“Good morning, Your Ladyship,” Mary greeted as she entered the bedroom. She hummed softly as she drifted across the room, making for the thick curtains that blotted out the morning sun. “How did you sleep?”
“Wonderfully,” Sophia lied.
“I am glad to hear it,” Mary answered. “I have already arranged for a bath to be made for you, after which breakfast will be served, if it suits you.”
Sophia very nearly agreed. After all, that was how her day always went. She would spend it bathing, then she would dress in a prechosen outfit, and only once she was presentable would she appear to break her fast. But this morning…
“Actually, Mary.” A thrill shot through Sophia as she considered what she wanted to do. “I think I will break my fast first and then have a bath.”
“Oh?” Mary threw the curtains open, allowing the soft light to stream through. “Are you sure, Your Ladyship?”
“Quite sure,” Sophia responded as her heart raced.
It was such a small thing, but she felt like it was a step forward of unmeasurable proportions. What’s more, as this was her home, and she did not have to worry about what others thought of her, she decided to wear her shift to the breakfast room. With a robe, of course, because she was not quite so daring to appear downstairs dressed so poorly.
But her hair was a mess. Her eyes were puffy. Likely, she smelled a little and her skin was certainly oily.
What would my mother say if she saw me now? What would my father say, for that matter?
The thrill took hold and she could not stop grinning as she made her way downstairs and toward the breakfast room. Unfortunately, it was once she stepped inside that her good mood plummeted.
“Good morning.” The Duke was sitting at the head of the table. He saw her walk in, his eyes roamed her, a smirk took his lips, and he went back to his plate of food. “I see you’ve made yourself right at home.”
She gawked stupidly, half-moving her hands to cover herself. Sophia’s first thought was to turn and run back upstairs, but she resisted the urge, not wanting to give in so quickly. Also, she wanted to prove that she had what it took to change.
“I thought I would bathe after I ate,” she said as she walked into the room, heading for a seat at the end of the table. “I hope that is fine with you.”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” he said absently, his attention on the morning paper open before him.
“No reason,” she said with more casualness than she was feeling. Her heart was racing, and she felt embarrassed to be seen like this. “I just wished to let you know why I am not properly dressed.”
“I did not notice.”
She frowned at the Duke, certain he was making fun. “It is proper to bathe and clean oneself before eating. I was always told –”
“By your parents,” he cut her off as he looked up. His eyes smiled at her, and she knew that he was mocking her. “Not by me. As I told you, now that we are married, you can do as you wish. Why, you could have turned up nude and I would not have blinked an eye.”
Her eyes widened and she looked away. “I would never… that is absurd.”
“Joking,” he chuckled. “Just joking.” She was still not looking at him, doing her best to find composure, but she could feel his eyes searching her across the table. Just as she could sense the smirk on his lips. “I am happy for you, Sophia. This little rebellion you are demonstrating, it is a good start.”
“It is not a rebellion,” she muttered.
“I was, however, hoping for something a little more…” He clicked his tongue. “Outgoing. When I told you that you would be free to act as you felt like, I pictured more than your refusal to bathe before meals.”
For some reason, this comment angered Sophia. She felt it like a fire catching inside of her, and she snapped her head up and glared at him. “It is still early, Your Grace –”
“Gabriel,” he corrected her.
“Excuse me?”
“Call me Gabriel, please. We are man and wife, no. And it is proper. Although…” His smile grew. “I suppose calling me Gabriel would defeat the purpose of being different, wouldn’t it? By calling me Your Grace, you are acting out in ways that are truly shocking.” He laughed and shook his head.
Her eyes narrowed. “Just you wait and see.”
He sighed, closed the paper, and stood. “I wait to be surprised. Truly, as good of a beginning as this is, I hope it is just that, because the end is what I cannot wait for.” He looked her over, delight shining in his eyes, and then he walked down the table and from the room.
Sophia exhaled the moment he was gone, and she found that she was shaking. She told herself that it was anger which did it, brought about by her husband’s dismal of her. Not that she should care what he thought! Even if she knew that she did.
