Deborah looked at her brother as if he had gone mad. But the look of sincerity on his face softened her heart. If he was willing to take such a huge risk, then he must be seriously in love with the lady.
“Fine,” Deborah conceded after considering it for a moment. “I will help you.”
“Thank you.” Peter’s smile returned. “You can consider this as a favor to me, and I will return it whenever you may need it.”
The two siblings walked out to the gardens, but not before stealing a glance at Nicholas, who was now dancing with the woman he had selected.
Once outside, the gardens were covered in the darkness of the night. It was rare that any of the guests at the ball ventured outside, since all the social conviviality was taking place inside. The garden was a place for those that preferred solitude, or in this case, lovers who wanted to meet in secret.
“I cannot believe that you are doing this,” Deborah whispered to her brother as they arrived at the maze where he was supposed to meet with Emma. The bushes were thick enough to provide them cover from watchful eyes. “I must say, I am proud of you.”
Even though it wasn’t Deborah who was meeting someone in the darkness of the night, it still gave her a thrill. She had always found social norms of meeting with the opposite gender quite ridiculous, and seeing her otherwise proper brother break them appealed to her rebellious spirit.
“My dear sister, love makes you do all sorts of crazy things.” He grinned. “Now, all we need to do is wait for my dear beloved to make an appearance.”
* * *
Amidst the sea of swirling gowns and tailored coats, the Duke of Hopestyn was a towering figure as he stood with his gaze sweeping across the room in search of Emma.
Not one to enjoy vapid conversations, the Duke usually opted to skip out on such balls. However, ever since his young sister had come of age, he felt that it was his duty as an older brother to keep a watchful eye on her.
Emma was his only sister, and he felt protective of her. He knew that her delicate beauty and her status as the sister of the Duke attracted a lot of attention, and he felt determined to keep her safe from anyone who might have ill intentions towards her.
However, he had lost sight of her when a friend had approached him, and now, she was nowhere to be seen. Being the Duke meant that he was the center of attention anywhere he went, and it was hard not to be stopped frequently by people who wished to speak to him.
As the seconds ticked by, the Duke found himself growing increasingly worried about Emma. He narrowed his eyes and spotted a close friend of his, Lord Augustus, and decided to approach him, with a sense of urgency etched across his features.
“Henry!” the gentleman greeted jovially as he saw the Duke making his way towards him with purposeful strides.
“Augustus, have you seen Emma around, by any chance?” the Duke asked. “I have been searching for her all over the estate.”
“I believe I caught a glimpse of her some moments ago,” Augustus replied. “She looked to be in quite a hurry.”
The worried wrinkle on the Duke’s forehead deepened. “A ball is no place for a young woman to be wandering alone without a chaperone. Can you point me in the direction where you saw her going?”
Augustus gave his friend a sympathetic expression. “Your Grace, I must apologize, I cannot aid you any further. With the Season coming to an end, there are more people in attendance at today’s ball than usual, and I am afraid she slipped away between the crowds.”
“Very well, then.” The Duke nodded. “I suppose I am going to have to continue my search.”
“Good luck, my friend,” Augustus said. “I am sure you’ll find her soon enough. She is a smart young woman, and I have no doubt that she is not in any trouble.”
His words comforted the Duke, and he bid him goodbye. If there was one person whom Henry cared about the most in the world, it was his little sister.
Having no luck locating her inside the walls of the ballroom, the Duke decided to venture outside. But while he was on his way to the entrance, he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder.
He turned around to find a blonde-haired lady accompanied by a woman who appeared to be her mother. She smiled at him shyly while her mother cleared her throat to speak.
“Your Grace,” the lady’s mother said, bowing slightly. “It is so lovely to see you here. Let me introduce you to my daughter, Lady Hazel.”
The Duke nodded politely. He was used to being stopped by mothers who were actively seeking out prospects for their daughters. He recognized the woman as Lady Gerstein, who knew his mother and had seen her at his house for tea.
“I must say, you are a rare sight at balls like this,” Lady Gerstein continued. “However, I am not surprised, for I have heard a rumor about you.”
“A rumor?” The Duke raised his eyebrow slightly. He detested gossip, and even more so, being the subject of it.
Lady Gerstein nodded. “I have heard whispers that you are looking for a wife. I believe it is about time. You might as well be the most eligible bachelor in all of London.”
“You flatter me,” the Duke muttered, feeling uncomfortable with all the praise.
