She was completely ignoring him and he flew into a rage. In a second he already breezed across the room, grabbed her wrist and turned her to face him. The sudden violent move must have shocked her to death. He meant to give her a hard lesson but when he saw her flinching, when she looked at him with the fearful look in her eyes, suddenly the rage turned into a surge of guilt and remorse.
She bursted out in a desperate look.
"Do you have to be this cruel to me? Whatever you might think or believe, I never meant to challenge you. I have no defense against you. Why would I ever want to vex you?"
And the words struck him in the right place. He had been unnecessarily cruel to her. He knew certain things could provoke him to explode very easily, but this time he had acted like a total creep. He had overreacted to her response, in fact he was the one who pushed her to the edge. Moreover, how could he used such physical force to threaten a defenseless woman? He released his grip and stepped back to give her some space. She rubbed her aching wrist reflexively, and the faint red stain there made him overflowed by a terrible guilt. He glanced quickly at her face and felt relief to find no tears.
"I..."
He almost blurted the word 'I'm sorry' but he held it back. It must have been decades since the last time he said the words.
"I need you..."
Why he let the sentence strangled with a pause, only God knew. Because he didn't understand either. She looked even more shocked and he corrected instantly.
"I mean... to finish the painting."
Silence hung in the air afterward and lasted several seconds before it dispeled by his quiet voice.
"Please stay."
How odd! She couldn't believe it. One moment he was burning, the next second the fire was completely dead like being poured by a heavy rain. She looked over him and it surprised her that he looked beaten, his eyes downcast and tinged with regret. When he raised his eyes, they looked morose. Somehow it touched her, and made her feel vague. She walked to the settee, sidestepping around him. She sat there again.
When he watched her returning to the settee without saying a word, he was moved. She was softhearted and forgiving. She wouldn't make his man beg for forgiveness. She was understanding. She was gentle and caring. She was kind and honest, simple and true. She was everything he was not and he could never be.
He had sensed it the moment he saw her in the meadow. His instinct didn't lie, what moved him to paint her was far beyond that beautiful face. He was inspired by the beauty that was invisible, true beauty that lied within her. She had touched what was left in his heart, that he didn't know existed.
He returned to sit behind the easel and started again. The longer he laid his eyes on her, the more he couldn't stop doing so. There was a strange feeling he tried to comprehend, it was like his enthusiasm in art. Strong, undeniable, irresistible, addictive, intoxicating. Something that he could not forsake despite good senses, good judgment or logic. Something beyond his control. He never knew he would ever feel this way for her. He felt like he was drunk in an intoxication, it got him faded. Faded and forgotten everything. Insanely, it felt like this time was the only hours he lived. His heart no longer dead, no longer numb, like it had been resurrected. It felt something again at last.
Time passed too quickly. A few hours in one day was far too little, far too short. Soon he would no longer have the chance to see her. His paintbrush poised in the air when a thought occurred to him. He glanced at her over the easel. The paintbrush swept the textured canvas again after a brief moment, and his hand moved very, very slowly now.
With every ticking sound of the clock, Ava reminded herself that time would bring this torture to an end. She couldn't endure it any longer to be with him. He might be breathtaking in the facade, but he was simply insufferable. His arrogance, his quick temper, and his changing mood overwhelmed her. He had returned to his composure now, but who knew what was going to happen the next minute?
When all the hands on the clock pointed to the number twelve, she nearly jumped from the settee in pure excitement. Finally, she could walk away from this exasperating situation. She maintained her composure, sitting still as she spoke politely.
"I can't believe it's twelve o' clock now. Time really flies. Do you still need me to stay a little longer?"
He rose from the seat and collected the tools.
"No, you need not."
Just the answer she had expected. She stood up in great relief and walked to the commode where she settled her clothes.
"I'll see you tomorrow at the same time."
She halted at once and turned to him. Ashton never knew he would take a great pleasure in seeing the surprise look in her face.
"Tomorrow?"
Her eyes widened in an entirely amusing expression.
"But I think I just have to do this only for today..."
He wiped the clean wet head of the paintbrush with a small cloth after dipping it into a glass of water.
"Never say so."
She swallowed a lump in her throat.
"Is tomorrow the last time I have to come?"
"I'm afraid not. I'm still working on the preliminaries. I'm going to make this one a realism painting. It will definitely take more time."
From the corner of his eye, he could see her frozen in her feet. Several seconds passed in silence.
"All right, then. How long will it take to finish the painting?"
"A week, I suppose."
"A week?!!!"
She couldn't help a hint of reluctance escape her voice.
"But I..."
He raised his gaze and looked at her now.
"When you said you accepted my term, I thought you have committed yourself."
"I have..."
But she didn't expect it to be alone with him for hours in a private situation for a bloody full week.
He sat on the stool again and crossed his arms. Ava thought he was going to show his dissatisfaction, but his expression was surprisingly neutral.
"If you quit now, what I've been starting would be in vain. This painting would forever remain unfinished."
He said it in inoffensive tone and this time he didn't look threatening or intimidating at all.
"Anyway, I will not insist if you don't want to. Looks like now 'anything' is too much of a burden to you."
"No, of course not. I'll never see it as a burden."
She responded quickly. She didn't want to disappoint anyone by leaving in the middle of something she had been engaged to, especially when she had already given her words. Though, she had learned that next time she had to be more careful in her choice of words. It was a promise, and she never broke her promise. She took a deep breath. Only six more days to go, perhaps it wouldn't be as bad as she thought.
