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“That’s it. I am marrying a Wolf, too!” Scarlett declared, to everyone’s amusement.

Evie shook her head at their outspoken friend. “I am not quite certain you would like that, dearest. The Duke of Wolverton is a very complicated man who does not take kindly to jokes.”

“Well, I am not joking,” the redhead replied with a sassy grin. “I never joke about the subject of marriage.”

“His Grace liked this dress immediately when he saw it at the shop,” Madame Delacroix said in a hushed whisper. “Said it would match the Duchess’s eyes. I see that he was right.”

Did Ethan really say such a thing?

Phoebe felt her heart fluttering against her ribcage like a hummingbird’s wings.

“A man of good taste, indeed,” Evie murmured, nodding in appreciation. “Madamedid not speak wrongly on this account.”

Madame Delacroix laughed. “I never lie, Your Grace. Except about my age, maybe.”

Phoebe gently took the dress out of the box to look at it and smiled when she saw the ruffled neckline that provided a hint of modesty.

Ethan truly thought of everything when he had this dress made.

He had thought of her andherpreferences.

If he had thought of himself, he would probably have commissioned something a little more indecent. Perhaps one with a scandalously low neckline.

Or in a fabric as sheer as windows.

Instead, this gown was made according to Phoebe’s tastes.

But notentirely.

“It is a beautiful dress, Madame Delacroix,” she said softly. “But I hope you would not mind making a few alterations for me?”

Scarlett sucked in a deep breath, her gaze swiveling to the much-esteemed couturière as if in a panic.

Madame Delacroix was well-known in Society for being extremely picky with her clientele. She also took great pride in her creations.

Nobody would dream of makingadjustmentsto her designs.

What if she took offense at having to make adjustments to what could already be considered a piece of art?

She might very well take back the dress and all those other boxes and leave in a huff!

But it was a testament to her experience in dealing with her exclusive clientele that she did not even bat an eyelash as she smiled most solicitously at Phoebe. “I had a feeling Her Grace would say that.”

Phoebe smiled and inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much, Madame Delacroix.”

The couturière laughed. “These trivialities—you need not mention them at all, Your Grace. It is the least I can do to ensure that you have a most memorable experience with this dress, yes?”

Phoebe smiled and nodded in agreement.

Her dear husband was not the only one who knew how to plan surprises. She had a few tricks up her sleeve as well.

CHAPTER 24

Ineed a drink.

When Ethan stumbled into his study in need of a good, stiff drink—one strong enough to either knock some sense back into him or knock him unconscious—he had not been counting on Hudson to join him.

But now that his most elusive friend had decided to show up in his study, he was not going to turn the company away.