"What are you doing here?" she asked in astonishment, totally forgot about the standard polite greetings. She thought she would never see him again.
"Waiting for you." he replied as he stopped a feet away from her.
Silly of her, the simple answer suddenly sounded so romantic.
"Why?" her breath caught in her chest.
"I want to give you this." He drew something from his pocket.
"Here, please take it."
She glanced at him, then at the tiny, beautifully wrapped box in his hand.
"What is it?"
"It's only a small gift, I want you to have it."
"I..." she hesitated.
"You said you didn't do it for money. I didn't mean it to be a transaction either. I just think you deserve it. Please don't turn me down this time."
He had been waiting for her in this place to give it, and she would only disappoint him if she rejected it. She took the gift and glanced at him.
"Thank you."
He looked like he wanted to say something, but he swallowed it back. She thought he looked as if he was uncertain what to say or do.
"Goodbye." he finally said, and he turned around and walked away. She was too stupefied, she could barely think of what to say. She stood still, watching him leave, still feeling like she was caught in a dream.
She stared at the empty place where he had been standing just a moment ago. She looked down at the little gift in her hand and suddenly she couldn't help to find out what was inside. She removed the paper covering the box and opened it.
Her heart stopped at the first sight of it. A beautiful oval snuff box shimmering under the sun inside the box. Too generous a gift, it was a luxury, made for ladies, for women who was fortunate to enjoy the finer things in life. She knew that this little thing cost a fortune. But not the fine beauty or the enormous generosity that astounded her. It was a strange coincidence his gift was precisely a thing she was enchanted by some days ago. She examined it thoroughly. It was exactly the snuff box in the fancy shop she admired. How could it be possible?
"You'll be surprised."
As if answering her question, an irritating voice inevitably floating through her brain.
"You don't have to say a word, but he knows just what you want. He will see that you have anything you wish."
Madam Nora's prophecy echoed in her mind again and again as she made her way home.
*****
She never saw him again thereafter. Three weeks had passed and everyday when she walked that path, she half expected she would see him on the other side of the bridge again. And everyday she crossed the empty bridge with a sinking heart.
Everytime she was alone, she would put out the gift from the place she hid it, and stared at it. Strangely, everytime she held it close to her, she felt as if he was near. Like she could feel his presence in the little gift. She wondered why he gave her such generous gift. At first, she felt suspicious, but after he didn't show up in a week, she started to believe that it was a sincere gift. And what a miraculous coincidence the gift was.
"I just think that you deserve it."
He said to her. Thinking about it, her heart moved. And she thought she really wanted to give him something in return.
One night when she was laying on her bed, she recalled their moments together and suddenly a thought slipped in her mind, something he once said to her.
"Somehow I know I will suffer my death in a painful and untimely way."
Her eyes opened abruptly in an uneasy feeling, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop thinking about it for some time. She sat up on the bed and started to pray. She felt a little better afterward, and as she rested her head on her pillow, she wondered why she cared about him that much. She had developed a feeling of empathy toward him. One day it just occurred to her a perfect gift for him. She drew out a wooden box from the cupboard, where she put in her precious belongings, and found what she was looking for. She thought she would give it to him.
Everyday she took the path to his place, and she stopped and turned back to the way home at the same exact point. She lost all her guts at the first sight of the rooftop of the cottage. He might not be there today, or if he was there, what if he didn't want her to come? What if he was annoyed rather than pleased to see her? What if he thought that she was ridiculous? What if he mistaken her intention as an attempt to seduce him? And a hundred more 'what if'. No matter how much she wanted to give it to him, she would never be able to brace herself to get in front of the studio door and knock.
One day when she was picking cauliflower in the market, she heard two women near hear talking.
"Ellie, why are you leaving so fast? Come with me and have some talk."
"I can't, I have to go now, I've got plenty to do. His Grace is going to see Reverend Will tomorrow in the morning and visit the church afterward."
