"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

"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

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

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

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