“Of course. You and your sister were their entire world. However, I believe that they would have been accepting of the Duke,” Clara declared. “He is the perfect gentleman who would have fit their standards with ease.”
“It is a shame that they never got a chance to meet him,” Sophia replied, biting down on her lip.
“Madam, they are with you at every step. You may not see them, but you can feel their presence if you try.”
“Thank you, Clara. You are always kind to me.”
Clara’s words repeated themselves in Sophia’s ear even as she retired to bed. She found herself missing her parents more thanusual, thinking what their relationship would have been like with the Duke.
She imagined the Duke and her father going away for hunting trips while Sophia and her mother waited for them at home. She imagined her mother taking the Duke as her son since they never had one of their own. Most of all, she imagined them being a happy family.
It was a bittersweet feeling.
The water surrounded Sophia, and she began to swim away. The tide pushed her back, and she felt herself sinking…
Until a pair of strong arms pulled her up and brought her to safety.
“Sophia, you are safe with me.”
It was Duncan’s voice. He had appeared as a knight in shining armor.
“You always manage to appear at the right time,” Sophia smiled.
“Look around you…”
Sophia’s parents alongside her little sister stood waiting for her by her side. She immediately embraced them.
“Oh, I have missed you so,” Sophia said in between her tears. “All these years… it’s been so awful without you.”
Her mother smiled at her kindly and plucked away a strand of hair from her face.
“My dear, we never left your side. All you had to do was look.”
Sophia woke up at the crack of dawn, disgruntled. For the first time in years, she did not want to wake up. She did not have a nightmare. Instead, her dream was a pleasant one.
“It must be the tea,” she muttered out loud to herself, feeling hopeful for the first time in a long while. “Oh, I cannot believe that it is working.”
Sophia had a spring in her step for the entire day. The ‘glow’ that Clara had mentioned seemed to have made permanent residence on her features.
“You seem to be in a terrific mood this morning,” Duncan commented at the breakfast table.
She smiled to herself.
Oh, I had the loveliest of dreams. For once, I did not wake up with anxiety after a nightmare.
“I had a restful night of sleep,” she replied, deciding to not give too many details.
“Well, that is very good. Today I have to head into town for a business meeting,” he said.
Sophia could not hide the disappointment in her voice. She had been hoping to spend more time with him.
“But I shall return in the evening,” the Duke said, observing her face closely. Had he picked up on her disappointment? “I was wondering if you would like to join me for some tea then.”
“Of course.” Sophia’s response was immediate. “I would love that.”
“It is settled then. I shall see you in the evening,” he smiled.
That smile.Sophia was certain that it could disarm even his enemies. She blushed, looking away from his gaze.
