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“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

Rafe would recognize that drawl anywhere. He nodded toward his best mate. “Derek.”

Theo stood as Derek and his wife, Olivia, walked into the study.

“Good day, Olivia,” Rafe murmured.

Her blue gaze darted between him and Theodora. “Lovely to see you, Rafe. And…?”

Rafe didn’t bother with the effort of standing. It was too much of a production with his damn leg. “I’d like you both to meet, Miss Theodora Dawson. My future duchess.”

Rafe had already informed Derek earlier that morn of his and Theo’s…nuptials.

Olivia practically bounced next to Derek, the fabric of her yellow dress fluttering with the movement.

Theo bowed, then stepped forward and extended her hand to Derek. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lord. Rafe speaks highly of you.”

Derek blinked at her hand.

Theo’s lips curled. “Refusing a duchess’s handshake? That does not look good on you, Dunmore.”

Derek’s jaw went slack. But he recovered quickly, a grin splitting his face as he shook Theo’s hand with purpose. “A pleasure. And it’s Derek. Rafe and I are as good as brothers. We need not stand on formality here.”

“Theo, then.” Theodora smiled.

“And this is my new wife, Livy, who you might recognize from our wedding breakfast.”

“Excellent barb,” Theo murmured softly.

She turned to Olivia and opened her mouth in greeting, but Olivia beat her to it.

“It is so lovely to meet you! Do you do hugs? Please say you do hugs. Derek informed me you’re Rafe’s steward. That is brilliant!”

Theo’s smile widened into a full-blown grin. “A hug sounds lovely. And—oomph.”

Rafe covered his grin with his hand. For being so slight, Olivia apparently gave quite the hug. The golden-haired woman practically swallowed up Theodora.

“I’m so excited to become better acquainted. I think we are going to get along swimmingly.” Before Rafe knew what was happening, Olivia was dragging Theo over to his desk. “Now, you must tell me how you keep your ledgers. I’m not certain if Rafe informed you, but I just love numbers. I recently was helping a dear friend manage her books. We could discuss strategies!”

Rafe chuckled.

“She’s amazing, isn’t she?”

He caught his best friend’s eye. “Which one?”

“Touché.”

Derek sat heavily on the couch next to Rafe. “I see why she slew the Iron Duke. She’s your steward, but does she bust ballocks on the side? She’s bloody intimidating.”

He chuckled. “She demands the respect of a man. It was one of the first things that drew me to her. She is…unlike any woman I’ve ever known.”

“I know the feeling,” his friend murmured. “The first time I met Livy, she planted me a facer.”

Rafe’s eyebrows lifted. He needed to hear more of that story.

“So, what is the plan next? After you recover, of course.”

That brought up a topic Rafe had wanted to broach with Derek. “I was wondering…once I’m well enough to travel, would you and Olivia care to join me and Theodora at Ironcrest?”