Page 27

“I think I would rather listen while standing,” he said.

Ava swallowed nervously.

Even though he was several feet away, he towered over her, and even that unnerved her. Especially since the matter she wished to discuss with him was rather sensitive.

“Edwin, I will perform all my wifely duties. I will be of use to you in every way you want, but I will not be a mother.”

Relief washed over her as she said those last words.

Edwin blinked rapidly as her words registered.

I will not be a mother.

He was shocked, and he did not know what to make of what his new wife had just said.

He had never given thought to having children before. However, he knew that he would have them, eventually. After all, he was a duke, and if he did not sire an heir, his estate and wealth would simply be passed on to some distant relative he had never heard of before.

“You will not be a mother?” he echoed.

His wife nodded, her eyes hard. “I know you must have questions.”

“Indeed, I do,” he replied as he approached her.

He stopped right in front of her so that she had to tilt her head up to speak to him.

“I simply never wanted to be a mother. Of course, you can take mistresses and have as many affairs as you desire. I do not care. However, you will not share my bed,” she continued.

Edwin could not believe his ears.

First, she had declared that she would not have children, and now she said she did not want to share his bed.

He smirked. He knew only too well that her resolve not to share his bed would shatter soon enough.

“You are smiling,” she noted, confused. “I know you must think that this is a joke, but it truly isn’t.”

Edwin shrugged. “I suppose I am simply amused by your declaration. After all, I love a good challenge.”

“This is not a challenge,” Ava huffed.

Her eyes narrowed, and Edwin could tell that she was beginning to get infuriated.

That excited him even more. He enjoyed angry Ava.

“Only time will tell,” he responded simply.

“If you have been nursing the idea of sharing a bed with me, then you must know it will never happen,” she declared fervently.

Edwin’s lips twitched. Her insistence, her anger—it only made him want to tease her further.

He sat on the table in front of her and then pulled her out of her chair.

Ava gasped, confused for a moment. “What are you doing?”

“Simply showing you what you will be missing out,” he drawled.

He pulled her between his legs, caging her in.

“I do not care,” she scoffed. “I have decided not to share your bed, and nothing you can say or do will change my mind.”