“As you wish.”
As they headed back to the main estate, Sophia could not help but feel curious about the late Duke. She wondered what it must have been like to be raised by a father that did not do this job so well. Was it any better than being raised without one?
CHAPTER 10
“How did it go today with Lady Sophia?” the Duke asked his mother. He had intercepted her in the garden, and the question had been lingering in his mind ever since he had learned that Sophia would be visiting the Estate for some etiquette lessons.
The Dowager was sipping on her cup of tea. She lowered the cup to look at her son with a composed expression.
“I would say that she is a lady in the making,” she observed. “However, there is still much work to do. I do wish that you had given us some more time to prepare.”
Duncan shook his head. “I do not think there is any need to delay the wedding. Her lessons can continue after she is married to me.”
“But the wedding, my dear,” the Dowager interjected, “is going to be a grand spectacle, and you know it. All eyes will be on LadySophia, and it is pertinent that she is the best version that she can be.”
“Mother, my decision is final. I do not plan on moving the date of the wedding.” Duncan’s voice rang with an air of finality. “However, this is a good opportunity to finally make use of our privilege. We have access to the best of the best, and I am sure that Lady Sophia can be trained in the time we have.”
Duncan did not really see why she had to go through such rigorous etiquette lessons in the first place. It did not matter to him how straight her posture was. He detested the fact that society was so obsessed with mannerisms, even though he himself had perfected them, but so had everyone else. It was boring to him.
“Well, if you refuse to budge, then I must increase the frequency of lessons,” Anna sighed.
“I hope that you are not being too hard on her,” Duncan said.
“Oh, are you so concerned about your bride to be?” his mother teased.
The Duke shook his head.
“You mistake my concern for something greater than abiding by my duty. I merely wish to not discomfort her too much as it is not the most gentlemanly thing to do,” he replied immediately.
“Very well. I am only training her for her own betterment,” she pointed out. “Mrs. Harrington has been giving her lessons all morning.”
The Duke sighed as he heard the name. He was reminded of his own youth and how persistently her mother had made him take lessons with her.
“Has she not heard of retirement?” he remarked, sarcastically. “I am sure she must be about a hundred years old.”
“Duncan do not say that,” his mother scolded. “She is excellent at her job.”
Duncan shrugged his shoulders. “Anyway, you say that Sophia was taking lessons with her. Is she there with her currently?”
Even though the Duke did not want to admit it to himself, he was curious to know more about Sophia. He realized that in his hasty decision, he scarcely had any knowledge of what she was like, barring the few conversations that the two of them had with each other.
“Yes, well your brother borrowed her for a few moments to give her a tour of the estate. They should be returning any moment now,” the Dowager observed, and then her expression brightened up as she looked in the distance. “In fact, there they are now.”
“Brother of mine,” Jacob greeted Duncan with a cheerful pat on the back, “lovely to see you.”
Duncan nodded at him and then turned his attention to Sophia. “My Lady.”
“Your Grace.”
Their gazes met for a brief moment, and Duncan realized how beautiful her eyes looked in the sunlight.
“Lady Sophia, we must continue with your lessons now,” the Dowager interrupted their moment, pulling at her arm. “We have no time to waste, considering there is such little of it as is.”
“Of course.”
“You are to have your dancing lessons, now. Duncan, you should join us. The two of you must practice your dance for the wedding.”
“You go ahead mother,” Duncan replied. “I shall join the two of you in a moment.”
