Chapter 10

"You didn't know who he is?!!!" Lady Byrne screeched frantically. Magnus had escaped shortly after a little polite talk, leaving Ava to cope as best she might on her own.

"My goodness! He is Lord Magnus Hyde, his family has owned this land for hundred of years. The ruling duke is his cousin. Lord Magnus is third-in-line of this little empire." The lady continued in bold enthusiasm.

"Theirs are one of the leading noble families in England. They are possessors of many estates and rich farming lands. They are incredibly wealthy. My dear Ava, you have caught a prince and you didn't even know it!"

With every word tumbling from the lady's mouth, Ava felt her heart sank. She didn't want a prince, an heir, a nobleman with all the glorious grandeur. She wanted Magnus as a man, either a farmer, a soldier, or another commoner... a man she could lay her hope on, a man she could make her own. Now that she found that he was actually a nobleman, there was no chance for her to have a future with him.

Staring at the night sky with an old shawl wrapped around her shoulders, she let her mind wander to the first time they met and the days they had spent together. A rustling sound from near the fence reached her ears. Magnus came from the bushes.

"I'm sorry, did I startle you?

She shook her head, said nothing in response. Magnus took a deep breath and sat on a worn-out wooden seat near her. For a moment, they didn't talk, only stared at the coal black sky.

"So, it's all you've been hiding thus far... you're coming from a noble family..." Ava spoke without sparing him a glance.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

He sighed, then replied

"I was just ...too tired with women chasing over me all the time, mostly because of my status, my position, my family's wealth... I can't tell which ones really want me for who I am and which ones want me for ... you know, another reason..."

She could hardly blame him for concealing his identity. He did it for a harmless purpose, just as she did.

"When I first met you, I knew you were different. I really wanted to know would you like me if I were just another country man, a common villager? And I was right, you didn't mind my rusticity."

She considered to reveal her identity likewise, but decided it wasn't the right time. Too many revelations at a time, there would be too much to take.

She sighed.

"Magnus, you're a high ranked nobility, and I am just a peasant girl who sells eggs for a living"

"It will not change anything between us." He touched her hand.

"It will, in time." She felt an ache deep in her heart as she said

"We can still be together today, tomorrow, a few months later maybe. But for how long? Sooner or later, you will have to leave me for a woman who is appropriate for you, to be your lady for life."

"You're the one I want to be my lady."

Ava shook her head. "I could never be your woman. I would only be a shame for you and your family."

He rose and stood before her, holding her arms gently, then tilted her chin so she looked at him straight in the eye.

"I will never leave you. Do you believe in me?"

Honesty in his eyes and firmness in his voice touched her. She wanted to believe him. She really wanted to. She nodded.

"You don't need to worry about such matters, love. Have faith. Don't give up what we have so easily. It's far more precious to me than title or wealth or honor. Do you feel the same?"

"I do."

"So don't turn away from me, because I'll never turn away from you."

He lowered his head and captured her mouth, sealed the promise with a kiss.

***

Although her head kept telling her that a happily ever after with him was impossible, his promise grew a little courage in her heart to believe in miracles, to have faith. He was such a great man, he would make a way for them, he would fight for her against all odds.

She had stopped visiting the captain, since the old man had thanked her for her kind attention and said that he didn't want to bother her any longer. Magnus kept coming to her cottage everyday. He even made friends with Polly and Lady Byrne. He seemed quite comfortable around them and soon her two friends became close to him, not hesitated to tease him, mock him and laugh at his jokes like they were old friends.

She always adored his gentle nature and his geniality with people. When he accompanied her to the market, people were drawn to him, attracted by his appealing personality. Everytime they talked to new people, he sparkled the conversations with his subtle blend of wit and charm.

A part of her still worried it wouldn't last long, that soon the time would come to play the role that meant for them. She didn't want to go another day, she wanted to seize their togetherness a little longer. She didn't want it to ever end. Have faith, she reminded herself. Though hope was frail, but faith would not fail. Her life might be no fairytale, but if she had enough faith, maybe she could see a miracle.

Magnus came one day and invited her to a party, a ball that would be thrown by his family.

"I want you to be there." He said. "I want to dance the night away with you."

She hesitated. How would his family react when they see her? She knew nothing about his family other than he had a cousin instead of brother, the duke, who was the dominant in the family. And he had an insensitive father who never stopped comparing him to his cousin. She couldn't imagine there were parents who admired their nephew more than their own child. How strange... She thought she would not like them. And she doubted they would ever like her. She had seen how arrogant the nobility could be to the persons they considered inferior.

And there was another thing. Going to the party meant she would be seen in public, precisely she would be exposed to the nobility. If somebody recognized her as Roger's betrothed, she would be in a serious trouble.

