Next to him, Nicholas was the exact opposite. He was lounging casually on the seat, twiddling his thumbs, with a bored expression on his face.
“Where are we going?” Tabitha asked, looking out of the carriage window at the lush green fields they were passing by.
“Grandmother,” Peter said softly, “I told you that we are going to Hopestyn Estate at the invitation of the Duke. Have you forgotten already?”
“Oh, of course.” Tabitha nodded fervently. Her old age had declined her memory significantly, and she had to be given frequent reminders.
“Dear Grandma.” Nicholas laughed, squeezing Tabitha’s hand softly before kissing it. “We will arrive soon, don’t you worry.”
“I still don’t understand why all of us need to go,” Deborah whined, looking up from her book for the first time since they had started their journey. “I had to wake up early for this, and I would much rather be at home.”
“Oh, not this again.” Peter sighed. His mind was already full of thoughts of how the trip may go, and he had little patience left to deal with his siblings. “You agreed to come, and now you must sit in silence without complaining.”
“Besides…” Nicholas grinned, grabbing the book in her hands and dangling it out the window. “What difference will it really make if you do not sit shut away in your room studying for one afternoon?”
“Give it back, this instant.” Deborah glared at her brother, trying to get her book back. But Nicholas was too quick for her, moving his hand away every time she got close.
“You are too slow,” he teased. “Perhaps instead of studying, you could try playing a sport so that your reflexes improve.”
“Nicholas! I said give my book back, or you will face dire consequences,” she threatened.
“That is enough,” Peter intervened, his tone firm. “Behave, both of you.”
Being the jokester of the family, Nicholas loved to rile his little sister up every chance he got. Peter always acted as the mediator, breaking up their quarrels.
“Fine.” Nicholas handed the book back to Deborah, who snatched it instantly from his hands. “You are no fun. You should try living in the real world for a change, not the fantasy land that you find in your books.”
“That fantasy land is far more preferable to anything reality can offer me,” Deborah shot back, giving Nicholas one final glare.
Deborah went back to reading her book, and Nicholas stared out the window with a bored expression once again. After a while, he spotted some rabbits outside.
“Look, Deborah.” He nudged his sister, who shot him an annoyed glare at having been disturbed again. “I found your friends.”
She peeked out the window to see and then rolled her eyes.
“Come on.” He chuckled. “You can chase them around, just as you used to as a child. Perhaps it would help you improve your reflexes.”
“Would you say my reflexes are good when I hit you in the face with this book?”
“I suppose you can try.”
“Enough,” Peter interjected again. “The two of you need to quit your antics. I do not want you to behave this way when we are at the estate. We need to make a good impression.”
Peter’s face was creased with worry.
“Dear brother, no need to worry,” Deborah consoled. “I have no plans on embarrassing you once we are there. However, I cannot say the same about Nicholas. You might have to keep a watchful eye on him, lest he begins to flirt with any woman he finds there.”
“It is called charm.” Nicholas grinned. “And I have been naturally blessed with it. I don’t blame you for being bitter, though. It is not something you can learn from a book.”
“We are almost there,” Peter reminded them and began fixing the creases in his shirt. “I want both of you to be on your best behavior.”
“But, Peter, dear,” Tabitha interjected, “I still do not know where we are going.”
The three siblings ended up smiling at their grandmother’s question, forgetting the tension between them immediately.
“Hopestyn Estate,” Deborah reminded Tabitha for the umpteenth time. “To meet with Lady Emma and her family.”
“Oh, of course.” Tabitha nodded.
