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The Dowager Duchess chuckled. “You must take me for a fool. I could see the disapproval in your eyes when you touched the cushion. Now, tell me the truth.”

“Indeed, I do not find the decorations impressive,” Ava admitted.

The older woman frowned as she finally stopped in front of her.

“The drapes are far too dark for a drawing room, and the furniture is quite gaudy. It seems gloomy—dreary, even.”

The Dowager Duchess’s lips were set in a grim line as she sat opposite her.

Ava could tell that the woman did not quite appreciate her honesty, even thoughshehad asked for it.

“Then I suppose you do not quite enjoy the dreary furniture in the drawing room at the estate? You are Edwin’s wife, aren’t you?” the Dowager Duchess asked.

Ava nodded her head. “Indeed, I am. And I recently renovated the drawing room.”

The Dowager Duchess smiled. “Aside from coming into my home to insult my furniture, what are you truly here for?”

Ava was taken aback by the woman’s bluntness and hostility.

“I did not insult your furniture, Duchess,” she said.

“Is that so?” The older woman raised an eyebrow at her.

“You simply asked a question and I answered honestly, just as you requested.”

“It does not matter. Now, tell me why you are here,” the Dowager Duchess pressed.

Ava let out a long sigh. “I saw you slap Edwin on that fateful day.”

The Dowager Duchess gave her a blank look. “Is that what you have come to tell me? If you must know, that was not the first time I hit him. He was quite an annoying boy growing up.”

Ava grimaced as she listened to her mother-in-law casually express her hatred for her husband.

“I do not like Edwin, and for good reason. I fled the estate when he returned from the war. If—” She broke off when a maid entered bearing a tea tray.

There was a moment of silence as the maid poured tea for them.

It was not until the maid had left that the Dowager Duchess spoke again.

“If I do not like someone, I simply steer clear of them. Just as I have steered clear of Edwin until he sought me out recently. I can sense that you do not quite like me. Why, then, have you sought me out?”

Instead of answering the question, Ava decided to ask one of her own.

“If you hated having a child so much, then why have one at all?”

The Dowager Duchess laughed. “You are quite the jester, aren’t you!” She lifted her teacup and took a sip. “Did you truly think I had an option? I married Edwin’s father as soon as I debuted, and before I knew it, I was heavily pregnant by a cold and cruel man.”

Ava could not help but feel sorry for her.

“I am sorry that you experienced that at such a young age. I have a sister who has only just debuted. I cannot possibly ima?—”

“Ava. That is your name, isn’t it?” The Dowager Duchess cut her off. “You need the pity more than I do. I would advise that you reserve it for yourself.”

Ava was taken aback. The older woman’s rudeness was rather jarring.

“I do not quite understand. There is nothing to pity me for.”

“Oh, isn’t there?” the Dowager Duchess asked. “You are married to my son, who is just as unkind and unfeeling as his father, and you think you do not need pity?”