Deborah hung her hunting attire in the closet, exchanging it for a more comfortable evening dress. She took in her reflection in the mirror, gingerly massaging the sides of her head as she thought back to how her day had been. Her thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door as Emma peered in.
“My dear Deborah!” Emma rushed into the room as soon as she caught sight of Deborah inside, her face painted with worry. “I just heard that you got injured during the hunt. Are you all right?”
Deborah nodded softly as she welcomed her in. “It was nothing. I merely took a tumble from my horse and gained a small scratch.”
Emma extended her hand to examine the injury, and her eyes widened in shock at the size of the bandage on her arm.
“That is more than a small scratch,” she said, growing even more worried than she initially was.
“All right then, it is a big scratch. However, it will heal on its own, and it’s nothing that a long-sleeved dress cannot cover. Do not worry, please.”
“Is there anything I can do? I can fetch you some medicine, or perhaps we can call the physician.”
Deborah smiled at her friend’s concern. “I have thick skin. This is nothing to worry about. Why don’t you sit down? I would much talk about more interesting matters than my injury.”
Emma seemed skeptical but sat down at Deborah’s insistence.
“How was the hunting trip, otherwise?”
Deborah shrugged her shoulders. “I would have preferred that I emerged victorious, but alas, the other team was able to hunt down the boar faster than His Grace and I.”
“Oh.” Emma perked up immediately at the mention of her brother. “I am glad that you were able to spend some time with Henry.”
Deborah frowned, and the frustration became immediately evident on her face.
“I do not wish to overstep, but I have an opinion of His Grace that you might not appreciate,” she said hesitatingly.
“Please, share.” Emma squeezed her hand gently. “I am a friend to you, as much as I am a sister to Henry. You should not hesitate before speaking your mind.”
Deborah considered her words carefully. She knew it was wise not to be blunt, but at this moment, she really needed a listening ear.
“After spending more time with him,” Deborah started, observing Emma’s reaction carefully before saying anything too direct. “I am left with a sense of frustration. I just find him difficult to understand.”
Emma leaned forward, her eyes filled with empathy for her friend. “What is it that you find hard to understand?”
“During the hunt, there were several moments when I suggested the direction we should take. However, instead of listening to me, he refused to consider the possibility that I could be correct,” Deborah admitted with a frown. “I believe that he could have been nicer about it.”
“My dear, remember that Henry was not raised to be kind or approachable. He was raised to be a duke,” Emma replied calmly. “That has shaped his personality in a significant manner.”
“Does his title truly justify his behavior?” Deborah questioned, curious to know the answer. “After all, there is more to a person than the title they hold.”
“You are correct to say that a title does not define a person completely. However, it does impose certain expectations that my brother has had to live up to his entire life. My parents had always been very strict in his upbringing.”
Deborah’s curiosity was slowly beginning to be replaced by a growing understanding. “Was Her Grace very strict with him?”
Emma nodded. “Our parents did their best to give us the best upbringing that they could. However, while I was allowed leniency in many aspects of my life, Henry did not get the same privilege. He was expected to always act in a dutiful manner, having made to honor his principles at every step.”
“That sounds like a heavy burden for one person to bear,” Deborah noted. “Surely, he must let loose every now and then. A healthy life demands it!”
“That is what you and I think.” Emma smiled. “However, he has never really learned to enjoy life. He sees everything as either a duty or an obligation that he must uphold. Even an activity such as hunting, he will prioritize his own opinions on any decision because he has been taught to do so as a duke.”
“I do not mind that he is competitive,” Deborah admitted. “However, it’s just his insistence of always being right is what bothers me most.”
“My dear.” Emma chuckled lightly. “If you are perturbed by how he views friendly competition, then you will be even more unsettled when you learn of how he thinks of love.”
“Love?” Deborah felt her curiosity being piqued once more. “If you don’t mind sharing, I would like to know.”
Emma sighed. “It is something that we have talked about at length, even though he considers it useless to discuss. But I believe he does not believe in love.”
