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“The courtyard is just so…flat.” Quinton wrinkled his nose. “We had the best of times running wild on our estates. Playing in the woods, climbing rocks, swimming in creeks. These children are already being stripped of their childhood in so many ways. I don’t want them to miss out on that.”
“We cannot exactly grow a forest for them,” Derek said dryly. “Nor do we have the space.”
Quinton tsked. “No imagination. What Liv sees in you, I’ll never know.”
Rafe covered his laugh with a cough, but not well enough. Derek shot him a glare. Traitor.
“I have a number of redeeming qualities,” Derek muttered. “Not to mention my large—”
Rupert cleared his throat loudly, but they all heard how Derek finished that sentence. “I think we are falling off course. You had an idea, Quinton?”
Rafe discreetly eyed Warren, but the man had no reaction to Derek’s statement. Rafe had thought it was a horrible idea to have him join the project, considering he and Derek had both been vying for Olivia’s hand—and Derek had won. But the bitterness had long since faded. Rafe had a guess as to why.
Quinton spun to face the group, clapping his hands. “Yes! I want to build a boat!”
Silence fell over them.
Warren cocked his head. “I mean this in the nicest way possible, Quint. But what in the bloody hell are you talking about?”
“A ship. Built out of wood. Right here in the courtyard. With decking and masts and ropes, down below in the hull we can have some archways. The kids can climb all over it, through it, play pirate.” He scooped up a stick off the ground and jumped into an en garde position. “Sword fight.”
“I love it,” Rupert said immediately. “Every child ought to have opportunities to climb trees, get muddy, and make a mess of themselves—simply be children.”
“And since we can’t give them trees here…” Quinton said.
Warren grinned at his friend, something soft in his gaze. “We’ll build them a boat.”
“At least this one won’t delay the opening,” Rafe murmured. “I agree. It’ll be a great addition. All in favor?” A chorus of ayes answered him. “With that settled, I’d like to get home to my duchess.”
“And me to my wife,” Derek said.
“And me to mine,” Rupert added.
Quinton looked around the group and let out a dramatic sigh. “I’m feeling oddly left out now. No one to go home to.”
Warren scoffed. “Oh, please. We all know your sorry arse will be at my place. Invited or not.”
Quinton grinned. “S’pose that’s true. And you’ll never be getting rid of me.”
They made their way back to their carriages, and just as Rafe passed Quinton and Warren, he caught Warren’s quiet murmur. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Make haste, Rafe!” Derek hollered.
Rafe picked up his pace. Time to get home. Sebastian was out traveling the continent, but otherwise his entire family would be there. Including Olivia and Derek, who stayed at Ironcrest House more often than they did at Derek’s townhouse.
Everyone he loved.
How fortunate a man he had become.
* * *