"I'll not quit until you finish the painting, I'll do my part until it's done.
Day 2Ashton contemplated the unfinished image on the canvas, the painting of a face he was staring at was such a perilous beauty. She had misguided him out of his path. He had acted in contradictory with his own words. He had been inconsistent with his orders. He said to her that art was nothing important to him, yet now he asked her to be a part of his artistic project. He said to her that he wanted her to stay away from his properties, yet now he tricked her to come over and over again.Women like her would lead men astray, would lure men into sin. Women like her would bring men to fatal destruction, like a siren tempted the sailors to crash onto the rocks with her sweet singing. But she wasn't a vixen at all, she didn't manipulate him to do something for her advantage. Instead he was the one that trapped her into his wickedness.A week. What made him go to such length? At first, he just meant to have one last time wi
A concealed weapon. He made it sound as though she was planning an unexpected attack. Ava put the pistol and other stuffs inside the reticule quickly under his cautious inspection."I bring it anytime, anywhere since the night I almost... you know, the night you saved my life. We never know when we would meet some ... unexpected situation.""You bring it in the morning? To the market?"She nodded. It was a lie. Actually she just didn't bother to tidy up her reticule after her last visit to Madam Nora. But she didn't want to complicate things up."That's morbid."He was still looking at her with the same expression."Can you use it?""Very well." That was the truth.She was dangerous, literally, it never occurred to him that she was carrying that weapon all the time while she was with him. He had b
Every voice in the back of his mind warned him in extreme urgency to stop whatever game he played. That he would be the one who failed the test instead of her. Again he chose to ignore it."I'm sure you will have no difficulty in finding a man who would be willing to provide you safety and security in return for your companionship."Most women would know what suggestion behind this statement, and if she was the same sort of women with her mother, she would undoubtedly know how to respond.Ava looked back at him warily. It surprised her that he had said such a thing to her. Could it be possible that he had an implicit purpose in his statement? Could it be a covert invitation? But she couldn't tell exactly because his statement was also innocuous enough to be considered so. Perhaps he just said it idly, with no particular purpose or reason. After a moment's consideration, she decided she didn't need to know his true intent
What was happening to her? She felt silly and awkward and warm all over. She shook her head slightly to get rid of the strange emotion and tried to steady herself. She heard the grass made a soft, rustling sound as he stepped behind her.Ashton followed her in silence, watching her back as she moved across the field. His interest for her found an echo on her feelings. The signs were brief yet unmistakable. In split second her pupils dilated, almost smothering the green of her orbs, and she licked her lips, not in a seductive way, rather unconsciously. But as much as she was attracted to him, she was denying her own desire. She maintained her distance from him and wrenched away everytime he was near. It seemed like she had yet to perceive her own feelings.After a moment, Ava considered that she was still feeling unsound. No way. She couldn't have a crush on him, not a bit, not at all. He was a man whose good looks
"You're silly, I will not let you wipe this dirt with that filthy cloth, and don't even think to clean it with the dress you're wearing. It's difficult to find a suitable property..."She barely listened what he said. She stopped dead in tracks. Time stood still and there was nothing but his face, his touch, his warmth, and his particular scent tinged with the smell of oil paints. The feeling of his fingers against her bare skin. They were warm and rougher than they looked. And his scent surrounded her. The delicious smell and touch of him blended into an intoxicating sensation. There was a spark flashing in his eyes and his pupil expanded, she had been told that it was a significant hint of attraction. His finger slowed and trailed down, rubbing the corner of her mouth softly."Holy hell..."He whispered a curse. Her heart skipped a beat. In a brief moment, an insane thought occurred to her. He was going t
"But I can't imagine how could you ever think to eliminate someone who meant so much to you from your mind forever. I think I would be sad if someone I really love decided to destroy every good and beautiful memory about me. Even if I knew I could never meet my family again, I would always cherish my memories with them."He sent her a lethal glare."I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you.""Sorry, I just think memories are too precious to forget. You should hold it to your heart.""And I think you should hold your tongue. The last bloody thing I want is your mushy opinion on my personal matters. Henceforth, you better keep your thoughts to yourself."That was surely hurt, after sharing a moment of friendliness, like suddenly being squirted with a gush of cold water after bathing in the warm sunlight.&n
Day 5When she arrived this morning, he was standing before the lake, staring at the distance as though he was deep in thoughts. She pointedly ignored him and headed to the door, not bothering to make a polite greeting. She swore she would not say a word to him ever again. She entered the studio and changed her clothes quickly. When she was walking to the settee, something caught her eye.A picture of a beautiful woman put on an easel next to the painting collection. Deeply fascinated, she moved closer, staring thoroughly at the painting. Although the woman in the painting held a little resemblance with him, she knew immediately who she was. She had a tender looking pair of hazel eyes. Unlike him, her whole expression was kind and gentle."You're right."His voice startled her all in a sudd
Day 6Their time together would soon come to an end. He suggested her to finish the flower painting today, so she was sitting on the stool and applying color to the outlined petals. Something had changed significantly between them since yesterday. She was completely at ease with him now she dared to ask the question that rouse her curiosity so far."I know gentlemen practicing swordplay for exercise. My father practices boxing and fencing frequently as well, but I'm sure he cannot do what you did."He watched her for a short while and replied bluntly."You mean, killing people."She swallowed, trying to find a tactful choice of words."I mean... you are very well trained in... fighting art, armed and unarmed. Does your family have a military background?"He returned his focus on the canvas.