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“Damn right, you must. You are now responsible for her safety.”

Edwin nodded as he rose to his feet. He knew what he must do. “I must pay my mother a visit.”

Magnus gave him an understanding smile.

With that, Edwin hurried out of the gambling hell, his mind set on his destination. He told his driver where to take him and then settled back in his seat, deep in thought.

He knew his mother hated him, and yet he could not help but wonder if her hatred was truly so strong that she would gladly kill him.

However, as he tried to convince himself that she would not do such a thing, he remembered a time when he was far younger and had yet to leave for the military, when she had attempted to kill him.

If she had tried to take his life when he was only a harmless boy, then certainly she would be inclined to do it again, especially now that he was a grown man who could pose a danger to her.

His mind drifted to Ava once again. He could not help but fear that her life was now in danger just because she had married him.

He raked his fingers through his hair in frustration.

He was relieved when moments later, the carriage rolled to a stop. He hopped out and stood in front of the house his mother had moved into after his return from the war. It was one of the many houses he had inherited, and he had been more than happy to steer clear of it ever since.

He could not quite prove it, but he was almost certain that his mother had not quite expected him to return from the war when he had. She would have certainly been happy if he had been one of the young boys who succumbed to death.

He drew in a deep breath before taking assured steps towards the front door, where an elderly butler awaited.

“His Grace, the Duke of Gillingham!” the butler announced as he entered the house.

Edwin looked around the foyer. It was far smaller than the one in his house. However, he was certain that his mother preferred living in the smaller house alone, where she could entertain her lover whenever she wanted.

“If you will follow me to the drawing room, Your Grace, while I fetch Her Grace,” the butler urged, scurrying after him.

Edwin shook his head. “Thank you, but I shall wait here for my… for the Dowager Duchess.”

He could not quite bring himself to call her his mother. How could he, when she was the reason he now feared for his wife’s safety?

“I shall inform Her Grace of your presence, then,” the butler said.

“You do not need to inform me. I am already here,” a familiar voice called from the top of the stairs.

Edwin’s head snapped up, and he caught a glimpse of his mother.

The Dowager Duchess was wearing a maroon dress and a hat of the same color. As she descended the staircase, Edwin could not help but note that she seemed not to have aged much. The only sign of aging he could see was the new wrinkle at the corner of her left eye.

She is certainly taking care of herself. For her lover, perhaps.

“Edwin,” she said stiffly as she stopped in front of him.

“Mother,” he returned in the same tone.

Even though his mother was far shorter than him, he still could not deny the power that she wielded. Just her mere presence filled him with dread.

“To what do I owe this visit?” she asked, regarding him with cold eyes. “I suppose you do not expect me to believe that you have only now decided to pay your dear mother a visit.”

Edwin kept his expression neutral, determined not to let any emotion show. He knew his mother would take pleasure in wringing an emotional reaction from him. She might have even orchestrated the attack on him just so he would pay her a visit.

Instead of responding to her question, however, he decided to take a leaf from her book.

He walked past her, further into the foyer, and looked around, a disdainful look on his face.

“This house is rather small, don’t you think?” he remarked.