Chapter 6
Deborah hated that her hands shook and that her entire being was unsettled.
Maybe she would have been safer going to Danby Castle for Christmas.
No! She most certainly would not have been since she was certain that her great-uncle had set his mind to secure a match for her since all her older siblings had wed, with the unsolicited assistance of Danby.
It was the very reason she had begged her sister, Hannah, to allow her to join them for Christmas.
Hannah, sympathetic to Deborah’s plight, had indeed issued the invitation then sought permission from their mother, who was quite agreeable because the further her daughters were from the Duke of Danby the less chance they had of being married off to a man with an estate too far away to visit without careful planning.
They had even gone so far as not to alert Danby. He would only learn of her absence when her mother arrived, which would leave him with no time to alter any plans he’d made for Deborah.
She had also hoped for a pleasant holiday with no concerns at her sister’s home, but that was no longer possible now that Percy was here.
He had once been a friend. She’d been infatuated with him.
She had loved him.
He had kissed her, touched her person in a way that no man should, left her breathless and wondering what he would do next.
Then he was gone.
The next time that she had seen him was in London when he’d been across the ballroom. She had seen him in many ballrooms, but he had ignored her, which had hurt deeply.
One time she had even seen him speaking with Danby.
Her heart nearly seized for a moment.
“Danby!”
Did he have anything to do with Percy being here?
No! Of course not. Danby would not have had time to arrange such a meeting. He was likely just learning today that she would not be at the castle for Christmas.
Why had Percy and Danby been speaking? She could not recall them ever doing so before, and it had been twice now that she recalled.
She would ask Percy, but she didn’t want him to think she had any interest, or that she had been aware of who he spoke to or danced with last Season.
Except, he had not danced with anyone that she had seen.
Deborah frowned. Why was that?
She blew out a sigh and wished that she was no longer interested in Percy, but Deborah could not help herself.
His eyes were still a sapphire blue, cheekbones still high, and his lips full, just as they had been when they were utterly magical against hers. In fact, there was nothing at all different about him except for his nose.
There was now a slight bump on the ridge and it was just a little off center and to the right, but not so much that anyone would notice unless they were as familiar with his face as she was.
Of course, she would like to know what had happened, but she also did not want him to think she was overly interested.
“I should have known that I would find you here among the books,” Percy said as he strolled into the library as if nothing had changed between them.
Maybe that was his only intention—friendship.
She also needed to remember that they had made no promises to the other and when he had kissed her, they were still trying to decide what they would be.
Therefore, for the next fortnight, she would pretend that nothing mattered and treat him as she had before.
“I am angry with you.”
Percy blew out a sigh. Hopefully once he won her, if he did, Deborah would never have cause to be angry with him again. He also knew that he probably would not be so lucky.
“I am sorry for the way I left.”
Did she even know what Peter had done to him?
Nobody else had seen, so Deborah may be unaware. Did he ask?
No. It was better not knowing.
“I should have told you goodbye and I apologize.”
She frowned. “That is not why I am angry with you.”
Bloody hell! What had he done this time?
“I assumed you took your leave because your decision on if we were to be friends or more had been settled. I cannot fault you for that.”
He stared into her jade eyes and even though she spoke as if it didn’t matter, there was pain and he would make up for all the hurt he had caused. But first, he needed to know why she was angry this time.
“What did I do and what must I apologize for?”
“You lied to me again.”
“I have not.”
“Yes, you did.”
“When?” he asked with a sigh.
“Last summer you promised me that you would ask me to dance this past spring. And, just as the spring before, you failed to approach and make the request.”
All he could do was stare at her. “I assumed you would reject me.”
“I had thought we could still be friends, but you disappointed me, lied, and I can no longer trust you to keep your word on any matter.”
“First of all, I did want to approach, but like the year before, your mother warned me away with her pursed lips and cold stare.”
“It is a shame that you are so frightened of her,” Deborah smirked as if he were less of a man.
Though, perhaps he was because that woman was unpleasant and did rather scare him.
“I had thought to do as you had asked before, simply approach, request a dance and ignore her warnings.”
“Then why did you not?”
“Because it was made clear that I was not to go near you by someone of significant importance.”
Her jade eyes widened. “By whom?”
“The Duke of Danby.”
Deborah placed a hand over her heart and stepped back.
“Are you certain?” she asked.
“Oh, quite. I was told to stay away from you because I was not worthy of your attention, not even a dance for it would only encourage the impossible and that I should bother others.” Percy wished that he hadn’t persisted in getting that second audience with Danby since it had ruined any hope he had for the future—until now.
“What could Danby have against you?”
“I asked that exact question and was told that it was not me. It was Wales.”
“Wales?” she asked in disbelief.
“Wales is not England. Or so, that was his response.”
“Neither is Ireland, but he allowed Tabitha to marry a gentleman who made his home there.” Deborah frowned. “Not that there would be a marriage between us, and we are only friends, and you only wanted a dance, but it seems like a rather frivolous excuse.”
“I did mention that, but Danby informed me that the decision involving Tabitha had more to do with revenge and fine horses, and it just so happened that the gentleman was also a good match for his great-niece.”
“Did you tell him that we only share a friendship?” she asked.
No, he had not because Percy had wanted permission to court her and Danby was quite clear that he would not allow it.
“He was more concerned with what Peter was up to than whether you and I danced so he dismissed me.”
“You could have explained,” Deborah argued.
“His Grace did not want to be bothered with anything I had to say. He actually waved his hand as if shooing me away.” His face heated at the memory because they had been standing in the Duke of Eldridge’s ballroom with several people to witness the dismissal.
“Yes, well, Danby can be difficult,” Deborah admitted. “But I have also learned my lesson and will never ask you to dance with me again!”
Deborah turned on her heel and marched from the library through the same door she had entered and once again Percy was left to watch after her.
Danby wasn’t the only person who was good at dismissing people. Deborah had developed a talent for it herself.
He also had no intention of letting her get away from him so easily.