Chapter 129

Ava sucked in a deep breath when she was looking around at the dinner table. Marsh has taken his seat at the head of the table with the queen on his right and her husband next to her and her parents and herself were on the left side of his table.
It was glorious to think that Marsh was actually Baron of Fell and it was a shocking surprise. Ava did not know how to react but only to stare at him when he was not looking before he cleared his throat as the young queen was looking at him expectedly.
“Well, I would like to thank all for coming tonight. The queen has requested that I should get along with the Higher Court and the region that I inherited but also she wanted me to get to know you, Lord Randolph,” Marsh said as Ava was sipping on the wine when she felt his eyes on her a moment ago.
Ava tried not to look flustered but she was and it was not a good sign to show it in polite company. Her mother laughed at Marsh’s statement before she was playing with the cloth that was on her lap. She wanted to take her mind of Marsh but failed when her mother was directing the stupid question that she knew Lady Randolph would ask.
“So, where is your wife, my lord? I did not see her yet—“
Marsh chuckled lowly before he cleared his throat as he was focusing on her mother. Ava felt the need to sip more wine but restrained herself because she did not want to appear drunk in front of the man that was deceiving her.
Right, but you did the same as well to him, her dark mind reminded her before Ava was shaking that thought away as Marsh cleared his throat to regard her mother.
“I have been traveled far and wide as I was doing my service in the name of my queen but it did not occur to me to require a wife just yet back then. But now that I am settling down on my ancestral home and region,” Marsh stopped for a moment as Ava was looking at him. They locked their eyes before he smiled.
“Maybe I would love to get to know someone if they interested enough to get to know me,” Marsh said as they were still staring at each other. Her mother clapped her hands before Ava was the first one to break the contact.
“That is wonderful news! And have you find someone that would like to get to know you, my lord?” her mother, who blessed her soul for being too oblivious, made Ava stirred in her seat. Why does my mother have to be so blunt all the time? Ava asked herself before she was anticipating the answer from Marsh.
If she did not know any better, she did want to know who held Marsh’s interest.
“There is one lady that I met at the beach that I really wanted to get to know better. She was a bit shy and closed off but I think she was worried that I might do something untowardly to her. but maybe after tonight, she would not be so closed off anymore,” Marsh said before Ava was locking her eyes for a moment with him. He smirked before he was sipping on his wine.
Damn him!
Her mother got the message that he was trying to portray and somehow, Ava hated her mother for catching up with the hidden message in Marsh’s speech. She took the wine and sipped as well before the young queen was clapping her hand and everyone turned to look at her.
“Well, that was a very fascinating story, Felix. I hope you will get her someday and maybe be your baroness,” the young queen said before Marsh smiled. Ava never realized that Marsh’s given name was Felix.
She thought ‘Marsh’ was his first name.
“Thank you. I really hope that she would open up and maybe accept my proposal sooner than later. I don’t think I can wait any longer to have her in my arms in every way,” Marsh said before Ava turned to look at him.
And this time, he was staring at her with all the emotions that were being on display in his beautiful grey orbs before she turned away.
Dear Lord, how do I get over this? Ava asked herself before an echo suggested that she will never get this but only time will tell if Marsh does anything about their new discovery of each other.
One of the other, one must concede and it will not be Ava, that’s for sure.
*****
After that disastrous dinner and the new discovery about Marsh’s real identity, Ava has been sulking in her bed as she was writing to her friend, Caroline who was settling down in Stonelockteco for she was the countess of the count that controlled the region.
She sighed as she was sealing the letter that she will send to her friend in regard to the matter at hand and how she would do to handle such a thing. Caroline seems to know all the answers when Ava first met her at the ball that was held in her parents’ mansion.
She sighed before she was folding the letter that she will ask the butler to post it to her friend. It has been 3 months since she met her but their relationship has been going ever since. Even though Caroline was in the North, helping her husband to keep his household running, Ava still in contact with her.
What a life, she sighed before she went to the library as it was her favorite spot to spend her time there and no one will disturb her. But of course, she cannot fulfill it when her mother was coming into her room, all shiny and shimmering that Ava has to cover her eyes for a moment.
“Mother, what are you doing? Why are you all dressed up?” Ava asked when she was looking at the day gown that her mother adorned to show her blonde mane and her blue eyes. It was pleasant to the eyes and Ava was envious of her mother right this instant.
“Oh, nothing. I just wanted you to freshen up and get ready since there will be someone that wanted to come and meet you,” her mother said as Ava was snapping her head to her mother.
“Someone’s coming?” she asked before Ava was blinking her eyes at her mother. Lady Randolph was blinking her eyes before she was laughing out loud. There was a snort somewhere that Ava wanted to laugh at but she kept her face stoic to avoid any confrontation from her mother.
“Well, it would seem that someone was interested in you, after all, my dear. So, do get change and join us when you’re ready. His lordship would be happy to see his bride-to-be all prim and proper,” her mother said before Ava was blinking at her retreating figure.
His lordship?
Oh no. No, no, no! Why did it turn out like this…unless Marsh wanted to come for something else. But what? Ava could not think of anything that would make the baron come barging into their mansion and he had enough on his plate to deal with anything else…
Ava shook her head. No, he did not come to see me. He might be interested in my father after knowing my real identity. Yeah, that’s the real reason he’s coming. Not to ask my hand in marriage. But to talk business with my father, Ava concluded as she was nodding to herself. She was sure enough that it was the only reason the baron would come was her father, not her.
Never her, Ava knew that much as she was getting ready to greet the guest as her mother would have her head if she did not show up on time.
*****
Marsh was looking at the mansion that stood proudly as he climbed down from the carriage. He tipped his head to the footman before he was making his way to the front door when the huge oak doors were opening to reveal Lord and Lady Randolph in tow.
“Ah, you’re finally here. I thought you were my bluffing, my lord, when I received your letter a few days ago. It was a shame for me to think that you will not keep your promise,” Lord Randolph said as he was smiling brightly at Marsh. The baron replied to him in kind.
“Well, it is the least I can do to show my interest in your daughter. Say, was she around?” Marsh asked before Lady Randolph was beaming at him.
“Oh, do not worry. She will be down here soon. But first, why don’t we discuss the real reason that you’re here, my lord? It would be a great surprise for your bride if she knows that the wedding is a go,” Lady Randolph said before Marsh was following them inside as he was taking in the view of the parlor.
The parlor was waxed and shone before they were making their way to the study room. Lord Randolph and his wife were entering the study before they were taking their seats in front of the fire that was being stoked by the servant before their arrival.
They took their seats and Marsh did the same as he was clearing his throat. He turned to look at his future in-laws before they were smiling at him. Here goes nothing, Marsh mused before he was smiling at the Randolph.
“I came here with one reason and one reason only. You know where this will be leading right?” Marsh asked before Lord Randolph nodded.
“It would seem we have the same shared interest. We can work something out,” the handsome lord said as Marsh smiled, thinking all the things that will fall into place if this was a success.
“So, about your daughter…”
The Higher Court
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