Sophia shook her head.
“I do not know what romance novels you have been consuming, Clara, but for me, this feels to be the most frustrating aspect. I am to marry a man I do not know much about.”
“My Lady, I suppose it is a good thing then that you have a lifetime ahead of you to figure it out.”
Sophia felt a string of butterflies emerge in her stomach at the thought of it. A lifetime spent together.If the entire thing had not been so utilitarian,Sophia thought to herself,it might have actually been romantic.
CHAPTER 11
“Lovely day we are having,” Rose commented as she took in the surroundings. The two families had finally met up for a picnic. “I was worried it might rain in the morning, but it is a clear sky.”
They had convened in one of the gardens owned by the Duke. Rose and the Dowager sat together as they were the two eldest in the gathering. Sophia and the Duke sat next them, and across sat Jacob, who was observing the husband and wife to be with an amused expression on his face.
“Oh, do not talk about the rain,” the Dowager lamented. “I am stressed that the wedding will be ruined if it rains on that day.”
“Rain or shine, the wedding will take place on the date decided,” the Duke said in his usual decided manner.
Sophia had to admit to herself, she loved how sure of himself the Duke seemed. She realized that it was something that she hadnot had in her life growing up as she lost her father young and did not see a commanding male presence around.
“It will be sunshine,” Rose interjected, optimistically.
“One can hope, or the venue will be ruined,” the Dowager said.
“You know, mother, having rain on your wedding day is a good omen,” Jacob chimed in. “It is supposed to be a sign that the marriage will last.”
“Let us not bother ourselves with silly superstitions.” The Duke waved away his brother’s observation.
“You seem to be a man of rational thought, Your Grace,” Sophia said, initiating conversation with him for the first time that afternoon.
He nodded briefly in her direction.
“I believe that it is the only way to be. Superstitions are for fools,” he replied. “They are for men who are too weak minded to draw their own conclusions.”
She found some unexpected solace in his words. Surely, the curse was a superstition too. It had no basis in real life, even though she had spent most of her life believing it to be true. Perhaps this meant that the curse had no bearing on the Duke as well. The thought made her feel slightly better about herself.It would have been awful to marry someone who believed any superstition told to him.
Everyone was busy in conversation around them. The Dowager and Aunt Rose were discussing the details of the wedding while Jacob relaxed with a book in his hands.
Sophia observed the Duke’s face as the sunlight hit his features. She could not help but notice how perfectly chiseled his jawline was and how his nose was just the right proportion.
How handsome…she thought to herself, involuntarily. She found herself wondering what he must think of her features. Did they strike the same awe in him? Her faith in herself faltered at the thought.
“Something on my face?” the Duke’s comment startled her. There seemed to be a teasing edge to his voice.
“Oh,” Sophia blushed. “I was just looking at your general direction. It does not mean that I was looking at you.”
The Duke’s mouth twisted into a smile.
“And what would be so wrong if you were looking at me?”
Sophia did not respond. She could tell that he was a daring man who did not care what others thought since he was so easily able to tease her like this in front of his own mother.
“It does not look so prominent as I thought in the sun,” the Dowager’s words brought Sophia back to reality.
Sophia realized that her future mother-in-law was addressing her.
“The scars, I mean.” The Dowager was observing her face now. Sophia felt surprised by her bluntness and realized that she should not be so tempted by the Duke’s looks when she had her flaws so openly displayed.
“Mother,” the Duke objected before Sophia even had a chance to speak, “you must be careful in how you speak to Lady Sophia. She is the future duchess and should be spoken to with more respect.”