Her heart leapt at the mention of his name, his title precisely, and the knowledge of where he would be tomorrow. Ava turned to see the woman and recognized her as the vicar's maid.
"Really? That's great!"
"That's a lot of work. Reverend asked me to rub and polish everything in the church until they shines like new. Got to go now, bye..."
Long after the woman disappeared from her sight, her words stayed in her mind. He would be there. There was a chance. The question was; would she take it or not.
*****
For all his life, Ashton never experienced the kind of disturbance he was facing right now. His wedding was only a month away and he couldn't purge himself of the images of her. He had done the right thing, to leave it forever be a sin he never committed, a mistake he never did. The hardest part was over, but soon he learned that actually it wasn't the farewell that hurt the most, but the knowledge that she was so near, but out of his reach. The fact that he could see her if he wanted to but he couldn't have her.
All his life, he had been leading a perfectly careful, appropriate life that granted him a flawless reputation, until by chance, he was tangled with her in an unexpected situation, and suddenly discovering that his soul, without his being conscious of it, had been ensnared by a wild, romantic, unfortunate infatuation.
He knew such a temporary thing was not to be entertained, especially when it had the potential to ruin the future. He knew attraction was not to be trusted. But as much as he knew about it, after weeks of restless nights, he knew he was fighting a losing battle. He was in the grip of a helpless obsession he had no power to resist. He needed to seek for some serious help.
That was why this morning, in the midst of the week, after listening to some marriage advice from the vicar, he was sitting alone on the front bench in the empty church, staring at the huge crucifix in the center of the room before he closed his eyes, praying in silence God would help him and guide him through this. He wasn't a religious person but he did believe in God. He continued with The Lord's Prayer afterward. Somewhere in the deep, tranquil silence, he felt a sense of peace, as if his prayer was heard.
Ava stopped at the doorway, her heart burst with intense emotion at the sight of his back far ahead. At the very moment she realized just how much she yearned for a glimpse of him. Now that she was there with him, she wasn't sure what to do. She considered to walk in, sit somewhere and start to pray while pretending she hadn't noticed him. But there was nobody else in the church and it was impossible to pretend that she was unaware of his presence.
With a clear mind and a renewed spirit, Ashton got up and smoothed out his coat, then he turned around to leave. And immediately stopped dead in his tracks.
Holy Mother of God!
How could he meet her here? He came to this sacred place to seek for guidance, for enlightenment, for peace, for serenity. He had just prayed to God to deliver him from evil, yet the moment he opened his eyes, the Lord Almighty put this pure temptation right before him. Looked like the Holy Father had decided to keep putting him to the test. Heaven kept sending her again and again into his gravity. Dazed, he ceased to move and stood still as if his feet was rooted to the floor.For a brief moment, she considered to curtsy or greet him with his title, but she decided quickly that it would be odd. She never curtsied nor greeted him from their first encounter. Looking back at it, she felt strange. What kind of relationship they had? From the first time, there had never been a usual formality between them. She observed him carefully, trying to decipher his reaction. He looked surprised, but there was no signs of irritation.
