Page 41

“I am simply at ease, and there is no one breathing down my neck because I am not performing all his tasks for him at the speed of lightning,” she said.

“Marriage surely agrees with you. You are far more radiant, and you just seem relaxed,” Lily observed.

“I suppose that is the result of being free.” Ava chuckled.

“How do you find your husband?” Lily then asked. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you dodging that question.”

Ava shrugged. “He is far better than my father, and I suppose that in itself makes me feel better.”

“So, he does not try to control you?” Lily probed.

Ava shook her head. “If anything, he simply lets me be. And unlike my father, who would make me explain to him over and over again every time I needed money for the household, he simply gives me whatever I want.”

“I suppose there are perks to being married to a wealthy duke.” Lily giggled.

“He is not only wealthy, but he is also generous,” Ava added. “I have heard tales of ladies whose husbands are so miserly that they would refuse to pay for coal to keep the house warm, and thus run the risk of freezing to death.”

“You are right, Ava,” Lily said. “For someone with quite a reputation, the Duke seems to make a good husband.”

“Indeed. In fact, he has been incredibly supportive with the water garden I had just commissioned and the drawing room I am now renovating,” Ava revealed.

Lily’s eyes widened in delight. “You commissioned a water garden? Oh, I must see it! In fact, you must throw a ball to celebrate.”

Ava chuckled. Seeing her friend so excited about her project made her immensely happy.

“Then you must follow me home today to see the progress on the drawing room,” Ava suggested. “Edwin said that the drawing room was simply a marvel, and I am not even halfway done with it.”

“Edwin?” Lily echoed, a smile teasing the corners of her lips.

Ava felt heat rush to her face. “He insists that I call him by his name,” she admitted.

“You simply cannot talk about him without blushing,” Lily noted.

Ava shook her head rather frantically. “That is not true,” she insisted.

“I shall remind you when you finally admit to being in love with your husband.”

Ava gasped. “I admit that he has far exceeded my expectations, and he has proven himself to be a kind husband. However, this does not mean that I will fall in love with him.”

“Hmm,” Lily murmured noncomittally.

“Truly, Lily,” Ava insisted.

“I believe you,” Lily intoned.

Ava could not believe that Lily was confident she would fall in love with her husband.

“I do not share his bed,” she declared suddenly.

That seemed to get Lily’s attention.

She stared at Ava quizzically. “How can you not share your husband’s bed when you are married?” she asked.

“Because ours is not a love marriage, and I must keep it this way so there are no expectations.”

But even as Ava tried to explain to her friend, she herself was not quite convinced.

“Well, perhaps the reason you are determined to convince me that you will never fall in love with him and the reason you have decided not to share his bed are the same,” Lily quipped, just as the carriage lurched to a stop in front of the modiste’s.