“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.
Seven
