't want to be caught or seen by him. She managed to walk several steps, but she could still hear the sound of the door
Disgraceful Chapter 73
"We just met."He responded shortly. Unfortunately Ava looked like a child who was caught when stealing sweets."Yes, it was just happenstance that I happened to be here.""Truly? How curious..."Selene looked quickly from him to her with calm expression."I never believe in happenstance."When Ava struggled to find a word, Ashton decided he had to take control of the situation."If you're done here, Selene, we'd better hurry,"He took Selene's arm quickly, half forcing her to turn around and follow him."There are still some places to see. We should get there before it gets dark."Selene complied elegantly, glancing at her rival over her shoulder before leaving."Have a good day, Miss Banks."Ava responded her with a polite curtsy, watching the pair leave. She continued to make her way to the hat shop, her mind was occupied with suspicious thou
Disgraceful Chapter 74
The words knocked the breath out of her. Eyes widened and jaw dropped in horror, she stared at the lady like a statue. Next seconds she was on her feet, hearing her own voice filled the room."I don't know where you got the idea, My Lady, but you are terribly wrong. I don't have any relationship with your fiancé."The lady didn't flinch a bit at her sudden blow."Am I? Because I have every suggestion that implies the opposite.""It's an absolute nonsense. Why ever would a peer have some kind of relationship with a commoner like me?""It doesn't take a genious to understand what's going on between you and him, Miss Banks. His interest in you is plain to see.""Pardon me, My Lady. I'm certain you knew that he never even glanced at me. He could never have any kind of interest in me.""Really? Then what's all this?"The lady took a leather-covered book fro
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The night was so deep, but his mind and body refused to sleep. Gazing out the window to the dark, distant balcony across the lawn, he was thinking about the woman who was tucking safely inside. The colors in his world had all become dull, everything in his life had gone bleak and dismal. Like a raincloud that stole the sunshine from the sky, the hands of fate had taken the little light in his life.The moment he decided to keep her around a little longer, he had made a mistake. He should have let her go from the first time, but she must have some kind of pervasive charm, he had forgotten who he was and what his life was all about. The day he caught on a whim to hold her back from leaving, he had made a mistake.He wished he knew that as much as it could give him a momentary bliss, later it would turn to become a torture. Intoxicated, how could he be drunk? It was that insane, stupid, irresistible joy that made the sweet pain ahead seemed wor
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Gradually, the noise became distant and disappeared. Seemed like the people had already gone far. Realizing his hands was still on her, he released his grip instantly. He braced his hands on either side of her shoulders, palms pressing against the rocky surface. He fought to keep his hands on the wall, concentrating on the cold, hard and rough texture beneath his palms, rather than thinking about skimming them over the warm, soft, and smooth body clinging tight to his. He reminded himself that he had given his word to Selene."Tell me what this is all about."He broke the silence.She blinked."Here?""You said it cannot wait.""Yes... I mean, can we get out of here?"She resisted an urge to writhe against the irritatingly warm, delicious pressure that mashed her body to the wall."We must not be seen."The cold note in his voice pricked her. And the f
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Hastening along the hallway, Ava darted a look around the empty passage. The hallway was bright in the mid morning, sunlight streaming through the window. There was no one in sight, not even a passing servant. Today was the last day of their stay, and tomorrow they would leave early in the morning. She must return some books that Lady Byrne borrowed from the library and she preferred to do it before dark. The library and its surroundings were always empty, seemed like the residents and the guests were more excited in outdoor pursuits than spending time in a quiet room filled with the smell of old books. Clutching the books tighter against her chest, she rushed into the library. She headed to the nearest passage and put the books in the shelf hurriedly. She wedged the last book between two thick dictionaries, it took some time to put it in its place eventually."Miss Banks, how delightful to see you here."The deep, smooth masculine voice sta
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"I apologize if I have offended you in any way, Uncle Carl. You must know I haven't the slightest intention of doing so."Standing in his own bedchamber, Ashton chose his words with great care. In the heat of the moment, he managed to persuade his uncle to settle their dispute in the nearest place that provided privacy, that happened to be his bedchamber.He knew that his spontaneous reaction must have shocked the hell out of his uncle. All his life, he had been totally obedient to this man, and now for the first time, he had openly defied him in front of another peer. He couldn't tell if Selene had told his uncle about his alleged affair, he could only speculate.Remaining silent, his uncle was staring out the window. Ashton proceeded with his explanation."That woman was entirely blameless. She had just fallen victim to an assault. In my opinion, she didn't deserv
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Sitting on the edge of her bed, Ava stared out the window absentmindedly. It was late at night, but the candles on the sideboard were still burning bright. Ever since her last encounter with him this evening, her entire mood turned into sheer melancholia. Of all the trouble she was facing now, she knew that it was not the threat that overwhelmed her or the insults that broke her heart. It was the farewell.By chance a series of incidents got their paths crossed over and over again. Now it seemed like fate kept throwing him into her gravity, but she knew that one day, he would completely disappear from her life. She always knew. Right from the start. They lived in different world. And really, no matter how attracted she was to him, she never had any expectations for a further entanglement. She had no interest in starting an affair. She had no wish to follow in the footsteps of her ancestors. And so was he. No matter how obsessed he was with her, he never suggeste
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