Alexander plays with Lavinia like always. He talks to her, and she shouts back all happy.

I sit on the couch and read a book, pretending to pay no attention to the father and daughter pair. They're always like this, by the way.

«Your mother has been so cold lately,» Alexander sighs at some point.

Lavinia replies with a simple «Aaah», but her face doesn't lose any trace of contentment. After all, she doesn't really understand a thing.

Just a few words, maybe. Like mother, dad, meal. For sure, not cold and not lately.

«She wants to leave me. Do you think she has someone else in mind already?» Alexander continues.

As the little ball yells vowels like never before, I close the book and glare at him.

What if, by some miracle, she remembers this when she grows up? She'll think I left Alexander for another person!

Oh, she won't because I'll still be here gazing after him with the same love even when she grows up and becomes a lady.

«Alexander, don't be like this.»

«All right, Theodora. I won't be this desperate. Or better said, I'll try.»

«I won't go anywhere, don't worry. You'll be able to play with your daughter as long as you want.»

«Weren't you here to say something?» he then asks, sudden and curious. «I'm all ears.»

«After you're done playing with Lavinia.»

«All right,» he sighs.

If I knew that divorcing would have brought me such an obedient husband... Oh, well, he'll return shameless and controlling soon enough. He must be tired from the journey or something.

«What's the matter with the weir?» I ask, to break the silence among us.

«It's solved. It will keep the water for this time as well. But, this year, I'll have to allocate some money for more thorough repairs. At least, I'll be here in the summer to overlook the works.»

«Good.» I nod, in secret, surprised that he's talking about his fief with me. «I can also make some corrections to my part of the budget and save money for it. I won't throw parties anymore, after all.»

«No?»

«I'm not the Lady, currently.»

«You have to tell me if you need anything, by the way. Not just for you, but also for our daughter.»

«Don't worry, I have it covered.»

«Ah, right,» he sighs. «You always have a backup plan.»

He gets up and delivers Lavinia to Kate.

«Bring her back,» he orders, and then his focus returns to me.

«I guess the desk is a better place where to talk,» he voices.

I nod and follow him to the working corner. The big window behind him makes him look even darker, with the light framing him.

«I have several things to tell you, actually. First of all, regarding the paintings.»

The pouch I have with me is heavy, so I better start taking out everything, one item after the other.

«I've sold them at an auction. Oh, I had a few auctions during our stay in the capital, to be precise... But not all the paintings sold were yours.»

«You sold my grandmother's as well.»

«You knew?» I exclaim, widening my eyes in surprise. He didn't say a single word the whole time when we were in the capital. «You could have stopped me if you didn't want this.»

Only to make sure Alexander won't sue me for using his products for my personal gain. The money I gained is considerable, but the connections are invaluable.

«I don't care what you do with my paintings,» he chuckles. «I'm even happier if they're useful for you.»

«It was because they are beautiful that I could use them,» I say. Just to remind him how good his hand is. «We can write a contract for the next time.»

«A contract?» His eyes shine with wickedness.

It's not yet time for naughty proposals, so I sigh and lean the pouch with money on the table.

«This is your cut.»

«How much?» Alexander asks, leaning back on the chair.

«Ten per cent. I'll pay the taxes with my cut, so your part is already clean.»

«If this is just ten per cent, you must have made a small fortune.»

«I have. Consider that I also sold your grandmother's paintings. Before you have time to suspect, we agreed.»

«After I heard she was not crazy, I couldn't help but suspect you were plotting something with her. Even if she was dead already. I investigated your link to my grandmother, and I found out about the paintings. Then, it was obvious what happened. She heard you sold mine... Did she even know those were mine?»

«I haven't told her,» I admit. «And her traits are similar to yours. Even if the final results were so different... I couldn't imagine all those paintings forgotten in a dusty room, or worse... Burned or threw away to make space!»

«How much was my grandmother's cut?» he inquires.

«She didn't ask for money. I kept the whole amount. But I will pay taxes on that as well, I promise!»

There's no need to persecute me.

«I will do it as soon as my things are unpacked!» I add.

«I don't need this,» he tries, this old fox.

«I insist,» I say with a grin. «You worked hard to provide the paintings. It's only fair if you have your part.»

«Well, to paint again, I'll need inspiration.»

«We'll talk about it another time. I won't finish ever if you want to settle all the matters at once. And it's important, Alexander.»

«I'm listening.»

«I used my allowance money to open a business before we departed for the capital. Here are the budgets for the last few months and the investments I am going to make. As you can see, it's a promising business.»

I can't value it as much as an old, stable enterprise, but every cent is relevant in this matter. Every single copper raising my value has to be used!

I want to look good in front of the man I love.