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“Should we take a respite?” Theo asked.

He shook his head.

“Your Grace… I can draw up a report of my thoughts, along with some estimates of figures. That would spare you further attention this morning. You appear to have not had the best night’s rest.”

Urgh. She hadn’t meant to add that last part. Because she sounded like she was prying. Which she might be.

“I haven’t.”

She nodded and started stacking her papers in a neat pile. She didn’t know what that meant. She knew he hadn’t spent the night in the castle again last night—courtesy of the gossip report from Perry. But he’d agreed to exclusivity in their contract. She didn’t take the man before her to be one who went against his word. But perhaps that was her being foolish. She barely knew the man. Perhaps he had just told her exactly what he knew she’d want to hear. She couldn’t shake the feeling in her gut that said otherwise. But perhaps that was just indigestion.

“I can’t…sleep well here.”

Theo frowned. Well, that was cryptic. She could guess it had to do with memories he had of this place. But he didn’t appear to be sleeping here… “Perhaps a sleeping drought⁠—”

“Absolutely not.”

She blinked at the sharpness in his tone. All right. Not that. “You might try some exercise to sufficiently exhaust yourself properly.”

His pupils flared. “Do you have any suggestions, Miss Dawson?”

“A good, hard ride usually serves me well.” Her cheeks instantly warmed. Oh dear. That had come out all wrong.

He watched her, those piercing grey eyes sending waves of heat over her skin. “Would tire your mount out too, I’d guess.”

“I’d imagine so,” she said faintly, her pulse fluttering erratically in her throat. It was feeling exceptionally hot for May all of a sudden.

“Perhaps I’ll try your suggestion. Tonight.”

She cleared her throat and willed her heartbeat to settle. “Excellent. Happy to be of help.”

He pushed back in his chair and stood. Something soft danced in his eyes as his lips tilted up ever so slightly at the corners. “I think happy scarcely captures what you’ll be, Miss Dawson.”

Then he strode from her office.

Tonight then. Where or what or when exactly, she didn’t know.

But she supposed she was going to find out.

14

Rafe

Rafe gave Storm a pat and left him with Zephyr. The two had cozied up almost instantly.

He made his way to Miss Dawson’s front door. He’d been looking for a way to broach arranging their next liaison. He’d wanted to during their meeting if they found themselves away from prying ears, but the lack of sleep was getting to him, and his mind had gone blank. He was barely functioning at this point. It’d been three nights of negligible sleep.

He hadn’t been able to comprehend any of Miss Dawson’s plans for recouping the estate’s losses. Something about quarrying for sheep? Which didn’t make a lick of sense. And then his brilliant, brilliant steward had made an incredibly brilliant suggestion. He just needed to exhaust himself so thoroughly that he didn’t realize he was sleeping on a slab of rough, uneven stone.

He knocked.

Time to exhaust himself.

Lord, he hoped she’d meant what she’d hinted at. He’d take a repeat of what they’d done the other day. His fingers flexed. But he itched to touch her. Feel her wrapped around him.

The door swung open, and he was greeted with a soft, knowing smile. It did something to his chest he didn’t understand. The light glow from the hearth illuminated her from behind. Her hair was in its usual plait, but instead of being twisted up in the chignon thing she usually wore, it was undone and falling over her shoulder. His fingers twitched. Perfect to grab, to use for leverage.

“Your Grace.” Her soft brown eyes danced with mischief. “A pleasure to see you.” She bowed quickly, then stepped aside.