Deborah stepped out onto the terrace and then remembered that she had only entered the library because it was December and the air was not only cool but damp and she was not wearing her pelisse.
Now where did she go? She couldn’t return to Percy because she needed to calm her nerves. She did not want to revisit the drawing room because there were too many people in there already. What she needed was solitude to gain control of her emotions, quit shaking, and be able to face Percy without him ever suspecting that she’d been hurt, but she needed time away from everyone in order to make that happen.
She paused and looked around and then noted the conservatory that had been recently completed at the far end of the house. She crossed the terrace and entered the warm, but equally humid air.
Here she found more palms seeking sunlight, along with orange and lemon trees, and further away, unfamiliar flowers.
This was Hannah’s doing. Ever since she had returned from her visit to Barbados, she had gone on and on about the flora and trees and was trying to create the same here. Unfortunately, she could not do so outside because Oxfordshire in December was not the same as Barbados during the same month.
But at least Deborah was alone.
Why would Danby reject Percy?
If Danby had known about, or seen, the delicious kiss, he would have likely forced Percy to marry her.
Deborah could have won Percy with one whisper in Danby’s ear because her great-uncle would not have ignored what he would have deemed ruination.
Except, Deborah didn’t want anyone to be forced to marry her.
If Percy had lost interest or realized that they would not suit after what they had shared, then he would have only been miserable if he had been forced to accept something he clearly did not want.
Still, that did not explain Danby’s odd reaction.
Why had he been more concerned about Peter? Then again, her brother’s courtship of Johanna had not been easy and had Danby been trying to manipulate them? Likely, and if that was the case, wouldn’t having Percy’s assistance been helpful? He and Peter were good friends and not someone that Danby would have wanted to dismiss. At least, one would think, though Danby likely assumed that he needed help from no one.
Then again, would Percy have been helpful?
Deborah frowned as she realized that she hadn’t seen Percy and Peter together at all last Season when they were usually side by side at any entertainment. Of course, Johanna hadn’t captured Peter’s attention until last Season either. Friends ignored because of love.
She sighed.
At least her siblings, the ones who were married anyway, had found love and were loved back.
She had simply fallen in love without it being returned.
When the door to the conservatory creaked open, Deborah ducked behind plants to see who it was.
She truly did not want to talk to anyone.
She peeked past the leaves and flowers and nearly groaned to see that the intruder was not an ordinary guest but Percy.
“Why do you keep following me?” she demanded as she stepped away from her hiding place.
“Because you never remain long enough to have a conversation.”
“We have conversed, reached the end of the conversation, and I exited.”
“You may have reached the end, but I had not.”
She crossed her arms over her breasts. “Well, then what would you like to discuss?”
Percy wanted to know if she would marry him but it was probably too soon to ask that question.
He also thought to explain his sudden departure from her that summer but with her rigid stance, arms over her ample breasts, tightness in her jaw and narrowing of those jade eyes, he was fairly certain that Deborah was not ready to hear him out or even accept his apology.
It had been a year and a half and maybe she needed a little more time until they were comfortable with the other again. Or, that she was comfortable around him.
“How have you been?”
