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“And that didn’t alarm you…” Theo asked slowly.
“Psh. You young generations are so prude. It wasn’t nearly as scandalous as society makes it out to be now. Everyone knew of the Prince of Wales and Baron Hervey’s love affair. Goodness, Baron Hervey flaunted it for everyone to see. I know Raffy is popular with the ladies, but who am I to assume he’s not popular with the men as well?” She studied Theo. “All I want for my grandson is to finally find happiness, Miss Dawson. Woman. Man. Steward. What have you. Perhaps a woman who is as far from a duchess as could be…is exactly how he does it.”
Theo crossed her arms. “As long as I don’t have to marry him, I’ll gladly make him happy.” The way that sounded instantly registered, and heat slapped her cheeks. “Oh my goodness. That was not—I did not intend for that to mean—” She waved a hand in front of her face. Dear bloody Lord.
Strangled snorts came from Abigail, and Theo turned her glare on the woman. Traitor. Which only had Abigail laughing harder.
Even the dowager was wearing an amused smile. “It is obvious you care for my grandson. Marrying him may make you a duchess, but that does not mean you need to behave any differently. Yes, you will no longer be steward, but you will be the one managing the steward. You’ll have more control, not less. More money as well. You do not need to frequent balls. Abigail has lived at Ironcrest for nearly two decades. You could do the same.”
The dowager spoke as if it were that simple. She’d have more power as a duchess, yes. But… “I wouldn’t have more control, though,” she said softly. She looked between the two women. “It’s a facade. I think you both know that better than anyone. We are only allowed as much control as our keeper allows. Right now, I am my own keeper. Can you both not see why I wouldn’t want to put my fate in the hands of a man?” After everything Abigail had been through with the late duke? And Theo knew the duke before him hadn’t been any better.
“Raphael is not like his father or grandfather.”
“He’s not.” Theo had no doubts on that front. “As good a man as he is, it doesn’t change how I refuse to put on a collar for him. He might never intend to put pressure on the leash, but it is still there. For what reason? Why? If the roles were reversed, men would be in an uproar. They would never marry if doing so gave women legal control over them. The way marriage contracts are set up is archaic. Perhaps one day, two people will come into a union on equal footing, with neither possessing dominion over the other. But until then, I want nothing to do with the institution.”
“You are radical,” the dowager murmured, tapping her lips.
“Thank you.”
Abigail chuckled, affection glimmering in her green eyes. “Oh, Theodora, how I love you.” Some of Theo’s tension eased, a softness unfurling in her chest. Abigail was the closest thing Theo had to a mother-like figure. Or a sister, she supposed. There was only a little over a decade between them. Her life was as unconventional as it came; was it any surprise that when it came to love she’d be any different?
“In this situation,” Theo said softly, “the woman always yields in the end.” She met the dowager’s gaze. “That will not be me.”
“But it will be me.”
Theo spun on her heel, plait flying. Her gaze clashed with a gorgeous steely grey. Rafe’s features gave nothing away, not that they usually did. All she could see was how gaunt they were, and her heart panged sharply.
“Well, this looks fun!” Sebastian snuck out from under Rafe’s arm, where he’d been half-supporting him, and made for his mother. “Are there any refreshments around here? After lugging that behemoth up the stairs, I’m famished.”
Rafe’s lips twitched before settling back into their usual flat line.
“What are you speaking of, Raffy?”
Rafe slowly made his way over to Theo’s side, gaze not wavering from hers. “I won’t marry Theodora. But what I do hope for…is the privilege of spending every day from here on out as her partner. I don’t need to sign my name on some bloody registrar to make it so.”
“But…but Ironcrest,” Theo said weakly. “The dukedom relies on you to marry, to carry on the line.” Her gaze flitted to Sebastian and back. Rafe’s small nod confirmed he understood what she was saying. If they didn’t marry, and Sebastian wasn’t going to marry and produce heirs…
“Perhaps it is time for my father’s line to end with me,” he said softly. His eyes flitted to his grandmother briefly. “I have a duty to this dukedom, and I’ll uphold that. I will ensure the estate is prosperous, the tenants well taken care of, their future secure.” He swallowed hard. “I happen to have a truly incredible steward who I know can make that happen.”
He reached for her hand and brought her knuckles to his mouth, pressing a soft kiss there. “I want forever with you, Theodora. To share our days and nights, our lives and love. All I need is you wanting the same with me.”
“She says yes!” Sebastian’s muffled words came from around a roll of bread from…
Theo frowned at him. “Bash…are you eating the remnants of my dinner?”
He blinked innocently at her. “I was hungry.”
Abigail swatted her son with the back of her hand. “Sebastian,” she scolded. “You’re ruining a romantic moment.”
He sent Theo and Rafe a toothy grin, and Theo’s heart swelled. She loved the lad so damn much.
Abigail delicately cleared her throat. “Though, I do want to point something out that may put a damper on things. This is not as simple as a love declaration and all troubles disappear. You two cannot live together and act as husband and wife while remaining unwed without it causing a scandal of epic proportions. You’d have to hide your relationship, even at Ironcrest. Raphael will weather it without issue.” She glanced meaningfully at Theodora. “As men do. But Theodora, you’ll be harassed to no end. Tenants, vendors, everyone you work closely with as steward, would lose their respect for you and may refuse to do business with you. And being out and about in London would be an impossibility.”
Theo’s gaze dropped to the floor, and her hand involuntarily tightened on Rafe’s. That was one of the many, many obstacles they would face. But Abigail also touched on another hurdle they needed to face. Where would they live? Ironcrest was her home. But it was Rafe’s nightmare. She’d be ostracized in London. It would be her nightmare. She deflated.
“That is an easy enough problem to solve.” The dowager’s pronouncement rang through Theo’s chamber, and all heads turned toward her. She lifted her brows. “We fool them.”
Silence greeted her words.
