“I am saying so,” she said firmly.
“Your grandmother was correct about you having a mind of your own,” he commented, observing her intently.
“As any young lady should.”
“I am not sure if that helps your marriage prospects,” he continued.
“I consider that as a sign I must be doing something right.” Deborah sniffed.
“That is a dangerous opinion for a woman to have. Surely you do not want to spend your life as a spinster,” he said.
“I am unsure why you have such a hard time believing me whenever I mention that to you.” Deborah shrugged. “Some of us have dreams greater than marriage.”
The Duke eyed her suspiciously. She could tell that he didn’t believe her and thought she had an ulterior motive.
“And those dreams involve books?” he asked, his expression a mixture of both distrust and curiosity. “That is the reason why you happened to stumble into the library?”
“Yes. Do not worry, I would have never trespassed if I knew you were in here,” she teased. “Surely you know how inappropriate it is for two unmarried people to be alone like this.”
“You cannot claim the moral high ground like this,” the Duke scoffed, suddenly riled up. “Especially after what you did the last time you were alone with me.”
“I assure you, it was only out of curiosity,” Deborah replied. “I believe all of us should be allowed a healthy level of curiosity and the freedom to act on it.”
Her boldness set him off.
He got up from his chair. “I know what you are doing all too well.” He began to shake his head. “In fact, I am fully convinced now. Even the fact that you found me alone in here was planned. You are simply trying to trap me in a marriage.”
“Your Grace, I am amazed by the self-confidence you have. It borders on delusion,” she said, offended by his accusations. “You must teach me how to think this highly of myself as well.”
“You wish to be the Duchess,” he snapped. “But I am not going to fall for your schemes any longer. I respect you as the sister of the man my sister wishes to marry, but beyond that, I would advise you to keep your distance.”
Deborah’s mouth hung open in shock, and before she even had a chance to defend herself, he stormed out of the room.
Her confidence deflated instantly the moment he left the room, and self-doubt crept in. Had she gone too far? Surely, she was only defending herself.
Deborah was good at convincing everyone that she was very confident. It was a skill she had learned because of growing up with two brothers, and always being half their size. But secretly, she did not like being at odds with people.
But with the Duke, it seemed that their stars did not align. They seemed to be at odds with each other constantly.
* * *
“Where have you been?” Nicholas asked her a few moments later when she returned to her bedchambers. “I have been bored silly in this ridiculously large mansion, and Peter is too busy with his fiancée. You are my only source of entertainment for the day.”
“Oh, please, do not let me get started,” Deborah groaned, still annoyed by her interaction with the Duke. “I accidentally ran into the most obnoxious man on the planet.”
“I thought you had reserved that title for me.” Nicholas chuckled, amused by how flustered she seemed.
“Believe me, I’ve met someone who is even worse than you.”
“Now, you have my curiosity,” Nicholas said.
“It is the Duke,” Deborah admitted. “I believe Emma is a lovely girl and a great match for our brother. But the Duke is insufferable.”
“I wasn’t aware that the two of you had made correspondence,” Nicholas stated.
“We have become… accidentally acquainted with one another.” She sighed. “Or should I rather say, unfortunately? He seems to think I am after him, even though I have made no indication. His delusions of grandeur surpass even yours.”
Nicholas chuckled loudly. “For someone you deem insufferable, he seems to have left quite the mark on you.”
