It was a rare moment that the Duke refused his mother a request. But this time, he decided he was going to pick his heart over duty.
“No, Mother. I simply cannot,” he said, and Modesty’s mouth fell open in shock. “We will have all the time we need to speak later. However, for now, I must go and stop Deborah.”
“Her carriage is likely not that far from us still. You can catch up if you ride there,” Emma said encouragingly.
“I intend on doing so.”
“Henry!” Modesty called out as the Duke began to walk away from them. “You are rushing into things!”
“I need to follow my heart.”
Without saying anything else, he rushed over to the stables and summoned his stable master.
“Charles, prepare my horse immediately. The fastest one that we have,” the Duke instructed urgently, fearing that he had already wasted too much time explaining himself.
“Of course, Your Grace.” Charles got to his feet at once. “Is everything all right?”
“Everything is fine,” Henry replied, a small smile gracing his lips. “I must reach Lady Deborah before she exits my life.”
Charles nodded, recognizing the gravity of the situation, and without further questioning, he swiftly led a stallion to the Duke and handed him the reins.
The Duke’s heart was now pounding in anticipation. He mounted the horse quickly and maintained a firm grip on the reins. Spurring the steed forward, he was on his way.
The wind rushed past his face, and the sound of his heart pounding along with the hooves of the horse filled his ears.
The road in front of him lay empty, and he worried that the carriage had already gone too far for him to reach it in time. Panic setting in his veins, he spurred his horse to move even faster. The animal neighed in protest but then began to gallop quickly.
Finally, he spotted the carriage. Relief flooded him at the sight, and he gave his horse one final push so that he would close the distance in time.
“Deborah!” he called out. “Stop the carriage! I must speak with you.”
* * *
Deborah was lost in her thoughts, absentmindedly looking out the window of the carriage, when the familiar clop of the horse carrying them came to an abrupt halt and then suddenly stopped.
“What is the matter?” Nicholas asked. “Why have we stopped?”
Deborah exchanged curious yet confused looks with her brothers, who did not know what was happening either. Then, she heard a familiar voice calling out her name from outside the carriage.
“Is that…” She paused to hear it again, worried that she was imagining things. “Is that His Grace?”
“Deborah!”
The Duke came into view, and a gasp escaped her lips.
“Please, step out of the carriage. I must speak with you.”
Without wasting another moment, Deborah stepped out of the carriage when the Duke was dismounting his horse. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight, and she nervously dug her nails in her palms.
“Your Grace…” She approached him hesitantly, taken by surprise by his sudden appearance. “What are you doing here?”
“Lady Deborah Cluett,” the Duke called out, and she felt a strange feeling that resembled a lot like butterflies erupting in her stomach. “You may as well be the bane of my existence.”
“Pardon?” Deborah blinked, confused.
“It is true. You are unlike what a lady should aspire to be. You lack manners, and your disregard for any sense of decorum is infuriating!” The Duke’s words rang out loudly.
Deborah opened her mouth and then closed it. The butterflies quickly became replaced with a sense of indignation, and she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