There was little chance they had seen her in London, for she had only attended a few balls in her short visit there. And the guests in this party possibly were not the ones she had met in London. They were most likely country gentlemen from this town and surroundings, not the city people.

Lady Byrne coaxed her to come to the party, offered to lend Ava some of her dresses but she refused politely. Apart from a huge mismatch between their size, the dress would make her look silly. She would wear one of the plain, dull-colored gowns she had. Besides, she had to be careful, better for her to remain unseen. Magnus would pick her up, so the lady asked Polly to be her companion, which she didn't mind. It would be nice to be surrounded by a few familiar company.

***

Been a long day, and she had prepared too early, now she was waiting for his call. She decided to wear a simple dark blue gown, because the brown one made her look rather funereal. She had been anticipating the whole day, not for the party, but for him.

Today, for the the first time she would see Magnus as he truly was. Not his disguise. She wondered what he looked like in a fancy suit. He was exceedingly handsome in his country outfit, even better without his shirt, she smiled slightly recalling the moment. But would the finery suit him well?

The sound of carriage outside filtered into the room. She peered through the window and saw a fancy black carriage engraved with the Vermont monogram in gold arrived. Lady Byrne and Polly rushed and rattled in excitement behind her, she ignored them and opened the door.

Magnus was standing before her in his noble wear. A slight smile touched his lips, a mischievous spark played in his eyes. His hair was tied with a black silk ribbon. He was fully dressed in a formal white shirt, silver silk cravat and a navy blue waistcoat, with khaki colored trousers that fitted his strong thighs perfectly and a pair of knee-high boots in black. She caught her breath at the very first sight of him. She knew he would always look great no matter what he wore, but this time she didn't expect him to be so amazing. In his regalia, he looked terrific.

"You look amazing, love..." He said as he took her hand and assisted her into the carriage.

"With you in my arms, I will be the envy of all men in the party tonight."

Otherwise, she was certainly the one to be the envy of all women in the party tonight. Watching him leaned back to his seat with the devil-may-care look, she wondered if a fairy godmother had transformed her humble country man into a dashing prince.

***

"Well, here it is." Magnus lent a hand to help her climbed down the carriage. She stepped to the breathtaking, extravagant view of an old manor in the beginning of twilight, extremely grand and beautiful in its classical style. It was definitely a masterpiece of architecture. She would believe if somebody told her it was the king's palace, except for its location in the countryside.

Not so long ago, before she knew Magnus was a nobleman, she always imagined the day when he finally brought her to his house. She envisioned the first sight would be a large farmhouse built from red bricks, with pigs and hens ran about the spacious yard. Never crossed her mind he lived in a grandiose palace like this.

"Impressed?" He gave her a rhetorical question. "Welcome to the grand and glorious Vermont Manor, my lady. Magnus Hyde at your service."

They climbed up the stairs hand in hand, welcomed by a pair of servants as they entered the front door. The lights from dozens chandeliers shining brightly as she walked along the wide, long corridor. This manor held a glorious, powerful ambience. She had attended many parties in fancy houses before in London, but it was nothing compared to this palatial manor. She couldn't wait to see the ballroom.

They arrived at a huge oak paired door, two servants opened it for them. Ava held her breath at the remarkable sight.

A very large ballroom, with a very high ceiling. Dozens of crystal chandeliers hanging, the lights reflecting the glitters in the women's jewels. The guests were dressed elegantly, made her feel a bit intimidated. With her simple, high-neck dark blue gown, she looked so plain, like some lady's companion. She looked around and found that, unfortunately, the servant girls wearing the same color as her. She should be wearing the brown gown.

"Do you like it?" Magnus leaned closer to whisper in her ear.

"Very much"

Some women started to notice them, reasonably because Magnus was beside her. Their observing gaze made her nervous.

"Magnus"

"Yes, my dear?"

"Could you please fetch me some drink?"

"Sure, I won't be long"

He left her side and Ava felt relieved that the women stopped staring at them and turned back. Some of them looked over their shoulder to have a short glance at her once more. Sometimes, being too pretty was kind of tiresome, for people would hardly look away from you. It was pleasant, off course, unless you want to remain unnoticed. They must think she was a pretty maid, she hoped so.

She found a safer, less-seen corner nearby and stood there. She wished she were invisible. While enjoying the view and the elegant atmosphere, she recalled some of the stories Magnus had shared about his family, especially his rivalrous cousin.

She was wondering what he possibly looked like. She doubted there would ever be a man who could put Magnus in the shade. She gazed over the entire room, passing hundreds of pretty faces in their glamorous outfit. Under the light of a thousand candles, everything looked muted and radiant. Suddenly her eyes were riveted on a man standing among the crowd.