Squeezing her eyes shut, she put up her head and jutted out her chin in a defiant yet endearing gesture. She flinched at the first touch and her face twisted into a grimace of disgust but she held still, clenching her hands at her sides. After he'd done smearing the dirt across her face, he pulled away to see the result of his handiwork. She opened her eyes, her brows still furrowed with irritation. "Now even the most dirty old goat will pass you by without a second look." He remarked with only a touch of satisfaction. She threw a scorching glare at him."You're happy to see me like this, aren't you?" He tensed up instantly, detecting a sign of danger."I don't relish doing this to you." She squinted her eyes."Truly? Because you seem to rather enjoy it." "Not at all. Look, I only try to help you here." She fell silent for a while as if c

They couldn't see the driver since the tall stacks of containers blocked their view of the front seat, as well as kept them hidden from the driver's sight. For a moment, her brows furrowed in concentration, and suddenly her expression brightened as if a brilliant idea had occurred to her."Listen, once this wagon stops, you jump off before the driver sees you. Then you pretend to come out of nowhere and ask for directions. While you distract him, I'll have the chance to jump off and run. It's actually quite easy, isn't it?" Matthew did little to conceal his skepticism,"I'm starting to regret this already." Her eyes grew wide and she sucked in an irritated breath."Alright! Do you have a better idea?" The sentence ended in a startled gasp and she reached out to clutch his lapel when the vehicle took an abrupt halt. They heard a soft thud as the driver hopped off the wagon.

Dear readers, I've been a bit distracted recently, sorry for the late update. Hopefully I can make it better next time. Matthew was still amazed with the favorable outcome when he retired to his chamber shortly after dinner. An hour ago, he wouldn't have expected that his luck would change over the course of one night. Suddenly he had somewhere to settle down, and a chance to turn over a new leaf. But the best part of it was not having to separate with Arabella. The prospect of seeing her everyday, staying close to her, filled him with utter delight. After putting his new shoes neatly in the corner near the door, he blew out the candle in the nightstand and threw his weary limbs upon the bed. He flipped over and buried his face in the pillows, breathing deeply in the fresh scent of soap. For someone who used to sleep on the hard, sometimes wet concrete in a shady nook, such simple joys like being able to sleep on a mattress and rest his head on a pillow felt heavenly. Lying on his st

For an instant, Matthew considered to take his discarded shirt and put it on, but the lady already beckoned him to follow her."Come with me."Anxious to keep a respectable distance, he followed the lady to a small garden near the library, where she ordered him to rearrange the position of some flowerpots. As he moved about the short space, he became painfully aware of the woman's excessive attention. During the course, she continued to stare at him in that odd, alarming way, but he dismissed the unsettling feeling and focused on his work.Hoisting a heavy sandstone pot, he spun around and almost crashed into the lady, who had come to stand right behind him. He staggered back a step."Pardon me, Milady." "How old are you, Matthew?" The older woman asked out of the blue."I'm seventeen, Milady.""I see." She murmured, her eyes drifted from his naked chest to his muscular biceps."You have strong arms." He couldn't think of a reply to that remarks, so he dropped his gaze and sidestep

The next morningAlmost colliding with a maid bringing a pile of fresh towels in her haste, Arabella rushed down the grand spiral staircase and crossed the hall to the breakfast room. Last night she'd got a brilliant idea to make amends to Matthew for the trouble she caused him yesterday, and to investigate him about the letter. Who could possibly send him the letter? The question had been taking up most of her waking thoughts since yesterday. Even worse, the possible answer to that question had kept her awake all night. She guessed it must be one of the young maids. In fact she wouldn't be surprised if Matthew had more than one admirer. The mere thought of him dallying with another girl was enough to make her blood boil. Once she found who dared to flirt with him, she would make sure the girl got fired.In the meantime, she planned to steal Matthew away for a day and spend time with him to her heart's content. She was going to take him to the remote part of the village, where they