“He was merely—” Isadora started.
“Ensuring your safety? Ensuring you didn’t get lost indoors?” Daphne smirked.
“That is exactly what he said,” Isadora muttered.
“Oh, my dear, he was not worried about you getting lost,” Violet said, shaking her head.
“No,” Daphne agreed. “He was worried about someone elsefindingyou.”
Isadora stiffened, her fingers tightening around her glass. The thought of Evan being possessive towards her made her stomach twist. And yet all the signs pointed towards that exact thing.
“Well, he does not need to worry about that,” she muttered under her breath.
“Does he always act like this at public gatherings?” Daphne asked, not letting her curiosity ease.
“Well…”
Truthfully, he did not. Evan had never cared much for socializing at events. He would participate when necessary but always with an air of detachment. However, he had been fully engaged tonight.
“I think he is not as indifferent as you think he is,” Violet said slowly when Isadora declined to answer.
Isadora let out an exasperated sigh. “Both of you need something better to do. You are inventing theories for your own amusement.”
Daphne smirked. “Are we? Or are you just trying very, very hard to ignore what is right in front of you?”
“I do not need to ignore anything because there is nothing to notice,” Isadora said stubbornly.
Violet smiled knowingly. “Keep telling yourself that, darling.”
“But when you finally realize we were right, you owe us.”
“Owe you what, exactly?” Isadora narrowed her eyes.
“Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps admitting that you were wrong?” Daphne shrugged, feigning innocence.
“I shall do no such thing,” Isadora scoffed.Owing someone a favorwas exactly how she had wound up in this marriage to begin with.
“Oh, you will,” Violet said smoothly. “And we will be here waiting for it.”
“Take your time. We are very patient,” Daphne grinned.
CHAPTER 19
“Bravo. That was quite the spectacle you put on last night,” Nicholas remarked. He had met him this morning to ride together.
Of course.Evan should have known that the comment was coming.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he scowled, tugging at the reins of his horse a little too tightly.
“Oh, come now, don’t make me say it. I don’t wish to embarrass you further,” Nicholas grinned.
“There is nothing to be embarrassed about,” Evan said, his gaze fixed ahead.
Nicholas hummed, unconvinced. “Then I suppose you routinely spend your evenings ensuring your wife does not stray too farfrom your side? Staking your claim in front of a room full of people? I must say, it was quite a performance.”
“I did not know that we met only to discuss my personal life.” Evan hoped that would make him drop the topic, but it only had the opposite effect.
“Well, you can hardly blame me. You were growling at Lord Bellington for daring to hold a conversation with your wife,” Nicholas grinned. “I have never seen you behave like that in all of the years that I have known you.”
