“Well.”
She did not ask after him and the more she tried not to be welcoming and friendly the more he realized just how badly he had hurt her, which meant that she had cared deeply as well.
Except, she might very well hate him now too.
“How is your ankle?”
“As I am up and about, and walking, it is obvious that it has healed.”
“There is no lingering pain or discomfort or weakness?”
She frowned. “Occasionally, I suppose.”
“When? Always?” he asked.
“When it rains.”
Then almost always. “It is a shame that you live in England then.”
She chuckled. It did rain at least a third of the year, if not more.
“Truly, the rain is not so bad,” she admitted. “I only develop aches when a storm is brewing and then once the rain starts, the pain lessens. The deep cold is truly the worst, and why I am happy not to be at Danby Castle for Christmas.”
“Is that why you are here?” He knew that Danby always insisted on his family being present at the castle for the holiday. Yet, besides Deborah, one sister and two brothers were here. Had Danby changed?
“No. It is so Danby doesn’t get it into his head to arrange a marriage for me. No doubt he already has a potential groom waiting to spring on me.” She smiled. “I just will not be there to receive him.”
Thank God she was here or she might have been married off before Percy had a chance to win her heart.
“Maybe I should visit Barbados,” Deborah announced. “Hannah says that the island is lovely and my brother, Sam, does own a home there. It is also warm, no fear of frigid weather.” She started to smile. “Maybe that is just what I will do. Take a holiday and travel.”
His heart started to pound. He did not want Deborah to leave.
However, he would encourage her suggestion, just as a friend would, so that he could work his way back into her good graces.
“How long does it take to travel to Barbados?” he asked.
“Almost two months.” She frowned. “That is a long time to be stuck on a ship.”
“Unless you had a trunk full of books.” Nobody enjoyed reading more than Deborah.
“Two trunks,” she corrected. “It takes just as long to get home as it does to get there.”
“How many books would you need in each trunk?”
“That would depend on the size of the book,” she answered. “But I believe twenty-five in each should be sufficient.”
Which was a small fortune if she were to purchase them all at once.
“I would likely need to borrow, unless I have a sudden increase in my pin money,” she laughed. “Hannah’s husband does have a large collection, maybe I will borrow from Wingate.”
She took a step toward the door as if she were ready to escape him again.
And even though Deborah did her best to be away from him, Percy only took it as a positive sign that there was hope for their future.
Either that, or he was a complete fool.
“Do you plan on boarding a ship tomorrow?”
