Chapter 21

Sophia had been waiting for the Duke to arrive all day. When she finally heard him arrive, she could barely contain her excitement.

Sofia greeted him with a silver tray with a porcelain tea set resting delicately on top of it.

“I hope your workday was fruitful,” she noted with a smile on her face.

“Indeed, it was, my flower. What is it that you have prepared for me?” The Duke eyed her tray with curiosity.

“Oh, I prepared you some tea,” she explained. “I was hoping that we could enjoy it together.”

“Of course, is it a special blend?”

“It’s a calming blend. I’m not sure what the exact herbs are but I have been drinking it recently and enjoy it.”

“Well, if it is good enough for you, then I would love to have a taste,” the Duke noted with a smile. “After all, it is the first time that my wife has prepared a cup of tea for me.”

“The first of many, Your Grace.” Sophia poured the liquid into his cup, and it steamed as it flowed.

As the fragrant steam arose from the teacup, Sophia caught the Duke’s gaze with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “Your Grace,” she said with a teasing smile, “do you take your tea with sugar?”

“I believe that just a dash would suffice,” the Duke declared.

Sophia added the sugar into the tea and handed the cup over to the Duke.

“You will have to excuse me; I do not know your preferences just yet. I prefer mine without sugar.”

“Oh, what’s the hurry?” the Duke asked, taking a sip. “We have ample time to get to know each other’s preferences.”

“Indeed,” Sophia replied.

She realized that she felt quite nervous, eager to win the approval of the Duke. She wanted him to appreciate her.

“Oh, it is quite exquisite,” the Duke complimented in encouragement. “You are quite the skilled tea brewer.”

“Thank you, Your Grace. I was worried it was too over-brewed.”

“Certainly not. You must be confident in your abilities.”

“Your Grace, have you heard of the art of tasseography?” Sophia asked, looking at the cup of tea in the Duke’s hands.

“Do you mean when they read the tea leaves to tell you about your future?” The Duke’s tone was amused. “I must say that I do not have much faith in the occult.”

“Neither do I, but I believe it is a fun practice to pass the time,” Sophia replied.

Duncan gulped down the remainder of his tea and put the emptied cup in front of Sophia.

“Well, then, Miss fortune teller,” he smirked, “go ahead. Tell me what the future holds for me.”

Sophia begrudgingly took hold of the cup and began examining the trail of leaves at the bottom of it.

“I would not call myself an expert, but I can make some guesses,” she said, turning the cup to move it into better lighting. “The leaves have formed the shape of a… well, it looks like a heart.”

“A heart, you say?”

“Indeed. Perhaps that means that some changes in your romantic life are to follow,” she suggested.

“Well, I did get married recently. I am sure you must have noticed,” he teased.

“Oh, did you?”

“Go on then. Tell me what else it says.”

“Well, for one thing, it says that you must treat your wife with the utmost love and care.” Sophia was simply making things up now, but she was having so much fun that she did not care how ridiculous her fortunes sounded.

“I plan on doing that already.” The Duke’s tone was firm.

“And it says that you must not spend so much time away from your wife, for she might miss you when you are gone.”

Sophia surprised herself with how forward she was being, but the Duke was reacting favorably, so she decided to keep up her act.

“And what does it say about how I feel?” the Duke questioned. “It is quite possible that I miss my wife just as much when I am away from her as she misses me.”

“Well, it tells me nothing of the sort.” Sophia set down the cup back on the table. “I will have to hear it from you.”

“Today at the meeting, I thought about you and wanted it to end as soon as possible,” the Duke admitted, “so that I could return home and spend some time with you.”

“Tall claims, Your Grace.”

“They are as tall as they are true,” he replied earnestly.

“I am curious about one thing, and I must ask you it.” Sophia leaned over towards him. “Do you believe in fate?”

“Fate?” Duncan asked. “You mean to say the idea that everything is predetermined?”

“Written well before you are born,” Sophia agreed.

“Hmm…” The Duke took a moment to ponder. “I cannot say that the idea has held much weight for me thus far. I have always been a firm believer that we make our own destiny.”

“I am not surprised that you hold this opinion, for you have always been one who takes the reins of life in your own hands,” Sophia replied.

“So, you have managed to figure out that part of my personality well. You are correct in your assumption. I believe that the idea of fate is often used an excuse by those who do not wish to take responsibility for their lives,” he said.

“Well, I agree with you…” Sophia trailed.

“But?”

“But only partially,” Sophia confessed. “What has transpired in my life in these last few weeks, I can only chalk it down to fate.”

“You must explain yourself further,” Duncan urged.

“For one thing, do you not find it so odd that you were the one who saved me from the water all those years ago, and now, we are here, married to each other,” Sophia pointed out, biting down on her lip.

“Indeed. It is a strange coincidence, but it is just that, a coincidence,” the Duke maintained.

“There were so many women you could have ended up married to. Why was it that we ended up speaking that day at the ball? Surely, it has to mean something.”

Duncan observed Sophia for a long moment as though he was trying to make sense of what she had just said to him.

“When you put into perspective like that, I see what you mean. Of course, it is an extraordinary coincidence that the two of us crossed paths like this.” His tone had gotten softer.

“An extraordinary coincidence,” Sophia repeated, “or it was already written.”

“I suppose it sounds a lot more romantic when you put it like that,” he laughed. “For that reason alone, I will concur with you. It must have been fate, after all.”

