They could see Hopestyn Estate from the distance now, and Deborah noticed Peter’s nervousness once more. She gave him a comforting pat on the shoulder.
“It will go well,” she said to him. “The Duke would never have agreed to the match if he did not see something good in you. You are the most responsible one out of us all, and I am confident that you will win over everyone’s heart.”
“I agree with Deborah,” Nicholas chimed in. “Your reputation as an honest and trustworthy man precedes you. There is nothing to worry about.”
Peter seemed comforted by his siblings’ words, and a small smile spread across his face. “Thank you for your kind words and thank you once again for agreeing to come. This means a lot to me.”
“Let the festivities begin.” Deborah smiled in return.
CHAPTERFIVE
The carriage finally rolled to a stop at the grand entrance of Hopestyn Estate. Footmen already stood there, waiting for their arrival, and they hurriedly opened the doors to the carriage and assisted the family out of it.
Deborah glanced around the large expanse of land amidst which the large mansion stood. The garden looked perfectly manicured and was thrice the size of what they had. The cobblestone path to the mansion was lined with oak trees.
“Right this way.” The footman guided them towards the entrance, where an elderly woman stood alongside Emma.
“Fancy,” Deborah muttered to herself as she helped Tabitha walk to the entrance. The two of them were walking much slower, as her grandmother liked to take her time with things, despite being still very healthy at her age. The Dowager Duchess awaited at the doorstep to greet her guests.
Peter approached the footsteps confidently.
“Welcome, Lord Shalrow,” the Dowager Duchess greeted, regal and composed. “We are delighted to welcome you to Hopestyn Estate. I trust you and your family had a good journey?”
Peter bowed respectfully. “Your Grace, we are honored to be here. The journey was a breeze.”
“Allow me to introduce my family,” he said and began going over the introductions one by one.
“This is my grandmother, Tabitha Cluett, the Dowager Countess of Shalrow. She deserves all the credit for making me the man I am today, for she took the responsibility of raising me from a very young age.”
“It is lovely to make your acquaintance.”
Modesty and Tabitha exchanged a nod.
“And this is my younger brother, Mr. Nicholas Cluett. He is my confidante, and I consider him to be a man who possesses great skill when it comes to dealing with people.”
“And, finally, this is my young sister, Lady Deborah. She is the most beloved member of our family, and she is exceptionally bright.”
Deborah curtsied gracefully.
“Please, come inside. Allow us to introduce you to the rest of our family, and show you your quarters, where you will be staying. I assure you, Emma has been very excited about your visit and has planned a lot of activities to keep you all entertained.” The Dowager Duchess smiled, leading them inside.
They were seated inside the drawing room. Once again, Deborah looked around and noticed that the walls were adorned with oil paintings. There was a large portrait of the Dowager Duchess and her late husband on one wall.
Deborah was aware that the Duke’s family was wealthy, but seeing it in person was a new experience for her. It was not as though she had grown up in abject poverty, but the means her family had seemed modest in comparison.
But as she noticed the fine furnishing and the Persian carpets that lined the floors, she realized that extravagance simply did not appeal to her much. She much preferred her own home, which was modest in comparison but enough to accommodate her small family.
“This is my brother, Lord Jonathan,” the Dowager Duchess said as a man walked into the drawing room.
Lord Jonathan looked middle-aged, as he had already begun losing some of his hair on the sides of his head. He greeted them warmly, seeming ecstatic to finally meet them.
“Oh, we have been waiting for you to arrive all afternoon,” he said in a jolly tone as he shook hands with Peter. “I am very close to my niece, Emma, and seeing her finally find a match for herself has made me happier than anything.”
“It is a great honor to meet you as well.” Peter nodded.
Now, all the family members had been introduced, but there was someone still missing.
“Henry should join us at any moment now,” Lord Jonathan said, looking at the door. “In fact, there he is.”
