Ambrose laughed at that. “Ah, and yet you did not extend him mercy, either.”
“Mercy has no place in business,” Evan noted. “But even so, there are lines that I do not cross.”
“How magnanimous of you,” Ambrose said after he’d studied him for a long moment. “Your wife will have her hands full with you, I suspect.”
Ah.Isadora.
“This is why I keep my personal life separate,” Evan scowled.
Just the idea of Isadora being present at one of these deals—seeing him like this—it was quite unacceptable to him.
“You say that, yes. But the Evan I know—businessishis life.” Ambrose raised a brow. “So tell me then, are the two things really separate?”
Evan ignored him, standing smoothly.
“I think we should leave now,” he said, brushing past Ambrose and heading toward the door. “The deal has been finalized, and there’s no use lurking.”
“Avoiding the subject, are we?” Ambrose chuckled, following him out.
Evan threw him a dark look over his shoulder as if to saydrop it.
The two men made their way out into the streets of London. It was a busy day—people of all manners and forms spilled out onto the cobbled pathways in a rush to get to wherever their destination was.
“You know, you could have struck another deal today,” Ambrose mused. “I heard that Lord William was looking for buyers for hiscountry farm estate. And that he is quite in a hurry to sell it off. I thought you’d pounce at the opportunity.”
“I’ve already closed one deal,” Evan replied. “Besides, I doubt Mercer realizes just how profitable I can make his venture. So I am fine not cutting another one.”
“That doesn’t sound like the Evan I know,” Ambrose’s tone took a turn for the teasing.
“Then you shouldknowthis one,” Evan replied.
“No, no. I suspect that there is more to it. You have been different since your wedding, you know,” he remarked. “Dare I say, even distracted.”
Evan scoffed at that. “I am not distracted. Youjustsaw me cut an impossible deal.”
“Yes, but that’s something I expect of you.” Ambrose arched a brow. “You just walked past a rather stunning investment opportunity without so much as a glance.Thatpart is new.”
Truthfully, Ambrose had a point. He had known about the sale for the estate. And previously, he would have jumped at the chance to acquire it.
But now, he just saw it as extra labor. More work to do, more time away from home.
“Maybe I’ve already cut a deal with him, and you simply do not know,” Evan lied, trying to placate his friend.
“I do not believe that for a second,” Ambrose grinned. “If you had, you would not have wasted a moment gloating about it.”
Evan said nothing. It was best for everyone if they didn’t probe too deeply into the matter.
But, as usual, Ambrose had a mind of his own. They had only made it a couple more steps when he spoke again.
“How is the Duchess doing?”
Evan exhaled, adjusting the cuffs of his coat. “She is just fine.”
“Has she managed to crawl her way into that cold heart of yours?” Ambrose asked.
Evan glanced sideways at him. “You seem quite interested in my wife.”
“Only in how thoroughly she has thrown you off your game,” Ambrose smirked.
