Page 80 of Stolen By the Duke of Ice
Peter remained silent; instead, he called for his horse. He heard Matteo chuckle behind him.
They rode their horses with moderate speed, keeping to the packed snow path that had been prepared for the pack carts. After an hour, and with the cold biting their cheeks and noses, the two friends agreed that that would be all the riding they would do on that day.
“Have some tea brought into my study please, Mr. Cooper,” Peter instructed the butler upon their return.
“Coffee for me, my good man,” Matteo said, thanking the butler.
“We have just this last stack of documents to go through.”
Peter sat behind his desk and was in the process of spreading out the sheets when Matteo stopped him.
“You will not tell me, but I have eyes, Peter.”
Peter ignored him.
“Very well, I shall talk, and you shall listen.”
Matteo took the seat in front of Peter’s desk; he laced his fingers behind his head and continued.
“It is obvious to me, old man, that you are quite taken with your wife.”
Peter grunted.
“I see how you look at her. And if I didn’t know any better, I would say that you actually flirt with her.”
Matteo could see that Peter was about to object to that, but he held his hand up before his friend could continue.
“I know what you mean; my friend,Peter, does not flirt.” Matteo tapped a finger against his chin. “So perhaps it is not flirting, perhaps he has skipped that—the superior being that he is—and is now just plainlybesotted.” He made a flourishing gesture.
“How is that?”
“It continually amuses me how you think yourself so clever, Matteo.”
“I still do not hear you denying it.” Matteo’s grin covered his face.
“I am not besotted with Dahlia.”
“There it is.”
“There is what?”
“Thedenial.”
Peter stared darkly at his friend.
Their tea and coffee were brought in. Matteo leaned back against his seat and smiled his thanks at the servants. When they left, he picked up the conversation.
“You know, Peter, it is the most natural thing in the world to be taken with one’s wife. The most convenient as well for you are alreadymarried.”
Peter placed both hands on his desk and spoke with a serious—perhaps even sad—voice.
“You, of all people, should know why I can never let this be anything more than cordial.”
“Ah, Peter.”
Peter took a deep breath and arranged the documents on his desk.
“Shall we resume?”
