“I was mostly a quiet child,” Deborah admitted. “But even so, I had my fair share of mischievous moments.”
“You must share,” Emma urged.
“Well, one of my family’s favorite stories about my childhood is that I had an affinity for rabbits and wanted one badly as a pet. However, my grandmother was allergic to their fur.”
“That does not sound like a good combination,” Emma sympathized.
“Do not worry. I found a way around it.” Deborah smiled as she reminisced the days of her childhood. “I would chase them across the garden and try to pet them. Once, I even snuck one into the house and succeeded in keeping it in my room for a full week until my family found out.
“I woke up one morning to the sound of my grandmother screaming. The rabbit had escaped from my room and snuck into her bedchambers, and she awoke with its whiskers grazing her face.”
Emma’s eyes sparkled with mirth, and she covered her mouth with her hands, letting out a hearty chuckle. “Oh, you must have gotten into trouble.”
“I did,” Deborah admitted, laughing herself. “But that did not deter me from doing the same thing again, more than a few times. In the end, my grandmother had to take measures to get rid of all the rabbits in the garden.”
“So, you were a naughty child,” Emma said. “I have some of my own stories to share.”
From across the table, Henry could not help but be distracted by the sound of laughter coming from Deborah’s side of the table. He noticed the two women hunched together, sharing stories.
But while Emma’s laugh was delicate and barely audible, Deborah laughed loudly, with no consideration that she was sitting at a dinner table with other people.
Where are her manners?
It was exactly the kind of behavior he expected from someone who would kiss a man unprompted.
But as infuriating as he found her laughter to be, he couldn’t stop his heart from racing every time he heard the sound.
He tried to ignore the feeling, chalking it up to just annoyance.
“Peter,” he said, hoping to get his mind off Deborah, “I have arranged for a ball in the next few days now that we are all here together. It is a small gesture to celebrate your engagement with my sister.”
“That is excellent.” Peter nodded in agreement. “I appreciate that you are helping us.”
“Of course,” the Duke said. “It is my sister that is getting married, and I wish to be involved in every step.”
“I know Lord Jonathan mentioned the venue and dates earlier, but we still need to talk about the guest list,” Peter mused. “The earlier we decide on who to invite, the better it will be for those that are planning to attend.”
The Duke was quiet for a moment. “I do not think there is any need to have an extensive guest list,” he admitted.
“What exactly do you mean by extensive list, Your Grace?” Peter asked, confusion furrowing his brows.
“I envision the event to be small and intimate,” the Duke said, “Attended only by close family. That is how things were done back in the day, and I think we should honor traditions.”
Peter was surprised by this revelation. “But, Your Grace, I have a large group of friends, and, of course, extended family. Surely they will feel slighted if they do not receive an invitation.”
“I think they will understand.” The Duke refused to budge on the matter.
Henry had always thought of weddings as a union between two people. Despite the wealth his family had, he thought that inviting a lot of people would only be a waste. It would ruin the intimacy an event like a wedding demands.
“Oh.” Peter’s face fell, and the disappointment in his tone was palpable. “As you wish, Your Grace.”
Now, it was Deborah’s turn to be distracted. Both she and Emma had overheard the conversation between Peter and the Duke, and even though Emma had been laughing brightly just a few moments ago, she grew quiet.
Deborah felt herself growing annoyed by the Duke once again. She had been holding back her tongue all this time, but seeing both her brother and his betrothed grow so dejected at the Duke’s words was the last straw for her. She knew she had to speak up.
“Actually, Your Grace,” she spoke up, “I do not think there is anything non-traditional about inviting a lot of people on the most important day of your life. If anything, it is an indication that you value it all the more.”
“Marriage is a sacred bond,” he replied, seeming annoyed by her interruption. “I do not see why the entire peanut gallery has to be involved.”
