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She gasped. The touch was so sudden, so unexpected, and yet so electric. She stopped breathing for a second, and in her confusion, she snatched her hand away from his.

However, Edwin did not seem to care that she had just avoided his hand as though he were a leper.

“Quite romantic, isn’t it?” he asked suddenly.

Romantic?

Her heart leaped.

It was true. The moment felt quite romantic, and everything seemed to blur even as the leaves rustled around them and the birds chirped. All she was aware of was that she was taking aromanticwalk with her husband.

“I suppose it would be nice if we both got to know each other better,” Edwin added.

Ava was bewildered, but she did not quite show it. Her husband was acting quite differently, and even though she liked his new behavior, she still could not help but wonder what he may be planning yet again. After all, he had proved that she could never truly trust him.

“What do you wish to know about me?” she asked matter-of-factly.

“Do you enjoy your life here?”

Ava stopped to look up at him. At that moment, she caught the reflection of the setting sun in his green eyes. She went still, unable to do anything but stare deeply into his eyes, mesmerized.

“Ava?” he prompted, jolting her out of her reverie.

“In a way, I do,” she replied.

“It sounds like you do not like it,” Edwin murmured.

“Truly, I enjoy being a duchess. I like being able to change everything to suit my taste. And I certainly do not miss having my ungrateful father condemn me for everything I do,” Ava huffed.

“Then I must let you know that the renovations you have done so far are simply lovely,” Edwin offered, “and I appreciate your efforts.”

Ava smiled and nodded.

He is not quite so bad.

“Although, I miss having my sisters around,” she admitted. “It can be lonely sometimes.”

“They can come here as often as they like,” Edwin said.

“That is not possible, since they have their own lives,” Ava sighed.

“Is there anything I can do to make you feel less lonely?” he asked.

Perhaps sit with me and speak with me.

But Ava did not tell him that. Instead, she shook her head grimly.

“Now, you must ask me a question about myself,” he said.

“Is that so?” Ava tapped her chin, deep in thought.

Suddenly, she remembered.

“The paintings by the staircase,” she began. “I was informed that there used to be one of you and your family.”

“Indeed,” Edwin confirmed. “I ordered the servants to remove it.”

“Why?”