Isadora sighed dramatically. “And I think I should have left you at home. You are asking far too many questions.” Ones that even she did not have the answer to.
Penelope giggled, squeezing her arm. “All right, fine. I shall stop. My intention was not to irk you. It was just that… well, it is hard not to be curious.”
They walked on, the air lighter than before, but Isadora’s thoughts felt unsettled.
Because for the first time, she wondered if Penelope was right.
And that thought was far more dangerous than anything else.
The estate was quiet when Isadora returned.
Isadora had assumed that she would return home to a lonesome estate. She had expected Evan to be absent, off tending to whatever business dealings kept him occupied at odd hours.
But as she passed the study, she paused.
Somebody was inside.
The door was slightly ajar, and from within, the soft sound of rustling of papers drifted through the space.
Curiosity tugged at her.
She hesitated for only a moment before pushing the door open further.
Evan was sitting at his desk, deep in his ledgers, his brows furrowed in concentration.
His waistcoat was unbuttoned, and a few strands of dark hair had fallen out of place—a rare sight, given how meticulously he always seemed to carry himself.
It was strange, she thought. She had seen him composed, calculating, teasing—but never quite like this.
Focused. Unaware of everything else.
Or so she had thought.
“You have been standing there for a full minute, sweetheart,” Evan said without looking up, his voice laced with amusement.
Isadora blinked, her cheeks warming.
He had noticed her watching him.
“I—” She cleared her throat, straightening. “I was simply passing by.”
He finally glanced up, that ever-present smirk curving at his lips. “Ah. Passing by. So, you werenotstaring at me?”
Isadora’s spine snapped straight at having been caught out so easily. “Certainly not.”
Evan chuckled, setting his quill aside and leaning back in his chair.
“Pity,” he murmured. “I quite enjoyed the attention.”
Isadora huffed, crossing her arms. “Must you always be so smug about everything.”
“Yes.”
She made to turn away, fully intending to leave him to his work, but his next words stopped her.
“Stay.”
She glanced back at him. “Stay?” Had she heard him incorrectly?
