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Chapter 71
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2024-10-29 19:42:56"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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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
Disgraceful Chapter 75
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
Disgraceful Chapter 78
"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
Disgraceful Chapter 79
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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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
