“You are being awfully romantic tonight,” Isadora said. “Is there something in the water?
Evan chuckled at that. “Did I tell you that I visited Nicholas and Violet?”
“Oh? I didn’t realize,” Isadora replied. “You should have taken me as well.”
“No, you were far too busy with preparations for the ball. I did not wish to disturb you,” Evan admitted. “Besides, it was unplanned. Nicholas summoned me—some matter about theestate. I arrived expecting to talk about business, but when I got there…”
Evan paused for a moment, steeling himself. The visit was something that he had been thinking about all evening.
“Well, I met their son.”
Isadora froze, looking up at him expectantly. Violet had given birth just a few months prior, a little boy that Isadora had been meaning to visit again, but Evan had never shown much interest before.
“What did you think?” Isadora asked finally, her voice quieter than before.
“He is rather adorable, is he not?” Evan ran a hand through his hair, shifting. “I got to hold him.”
Isadora’s eyes widened and then a smile spread across her face. “Then, I regret missing the occasion doubly so. I would have loved you see you interact with him”
“Well, perhaps we are going to have to visit them again,” Evan conceded softly. “Because I have not stopped thinking about it ever since.”
“That is quite surprising to me,” Isadora commented. “I never took you for one who would be interested in a baby.”
Evan could only smile in return.
“Yes, neither did I.”
For a moment, there was only silence between them—as though they were both trying to make sense of what this meant. Evansucked in a sharp breath, wrapping his arm around Isadora to pull her closer.
“You know, I looked at Nicholas and Violet’s son, and I was not entirely gripped with fear as I had anticipated,” he murmured. “I found myself wondering instead.
“Wondering?” she echoed. A brief glimmer of hope flashed her face.
“What it would be like to have a child with you,” he admitted. “A little girl with your eyes. A boy with your smile.” His voice grew quieter. “What it would feel like to wake up and see them running through our halls.”
“Evan—”
Evan’s grip on her tightened slightly, his thumb brushing slow circles against her waist.
“I was so certain,” he continued, “that I would never want this. That I would neverallowmyself to want it.”
“Do you think you are changing your mind now?” The hope in her voice returned.
“Let us just say that I am considering it,” he smiled. “I know what kind of father Idon’twant to be, and I know the mistakes I refuse to make. But beyond that, I never let myselfimaginewhat it could be like, Isadora.”
“But you did when you met the child.”
“I thought about a child who had your wit, your stubbornness, your… kind heart.” His thumb brushed her cheek now. “I found myself wondering if?—”
“If what?” she breathed.
“If I couldwantit,” he admitted. “If I could begoodat it.”
A tear slipped down Isadora’s cheek, and Evan immediately brushed it away.
“You would be,” she whispered.
“You cannot know that.”
