“Well, things happen in unexpected ways. We cannot change the course of it.”
“It has been a long day.” Sophia got up. “I would like to rest for a small while in my room if that is all right with you.”
“Of course, my dear.”
Sophia bid her aunt goodbye and retired to her room. It was only evening outside, but she felt tired enough to sleep already.
Now in her bed, Sophia tossed and turned. She felt restless. It took her many hours until she was finally able to fall asleep.
Sophia found herself standing alone on the edge of a desolate rock overlooking a vast lake. The moon hung low in the dark sky, casting an eerie shadow over the water.
A sudden gust of wind whipped through her hair as she took a hesitant step forward. There was something in the water that was beckoning her to step forward.
One more step. It was as though Sophia was no longer in control of her body and was being guided by a force outside of her. The ground beneathher feet was slippery, and she tumbled as the unevenness of the rocks caused her to lose her balance.
Sophia knew that she should turn away now, for if she ventured further, it would be too dangerous. But this once, she was not able to control her own movements.
The lake was directly beneath her. If she were to only take one step forward, she would easily slip into its deep waters. The idea had never appeared more tempting to her.
But as she looked down at the dark body of water, she could see figures appearing on the surface. First it was a pair hands and then a mop of blonde hair followed by a shoe.
A profound sense of terror gripped Sophia immediately, and without thinking of anything else, she took the plunge. Within moments, her entire body was engulfed by the cold water. She tried to swim her way to where she had seen the things, but her surroundings began to blur into a watery chaos.
Sophia tried to swim her way back to shore, but the water pulled her deeper, swallowing her into its inky blackness.
“Help,” she called out, realizing that she had no hopes of getting out of there of her own accord. But she only began to sink deeper.
Her lungs burned for air as she began to suffocate under the water. Even if she tried to rise to the surface, it felt as though someone had tied a heavy weight to her body, causing her to sink further down.
Panic surged in Sophia’s veins, and she screamed out for help, but her voice never travelled outside of the water. Only muted bubble escaped her lips.
Finally, she managed to swim to the surface. By some miracle, she had gotten rid of the weight that had attached itself to her body, but as she reached the top, she found it sealed.
A cover of ice had formed on top of the lake’s surface, trapping her underneath its depths. She began to tap furiously at the icy surface, but it was to no avail.
Her lungs were beginning to fill up with water every time she opened her mouth to scream. Hopelessness filled her up, and her body began to go limp.
“Let go,” she murmured to herself as she began to sink deeper and deeper towards the lake’s floor.
Sophia woke up gasping for air.
“It was just a dream,” she reminded herself, but her face was stained with her tears. She quickly wiped them away with her sleeve. “It was just a dream.”
CHAPTER 6
“The carriage driver told me that he took you to visit Kerling Estate,” the Duke’s mother observed as they met for dinner in the evening. “Is that the case?”
“Why would the driver willingly lie to you, mother?” Duncan shrugged his shoulders. “I do not like the fact that you are keeping tabs on me like this.”
The Dowager Duchess gave her son a weary look.
“I was merely curious to know as you left quite abruptly without explaining anything to me.”
“Mother, it is not your place to keep track of my movements, nor should you be getting information covertly like this from the driver.”His tone was irked.
His mother pursed her lips.
“In any other circumstances, yes, I would not, but since it concerns a matter as serious as your reputation, then I believe I have the right to intervene. What business did you have at Kerling Estate?” she inquired.
