“Truly. Perhaps by the time you decide to get married, I can share some of the things I have learned.” Emma laughed, finding joy in a non-ideal situation.
“Oh, I am not sure if you will see that say any time soon,” Deborah maintained.
“Peter mentioned your aversion to marriage.” Emma nodded. “I must say, it’s quite the unique position to take.”
“It is simply a personal preference.” Deborah shrugged. “I have been lucky that my brothers do not put any sort of pressure on me to get married. My grandmother still has trouble accepting it, but I believe she will get there, eventually.”
“I support your choices,” Emma said. “Even if they may be unconventional.”
“That is why I am glad to have you as my future sister-in-law,” Deborah returned warmly.
“Oh, I already know we are going to have the best adventures together. I can hardly wait.”
* * *
Henry had gathered outside the estate with Peter, Nicholas, and Lord Jonathan. The men had decided to spend the afternoon in the hunting ground nearby.
“Shall we leave?” the Duke asked. “It is almost noon already, and we do not want to be too late.”
“There is one person who is still yet to arrive,” Nicholas said, looking towards the entrance in anticipation. “She should be here any moment now.”
“She?” the Duke repeated, curiosity glimmering in his eyes.
“Why, yes.” Nicholas nodded. “I told Deborah about our hunting plans this morning, and she was interested in coming along.”
The Duke was sure that he was mishearing things. What business did Deborah have hunting together with them?
“I hope you do not mind,” Nicholas continued. “It is just that hunting is an activity the three of us have always done together. I did not wish for her to feel left out, so I invited her.”
“I am more worried about whether she will be equipped to handle what awaits us at the hunting ground,” the Duke said earnestly. “It is scarcely the place for a lady to be in.”
“Oh, you underestimate our little sister, Your Grace,” Peter chimed in. “Do not be fooled by how delicate she appears. She has been doing this for many years now and has gotten quite good at it.”
“Is that so?” The Duke’s eyes widened in surprise.
It seemed that every day, he learned something new about Deborah that caught him off guard.
“Although I enjoy teasing her about her athletic abilities, she is quite the skilled horse rider,” Nicholas added. “In fact, she has beaten the two of us at countless races.”
“I am quite surprised,” the Duke admitted, still finding it difficult to wrap his head around the revelation.
“It won’t be as surprising when you see me hunting with you, Your Grace,” Deborah’s voice came from behind him. While the men were busy in conversation with each other, she had snuck up on them and was now ready to go. “I apologize for the delay. I was caught up in a conversation with Grandmother in the hallway.”
“You are finally here!” Peter exclaimed. “Let us not waste any more time, then.”
As they mounted onto their horses, the Duke found himself observing Deborah once again.
She got on the horse without help from anyone. Even though she was dressed in a riding outfit, she still managed to exude a certain kind of femininity about her. The Duke also realized how beautiful her face looked when she had her hair pulled back.
She seemed to be the most infuriating yet interesting person he had ever met. He found her enthusiasm for the hunting expedition to be quite refreshing. Most women he knew did not wish to come within walking distance of a hunting ground.
The Duke signaled their departure to the hunting party, and the sounds of hooves filled the air as they set off, their horses galloping along the forested trails.
Peter, Nicholas, and Lord Jonathan had seemed to form a group amongst themselves. They happily chatted away as they rode their horses, exchanging stories about their previous hunts.
As they reached a clearing, the Duke halted the group and scanned their surroundings.
“This area is highly likely to be a habitat for boars,” he announced. “We should stop here and wait for them to make an appearance.”
