“No…” She could not look at him. But she could feel him standing over her, and she could feel his eyes watching her closely for a reaction. Anything he could latch onto to test her further. “That is not who I am.”
“A shame,” he said. “Because I rather liked that side. It proved that you are human. Better than that, it proved that you have what it takes to be real.”
Her heart was racing now, brought about by his words which struck something deep inside of her. She knew their meaning. She knew their truth. She just did not want to admit it… she did not want to accept how right he was.
How can I? If I do that, my entire life will be a lie. Everything I have done, worked toward, for nothing. I will not accept that about myself. I cannot!
“Perhaps I should be the one to apologize,” he said.
Her head snapped up. “Excuse me?”
“I am sorry, Miss Sophia.” He looked at her earnestly. “If last night was truly an error in character, and that is not the real you, then the fault lies with me. I was rude, I was abrasive, and your actions are a reflection of my character, not your own.”
“That is…” She blinked with confusion, certain it was a trap. “That is very kind.”
“May I ask you something? Before we part ways never to see one another again.”
“Of course…” She leaned back, bracing for whatever this was. He was smirking again, his eyes were laughing, and she knew that whatever he said, she had to deny him.
“Are you happy?”
“Excuse me?” she started in surprise.
“Are you happy?” he said again. “And I don’t mean in the classic sense. I mean with…” He clicked his tongue as he considered. “With your life and how it has turned out. How strictly you behave. How controlled you are. I don’t believe for a moment that you are who you try so hard to be, and I can’t help but wonder what pretending like that does to a person.”
“Of course I am happy. How can you ask me that?”
“Just curious…” There was a knowing twinkle in his eyes, as if he could see right through her. “I did not mean to attack you last evening. All I did, was try and bring out a side in you that I suspected was hidden.”
“You do not know me.”
“I do though.” He took another step closer and she gasped. “I heard you play. I saw the struggle as you tried desperately to control your urges. There is another side to you, Miss Sophia, and I wonder what that side might be like, was it allowed freedom. Although…” He smiled. “I suppose I saw that firsthand, did I not?”
Sophia’s breathing was heavier than she realized. Her heart too, that thumped painfully. She was alone with Duke, he was standing right over her, and suddenly she was transported back to last evening.
There were many things about the Duke that she did not like. He was rude. He was abrasive. He was arrogant and a know-it-all. But he was also right… and that was the reason for how she was feeling. Everything he said was accurate, and it wasn’t until she was faced with this truth that it stared so clearly in her face.
She wasn’t happy. At least not like she wanted to be. As much as she loved her life and all that she was, she knew deep down that there was another side of her. One that had been controlled and subdued and hidden. One that she refused to accept for fear of who she would become. There was so much more to her than she had ever dared to dream… and now that it was brought to her attention, she could not fathom how she had managed to ignore it for so long.
There must have been something on her face that told the Duke what she was thinking.
“There it is,” he purred gently. “The spark of realization.”
She shook her head. “I… you are wrong about me.”
“No, I don’t think that I am.” He studied her for a moment and she tried to meet his eyes, only to bow her head as if in shame. He was just so confident and assured, so damn certain of whohe was. “And now that I know it, I have a question… and please, when I ask it, think seriously on the matter.”
“A question?” she asked, still looking down.
“It will shock you, no doubt. It might cause you to…” He laughed. “I am not even sure. But know that I ask this with full sincerity. No jokes. No japes. Honesty only.”
Silence fell between them, and she could feel the Duke watching her.
Slowly, ever so carefully, she looked up. She found his eyes and she saw in them the sincerity, as well as the seriousness of the moment. They were alone in the hallway, but it felt as if they were alone in the whole world. As if everything had stopped suddenly, focused on them right now in the moment.
Her breathing was heavy… “What? What are you going to ask me?”
“It is quite simple really.” Slowly, he took her hand. She gasped and went to pull away, but he hung on tight and pulled it into his chest. “Miss Sophia Ashbury, I was wondering if you might do me the honor of marrying me?”
