“Titles do not make a man better than others. It is his principles that set him apart from the rest. I have always remained firm on my principles,” he stated.
“I can see that.” Sophia felt a rush of affection towards him. “And then you say that you are worried that you will not be a good father. You are the ideal candidate for one.”
“Do you really believe that to be the case?” the Duke questioned. Sophia liked that whenever she spoke to him, he gave her his full attention. He made her feel as though what she was saying mattered, and that made her like him even more so than she already did.
“I do,” she admitted earnestly. “Fatherhood requires some level of sacrifice at a personal level. I have seen what you do for your family and for those you care about. I have no doubt in my mind that you will do the same for your children when the day comes.”
“That means a lot to me,” the Duke stated. “All my life, I have always been careful about the praise that I have received. You see, when people are aware that they are speaking to a duke, they tend to mince their words and offer flattery, even when it is not deserved.”
“Do you believe that I am the sort to do that?” Sophia asked, her eyes widening at the assumption.
“Not at all. The day when I arrived at your residence to ask for your hand, I knew that you did not care about my title,” he explained. “Many others in your position would have agreed to the proposal in a heartbeat, knowing that a duchess is the most sought-after title in the country, but you took your time to decide.”
Sophia blushed, embarrassed now. She had indeed made him wait, but it was not as though she thought something was wrong withhim.It was herself that she thought to be the problem.
“I suppose I had not seen the question coming.”
“No, I am quite glad that you took your time. It showed me that you are a measured individual, and you think before deciding on something major,” the Duke replied.
“My answer was a yes,” she smiled. “So does it really matter then if I took some extra time?”
“Indeed, it does not.” He returned her smile.
The two gazed into each other’s eyes again, and Sophia wondered if he was going to kiss her again. She wanted him to. But just then, their moment was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Come in,” the Duke tore his eyes off her, seeming a bit annoyed at the intrusion.
“May I take away the cups?” It was one of the house staff.
Duncan’s eyes flitted over to his own empty cup, and then Sophia’s, which was still full.
“Oh, I got so lost in the conversation that I completely forgot to drink my tea,” Sophia muttered.
“It must have gone cold now. It’s best if you let it be. I’ll have another batch brewed for you,” the Duke replied and gestured for the maid to collect the teacups from in front of them.
“It is all right. I’ll have a cup before bed,” Sophia said.
“As you wish,” the Duke shrugged and then got up from his place in that confident manner of his. “Would you like to accompany me instead on a walk in the garden before dinner?”
“That sounds lovely,” she replied.
They adjourned outside, making their way into the gardens. The sun was just about to set and cast a beautiful pink glow in the skies. Sophia found herself admiring the view while Duncan looked at her.
“Now that I have gotten to know you better, I cannot believe you had not already been courted by another man by the time we met,” the Duke said, thinking out loud.
“To be courted, I would have to be frequenting balls. I avoided them like the plague,” Sophia admitted.
“As you should,” Duncan laughed. “But I must say, even then, it is not like no one knew you existed. At the very least, your family’s connections should have assisted you in getting proposals.”
Sophia shrugged her shoulders, still looking at the setting sun in the distance.
“It is very kind of you to assume that I had any sort of prospects of marriage, given the visible scars on my face and the judgmental nature of our society —”
“Scars are only skin-deep. Personality is much more important,” Duncan cut her off.
“Yes, you’ve made me realize that,” she smiled, “but I was saying that even if I had a line of suitors outside my house, I still would have hesitated. The prospect of marriage always appeared daunting to me.”
“I used to feel the same way as you. But I am curious to know what your reasons were.”
