“I am eager to know more,” Sophia replied, brightly. “Especially when I have you as my tour guide.”
The Duke’s face lit up. “I must say, the idea appears to not be as dull when you flirt with me like that.”
“Flirt?” Sophia teased, faux-surprised. “I did not do such thing. Please.”
“Oh, really?” the Duke replied. “Well, I suppose we will have to ask the ghosts of all of my dead relatives.”
They entered the room, and Sophia gasped as she took in the grandiosity of the whole place. The room had high ceilings, and the walls were covered in oil portraits of faces whose names she was not familiar with yet.
“This is…” Sophia paused. “This is breathtaking.”
“If you cannot tell already, this is my mother’s favorite room in the house. I am sure that she is waiting for the day that her portrait is going to be installed here so that her legacy can be recorded for the generations to come,” he explained.
“It seems like quite a regal concept, having a portrait room of one’s own. Surely, only kings and queens do things like this,” Sophia commented, looking around and taking in the beautiful paintings.
It was clear that whatever artists they had commissioned were top of their craft as the paintings were well-done and preserved well.
“Oh, it was my great-great grandfather’s idea to do this. I am sure he must have taken inspiration from the royal family themselves,” the Duke chuckled. “Personally, I find it to be quite a waste of space.”
“Why do you say that?” Sophia asked, surprised. “I think it is a wonderful idea. It helps you preserve your family history.”
“Yes, but not all history deserves to be preserved,” Duncan replied. “It does not matter how horrible they were in their lifetime. In this room, they are portrayed as some kind of heroes.”
Sophia immediately understood the Duke’s reservations now. The room reminded him of his father and framed him as a hero.
She touched his shoulder to comfort him, and he relaxed immediately under her touch.
“If this is difficult for you, then you need not give me a tour. We can just make up some excuse to the Dowager, and I can tell her that we saw everything already.”
Duncan shook his head. “No, no. Now that we are here, we might as well.”
“But your father…”
“Yes,” Duncan replied, “His portrait is here, too. But to be fair, this room is not the only place where his portrait hangs. It is in practically every room of this estate. I cannot run away from him.”
“But…” Sophia stammered, “I thought that was the reason why you did not like this place. I am confused now.”
“That is one reason.” Duncan chuckled darkly. “But the major reason for my dislike is that I find the whole exercise to be quite vain and unnecessary.”
“Why is that?” Sophia asked.
“Why must you be preserved for all of eternity? I believe that once you are dead, your time on this Earth is finished. You should let your memory die with you,” the Duke replied.
“I am not sure if I agree with you there,” Sophia replied. “What about your children?”
“What about them?” the Duke repeated.
“Would they not want to remember you? And tell your stories?”
“Depends onwhatkind of stories I leave behind.”
“Oh, stop,” Sophia remarked. “You must not be so pessimistic. We have already discussed that you will not be like your father. I am sure that your children will have nothing but positive things to say about you.”
“You meanourchildren,” he replied,“my dear flower.”
Sophia blushed at this new nickname and tried to distract herself by looking at the paintings.
“Well, allow me to introduce to you my ancestors…” Duncan trailed. “Here we have my great, great grandfather.”
