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“We fool them…” Rafe finally said, gaze narrowed on his grandmother.
She gave a bored shrug. “We make them believe you’re married. We announce it. We have a private celebration here. And never…formally go through with it. Everyone will believe you are married. You can go on living as though you are married, but legally Theodora is still her own person.”
That was…that was brilliant. She started turning over the idea in her brain, searching frantically for snags, for pitfalls.
“If someone were to investigate, there’d be no record. Debrett’s does not just take someone on their word when updating records,” Rafe pointed out.
“Debrett’s is notoriously outdated.” The dowager waved that away. “They update it slowly. You have at least a few years before anyone would make any sort of claim on that end. We will have our servants do what they do best. Talk. Gossip is the principal means of communication. And, of course, we will put something in the papers. Very few will think to dig deeper unless you give them a reason to doubt the union.”
“That’s true,” Theo said slowly. “And they’d need to know where to dig. They’d need to know the parish where we married.”
“Which will be quite hard to find,” Rafe said, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “Considering it doesn’t exist.”
Theo bit her lip against her answering smile. “Touché, Duke.”
There was something that still had Theo off-kilter with this plan, though. She turned to the dowager. “While this plan seems promising…I thought you wanted us to get married?”
“I do. But I know a losing battle when I see one. My aim has always been and will always be to see Raffy happy. If he does not need the formality of marriage, then so be it.” Her mouth curved softly. “And I cannot deny I like a radical woman, Miss Dawson. Your arguments are not without merit. What you seek is a dream so many of us women have. It is admirable that you refuse to settle for anything less. And quite lucky you have found a man who wants the same.”
Theo’s jaw slackened. She didn’t know what to do with that praise.
“But…”
Theo froze, and Rafe’s hand tightened on hers.
“I do have some stipulations before I agree to this plan,” she continued, as though Rafe and Theo were presenting this plan to her for approval. “I want trusts and a formal pension put in place for Theodora. I want her current income protected, and I want her to be granted the fortune she would have been entitled to if you two had legally married. But that is simple for our solicitor.” She waved that away. “The more complicated matter…is children.” She looked between Rafe and Theo. “If Theo becomes with child, you marry. Legally. And that is my final say on the matter.”
Theo couldn’t hold back her smile. The woman really was formidable. She supposed she could compromise on that point. It was one thing for her to balk at marriage when it concerned only herself. But marriage provided protection and security for children. She’d never put her own convictions above their welfare.
“Does anyone else get a say in the matter?” Theo asked, quirking her brow. She caught Rafe’s gaze, her own amusement shining back at her. “Perhaps the two people involved?”
“Considering I just solved both of your problems, I believe the words you are looking for, dear, are thank you.”
Theo’s eyes went wide, and she quickly hid her choked surprise behind her hand.
A small smile broke free on Rafe’s face, his eyes soft with fondness. “That’s Grandmama for you,” he whispered.
“I heard that.”
“I’m well aware,” he said, but didn’t look away from Theo. “So, what do you say, Theodora? Will you make me the happiest man alive and pretend to marry me?”
She’d never been presented with a more lovely question. Yet… “There are still other things we have to figure out, Rafe. The topic of children. Where will we live—”
He shook his head. “All things that can be determined in the coming days. Any complications we think of, we will address.”
Theo’s grin finally broke free. “I believe we’ll need a contract outlining all the stipulations of this agreement.”
“I do love a good contract,” he said softly, carefully pulling her closer.
Love glowed back at her in those dark grey irises. “As do I, Your Grace. As do I.”
49
Rafe
“If you all wouldn’t mind, I’d like a moment with my duchess.”
Theodora’s eyes widened. “Your Grace,” she admonished. “We have yet to have our faux ceremony.”
