“My Lady,” her tone was alarmed, “I hope that you do not think, even for a minute, that any of that curse nonsense is real?”
Sophia shrugged her shoulders. Over the years, she had learned not to react when people said cruel things to her. She had made herself so strong that everything they said simply ricocheted off of her.
But there was a part of her that believed the words to be true. A part of her that questioned every day if perhaps she was cursed after all.
“I cannot comment,” Sophia replied after a long silence. “However, my life tells the story much better than I can.”
“My Lady, it hurts me to hear you speak about yourself in that way.” Clara’s voice softened. “Anyone who cares for you does not think that way.”
“That is sweet of you, Clara,” Sophia smiled. “Thank you for trying to make me feel better.”
“I am here if you need me for anything.”
“Once again, you are kinder to me than I deserve.” Sophia bit down on her lip. “Have you seen Aunt Rose anywhere?”
“She is downstairs,” Clara replied.
“Very well. You can bring us a cup of tea there. I should like to speak to her.”
Sophia had been avoiding speaking to her aunt ever since she had been caught with the Duke last night. The two women had barely exchanged a few words on the carriage ride back home, but Sophia knew that running away from the problem was not going to make it disappear, so she might as well face it head first.
“I am sorry,” Sophia blurted out as soon as she saw her aunt. Aunt Rose’s eyes widened, and she immediately wrapped Sophia in a warm embrace.
“My dear, what do you have to be sorry about?” she asked in a comforting tone. “You should not be beating yourself up for what transpired last night.”
Sophia blinked, surprised by her aunt’s reaction.
“But… you were there. You saw me with the Duke. Are you not mad at me for putting myself in a situation like that to begin with? You had such high hopes for the night, and now, they have all been washed away down the drain.”
“But I know you very well, my dear. I trust you fully and know that you were not doing anything that would bring shame to our family.”
Sophia felt a surge of warmth spread inside of her as she listened to her aunt’s words. It felt really good to be affirmed like this.
“Thank you,” she replied, “but I do not think that anyone else would share that opinion. As far as my prospects go, I think I have ruined them for good.”
“Unfortunately, you might be right,” Aunt Rose sighed. “This will prove to be ruinous for your reputation, even though I trust that you did not even do anything scandalous.”
“Well, yours is the only opinion that matters to me,” Sophia said, squeezing her aunt’s hand gently. “I am already used to the world saying less than pleasant things about me. What’s one more added to their ledger?”
“My dear, I have always admired your courage,” Aunt Rose replied. “And you know, perhaps this might not be as awful as we think. Life has a way of surprising you.”
“Yes, but for me, the surprises are never any good,” Sophia laughed, making light of her terrible situation. Just then, Clara walked into the room with a tray full of tea and biscuits.
Sophia knew that her life had only gotten even worse after last night, but for now, she would try to forget about her troubles. Even if it was just for a cup of tea.
It was mid-afternoon when a carriage rolled into Kerling Estate. Sophia was not privy to who had arrived until she heard some commotion coming from downstairs.
“Are you sure it is him, Carla?” Aunt Rose asked in an astonished tone. “We have not been expecting any visitors, much less someone like him.”
Curiosity got the better of Sophia, and she decided to get a better sense of what was happening by going downstairs. She saw her aunt rushing over to the powder room.
“What is happening?” she asked, “Why are you behaving so strangely?”
“Oh, for one thing, we have a visitor that I was not expecting. And secondly, it is the Duke.” Her aunt put some powder on her face in a rushed manner and fixed any stray hair she had in the mirror.
“Quick, you must fix up your appearance as well,” her aunt instructed before heading out, “in case he wants to see you.”
Sophia scrunched up her nose in confusion. Had she heard correctly? What business did the Duke have visiting them?
