“I…” Barbara stammered. “Forgive me, Your Grace. I should not have tried to jeopardize anything. I should have taken the higher ground. In time, you would have come to me when you realized that… she… was not good enough for you.”
Her delusions truly knew no bounds. Duncan decided to press her further.
“Was it you that sent the package of herbs, disguised as from her aunt, to Sophia?”
“Herbs?” Barbara tried to feign innocence, but the Duke was staring her down.
“Admit it, Barbara. You should know that I do not like liars,” Duncan played her. “I can accept that you are a jealous woman. Your feelings forced you to be. But a liar? That is utterly irreprehensible.”
Barbara gulped, trying to gauge if the Duke was being sincere.
“Say for instance, we do accept that you are the better woman. Or that you were before this moment,” Duncan continued. “Would it not ruin your efforts and tarnish your reputation in front of me forever if you cannot admit to something that you clearly did?”
“Your Grace, it was me,” she replied. “I admit that I was the one who sent the herbs. But you understand that I only did so that our future together could be secured?”
“Lady Barbara, you did secure your future.” Duncan’s mouth twisted into a smile. A small ray of hope shined on Barbara’s face as she genuinely believed for a moment that she had been successful in getting the Duke to sway in her direction. She almost cracked a smile herself.
“You secured your future as a charged criminal,” the Duke explained. “Before this, we did not have substantial proof that you were the one behind the poisoning. Well done on that — you know how to cover your tracks well. But now, we have your testimony admitting to your crime and two witnesses to attest to it.”
The smile fell immediately.
“You tricked me into admitting it,” she gasped, shaking her head.
“Hurts when you get a taste of your own medicine? As far as I am concerned, I have gotten what I needed from you. Jacob, youmay call the constable now. The law will deal with Lady Barbara from this point forward.”
The sounds of Lady Barbara’s protests could be heard in the background as Duncan escorted Sophia back inside the Estate.
“Clara, please procure a fresh change of clothes for the Duchess and ensure that she is warmed up,” he instructed the maid, who had been standing at the door with a worried expression on her face.
“Yes, Your Grace. Is… is she okay?” she asked, eyeing Sophia with concern.
“She is absolutely fine now that she is with me,” the Duke replied, feeling a sense of pride that they had just managed to get through the biggest test in their relationship.
Sophia’s eyes were full of gratitude, and she stole glances at the Duke as she disappeared into the hallway with Clara.
The nightmare was over, and the calm had finally been restored in their lives.
EPILOGUE
When Sophia returned to the Duke, who was waiting for her in the drawing room, she found herself to be in a much better state. Having a fresh change of clothes and all warmed up, she had finally stopped shaking.
“Sophia.” Duncan stood up as soon as he saw her enter through the door. He closed the distance between them, and the two embraced like lovers who were reunited after a long time.
“Duncan,” she replied.
“Please, sit down next to me,” he gestured towards the sofa. “I am not letting you out of my sight ever again. Why did you make the decision to leave Blackmoore Estate? I would have never let you leave if I had been awake.”
Sophia passed him a melancholic smile. Now that the chaos had subsided, she was reminded of the reality of their relationship.
“But you were not awake to stop me, were you?” she replied.
“If you can excuse the inconvenience, I was poisoned by a mad woman out to destroy our marriage,” the Duke replied. “I hope that an exception can be made in this case.”
Sophia tapped him on the shoulder gently. Even after an insane series of events, he had somehow managed to introduce a lighthearted note to things.
“I cannot believe that poison was meant for me, and I ended up making you drink it.” She shook her head. “If that is not evidence enough that I am cursed indeed, then I do not know what is.”
“Sophia,” the Duke emitted a long sigh.
