Everyone turned to look at the door, and the Duke of Hopestyn finally made his entrance. Tall and broad, his presence commanded attention. He began greeting everyone in the room, and Deborah felt her breath catch in her throat as she finally saw his face.
He looked familiar. Deborah was sure that she had seen him before somewhere. He finally met her gaze and, immediately, horror seized her.
The man standing before her, smiling politely, was the very same man that she had kissed in the garden outside the ballroom.
Deborah’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly looked away. On the contrary, the Duke did not have any visible reaction to seeing Deborah again, and she found herself wondering if he even remembered her.
“I apologize for my tardiness,” the Duke said as he seated himself directly across from Deborah. “But I am glad that you all have made it here today.”
“Perhaps we should discuss dates for the wedding,” Lord Jonathan suggested. “Emma and Lord Shalrow are the first to wed in their families, so I am sure that they have envisioned their wedding to be a grand occasion, attended by hundreds of guests.”
“Of course, it should be a grand occasion.” Tabitha nodded in agreement. “It is a happy occasion and deserves to be celebrated as such.”
“So, both the date and venue are important discussions.” Lord Jonathan nodded. “Have you thought about them as of yet, dear Emma?”
Emma nodded, reaching for a small leatherbound notebook that she had stashed away to her side. “I have already given some thought to this. For the venue, I think I want it just to be big enough to fit all our guests.”
“The summer home is a good choice, then,” Modesty noted. “It is a few hours from here.”
Emma shook her head. “I think a wedding at the estate is much better. I do not want it to be too far from home. I believe Peter would agree with me.”
“I do not have a preference,” Peter said. “Anything that you are happy with is agreeable to me.”
“Already sounding like a dutiful husband.” Lord Jonathan chuckled. “So, the venue is decided. How about the dates?”
“Both Emma and I are in agreement that we want the wedding to be before the year’s end,” Peter stated.
“That is only a few months away,” Modesty noted. “We would have to hurry with all the arrangements. Would a summer wedding be more suitable?”
“I do not see the point in delaying, Mother,” Emma replied. “As far as arrangements go, we are still in August, and there are many months left.”
“I would suggest you think this through,” Modesty said to her daughter.
“There’s not much to think of.” Emma shrugged, not willing to budge.
“Dear sister, I think Mother just wants you to not rush into the wedding,” the Duke chimed in with an amused smile. “After all, marriage is a sacred thing.”
From the corner of her eye, Deborah felt the Duke’s gaze on her, lingering for just a second before he looked away.
“I know you cannot wait to spend the rest of your life together, but at least until you two are wedded, the two of you should maintain a polite distance,” he continued.
Deborah’s cheeks flushed. She felt that he was trying to make a point to her indirectly.
She opened her mouth to speak, wanting to voice how those norms made little sense to her. She did not see why two people who were clearly in love should have unnecessary obstacles in their path. But she bit her lip, not wanting to cause a disagreement.
But to her surprise, there was someone there that shared her sentiments.
“Come on now, Henry.” Lord Jonathan laughed. “Why must you bother the young couple like this? They are in love and wish to spend all their time together.”
“They can wait,” the Duke said simply. “Emma is a lady, and a lady has no business spending time being too close to a man if she is not yet married to him.”
Once again, Deborah was sure that this was secretly meant for her.
“Must you impose your opinions like this?” Lord Jonathan said.
“I am only telling her what I think.” The Duke shrugged. “It is up to her if she wishes to listen to me.”
“Emma has a mind of her own,” Modesty pitched in. “She has always done things her own way.”
