this chemistry!!! THIS DEVELOPMENT!!!!!! I was so worried when the duke turned that we were gonna have the tired old "runs away before they can explain and talk for the drama" thing happen but no! They went somewhere quiet so they can talk privately! And she spoke honestly about what she was thinking/feeling! And he was receptive to it! I know this is like the bare minimum of how characters should be acting in a romance story but MAN its so refreshing!
He always liked her, even if it was just friendly feelings in the past, before the new soul took over the body. But because of his past he was reluctant to ever show his feelings as he feared it would bring harm and worry onto his wife.