Sophia was taken aback by her high praise. She had not expected the Dowager to be so nice to her this afternoon.
“But even with it, I do not wish for you to feel any less than the other girls,” the Dowager insisted. “If anything, you will now be higher in status than them as you will be marrying a duke.”
“You are surprisingly kind to me,” Sophia blurted out before she could stop herself.
“I am merely noting what I see,” she shrugged. “Can you walk for me?”
“Pardon me?” Sophia muttered, confused.
“Walk, darling. I would like to see your posture.”
Sophia agreed and walked to the end of the drawing room and then back.
“Hmmm, your posture could be worked on. Do not worry, I will train you to walk in the heaviest of dresses. On flat land or on the steepest incline, you will be taught to carry yourself with grace,” the Dowager noted.
“I see.”
“You are a slender girl. Perhaps we can change your hair to make you appear more beautiful than you already are.”
Sophia was beginning to feel as though her mother-in-law had adopted her as her own. She felt like a doll, being turned around and scrutinized with her every move.
“I agree with your dressing sense. You seem to carry yourself with poise, Lady Sophia,” the Dowager continued in a measured tone. “But remember, marrying into the nobility comes with certain responsibilities. The legacy of this family is one that should be upheld with diligence. I expect you to be quite careful with it.”
It was at that moment that Duchess Anna noticed the nervousness that was evident on Sophia’s face. She softened up immediately.
“I did not mean to imply doubt, my dear. Merely a reminder. I was put through the same scrutiny when I married into this family. I merely wantto prepare you for what is to come.”
“I am not doubting your intentions in the slightest, Your Grace,” Sophia noted. “In fact, it appears to me that you have my best interests at heart.”
“I am glad that we are able to understand each other early on. A lot of young girls would take my comments as criticism andtherefore personally. I am happy that you are not the sort,” she noted.
“Oh, Your Grace, I have heard all sorts of criticism my entire life. I think I have developed the ability to discern when it is well intentioned and when it is not.”
Just then, Aunt Rose entered the living room, followed by the servants who brought in some tea and refreshments.
“I am sorry to interrupt you two ladies,” Aunt Rose smiled, “but I believe that a break is much needed. Is it not?”
“Yes, of course,” Duchess Anna agreed. “We have only just started.”
Sophia began to feel nervous about how the two women would interact. She wondered how strange it was that she already wanted the approval of her mother-in-law and how badly she wanted Aunt Rose to get along with her.
There was something about Duchess Anna that exuded class and kindness. She could see that a woman like her had raised the duke to be a proper gentleman.
“There are many things that we must decide before the wedding takes place,” Duchess Anna mused as she calmly sipped on her tea. “In fact, there is an entire list’s worth. I believe the sooner we begin talking about it, the easier it will be to execute.”
“Certainly, Your Grace. We can discuss everything,” Sophia agreed with a smile.
“We must finalize the guest list, choose the flowers, select the menu, and of course, decide on the seating arrangements,” she listed out. “The invitation list needs to be drawn up, and we must send out invites in time so that everyone can attend. There is the question of what music we’ll play. I know that Duncan has some preferences, but of course, we must stick to the traditional pieces as well…”
As Duchess Anna continued listing things, Sophia felt herself getting a headache just listening to it. As a little girl, she had never really dreamed of getting married, but she tried to put on an interested expression for her mother-in-law.
“Of course. You should not worry about anything. I shall attend to each detail with the utmost care,” Sophia assured.
“I must say that you continue to surprise me,” Duchess Anna noted, once again observing her carefully. “You appear quite calm, and most brides would be on the brink of a nervous episode. Especially for a wedding that was decided as hastily as yours. Is it just on the surface?”
Sophia shook her head, adopting a solemn expression.
“Trust me, I am taking everything that you are saying quite seriously. The last thing that I would wish to do is disappoint you in any way.”
