“That,” he said, “is the first honest thing you have said all morning.”
“Well, if you are quite finished attempting to dissect my personality, I have other things to attend to,” she announced.
Evan looked bored. “Important ones?”
“Very,” she emphasized.
“Duchess duty calls?”
He was only trying to prolong the conversation now—or trying to get a rise out of her one last time. “Indeed,” she managed, her teeth gritted.
“Oh I should be more mindfulof your time then,” Evan chuckled. “By all means, please carry on.”
She stood, making her exit with as much dignity as she could manage. But as she reached the doorway, Evan spoke again.
“Sweetheart.”
She paused but did not turn around. “Yes?” Her fists balled at her sides.
His voice was low, teasing, and utterly infuriating.
“Don’t spend too much time trying to figure me out,” he said simply. “I’m afraid you’ll not get very far with it.”
Isadora stiffened, heat rushing to her cheeks, but she did not give him the satisfaction of reacting. Instead, she simply walked away.
If only the Duke knew that his statement would make her try even harder.
The rest of the morning had not gone as planned.
Isadora had intended to spend the day focusing on her duties, organizing the household and a number of other things that required her utmost attention that she was meantto be doing. But the reality was far different. She found herself thinking about Evan instead.
And that was intolerable.
She had never known a man so insufferable, so frustratingly unreadable. He had given her just enough of his past to leave herwanting to know more but not enough to actually understand him.
And then—to top it all off—he’d had the audacity to tell her that she shouldn’t try to figure him out.
No. Isadora was not one to listen, not in this situation.
“Mrs. Wilson,” Isadora said abruptly, stopping in her tracks.
The head maid stiffened, her wide eyes darting up in surprise.
“Your Grace,” she said quickly, dipping into a curtsy.
Isadora hesitated for only a moment before speaking. “Are you busy?”
“I—I was just finishing the morning rounds, Your Grace.”
Isadora nodded, glancing down the empty hallway.
“Walk with me.”
Mrs Wilson’s eyes widened, but she obeyed immediately, falling into step beside the Duchess.
“Is there something you require, Your Grace?”
Isadora wondered how she should go about it. Truthfully, she only wanted to speak to her about the Duke, but it would be strange to pry like that. She folded her hands neatly before speaking.