Polly tossed the dough and stared round-eyed at the lady."My goodness!!! Are you sure about it? How do you know?""I attend the party every year, and his family is always invited.""Go bring her, then! You don't need to compensate. Take her with you as long as you want!""My idea is brilliant, isn't it? But we must keep it a secret. I'm afraid she will refuse to go if she knows she will meet him there.""Agree." Polly nodded."Godspeed. Don't come back empty-handed.""Of course, I bet my plan will work," the lady said confidently."Or I'll compensate you, twice. No, make it three times. Pour me some more tea, Polly. These biscuits are really good.""Agree! Though I'd prefer you to win."Polly got up to fill the cup."Looking forward to hear
He dashed up the narrow road in rapid speed. His mind rioting and his heart pounding. The thought of losing her was extremely terrifying. He expelled a sigh of relief as the sight of her back in a distance caught his eyes. A sudden realization came upon him like a lightning. He thought he had accepted that he had to leave her alone and go on with his life, a life in which she had no share. And he thought he could do perfectly fine with that. But at the very moment he was realizing for the first time, he would only be able to do perfectly fine as long as she was within his reach. He never considered if she was really going.She was strolling along the sidewalk leisurely, no signs of her being in a hurry. She looked around and stopped a few times to see through the shop window.Following her in a relatively safe distance, Ashton battled his own conscience. What the blazes was he doing here? If she really left his to
"This one." She said again. He tried to perceive it but he didn't get it."What?""The mirror..."She looked confused. He just realized she was showing an oak frame mirror carved with leaves and acorns to him."What do you think?"It took a long while for him to recover from the momentary lapse."Lovely. I'll take this one."He took the mirror from her and pretended to scrutinize it."Thanks for your help. Really appreciate it.""You're welcome."She felt a bit nervous after the awkward situation a moment ago, so she made an excuse for leaving."I have to go back to the inn now.""Where are you staying?""Magnolia Inn. And you?"&nb
Oh, dear. He didn't care about it.The man turned toward them and looked down at the ground immediately. He groped beneath the fabric of his pocket reflexively as he saw the chain watch lying on the ground.The boy's eyes widened in fear, his mouth gaped open. The boy waited in pure terror, but the man who captured him said nothing more.The older gentleman glanced at the urchin in suspicion."Thank you, sir."The man didn't shift his gaze from the boy as he came near and bent down to pick the chain watch. He studied them in silence for a while before asking."Tell me, sir. Did that monkey try to steal it?"The boy suddenly quivered in his hand. Ava glanced at him, catching her breath.
Her cheeks turned rosy and she avoided to meet his eyes."Here." He passed the basket of roses to her."Thank you." She said as she took it, suddenly feeling awkward and a bit embarrassed."Not at all." He said. "I bought it only to make the girl happy."Even though it was so, but she felt like she was caught in a beautiful dream. Strolling down the street with him in a fine afternoon, and he bought her a bunch of roses. Unbelievable. They said nothing as they sauntered along the way, in a companionable silence when words were no longer necessary, as if their minds talked to each other in a train of hidden thoughts.It was a beautiful dream indeed, so beautiful it was almost painful when it had to end. The sight of the seaside street where their inn located came into view. The dream receded into reality, and sh
Magnus had everything he could only wish for, anything he could never have. Magnus was the one who had her heart. Magnus was the man she truly loved. Magnus had a little more freedom to do what he really wanted. He had a father and a mother who loved him unconditionally, and his parents loved each other as well. He had a real family.From the corner of his eye, he noticed his uncle was talking with his wife with a disapproving look. Despite the couple's relentless arguments every single day, somehow he knew, they couldn't live without each other. His uncle was a cold, calculating man, so it surprised him the first time he knew that his uncle didn't allow his wife to bear another child after her long, suffering hours of giving birth to Magnus. Aunt Cecily survived a dangerous loss of blood at the time and his uncle swore never to make her pregnant again. He wondered if he could have such a fortunate union with Selene.It was funny how a perso
Beyond the massive rolling green grassland loomed Lord Waldorf's Elizabethan Palace. Three stories high, the mansion stood gloriously against the background of sheltering trees, faraway mountains and clear blue sky."Look, here we are at last! Beautiful, isn't it?"Lady Byrne opened the window and leaned out to have a better look. A sudden gust of wind blew her untied bonnets out of the window."My hat!!! Oh dear!"The hat flew by several yards away and caught in a branch of willow tree. Fortunately it trapped in the lower branch, the pink silk ribbon hanging down and rippling in the breeze."I'll get it."Ava alighted from the carriage after the lady ordered the coachman to stop. She rushed to the tree by the edge of the road. Ava stood on her tiptoes and stretched out to reach the hanging ribbon, but it was still too far. She tried again, once, twice, suddenly a leather-gloved hand ca