Chapter 9
She supposed that she should feel badly for Percy, who was left alone on his side of the dining table, and she, Tilson and Knight could have included him in their conversation, but she had always been told that one should not talk across the table during a formal dinner.
Except this wasn’t truly a formal dinner, but a gathering of family and friends for a holiday house party.
She supposed that the only reason she had not made the effort was because the longer she did not include him, the more he brooded, which caused Deborah to inwardly smile at his discomfort and jealousy.
Oh, she hoped that he was jealous.
By the time the women were seated in the parlor for tea, after leaving the men behind to enjoy their port and cheroots, the Simpson sisters had rejoined them.
Miss Damaris seemed to have recovered from her mishap, though she touched nothing and sat in a chair with her hands folded neatly on her lap.
When the gentlemen did join them, Miss Damaris winced as Lord Nevil entered the room and made a point to stand far away from her.
Deborah had thought the response rather ridiculous. Miss Damaris wasn’t a danger to him.
The evening had been pleasant as those present carried on conversations while she sipped her tea, listened and observed.
She also did not leave herself available to speak with Percy and had intentionally seated herself in the middle of Hannah and Johanna on the settee.
He had found a place to stand across the room facing her.
Deborah tried to ignore Percy but she could feel his eyes watching her even when she was not looking in his direction.
It was rather disconcerting and when it grew uncomfortable, she excused herself and retired for the night.
Now, it was a new day and she would approach it with a fresh perspective, if she could decide what that was to be.
Was it a return to what they shared before she fractured her ankle?
If so, it left her more than disappointed because she had not forgotten his kiss, or sitting on his lap with his strong thighs beneath her bum, or his hands caressing her back, side and then her breast before they were interrupted
What else might he have done if Peter had not come looking for her?
She so desperately wanted to ask why he had left without telling her goodbye, but Deborah was also afraid of his answer. Did she truly want to hear him tell her directly that his heart had settled on friendship and that the kiss had been the reason?
No woman wanted that to be told to her.
If his interest had still been engaged and he sought a courtship, he would not have left before the sun set on that very same day, which was answer enough.
So, even if he did appear to be jealous, he was not.
Therefore, she would keep with the decision made yesterday after she had encountered him: he would be treated no differently than he had before she fractured her ankle.
She would pretend that they were nothing more than friends and that she did not care if he pursued anyone.
Certainly, she could keep the ruse up until the house party ended, couldn’t she?
If only it were as simple as it sounded, but jealousy churned and burned within as soon as she entered the breakfast room to find him seated beside Miss Bernice Simpson, both engaged in what appeared to be a delightful conversation, all alone at the far end of the long table, and away from the others.
Percy glanced up to note when Deborah entered the breakfast room and then glared at him. He also ignored her and returned to his conversation with Miss Bernice.
If Deborah only wanted friendship, she would not care who he spoke with, which only encouraged him. Except he would not continue to try and make her jealous. He simply needed to see her reaction today, which gave him confidence to pursue her.
“Did Lady Deborah break your heart?” Bernice asked quietly.
“I fear that I was the one doing the breaking,” he admitted.
“What did you do?” she scolded.
Percy glanced around, but they were no longer as alone as they had been when he first arrived to break his fast. “If I have the opportunity, I will explain later,” he whispered.
She nodded. “Yet, you still care for her,” Bernice clarified.
“I want to court her, but it is not allowed.”
“By Lady Deborah?” she asked with confusion.
“No. Or, I do not think so. The opposition comes from her mother, her brother Peter, and the Duke of Danby.”
Bernice’s eyes widened. “Why are you considered objectionable?”
“I have no idea,” he grumbled.
“She does not find you objectionable,” Bernice said quietly, which give him a little hope.
“How do you know?”
“She would not be upset about you speaking with me, or my sister last evening.” Bernice smiled. “She is aware of where you are when others are around and who you are speaking with. That is not the reaction of a woman who does not care.”
He hoped that she was correct.
“Is everyone finished breaking their fast?” Wingate asked from the end of the table.
Percy glanced around and noted that most people had finished.
“Why?” Peter asked.
“Because it is time to gather the greenery and fetch the yule log.” Wingate grinned.
Whispered excitement traveled around the table.
“Gather your gloves, cloaks, coats and pelisses and meet in front of the house.” He then strode off, a joyful bounce in his step.
“This may be your opportunity,” Bernice whispered.
“For what?”
“To get her alone and tell her how much you care.”
Which he would do, unless she ran away from him again. If that occurred, he may ask Miss Bernice for assistance. After all, and from what he had heard, it had been Miss Bernice who had assisted Peter last spring in his courtship of Johanna so perhaps she would be equally beneficial to him.
Percy did not retrieve his great coat because it was not necessary.
The day was mild and his suitcoat should suffice.
Besides, he would rather be chilled than too hot in his wool coat.
When Deborah met everyone outside, wearing her green pelisse, Percy found a way to stand near her.
Not beside her because he feared an awkward moment of her making an obvious retreat to be away from him that all would notice.
He also made certain to stand behind her so as not to be noticed until he learned what they were to do.
After all, it did not take this many people to collect greenery and a yule log.
“My wife and I have divided the list of items and assigned each group to a task so that it can be completed efficiently,” Wingate called out.
“Cutting the ivy will be done by Talbot, Vance and the Misses Bernice and Jael.”
The four of them gathered together as Vance retrieved clippers from a table.
“Cutting the evergreen will be Chadburn, Knight, my sister Eve and Miss Judith.”
Chadburn and Knight both picked up a saw from the table.
As each person was assigned, with Damaris, Nevil, Jude and Chloe being given the task of clipping rosemary from the conservatory, Percy couldn’t help but wonder what task he would be assigned and if it included Deborah.
“The ladies who have married will go into town to purchase ribbons, strings and whatever else is needed for decorating.”
“Are we to remain here and wait?” Percy asked.
Wingate laughed. “You, Tilson and Miss Deborah are to collect mistletoe from the apple trees at the back of the orchard. A ladder should already be in place, but I recommend climbing.” He then looked at the remaining gentlemen who had not yet been assigned a task. “We will retrieve the yule log.”
It was only when they started for the orchard, with secateurs in hand, did Percy realize that only the married men collected the yule log. It was the bachelors and unmarried ladies who were sent out for the remaining, more difficult tasks.
Was this a bloody matchmaking house party?
Not that he had an objection since Deborah was here, but he did not like that Tilson was with them as well.
Further, if it was Wingate’s intention to match Deborah with Tilson, then Percy would not allow it to happen.