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Thoughts that would mean Mr. Turner—or any other man, for that matter—wouldn’t ever be an issue again.

30

Theo

Theo strolled around the Ironcrest pond on her way back to her cottage. She still couldn’t believe the Duke had been sleeping in a cave. Now that she knew what she did about him, she couldn’t blame him. She’d have chosen a cave over the nightmares that haunted him.

But…it was curious he knew about the cave. There was no way he’d stumbled upon it upon arriving here. Which meant he’d known about its existence from when he was a lad. How long had he known about it? Had he been visiting it at the same time she had been? When Charlie had? Did he know Charlie?

A faint drumming grew in the distance. Theo glanced up, eyes catching on two men galloping in from one of the estate’s many trails. She recognized Storm right away and the chestnut coat of Bash’s mount. She couldn’t hold back the smile tugging at her lips. Looked liked Sebastian was getting more time with his brother. She was happy for them.

They must have caught sight of her because their mounts veered in her direction, slowing as they approached. She walked up to them and waved in greeting.

“Miss Dawson,” Bash called, his dimples on full display.

Both men’s cheeks were flushed, pink from the sting of wind.

“Lord Sebastian.” She dipped her chin.

“His Grace is lucky we saw you. He was about to lose for a second time to me.”

“Considering Storm and I were ahead of you, I’m not sure how you came to that conclusion.”

Bash glared at his brother. “We were just about to pass you. I was holding back until the end.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

“I know what helps you sleep at night,” Bash muttered.

Theo’s eyebrows flew up.

“Sebastian Cassius Sinclair,” Rafe hissed. “Hold your tongue.”

Bash only grinned, a devilish little-brother grin that Theo knew well. “Raphael Charles Sinclair,” he taunted.

The taunt niggled at the edges of Theo’s memory.

“I should have knocked you off your horse when I had the chance,” Rafe threw back.

She couldn’t hold back her chuckle. “I see you two are getting along swimmingly. Though, with how easily Lord Sebastian gets under one’s skin, I shouldn’t be surprised at how quickly you’ve fallen into brotherly squabbles.”

“You’ll never guess who we saw today, Miss Dawson,” Bash said, his hazel eyes glimmering with mischief. “Mr. Turner.”

She narrowed her gaze on Bash. He was up to something. “How lovely. I hope he and the younger Mr. Turner are doing well.”

Rafe grunted.

“Very. Mr. Turner said he will be coming by in the next few days to reshoe Zephyr.”

“Excellent. I was planning on writing to him, but I should have known he would already be on top of it.”

“So benevolent of him to travel all this way to do it so you don’t have to make the trip,” Bash said, sending Rafe a smirk.

“Quite,” Rafe said tightly.

All right; Bash was most definitely instigating. It would seem as though Rafe and Mr. Turner didn’t have a pleasant introduction. Theo was really hoping it didn’t have anything to do with what she thought it might.

“We best be off,” Bash said. “I’m sure Rafe here would like to order a bath before he settles in for the night. Cannot be stinking of sweat and horse for what he has planned.” He winked.