Yes! A cane, which she had.
Ever since it had been purchased for her when she was healed enough to walk, Deborah had kept it with her always, especially when traveling, just in case it was needed.
As the doctor was saying his goodbyes, Deborah hurried up the stairs to her chamber to retrieve that very item, hoping that it wasn’t too short for his height, and returned downstairs only to find the parlor empty of everyone except Percy who was slowly making his way out of the room.
“They have all gone into dinner.”
“And they left you alone?” she asked in outrage. Someone should have at least been by his side in case he fell.
“I am limping along just fine,” he chuckled.
“Until you trip on a rug or something.” Obviously, no one at the house party had ever suffered an injury that made it difficult to get about. Thank goodness she had come here instead of Danby Castle.
“I went to retrieve this for you.” Deborah held out the cane. “It served me well.” She smiled.
Percy first looked at her hand and the cane and then up at her face, his blue eyes warm, loving. “Thank you, Deborah.” He reached out and took it from her, his fingers grazing hers as he stared into her eyes. The heat of his touch, the awareness, need and longing filled her and Deborah had to blink and look away.
Why couldn’t he have wanted her?
Why did she still want him when he had rejected her?
Why was she such a fool?
Yet, she couldn’t leave his side while he was injured because he had not left her.
“It can be difficult at first to find the right balance of using a cane to keep weight off a leg,” she explained, not that she would likely be able to catch him if he started to fall, but she could try. “I will remain by you until you have got the hang of it.”
Percy chuckled again.
“Shall we go into dinner?” she asked brightly.
“Yes, I suppose we should.” Except, he did not attempt to walk, simply stared at her.
Deborah’s face heated and she wished she knew what he was thinking but his blue eyes had darkened and his smile was gone. He wasn’t angry or upset, but more intense.
A shiver snaked down her spine and she couldn’t help but remember the last time he had looked at her in this manner. It had been right before he had kissed her.
Would he attempt to do so now?
The corner of his mouth quirked as he looked up.
Deborah followed his gaze only to realize that they were standing in the middle of the doorway, directly under the mistletoe.
Her pulse pounded as her body heated and then she looked into his sapphire eyes again and tried to determine his intentions.
“I was beginning to wonder where the two of you were,” her brother demanded as he came from the dining room. “It has taken you long enough.”
Percy stiffened and drew himself up as if he might need to defend himself, which was ridiculous, of course.
“It takes longer to walk with a cane and I was not going to leave Percy behind,” Deborah explained. “There was no need to come looking for us.”
Peter stared at Percy, who narrowed his eyes on her brother.
Her brother then noted where they stood and the mistletoe and his jaw tightened.
Percy remained stiff as the knuckles on the hand holding the cane grew white from pressure.
“Come along,” Peter ordered. “I do not want to eat cold soup, nor do I dare leave the two of you alone under mistletoe.”
