Nathaniel sighed. "Fine."
"Fine what?"
"She stays."
The stable master looked relieved. Evelyn smiled. Nathaniel immediately regretted the decision.
"How much does she cost?"
The stable master named a figure. Nathaniel winced. Evelyn grinned.
"You see?"
"What?"
"You do have a heart."
"I have poor financial judgment."
"Same thing."
That afternoon, Nathaniel ordered a small paddock prepared for the mare. Evelyn named her Margaret.
Nathaniel objected. "Why Margaret?"
"Because she looks like my aunt."
"That is deeply insulting to the horse."
"To my aunt." Evelyn laughed.
Nathaniel realized he was smiling. He recognized the danger in that habit and disliked how little he wanted to stop. Not the horse—Evelyn. He had begun to look for excuses to be where she was. She noticed. Of course she noticed.
One evening, she entered his study carrying two cups of tea.
"You don't drink tea this late."
"I do tonight."
"You don't like tea."
"I am experimenting with tea."
"With compromise." She set one cup down. "You are getting sentimental."
"Don't tell anyone. My reputation would be ruined."
"I have survived worse." She sat opposite him. For a while, neither spoke. Then Evelyn said, "Do you ever wonder what would have happened if we had met differently?"
Nathaniel looked up. "Differently? How?"
"If you hadn't needed an heir."
He thought about it. "Yes."
"What do you think?"
"I think I would have noticed you."
She smiled. "That's not an answer."
"It is the only honest one."
She looked down at her tea. "I think I would have disliked you."
"Only at first, probably."
"Why?"
"You would have walked into a room looking as though you owned it."
"I usually do."
"That would have annoyed me."
"And now?"
"Now it still annoys me."
Nathaniel laughed. "Good."
She looked at him. "Why good?"
"Because I would be worried if you suddenly became agreeable."
Her expression softened. "I don't think I can become agreeable."
"I hope not."
The words hung between them. Evelyn looked away first.
The next morning, Nathaniel received an invitation to London. Lady Eleanor wanted him to attend a gathering of several influential families. He wanted to refuse. Evelyn read the invitation over breakfast.
"You should go."
"I don't want to."
"That is exactly why you should."