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When Sophia was told she had to marry the Duke, the tears did not stop flowing for days. The Duke was nearly thirty years Sophia's senior, a widower, and had children that were older than Sophia.
Sophia felt no attraction to him, and therefore, could not entertain the thoughts of being his wife. Being a Duchess didn't appeal to Sophia as it did to other women, but her family was thrilled at the prospect of Sophia marrying one of the richest men in England.
Sophia wanted a man who was young, strong, and handsome. The Duke didn't fit any of those descriptions. Lord Roderick came to mind. He was titled and had wealth, but Sophia felt there was something different about him, a wildness that couldn't be tamed.
Sophia imagined Lord Roderick to be everything she wanted in a man, but the truth was that she knew nothing about him.
Chapter Five
The next evening, Bessie asked Sophia how she wanted to wear her hair as Sophia sat at the dressing table. Sophia had no thoughts on her hairstyle, as she was not motivated to impress the Duke.
Bessie placed Lady Astor’s necklace around Sophia's neck, and the large pendant hung just above Sophia's breast, drawing attention to her bare skin. Sophia wondered if her mother had chosen the necklace for that purpose.
"M'lady, I have the red gown with the golden bead trim laid out for you to wear this evening."
"Thank you, Bessie. Mother will be pleased."
Sophia wished that she was dressing for Lord Roderick, instead of the Duke. Thinking about his taught muscles she felt as he pulled her to safety, Sophia audibly gasped.
"M’lady, are you well?"
Embarrassed, Sophia answered, "Quite well, Bessie. Thank you for your concern. I am just tired, but I am sure my disposition will change."
Bessie smiled at Sophia, and for the first time, Sophia divulged her feelings to her maid.
"Bessie, the truth is, I am frightened by the thought of marrying the Duke. I only dream of being happy, and this arrangement has brought me nothing but sadness."
"M'lady, I’m sure His Grace has some wonderful qualities that will bring you joy. At some point, you might even grow to love him."
"Thank you for your optimism, Bessie. Your words have made me feel better."
Sophia smiled at Bessie, and Bessie nodded. However, both women knew there was no truth in Sophia's words.
***
Sophia hugged the wall, keeping as much to the shadows as possible. She had to discover whether or not the Duke of Langley was there. Her stomach rolled with distaste as the man himself came into her line of view.
The Duke of Langley, of course, was known to be wealthy, and it was only because of his status that he was given so much leeway by society. However, Sophia found him utterly detestable. Shivering, she imagined his pudgy hand taking hers, his large fingers sealing her to him.
Shaking her head, she diverted her gaze. She could not allow this to happen.. To her horror, she saw her father shaking the Duke’s hand, his eyes searching the crowd. Sophia knew exactly who he was searching for, her stomach rolling with alarm and anxiety.
Her feet moved before she even thought about where she was going. Practically clinging to the wall, Sophia walked slowly, ducking behind tall gentlemen so that she remained hidden from view.
A blast of cool air hit her, making her heart beat a little faster. Moving as carefully as she could, she caught sight of the open doors.
Her breath hitched as she scrabbled for the door leading to the gardens, keeping herself low as she hurried outside. The darkness welcomed her like an old friend, wrapping itself around her and hiding her from the prying eyes of the Duke.
Sophia did not know what to do or where to go, realizing that she was only delaying the inevitable.
Sitting down heavily on a bench, Sophia put her face in her hands and tried desperately not to cry. She struggled to see any way out of her predicament while the Duke’s leering face swam into her mind.
If Sophia refused to marry the Duke of Langley, she would find herself without a home and without funds—and then what was she to do? Sophia was entirely alone, she realized. Her heart sank and moisture began to cling to her lashes. Her shoulders began to shake as she finally understood how desperate her situation truly was.
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So lost was she in her sorrow that she did not hear footsteps, followed by a sudden gasp of shock.
“I do beg your pardon, my lady.”
