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“I am back home now.” He swallowed. “I…”

Ava waited for him to apologize, to say that he was sorry for abandoning her.

“I… uh…”

Is he finding it hard to say the words?

“I was wondering, can I see the drawing room now?” he asked.

Ava blinked rapidly. “The drawing room?”

“Yes. You have been working on it for so long, and I just realized I have not seen how it looks like with the new decor and furniture yet.”

“Oh!” Ava nodded slowly. “Then follow me.”

She led the way to the drawing room, her mind in turmoil.

The least she deserved was an apology or perhaps an explanation for the way he had left her. And now, he was offering none of that.

She did not even know where he had spent the night. If she hadn’t erroneously assumed that he had gone to see his mistress and followed him to that house all those days ago, she would have thought he had spent the night with a lover.

However, she knew now that he was not that kind of man.

She entered the drawing room and turned to face him.

“Wow!” He looked rather impressed, and that pleased her.

Edwin walked around, touching the furniture and taking in the paintings and drapes.

“You have quite the taste for decor,” he praised.

Ava could not help but smile. Seeing him admire her work made her rather happy.

Her father rarely commented on her work. And on the rare occasion he did, it was to complain about the money she had wasted on “frivolous things.”

“I must say, the sofa is quite comfortable,” Edwin said as he sat down. “And it supports my back just fine.”

“I am glad you approve of it.”

“Now, you must decorate my study too,” he requested.

Ava’s eyes widened in surprise. “You truly want me to decorate your study?”

“I would be a fool not to. You have transformed the drawing room from dreary and gloomy to airy and pleasant. Now, what do you say about decorating my study? It has been the same since my grandfather’s days. It is about time I changed certain things, don’t you agree?”

Ava’s heart warmed, and she shrugged. “I suppose I can do that.”

“Now, if you can just tell me how much the renovations will cost,” he continued as he rose and headed for the door, “then I can write to the accountant.”

“I shall inform the contractor, I suppose.”

There was a moment of silence as he lingered by the door.

“I was wondering, do you have any plans to go into town soon?” he finally asked.

Ava frowned. He had never asked her about her whereabouts before.

“I don’t. Stella and I already finished shopping for her wedding trousseau.”