When one considered all the options of how she could deal with Percy this holiday, there really was only one. She must do her best to treat him no differently than she had before he had placed his lips against hers…No, that was not good enough. It would be as it was before she ever fractured her ankle.
Let him think that her emotions had not grown beyond friendship, just as his had not that summer. It would be difficult, but she could manage to pretend for a fortnight, couldn’t she?
Percy watched Deborah retreat and was not at all surprised by her reaction to him.
But he was determined to win her and he no longer cared about the wrath of Danby, Peter’s fist, or the lifetime of glares that he would receive from her mother.
Percy wanted Deborah. He still loved her, and he was going to win her back.
That had been his intention last Season, but he had once again been warned away.
He wasn’t even so certain that Deborah had wanted to speak with him because every time he looked at her, she arched an eyebrow daring or warning him not to approach.
If only he could have gotten her alone to explain, but that had been impossible, as she was always surrounded by family members.
After the pummeling he had taken from Peter, Percy could only assume that he had informed the entire family, not just Kenley, of his actions and now none of them would let him near Deborah.
It irritated him to no end because he had never even been given the opportunity to explain himself and Peter had not believed him when he admitted that he loved Deborah.
Percy had even approached the Duke of Danby, but even Danby had first put him off and said, “I will make time for you when I am ready. There are more pressing concerns on my mind and more important than anything you could have to say to me.” And then, when Percy was finally granted a second, very brief audience with His Grace, Percy had been denied even the opportunity to dance with Deborah, let alone anything else. He had even foolishly questioned Danby’s decision and had been sent away.
Percy had thought for certain, based on what Deborah had told him, that Danby would have been eager to see the two of them matched but apparently as a friend to Peter he was acceptable, but for reasons beyond his understanding, not a suitable husband for Deborah.
Eventually he gave up and left London, which only led to an even longer summer—the first not spent visiting Peter’s home. That was when Percy decided that no matter what, he was going to pursue Deborah in the spring. He would only be discouraged if she faced him and told him that she had no interest in him. He no longer cared what anyone else thought, only Deborah. However, when he received the invitation to Wingate’s home for the Christmas holiday, Percy had immediately accepted because Wingate was married to Deborah’s sister and Percy had hoped to gain her as an ally.
What he had not anticipated was that Deborah would be here, and nothing was going to stop him from pursuing her.
With those thoughts, he stepped from behind the palm with every intention of speaking with Wingate’s wife, only to witness Peter Storm step through the door with his wife, Johanna.
So much for having no opposition, but he would not let Peter keep him from his goal and Percy did not care how often his former friend hit him.
Six
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.
