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“One look at her and I was positively smitten,” he added.

He was not lying. He had certainly been taken by Ava the moment he had laid eyes on her.

“Isn’t that just lovely?” Andrea said.

“You have only been married for a while, haven’t you?” Lorenzo asked.

“Indeed,” Ava confirmed. “And I look forward to spending the rest of our lives together.”

She held out her hand to Edwin, and he took it and gave it a squeeze.

“Now, Your Grace, you must tell me where you got your dress. I have never seen a fabric so delicate,” Bella complimented.

“Indeed!” Andrea agreed.

Soon enough, the two ladies were steering Ava away in a spirited conversation about fabrics and dresses.

Edwin was relieved. The ladies taking to his wife so quickly boded well for him.

“You have yourself quite the charmer, don’t you?” Luca joked. “Now, we must talk business.”

CHAPTER 13

Ava was grateful when she was finally able to escape the clutches of the older women. They had been so enthralled by her that they had taken her with them as they toured the ballroom. She had only been able to escape when they stopped at the refreshments table for drinks.

She certainly enjoyed their presence. However, she needed to find her sisters and friend.

She had not quite realized just how hard it would be to find her sisters until she stood in the middle of the ballroom, staring at a sea of masked figures.

How am I to find them in this crowd?

She started when suddenly, someone bumped into her. She turned to see two ladies walking away as they whispered under their breath.

However, she caught a few words.

“… married the beast… how…”

“… cannot believe it…”

There was no doubt they were talking about her.

Ava suddenly felt small and alone. Did the ton despise her now for marrying Edwin?

She heard more whispers and turned around only to see a group of four ladies pointing at her. She felt a pang in her chest.

I must leave this ball.

“Her dress is dazzling,” she heard one of the ladies say.

Ava felt a rush of relief. They did not despise her, after all. They simply loved her dress.

“I imagine it is expensive,” another one remarked.

I suppose the modiste was not wrong, after all. I am certainly the cynosure of all eyes.

“It certainly is,” another lady agreed. “It is made of Dhaka muslin, after all.”

Ava allowed herself to soak in the compliment before leaving in search of her sisters.