Evander nodded gravely. “Doing nothing feels far worse.”
Warwicke tapped his fingers against the desk. “Do you think your father could be persuaded to sell?”
A shadow crossed Evander’s face. “Highly unlikely. He’s enamored by the profit margins and refuses to acknowledge the moral complexities.”
“Not an uncommon trait among the peerage,” Warwicke muttered.
Evander gave a humorless chuckle. “Our coffers aren’t as full as they once were. I believe my father sees this as salvation.”
Warwicke’s tone lightened. “Speaking of new beginnings… I hear congratulations are in order. A wedding?”
Evander’s face relaxed into a smile. “Yes. I married Lady Olivia.”
“Lady Olivia?” Warwicke’s brows rose. “I hadn’t realized you harbored an attachment.”
“That’s because it’s complicated,” Evander admitted. “My mother… she’s ill. It was her greatest wish to see me married before…” His voice trailed off.
“And you don’t regret it?” Warwicke pressed.
“No,” Evander said. “Not for a moment. Olivia is… she’s extraordinary. But it wasn’t a love match. At least, not for her.”
Warwicke considered him. “Do you love her?”
“I do. And she’s my dearest friend. But I had to convince her to marry me.”
“Given the scandal surrounding her name, it’s an advantageous match for her,” Warwicke pointed out.
“Yes,” Evander replied, his tone firm, “but that’s not why I married her. I didn’t do it to save her. I did it because I couldn’t imagine anyone else beside me.”
Warwicke gave a small nod. “To find friendship and love in the same person is rare. And worth fighting for.”
“That’s the problem,” Evander confessed. “I fear Olivia only sees me as a friend.”
“Then you must change her mind.”
Evander lifted a brow. “And how, exactly, do I do that?”
Warwicke’s lip twitched. “Flowers and sweet treats are usually a good start.”
“I’ve tried flowers and truffles. She appreciated them, of course, but…” He exhaled. “I want more. I want a true marriage.”
The amusement faded from Warwicke’s eyes, replaced with something more earnest. “There was a time when I would havetold you not to bother. But now… now I believe it’s worth every effort. My wife changed my life. Loving her changed me.”
Evander glanced at the long, jagged scar on Warwicke’s cheek. “You seem different. Happier.”
“I am,” Warwicke said simply. “For a long time, I didn’t think I deserved happiness. Especially not after the war. But Dorothea proved me wrong.”
Evander’s expression softened. “I’m glad for you, truly.”
Warwicke met his gaze. “Marriage requires courage. It means allowing someone to see all your vulnerabilities and trusting they won’t use them to hurt you.”
Evander didn’t hesitate. “Olivia would never hurt me.”
“Then fight for her,” Warwicke asserted. “Show her that friendship can become love. That your marriage can be more than what it began as.”
“I intend to.”
“Good,” Warwicke said.
