Peter put up his hands and took a step back. “I was convinced that he was trying to seduce you.”
“In Peter’s defense, had I come across my sister sitting on the lap of a suitor, kissing as we had been, I likely would have done the same.”
Deborah whipped around and faced Percy. “Without asking for an explanation?”
“Yes, well, gentlemen can be rather protective.”
“Fools, you mean.”
“Do not be angry with Peter.”
“Oh, I am beyond angry.” She stomped over to Peter. “How dare you decide something for me.” She drew back her fist then struck her brother in the face. “How does that feel?” She attempted to hit him again but Peter grabbed her wrist.
“I was wrong,” he said simply.
“Yes, you were and you should have told me.”
He glanced past her shoulder to Percy. “I assumed his interest was not in courtship.”
“You could have bloody well asked!” Deborah practically screeched, which Percy took as a lesson to also have a conversation with Deborah and never assume anything.
“Happy Christmas,” Hannah announced as she stepped into the library. “I am so happy to see my siblings getting along.”
The sarcasm was not lost on anyone in the room.
“I assume she now knows what you did?” Hannah asked Peter.
Deborah whipped around to stare at her sister. “You knew? Why did you not tell me?”
“I only just recently came by the information and wanted to determine how you might feel about Shrewsbury first. If you no longer cared for him, then there was no reason for you to know.” She grinned. “Peter wasn’t the only one who saw the two of you…um…kissing in your favorite reading place that summer. Whereas I anticipated a betrothal or at least for you to confide in me, our brother removed him from the premises, though I had not been aware of that fact then. I had thought Percy had taken advantage and left so I decided to hate him until I was told otherwise.”
“Is that why I was invited?” Percy asked as he limped forward, leaning heavily on his cane.
“Yes. As soon as I knew that Deborah would be joining us, I made the arrangements.”
“So, is there to be a courtship or betrothal?” Wingate asked as he joined his wife.
“Ah, she knows?” Sam, her brother, said as he joined them.
They all knew but nobody had bothered to tell her. Not even Percy had explained Peter’s part in his leaving until pressed, except, she really didn’t blame him. However, one of the three siblings standing before her could have said something in the three days that she had been here.
Or even sooner! How long had they known?
“There is not going to be a courtship, nor is there going to be a betrothal,” Deborah announced. Percy’s eyes widened and his smile slipped.
“I thought we just agreed?—”
“—We did,” she cut him off. “But, since my family, mother and Danby included, have a habit of manipulating our lives, I am not leaving anything to chance. Therefore, I am going upstairs to pack my belongings.”
“You are leaving?” they all asked in unison.
“We are leaving,” Deborah clarified. “Shrewsbury and I.”
“We are?” he asked.
“Your reputation,” Hannah began.
“Will recover since we are bound for Gretna Green.” She then swept from the room leaving them gaping behind her.
