Chapter 24

"How are you feeling now, my dear?" Lady Byrne asked her in the afternoon after the parade while Ava was serving her some biscuits and tea.

"I'm fine, milady." She smiled and returned her gaze shortly while pouring the tea. Lady Byrne knew most of the story. She had told her everything except her true identity. When Magnus suddenly disappeared from her life, the lady never stopped questioning her about it and finally, she gave in to her demands. Besides, she had found that the lady was a true friend indeed, not a careless gossiper like she presumed before.

She was just about to leave to the kitchen, pretending to refill the empty teapot when the lady touched her hand.

"You're not fine, my dear. Your lips are smiling but your eyes are not. Your eyes have stopped crying but your heart has not."

Ava couldn't find a word to reply.

"Come and have a seat, darling. I have something I want to share with you." She patted a chair next to her. Ava had no choice but to obey her. She sat beside the lady, feeling a little uncomfortable. She didn't want to be reminded of her heartbreak over and over again, but the heartfelt look in the lady's eyes touched her. She was glad she had found another person who really cared and she didn't want to disappoint her. The lady began her story.

"When I was your age, I had a lover. He was very tall and handsome, he was a son of a rich merchant. My parents were reluctant because he got no title, but they accepted him for my happiness... Then came Lord Byrne, he started to court me, and undoubtedly my parents preferred him more than my man. But they gave me the freedom to choose..."

"All I really wanted was to be with my lover, but he wanted to go to America. He wanted to build a new life there, to start a company of his own. He asked me to go with him, leaving my family, my friends and everything I had here..."

"At that time, I was torn between love and fear. America was a strange land for me, and I was afraid if he eventually couldn't make it as expected. What if he failed to achieve his goal there, I was afraid we would suffer a constant difficulty, alone in an unfamiliar country, far away from our family and friends... I was afraid to leave my comfortable life here where everything had settled perfectly...

"I asked him to give up his dream and stay with me. There was nothing I wanted more... But he refused to stay, he needed to prove something to his parents, to himself... I didn't quite understand that time... Finally he chose to pursue his dream. I was very disappointed that he chose something else over me. The day we separated was the hardest day of my life..."

"You knew the rest of the story. I married Lord Byrne, he was such a good man, and we lived twenty five years of peaceful marriage before he passed away. I had been living in a safe and comfortable life as I wished. But never a day passed that I didn't think of him and missed his smile. I wondered what if I made different choice? What if I followed my heart and not let my fear taking in? What would life be if I were his wife, if I were the mother of his children?Sadly, there was no second chance... Until this day, sometimes I wondered, why didn't I give up my dreams of a safe and secured life and follow him otherwise..."

Lady Byrne covered her hand with hers and looked into her eyes.

"We only live once, dear, and we cannot turn back time... Each of us has only a short ride on this earth. One day when we finally have everything we've dreamed of, and we realized that we paid the price with what we really wanted in life, it would be our biggest regret..."

A strong wave of emotion overwhelmed her and she turned her face from the lady to hide her expression, surprisingly caught Polly looking at her with teary eyes. The lady's story had moved her too.

"Whatever you choose, I'll be by your side. I don't care what people will say about you. I know you better than all the people out there. You're the best a woman can be, and above all else, you deserve happiness..." Polly said to her, her voice was a bit shaken but her gaze firm.

Staring at the blind darkness through the window, Ava lost in thoughts once again. She knew where to find him. Everyday he was training with the captain. She could come and see him there or send him a few words and he would come to her, taking her away with him to the lovely house in Nouvelle. Within its walls, she would be safe from the hostility of his family, from Roger... It could be the perfect solution. If one day her father and Roger ever found her, chances were Roger would refuse to marry her because she had already ruined herself beyond redemption.

*****

The cold breeze made the leaves rustle in a short distance. A misty darkness still embraced the landscape a few moments before the dawn. From the top of the hill, Ashton was watching over the manor below on his horseback. Since the man he used to send for this job was out of town, he had to do the espionage himself.

He knew his look would be too striking to mingle with the villagers. He might very well attract undesirable attention, so he decided to do it from an entirely unseen place. Evergreen was surrounded by rolling hills all over. He planned to watch from higher place. He knew all the track in this town and where it might lead. He wore a simple attire and kept his sword hidden beneath his long coat.

Before long, a shadowy figure breezed out  of the manor gate in the dark. Magnus. He jerked the bridle and came after him silently from up above. He maintained a safe distance from him, keeping him unaware yet within his sight.

The daylight appeared, everything went smooth and easy until Magnus reached a crowded road, making it difficult to stay watching from above. He dismounted from his horse and loped fast downhill, sneaking into the busy street. He caught sight of Magnus' back in a distance, but suddenly two hulking men carrying a large cupboard crossed the street, effectively blocking his view. He slipped swiftly past them, but it was too late. Magnus had totally disappeared from his sight.

*****

People flew in and out of the lively market in the bright morning. The place was rowdy with people chattering about the grocery price and such things. After waiting about an hour in a dirty, foul-smelling alley, finally Ashton saw her walking out of the market.

Ava strolled idly along the way, not really paid attention of her surroundings. She was absorbed in deep thoughts. Some people passed by and greeted her, and she replied with a smile.

Ashton hated to admit it, but she possessed a natural grace. She looked like she belonged to noble life even when she dressed in rags. And her smile was deceitfully sweet and adorable.

From the way her brows furrowed slightly, and her eyes looked down beneath her lashes, he could tell she was thinking seriously about something. While she passed him by, Ashton slid carefully out of the alley and came after her from across the street.

He tugged his coat's collar high it covered half the sides of his face. He walked by the wall of the building in relaxed manner to avoid drawing attention. The street was busy and crowded. His unusual height made him easy to stalk her over the heads of the people in front of him, but he was fully aware that it made him easy to be seen as well.

Although he doubted his uncle's suspicion about Magnus and this woman reuniting, but after he thought about it again, it was possible. Besides, Magnus had gone without a trace. He couldn't just come back empty-handed. He decided to spy on this woman. If the suspicion was well founded and she was caught with Magnus, he would take the appropriate action at once. If she wasn't with him, it meant there was nothing to worry about, Magnus had been occupied with something else.

Ava was still drowning in her mind yet something in the window curiously caught her eye. Like it was calling her beyond the restless thoughts. She stopped immediately and peered through the clear glass. An oval porcelain snuff box. It was painted on cover, base and sides with a beautiful scenery as a background of a couple holding hands.

She stood there for a long while, couldn't shift her gaze from the delicate beauty. She stepped into the shop. The shop owner peered at her through his spectacle. He frowned at her humble appearance, yet the old man himself took the snuff box from the display and let her have a better look. She was enchanted by the beauty, but the tiny stuff cost bigger than a farmer's earnings for half a year. So she left the shop in regret, giving it a last look through the window before stepping away.

Somehow, Ashton got curious. He crossed the street and took a peek at the shop window. An oval porcelain snuff box glinting at him. The fancy little thing was a rare beauty. She surely had a fine taste.