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Chapter 94
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Darting a look around the immense moorland, Ava realized that they had left the last county far behind and now they were a long way from populated area.
"My place is approximately ten hours away from here. We'll arrive tomorrow before midday."
He said again, sensing her anxiety.
"And what about our luggage?"
"I'll ask the coachman to deliver it to my place. It will possibly arrive several hours after, so bring some things you might need during our trip and upon our arrival."
The man who sold horses came with a paper wrap and passed it to Polly.
"What is it?"
Ava asked.
"Food supply."
He replied, giving a short look at the wrap.
"We will arrive at my place tomorrow morning. Until then, that will have to suffice."
Turning to Polly, he nodded toward the brown horse.
"You ride this one."
Then he walke
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They settled and watched the horses graze on the open meadows until the dark descended. Because there was no material to build a bonfire, they were just sitting in the shadow, under the moonlight."Not as bad as I thought."Polly said as she opened the wrapping of the food, greeted by a pleasant smell of fresh bread and cheese. Ava immediately took the paper-wrapped bread from Polly."Out of courtesy, I think we should let him have it first."Polly rolled her eyes when Ava moved in his direction. She stopped and kneeled before him."Here."She offered the bread to him. It seemed that he knew that she would insist that he had it, he took a loaf of bread and replied shortly."Thank you."She added another piece and a block of cheese, which was accepted in silent compliance.Later that night, when Ava and Polly spread their cloak over the grass, Polly said thoughtfully."You
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"I'm sorry. I should have never sworn at you."She said the only thing that she could think of. She waited as several seconds passed in silence, and finally she heard his answer."It's all right. I deserved that. I was the one who inspired you."She couldn't tell whether he said it genuinely or mockingly. He stared into space again. When a beam of orange light radiated his face, she decided that he truly meant what he said, without another suggestion behind his words.However, the reason behind his distant behavior was beyond her grasp. He had gone a thousand miles only to find her. He had taken risks and made a great deal of sacrifice to be with her. So now that she was right beside him, why didn't he come closer? Why didn't he pull her into his arms just like before? She had made her move, why didn't he take the chance?As if her silent thoughts could speak right to his mind, he slowly turne
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After some time, they entered an inhabited part of the land, and set a quick pace through the empty road. When they passed the ruins of a medieval abbey, she was engrossed by the sight."Can we have a look around here?"She looked at the sight with wishful eyes.He let her take her time to satisfy her curiosity. This time, Polly dismounted from the horse and walked with her. Sneaking a quick look at him, Polly spoke in a barely audible voice."In case you forget about it, we're not having a vacation here right now."Polly traipsed between the rubbles in plain dismay."For Heaven's sakes, we're in captivity, and God knows what lies ahead of you after this!"Grasping her skirt as she stepped over a broken piece of rock, Ava replied nonchalantly."Well, since there's nothing we can do about it, why don't we make the most of it?"Polly's eyes widened at her answer.
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The next morning, Ava woke up early and got prepared for the day. As she finished arranging her hair, she glanced at the mantle clock and saw the hands of the clock pointing to a quarter to eight. When she turned for the dining room, she expected that he would be there waiting for her.Silence greeted her as she stepped into the dining room. There was no one at the huge dining table and the chairs around it were empty. A waiting servant approached and guided her to the table, murmuring politely that breakfast was ready to serve. Following the servant, she thought perhaps he was still abed.The servant drew a chair back for her and put the napkins on her lap. She allowed the servant to pour her a cup of tea, but she declined when he began to serve the food."Thank you but I'd like to wait for the master."The servant halted in the middle of putting some pleasant-smelled bacon to her plate, then spoke
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"I'm terribly sorry, Master."Hubert said from behind her."I've tried to stop her but Miss Banks insisted~""It's all right, Hubert."He interrupted. Quick to perceive the meaning of his silent look, Hubert bowed, made his way out of the study and closed the door behind him. Ashton turned his attention to her in an unaffected gesture."What's so important that you insist on meeting me at this ungodly hour?"He asked her as if he owed her no explanation, and suddenly his usual posh accent and his offhand manner infuriated her to a boiling point."Why would you do that?"Her voice came out less severe than she intended to."Do what?""Leave me here without even letting me know!"She exclaimed, her voice rose a pitch."I woke up in the morning and you were gone. You didn't even bother to write me a message... Is that how you treat a
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The words knocked the wind out of her. His expression remained blank when she gaped at him in profound shock."After I left you at the inn, I was keeping close watch on you. I knew you went to see him and asked him to come away with you. I saw and heard everything. You were waiting for him to come at midnight, weren't you?"She riveted on the spot, stunned to the point of speechlessness. Vaguely in the midst of bewilderment, she heard his quiet voice."It was a shame he never came."Tears guttered down her cheeks in a helpless stream, and when she realized that she was weeping, it was already too late to conceal it."Don't cry. What are you crying for?"He frowned with a severe look of irritation."He doesn't deserve your tears. He is unworthy of you.""You were there?"She choked out a broken whisper."The night you met me before I ran away....
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Is it real? Or is it just a beautiful dream?The thought drifted around her consciousness as Ava awoke the next morning. She got up and started the day just like any other day. Polly helped her to get dressed and arrange her hair, then she went to the dining room. She stopped in the doorway when she saw him there, sitting on the opposite side of the table. He was reading a local newspaper. He lifted his eyes from the paper, meeting her gaze, and her mind strayed back to last night."Good morning."He greeted her in a calm, self-possesed manner, pulling her wandering mind back into the present."Good morning."Returning his greeting in the same formal manner, Ava glimpsed a servant waiting for her in the corner. She stepped into the dining room and let the servant seated her."You slept well, I hope?"He asked her as the servant put a napkin on her lap."Yes,
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The words robbed her breath for words. Before she could think of anything, he bent toward her and cradled her face in one hand, another hand took her arm. When he pulled her closer, she thought he was going to kiss her rightaway, but he only ran his fingers along the silky cheek. He stared silently into her face as if he was memorizing every line and contour, as if he wanted to have a lasting imprint of her visage. Heart pounding in violent rhythm, she sat very still under his close observation. Without warning, he caught at her wrist and pulled her towards him. Startled, she resisted a shriek when he brought her into his lap.She was not prepared for such intimate situation. In the castle and during the morning walks the other days, they were never alone for a long while. So far, every touch and kiss in the stolen moments was brief and light. Now that they were in the privacy of the enclosed space, she had no ide
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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
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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
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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
