“Thank you for agreeing to this, by the way,” Gabriel said, the first words he’d spoken since they climbed in the carriage twenty minutes earlier.
“That is quite fine,” Sophia said. “I am happy to do it.”
“But you did not want to?” he challenged her.
“That would imply I had an opinion on the matter,” she said politely. “In truth, I saw no reason to say no, so I said yes.”
He chuckled. “A perfectly agreeable answer.”
“Just being truthful.”
“It’s funny, but a part of me hoped you might have lied. Or even said no,” he shrugged. “Just to prove that you could.”
She looked at him flatly. “Is everything a test for you? Is that why you invited me tonight? Because you wanted me to turn you down?”
“As I have told you time and again, Sophia, I want you to do whatever you desire. Say yes, say no, so long as you are happy with your decision.”
Sophia narrowed her eyes at Gabriel.
They had been married for a full week now, and she was still struggling to figure her husband out. On the surface, he appeared honest enough, and he always told her what he was thinking and what he wanted. But she sensed too that there was more to it than he was letting on.
It is as if he wants me to be upset with him. As if he wants me to fight. He says he wishes for me to be happy and free, to make my own decisions, but I doubt that it entirely the case.
It had been this way all week. Gabriel watching her, waiting for her to do something that he could comment on. Was he trying to trick her? To trap her somehow? Or did he really just want her to be happy?
“I was glad to say yes,” she ended up saying, after which she turned and looked out the window. “Otherwise, I would have said no.”
He just laughed. “And yet, I don’t believe a word of it.”
Tonight was the first night that Sophia and Gabriel would be spending together since their wedding day. For most couples, this would be seen as a big occasion, and one to look forward to. For Sophia and Gabriel, however, it felt like an imposition.
It was ironic that Gabriel was so insistent that Sophia do as she pleased without worrying about the consequences, because she knew for a fact that Gabriel had no desire to attend tonight’s event. She knew it because he had told her.
“I have no choice,” he had sighed when he first explained what was expected. “Alas, even dukes must sometimes keep up appearances.”
“I did not think you cared for such things,” she had responded simply.
“Where there is money to be made, I always care,” was his response.
A business partner of Gabriel’s had invited him to an evening party at his home in London. Gabriel guessed there would be upwards of twenty people there, most of whom would be members of the gentry, but some lords and ladies also. Gabriel did not like this man, he did not admire him, but their finances were entwined in ways that her husband did not elaborate on, merely implying that to not go would be seen as rude, which might end their business relationship altogether.
“Just be yourself tonight,” Gabriel said as they felt the carriage starting to slow down. “That’s all I ask.”
She very nearly said that she would, only for a better answer to reach her. “I will be whoever I wish.”
“Good answer,” he laughed.
There turned out to be upwards of thirty people attending the party. They spread throughout the well-proportioned home, standing in small groups as they drank and snacked and laughed among themselves. As expected, when Gabriel and Sophia entered the home, everyone stopped what they were doing and all eyes turned on them.
“Your Grace!” The host of the party was Mr. Samuel Jones, and he walked with his arms spread and a gallant smile spread across his round face. “You made it.”
“I said I would do,” Gabriel responded with apathy.
“I never doubted it for a moment. And this must be your lovely wife.” He took her hand immediately and gave it a wet kiss. As he did, his eyes held her, and Sophia felt her skin crawl because there was something unpleasant about this man. Something slimy and sickly. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“As it is yours,” she said, pulling her hand free.
“Tell me,” Mr. Jones then began as he led them through the home and toward the drawing room where the bulk of the party was taking place. “How is married life treating you both?”
