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Chapter 99
"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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The hallway was empty and quiet as usual when Ashton made his way downstairs. The hands of the big clock in the hallway pointed eight past ten. Unusually for him, today he was several minutes late for breakfast. He got into the large dining room to find no one waiting for him at the table. Hubert greeted him and he headed to his chair. Apparently he wasn't the only one who was late this morning."She isn't here yet?"He asked as he occupied the seat drew back by Hubert."Miss Banks has gone early in the morning, Sir. She asked me to tell you not to wait for her.""Gone?"Ashton turned abruptly, startling Hubert who was going to set up the napkins on his lap. The butler regained his composure swiftly."For a morning walk, I suppose..."A sudden alarm surged up within him."Is Brock or Garrison with her?"
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His voice was not loud, but being in close proximity to the staff behind them, obviously they could hear him very clearly."Keep your voice down, for goodness sake. You don't need to humiliate me in front of your staff."She whispered under her breath.Glancing down at her, for a moment he turned silent. A few seconds later, he released her and muttered for her ears alone."From now on, you will stay within the grounds of the castle. One step over the gate, and I'll have you locked in your room for a full month. Do you hear me?"For a moment, Ava could only stared at him in utter bewilderment. The current incident had showed her the bloody possessive side of him."I haven't the slightest intention of running away."She tried a softer tone in hopes that he would come to his senses. She didn'
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A soft rustling voice from behind stirred him from his musings. He turned to see her feminine form in a short distance, wearing a long, ruffle-laced nightdress. The hem of her gown trailed along the dampened grass as she walked across the lawn.Storming over her in a flash, he grabbed her arm in an iron grip. Flinched, she opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something but he ignored her."Blast it! Garrison!!"He called out, hauling her with him as he started for the house."Wait! What are you going to do?"She exclaimed, struggling in his grasp."I'll have him fired."She stopped abruptly and wrested her arm free, forcing him to take a halting step."He does nothing wrong. He is right outside my door."His brows furrowed as he sent her a suspicious gaze."T
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Ignoring him, Ava quickened her pace. Brock, misunderstood her reaction as fear, stormed toward Freddie."Blast your eyes, bastard! Get out!"Startled, Ava opened her mouth to stop him, but the hefty man already clasped Freddie's collar."Brock! No!"Ava darted toward them, gasping in shock when Brock hauled the poor Freddie up into the air."Let him go!"Brock seemed reluctant, but finally he jerked the scared, breathless man free from his clutch."Thank you, miss..."Freddie panted, stumbling several steps back."Please tell His Grace, Lord Carlton sent for him. There's an urgent matter in the estate. His presence is required immediately.""How come he could find this place?"Before long, Ava stood by the window in his study, staring idly at the garden outside. She was completely perturbed by the fact that someone who knew her, no matte
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