Page 31 of Claimed By the Beastly Duke

It was almost as though nobody had ever cared enough to beautify the space. They only did the bare minimum to ensure that it was not dirty.

Ava smiled. This was where she shone. After all, she took great pleasure in managing the household and transforming it from dull to sparkling in a short time.

Neigh!

The sound broke through her thoughts, and she turned her head to see the stablehand leading her husband’s horse out of the stables. It was a handsome gray shire horse.

Ava watched as the horse trotted slowly.

She was about to return to her inspection of the grounds when she saw her husband step out of the stables.

She swallowed thickly. She had made sure to stay out of his way, and even during dinner—which they often ate together—she would wolf down her food as quickly as she could and then flee the dining room.

His antics on their wedding night had shown her that her resolve might not be as strong as she had thought it was. And since he was rather wicked, she knew it was only a matter of time before he tried to seduce her into his bed.

And yet, as she spotted him straddling the horse, she could not keep her eyes off him. This was one of the few times she could watch him without having him taunt her.

The clip-clop of hooves rent the air as he rode off into the distance.

With his coat, breeches, and hat, Ava could not help but admit that her husband cut quite the alluring figure.

Alluring?

She shook herself out of her reverie.

If she were to stick to her decision not to share his bed, then she must refrain from such thoughts. Thus, she decided to take a stroll to the pond nearby.

Just like the rest of the estate, the pond was neat. Yet it lacked ornaments that might have made it more inviting—save for a nearby tree that provided shade.

Ava could already picture what the garden would look like under her care. She would certainly transform it from a mere pond to a water garden. The path to the pond would be lined with flowers, and reeds and water lilies would be planted at the edge of the pond.

“A stone bench under the shade of the tree… and perhaps a statue,” she muttered to herself, her heart leaping with joy at the vision.

She could even sit on the bench and simply watch the beauty of nature while she sipped tea and read one of her novels.

Satisfied with the vision, she headed back to the drawing room, where the butler and housekeeper should be waiting for her. And indeed, they greeted her effusively as soon as she stepped inside.

The housekeeper was a middle-aged, robust woman with kind eyes. The butler, on the other hand, was an older man with a severe countenance. Both of them were in charge of the day-to-day running of the household, and therefore they were the ones who would disseminate the information she gave them.

Ava got down to business as soon as she took a seat.

“I must commend the servants on the immaculate work they have done to keep the estate running.”

The housekeeper smiled proudly.

“However, certain things would benefit from a transformation,” Ava continued. “The garden is well-maintained, but it looks dull with only one type of flower. However, if several types of flowers were planted, it would certainly look livelier. Moreover, the lawns should be greener and more vibrant. It is quite unsightly that the grass is all but dried up.”

The butler nodded.

“Now, I would love to start a small project. The pond is far too plain, when it could look more beautiful. This is why we will build a water garden. The path that leads to the pond will be graveled, and flowers will be planted on either side. The ponditself will be adorned with water flowers, while a statue will be erected. A bench would also be a nice addition, especially if it is erected under the tree that provides shade.”

“That would be lovely, Your Grace,” the housekeeper said.

“Now, regarding food. I would like a more varied menu. Could we perhaps have cognac and pineapples? Perhaps roast duck and turtle soup too,” Ava continued. “I have also checked the unused chambers, and the state they’re in is simply unacceptable. They were quite dusty, and the cobwebs made it even harder for me to walk into some of the rooms.”

The housekeeper lowered her head. “I truly apologize, Your Grace. Most of the chambers have been forgotten because it has been a long time since they were last used. The estate has not hosted a ball in decades, so the rooms have remained locked.”

“I understand, and this is why all the chambers, whether they have been used or unused, must be cleaned every three months. This way, they would be ready whenever we need them.”

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