Edwin's voice dropped to a hushed tone as he disclosed, "I might be a bit busy later. You can find something to occupy yourself with. If you ever get bored, you could go back to Czanch with my parents. The Evans Gardon is vast and quite intriguing."

But Laura declined the offer.

She yearned to be with Edwin. Even if he had a demanding schedule, he had to return home each night.

Laura softly suggested that she could learn to cook.

Edwin hesitated; he wasn't keen on Laura taking up cooking duties.