“Andyouare vastly understating it,” Evan argued. “Isadora, just how many hats did you have to wear in that house? That of a mother and a father and everything else in between?”
“Well, I made no income,” she admitted softly. She wasn’t sure what to make of his little outburst—concerning or perhaps a bit flattering that he seemed so invested. “So, I suppose I only overlooked things.”
“That is somehow even worse.” Evan rubbed an open palm across his face. “He guilted you into taking on more than your share—which as a child should have beennone—because he supported you financially.”
For the first time that morning, Isadora did not have a response, for he was exactly right. George reallydidlove to assert how he was keeping the house running by using his daughters.
“And you were expected to be grateful for it,” Evan snarled, his voice rising.
“Well, it is all in the past now. The important thing is that I managed,” she said simply. She was not one to categorize herself as a victim.
Evan let out a slow, measured breath, as though reining in his temper. When he spoke again, his voice was noticeably softer.
“You should not have had to,” he said, “isthe point I am trying to make here.”
“It will do us little good dwelling on whatshould have happened,” Isadora swallowed.
“No wonder you never flinched at his words last night. You are so used to being disregarded by him that it does not even faze you anymore.”
Once again, she could not argue. He wasexactlyright.
“You are not in that house anymore,” he murmured, “and I will not allow you to be treated as though you are.”
The conviction in his voice sent something warm curling through her chest.
“I know,” she whispered. “You are not like him.”
“And that is something you should not forget,” he asserted. Their eyes met. For a moment, neither of them moved.
“But enough about my backstory,” Isadora blurted out, looking for an excuse to look away from his piercing gaze. She shifted her focus to her hands which she wound and unwound together as she spoke. “Will you accept my help in going through the ledgers or not?”
“I will not,” Evan smirked, returning to his usual teasing tone. “It is not your responsibility.”
“Very well then,” she pursed her lips. Even though she tried to deny it, a part of her did appreciate that Evan was concerned enough to consider these things. It was perhaps the first time that anyone had in her entire life.
“What else did you have to do in that house?” he questioned.
“I’d rather we moved on from the topic,” Isadora replied. “No use discussing it further, and I know how concerned you are with the utility of things.”
“This has been useful,” he asserted so strongly that it almost startled her. “But fine, let me ask you another question. Did you ever get to do anything that wasn’t just a responsibility or a duty?”
“Are you trying to imply that I had no fun in my life?” Isadora grinned, hoping to lighten the tone that had grown a bit too serious for her liking.
“At this point, I would not be surprised if that was the case.”
“Well, then you’re gravely mistaken, Your Grace,” she said. “I had a wonderful group of friends, as you know. So, time spent with them was what constituted as fun for me.”
Evan shot her a look. “Maintaining a social circle—as was expected of you as lady. That hardly signals to me something that you didonlyfor yourself and not out of duty.”
“You oversimplify it.”
“But you understand what I mean all the same,” he said quickly. She did.“Be more accurate, please. I want to know exactly whatfilled your days when you were not concerned with running a household or looking after your sister.”
Something about the intensity of his request made Isadora blush. As though he absolutelymustknow everything about the topic which most would consider quite trivial.
“Well, if you really wish to know…” She knotted her fingers together again. “… I did have hobbies of my own. Ones that I did only for my own sake and no one else’s.”
“What were they?” he asked immediately.
