“That day when we sat together to have tea, she got so preoccupied in our conversation that she did not get a chance to drink her cup.”
The Duke stood up from his place, heading straight towards the door.
“Duncan, you cannot leave in this condition. Let the authorities handle this matter,” his mother heeded.
“Sophia’s life is in danger. Whoever tried to poison her is still out there, and she has no idea. I must go and inform her.” The Duke’s tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.
“Very well then, if that is what you wish to do, then I shall come with you.” Jacob stood up as well, following his brother’s lead. “I will inform the police as well about this recent development.”
“She needs to be brought back home. It is not safe for her to be out there, now that we know what kind of danger is lurking in the shadows.”
The two men nodded once at their mother, whose face sagged with sorrow.
“May God bless you both,” she sighed as she waved goodbye.
CHAPTER 25
Forlorn.
That was what Sophia felt like in the two days that she had spent apart from the Duke. Her heart had felt restless ever since she had found out what had happened to the Duke, and guilt sagged her conscience as she blamed only herself.
Her days were spent mostly shut inside of her room, unwilling to make any sort of contact with anyone in the house. Aunt Rose would come and try to speak to her at various times of the day, but each time, Sophia would turn her away.
“I need some time to myself,” she would say, leaving no room for negotiation.
Her appetite had all but disappeared. Just the prospect of eating filled her with disgust, but her energy was replenished by the small meals that Clara force fed her by bringing food on a tray to her room and standing there until Sophia took a few bites.
The idea that her love story with the Duke was so short lived smashed her heart into a million smithereens, and she struggled to collect all of them to make herself whole again.
In fact, she was certain that she would never be whole again. Before she had met the Duke, Sophia had convinced herself that her life would be without love. It was not something that she felt happy about, but at least she had never experienced what love feels like.
Now, the situation was different. She had been given a taste of love and the warmth that accompanies it, only for it to be taken away.
“Cursed,” she muttered to herself, sitting by her window. “A cursed woman, dangerous to those who dare to love her.”
She had become a sad pinnacle of self-pity and loathed the circumstances of her life that had brought her into this position. The only real activity she engaged in was sitting by the window and keeping an eye out for any postman or messenger.
She had made Jacob promise to write to her, informing him of the Duke’s condition, but she had received no letter thus far. Did that mean that his condition had worsened, and he was trying to spare her feelings by not letting her know? Or was it that now that she had willingly left, she had been ousted from their family… and their hearts.
She did not know which possibility hurt her more.
A soft knock on the door brought Sophia back to reality, and Clara peered her head in through the door.
“I am not hungry,” Sophia groaned, thinking that she must have come to ask her for food again.
“Your Grace, you have a visitor,” she replied instead.
Sophia’s ear perked up, and she turned around, “Who is it? Is it Lord Jacob? Has he brought some news on the Duke?”
To her disappointment, Clara shook her head.
“It is a lady,” her tone was colored with skepticism.
“Well, tell Aunt Rose to cater to her. I do not wish to see anyone at this moment.”
“Lady Rose has stepped out of the house for some business in town. Besides, the lady has specifically asked for you. She says that she has something urgent to discuss with you.”
“Oh,” Sophia muttered, surprised. “Well, tell her that I shall join her in a moment.”
