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Finally, they were alone once again.

“You told the intruder you knew who had sent him?” Ava asked.

Edwin nodded, his expression grim. “I do. And now, I must put an end to this for good. I can’t let anything happen to you.”

“I promise you, Edwin, nothing will happen to me.”

“But you can’t be so sure. He could have stabbed you in your sleep.” His voice was laced with worry.

Ava placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Is this about your mother?” she asked.

He furrowed his brow but did not say a word. “I will explain everything to you soon.”

His eyes were unreadable, and Ava could not tell for certain if her suspicions were correct.

Edwin took her hands in his and squeezed. “You need to trust me, Ava.”

She nodded. “I trust you.”

“Everything I have done is to keep you safe,” he continued.

“Everything?”

“I apologize for my less-than-ideal behavior over the past few days,” he said earnestly. “I simply thought I was trying to keep you safe. I know now that I was only hurting you in the process.”

Ava was surprised. “Is that why you discouraged me from promenading with Lily?”

Edwin simply smiled. He did not say a word. He did not have to; Ava understood him now.

She felt a pang of guilt as she regarded him. She had been furious with him these past few days when he was only trying to keep her safe.

“Edwin! I apologize for not trusting you.”

Edwin shook his head. “No, you have nothing to apologize for. I promise you.”

But Ava was not quite satisfied. She felt a rush of gratitude for her husband. “But I?—”

“Shhhh!” he whispered, before leaning in and capturing her lips in a kiss.

Ava sighed as their lips and tongues moved in perfect harmony.

Her guilt all but evaporated as she kissed him. Nothing else mattered now. It was just her and her loving, protective husband.

He pulled away a short while later. Ava, on the other hand, yearned for more.

“I must go now,” he murmured. “I need to put a stop to this.”

Ava nodded as Edwin left the balcony. She stood there, watching the sun slowly rise in the distance as the new day began.

Moments later, she watched her husband’s carriage take off.

CHAPTER 26

It was noon when Edwin finally pulled up to Lord Wilbury’s estate.

He was a man on a mission.

He had spent the previous hours consulting with the constables and speaking with his friends about the latest development. And now, he knew what he needed to do.