“Of course, but what is the reason for you packing in such a rush?” Clara asked, folding the clothes that Sophia had so recklessly thrown in the suitcase.
“No need to fold. We need to be fast,” Sophia said urgently. “We are leaving the estate tonight.”
“Leaving?” Clara could not hide her shock. “But Lady Sophia, the Duke is ill. He would not want you to leave his side in a time like this.”
“The reason for his illness is me, Clara. It is best if I go away now. It is the only way that he will get any better.” Sophia’s voice was laced with desperation.
The decision to leave the estate was a hard one, but she had made it on the spot when she saw the state that the Duke was in. If she could not bear to see him now, he would only get worse the more time she spent around him.
Clara stopped what she was doing and stood staring at Sophia with her arms crossed out in front of her.
“I do not understand. How do you know you were the reason?”
“Because whatever they said about me is true,” Sophia frowned. “The curse has finally begun to work.”
“Oh, please tell me that you are not blaming yourself because of the curse.”
“Enough.” Sophia raised her hand in the air. “Everyone has been telling me that the curse is not real. It made me believe it, too. But now do you see what has happened? I refuse to be influenced by anyone else any longer. The right thing to do is to leave.”
Sophia’s voice was firm, and Clara did not have any grounds to argue. After all, she was supposed to listen to whatever Sophia told her.
“If you wish,” Clara said and resumed packing all of the things.
“Ask for the driver to prepare the carriage. It is late in the night, but I believe we can make it back to my aunt’s house by midnight if we are to leave immediately.”
The packing was done haphazardly, and the carriage was called. Sophia left the room in haste, forgetting to empty the drawer beside her bed that contained her little book of nightmares.
“I shall say goodbye to Jacob. Please wait for me outside,” Sophia instructed Clara.
She found Jacob pacing the hallway, the same place where she had last left him.
“Did you get some rest?” he asked once he noticed her walking towards him.
“I have come to say goodbye to you,” she announced, trying her hardest to keep her voice from shaking.
It was going to be difficult, but she had to go through with her plans. She had already been a fool once and let others convince her otherwise. The same mistake could not be made a second time.
“Goodbye?” Jacob eyed her, confused. He rubbed the sides of his temples, and Sophia could see just how stressed he was for his brother.
“Yes, I have decided to leave the Estate and head to my aunt’s house.”
Jacob opened his mouth to protest, but Sophia cut him off.
“I know that you will try and convince me to stay. I do not blame you as you are only acting out of concern for me. But believe me when I say this, it is the only way to keep the Duke safe. If I am to remain in the same premises for any longer, his condition will only deteriorate.”
“Is this regarding the curse again?” Jacob asked, having caught onto what she was implying.
“Indeed, it is.”
Jacob pursed his lips. He could see the determination on Sophia’s face. Getting her to change her mind at this point would be next to impossible.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Jacob asked. “What happens when the Duke wakes up and asks for you? I am sure that will hurt him.”
Sophia’s heart wrenched at the thought, but she had to remain firm on her ground.
“Then you will tell him that I have left because I had a change of heart.”
“A change of heart?” Jacob gasped in disbelief.