“I thought you said that you were not much of a romantic, Your Grace?” Sophia teased, her eyes shining mischievously.

“Perhaps I was not one until I met you,” he replied, and Sophia nearly melted.

“You surely know all the right words to say, don’t you?”

Duncan chuckled in response. “I suppose it comes naturally to me when I am in the company of a pretty lady like yourself.”

“Tell me…” Sophia’s eyes flickered with curiosity. “…were you equally as smooth when you spoke to other ladies before our union?”

Duncan scoffed as though Sophia had uttered something entirely offensive.

“That is hard to say.”

“Is it hard to say because it is true?” Sophia questioned, feeling a sudden pang of jealousy.

“Quite the opposite.” He took her hand firmly into his own. “It is hard to say because I have never wanted to smooth talk a lady before this. You bring this side of me out in the open, and frankly, it is new for me.”

Sophia instantly felt stupid for feeling jealous. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze in return.

“All of this is new to me as well,” she noted in agreement. “I mean, our wedding was so rushed that we did not have a courtship period. That’s when the romance truly happens, or so I have been told. I do not have any experience with romantic relationships before you, either.”

“That makes it all the more special, does it not?” Duncan said softly. “The fact that the two of us are on this journey together for the first time, not having been jaded by love’s betrayal in the past.”

“It makes up for the fact that we have been jaded in other ways,” Sophia commented, causing the Duke to laugh out loud.

“I suppose that is one way to phrase it, my dear,” he replied, “but you do not have to carry your burdens alone any longer. You have someone to share them with.”

Sophia was touched by his words. When he looked at her, she saw someone whom she could trust. She felt that she was the luckiest woman alive at that moment.

“The same goes for you. I hope you share with me whatever it is that troubles you. When we first met, I remember you saying to me that both of us are similar in that our lives are discussed by the ton frequently.”

“That has amplified since then, if anything,” Duncan chuckled. “I can only imagine what they must be saying now that we are married to one another.”

“Oh, I’m sure they are praying for our downfall,” Sophia muttered, irked.

“It is a good thing then that not all prayers go answered. Especially not ones that are made with ill intent,” the Duke assured her. “We have nothing to worry about.”

“You seem to have a lot of faith in our relationship, Your Grace,” Sophia commented, surprise coloring her tone.

“I have always prided myself in my ability to judge people. I am almost never wrong. The first day I met you, I could tell that there is something… genuine about you,” the Duke admitted earnestly.

“That’s quite the high praise,” Sophia replied, “but I do feel the same way about you. Many people in your position would be drunk on their power and think of themselves as being above everyone else, but you’ve always treated me as your equal. I appreciate that greatly.”

“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 with him. 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.”

Sophia took a deep breath, “I have always gotten the idea that marriage is like a gamble if you can excuse my rather crass phrasing. If done right, it can lead to eternal bliss. But if done wrong, it can be an entirely torturous affair. Especially for a woman in our society.”

The Duke nodded at her to continue.

“The idea of being a man’s property, something to be displayed a trophy and always agreeing to everything he says has always seemed…” she scrambled to find the right word.

“Demeaning?” he offered, and she nodded furiously as though he had just read her mind.

“Exactly that. I value how you do not seem to impose your opinions on me as it was a long-held fear of mine that I would have to give up my personality when I got married.”

“You do not have to worry about any of that nonsense with me,” the Duke assured her. “A true gentleman elevates his woman and does not bog her down with his own wishes. I want you to complement me, not mold yourself in my image.”

“That opinion of yours is a rarity,” Sophia noted, once again realizing how lucky she had gotten with him.

“It should be the norm,” Duncan shrugged. “I always saw my father try and impose his wishes on my mother when I was young. I vowed to never become like that.”

Sophia turned to look at him as they walked. The setting sun was shining on his raven-colored hair. It gave him a strikingly angelic appearance. She felt for a moment caught in admiring his appearance, but then a question appeared in her mind.

“Now, would you mind me asking the same question that you just did to me?” she said carefully. “What anxieties did you have when it came to marriage? I am certain you had many women fawning over you, trying to get a morsel of your attention on them.”

“The answer is right there in your question, my dear,” he smiled. “When you have many people who wish to be with you, you begin to question why they want to be with you in the first place.”

“Ah, so the woman you were looking for was someone who played hard to attain,” she replied. “That must explain your interest in me. I am slow to show my feelings.”

“Precisely. You have arrived at the answer quite easily, my dear,” he chuckled.

My dear.

She realized how much she loved when he called her that.

Suddenly, the Duke’s expression changed, and he clutched his stomach, stopping midway in their walk.

“You must excuse me,” he said, still holding onto his stomach. “I feel rather ill all of a sudden.”

“Oh, shall we turn back?” Sophia asked, immediately worried by his change of demeanor.

“I suppose it is for the best that we do,” he replied. “It must be something that I have eaten. No need to worry in any case.”

“You know that I will worry either way,” she replied.

The two of them made the walk back inside, albeit this time it was filled with silence.

“I shall see you for dinner,” Duncan told her as he bid her goodbye in the hallway.

“Of course,” she turned to him with a smile. “Are you sure that you are feeling all right?”

“I am positive,” he assured her. “The feeling came and went, just like a flash.”

Sophia decided to take him for his word and returned to her chambers.