Sophia nodded. Clara left to go retrieve the package, and Sophia stole one final glance at herself in the mirror. She was nearly ready.
Her hair looked good, half of it pinned to the side, and she had applied just a subtle trace of makeup. It was barely noticeable, but it enhanced her natural beauty manifold.
Clara returned with a box in her hands.
“Oh, what is this now?” Sophia asked as she took the box from her maid’s hands. “I fear that Aunt Rose misses me a little too much, for she keeps sending me these packages.”
When Sophia opened it up, it was another bag of tea.
“Oh, very good,” Sophia noted in appreciation.
The tea that she had sent before seemed to be working. Sophia had not gotten any nightmares last night. This one looked to be a different color than the last, and the smell was different too. Sophia noticed that there was no note attached this time, but she figured that it must be for the same purpose.
“Shall I brew a cup for you?” Clara asked.
“No, not right now,” Sophia shook her head. “I must go downstairs for breakfast first, and then later, I can think of brewing myself tea.”
Sophia set the bag of tea to the side and rushed downstairs. She had completely lost track of time.
At the breakfast table, the Dowager was already there with Jacob and Duncan flanking her on both sides.
Sophia greeted everyone at the table and took a seat next to Duncan, who squeezed her hand discreetly underneath the table.
“Good morning,” the Dowager greeted her. “I was just speaking to the Duke about you.”
“Oh, is that so? Then it is a good thing that I am here now.” Sophia smiled politely.
“Indeed, it is. I was just asking Duncan if he has given you a tour of our family heirlooms,” she explained.
“Family heirlooms?” Sophia raised her eyebrow. “I do not think I have had the pleasure yet.”
Duncan shifted in his seat uncomfortably.
“Mother, I do not consider it to be important,” he replied. “Certainly not enough to warrant a tour.”
“Oh, but it is family tradition to do so,” the Dowager insisted. “In fact, I was given a tour the next day after I got married to your father. It holds an important piece of history.”
Jacob snorted at his mother’s words.
“By important piece of history, she just means that the tour consists of portraits of our ancestors that have long passed and now rest comfortably in their graves,” Jacob chuckled.
“Precisely,” the Duke chimed in. “Hardly an exciting prospect.”
“Why don’t we leave the decision to the Duchess?” Duchess Anna turned to Sophia. “What do you think? Should you not be given a tour and a short history of the family that you have married into?”
“I suppose it would be a good idea,” she decided.
“See? The Duchess has spoken.” Duchess Anna grinned. “A tour must be arranged for her at the earliest notice.”
The Duke shook his head, “Fine. If you insist on it so much then, Sophia, I will give you a tour after breakfast.”
“I cannot wait,” she replied, enthusiastically.
“Trust me,” the Duke muttered under his breath, “you have not missed out on much.”
After breakfast, Duncan took Sophia over to a corner of the estate that was thus far unexplored by her. They walked across the polished marble floor until they found a large door in front of them.
“Now, since my mother insists on me having you remain updated on all the dead members of my family, we shall now go to the portraits room together,” he said.
