“I do.”
She waited, expecting an explanation.
None came.
Finally, she let out an exasperated sigh. “Evan.”
“Yes, darling?” His smirk widened. “You sound so pretty when you say my name like that.”
“Why do I have a new gown?” She threw the dress onto the chaise, crossing her arms.
“Because I bought it,” he said simply.
“For me?” Isadora’s brow furrowed.
“Who else would I be buying gowns for?” Evan replied as though it should be obvious already. “Your questions are rather silly, sweetheart.”
“Right.” Isadora’s lips parted slightly, clearly thrown. “And do you wish to tell me why you did that?”
Isadora could never let things go without bombarding him with a hoard of questions. However, he had been anticipating her reaction to this.
“I thought you might wear it to the ball,” he said simply.
Isadora blinked, looking between him and the gown as if trying to make sense of it.
“You thought I might wear it,” she repeated slowly. “You went down the shops, spotted a dress, and thought that I might like to wear it?”
“That is how these things usually go, yes,” Evan nodded.
He had expected her to smile at least, but Isadora was having the opposite reaction.
“Pray tell, what made you think of me at all?” she asked with a frown.
“Is it so shocking that I consider my own wife on occasion?” Evan grinned, clearly entertained. “I think a wife should be happy if her husband considers her like this.”
But even as he said it, he knew that Isadora was far from a typical wife.
“It is shocking, yes,” Isadora maintained, glancing back at the dress.
“Now, that is no way to think. You should have more faith in our marriage, sweetheart,” he said simply.
“Ourbusiness arrangement, you mean.” She crossed her arms out in front of her. She seemed to be torn between arguing further and liking the dress.
“That too,” Evan shrugged. “However way you wish to put it, I think that the dress would look nice on you.”
Semantics.Yet again they were arguing over words.
“Is it not to your liking?” he questioned when he noticed Isadora looking at the gown again. “Did you prefer a different colour or style?”
“No,” she replied quickly. “It’s quite stunning. But I simply do not understand the need for it. I have plenty of gowns. You did not need to waste your money on this.”
“Who said it was a waste?” he countered. “And who said I had any shortage of money to spend?”
“Yes, I’m sure it is only a drop in the bucket for you.” She let out an exasperated sigh. “But I do not need your gifts.”
Evan stood then, moving toward her in one fluid step. “I do not recall asking if you did,” he murmured when he was close.
He noticed her swallowing hard.
