Chapter 29
Sophia had been confined to her bedroom until her parents decided that she was of the right state of mind to be allowed back out. It was not the first time in her life that they had resorted to such actions, but that made the circumstance no less humiliating.
She was a woman grown. She was a duchess! But they locked her away in her bedroom as if she was a child. Worse than that, they truly believed that she had done something to deserve it, that a punishment such as this one was fitting of her crime.
And what crime is that? Speaking my mind for a change? Refusing to be bent and broken so I might fit the model of what they deem as appropriate? I am not the same woman who I used to be, and it is time my parents realized it.
The saddest part of all of this, was that even were Sophia not locked in her bedroom, she would not have had anywhere to go.
She was reading this morning, anything she could do to pass the time. The book was a history because she could not stomach romances in her current state. And as she read, as she tried to forget her circumstance, she heard a commotion coming from outside…
It sounded like shouting. A warning from someone on the property of an arriving guest. This was soon joined by more shouting coming from inside her home. Next, she heard knocking on the front door, and then more shouting.
“What on earth…” On instinct, she went to open her door, only to be reminded that it was locked.
She cursed silently, considered what to do, and then rolled her eyes at herself. Her bedroom was on the second floor of the townhouse, and it was positioned directly over the front door outside. To see who had come, all she needed to do was stick her head out the window. So, that’s what she did.
The street outside was quiet for this time of morning; carriages rattled along the road, random pedestrians walked to and fro, and the odd dog could be seen sprinting down alleys. But none of that was what took her attention.
Sophia looked straight down and her eyes widened because she saw immediately who had come calling. It was none other than Gabriel.
“I demand to see her,” she heard Gabriel say.
“Demand, do you?” It was her father’s voice that she heard next, presumably standing in the doorway and blocking Gabriel from entering. “And who are you to demand anything?”
“I am your daughter’s husband!”
“You are a rake and a scoundrel!” her father declared. “And I insist that you leave my property at once.”
“Not until I speak with Sophia.”
“She does not wish to see you. Ever! If it is comfort that you are after, might I suggest Lady Clarissa Harwood. I hear that you and she are quite close.”
“That is not…”
“My business? Your Grace, where my daughter’s affairs are concerned, it is entirely my business.
” Sophia leaned out the window, trying her best to see what was going on, but all she could see was the top of Gabriel’s head.
“You embarrassed her, as you shamed me and my family. If you think we are going to let you inside so that you can do so again, you are sorely mistaken.”
“I have no intention of embarrassing you.”
“Intentions are funny things like that,” her father said. “Perhaps you mean well. Perhaps you wish to do right. But I know you, Your Grace, as I know your type. You cannot help yourself. It is in your blood.”
“How dare you!”
“My only concern is for my daughter, Your Grace. And as she has told me already, she wants nothing to do with you. Shortly, you will be served with papers of annulment, and I suggest you sign them.”
“Let me speak to her! I demand to speak to her!”
“Demand all you wish. But Your Grace, you will never see Sophia again. You will not talk to her, you will not be within one mile of her. As far as you are concerned, she is dead.”
“I –”
“Good day!” The door slammed loudly in Gabriel’s face.
Sophia’s eyes widened at the conversation, and her heart raced at the implication. Standing where she was, she could have yelled out from the window and gotten his attention. There was a large part that wanted to…
What kept her from doing so was fear. That Gabriel had come to see her was something she did not expect, but that did not mean this was good news.
For all she knew, he felt guilty, and he just wanted to make things right before ending their marriage entirely.
For all she knew, he wished to confirm the finality of their marriage’s end so that he could move on once and for all.
But what if…
Her pulse quickened as she considered what this likely meant, and excitement began to trickle through her as she wondered if Gabriel had come here for the reason that she dreamed of. That maybe, just maybe, he was going to admit that he loved her…
Sophia thought quickly.
She darted back into her room and snatched her diary.
Next, she scribbled a quick message across a blank page and tore the page free.
She folded it in her hand, then her eyes fell on the saucer of cold tea sitting on her dresser.
Her eyes lit up and she raced for the saucer, picking it up just as she heard the lock on her door unclick.
“There she is…” Her father took a step into the room.
“Father!” she gasped and spun about, saucer of tea in hand. “What… what was that commotion?”
“It was nothing to concern yourself with, dear,” he said without emotion. “Did you hear any of it?”
“Only the end,” she lied. “But I could not make it out.”
He studied her closely, searching for the lie. She held his stare, doing her best to look innocent. “Might we talk?” he said eventually.
“Oh? About?”
“I know that this…” He gestured to the room. “That it might seem a little harsh, dear. What, with everything that you have been through, no doubt you think your mother and I to be tyrants.” He chortled as if at a joke.
“Not at all,” she said earnestly. “You are doing as you think is best. As is best for me.”
His smile was soft. “I blame myself, sometimes. I should never have allowed…” He sighed. “If I had denied His Grace’s offer, we would not be in this mess in the first place. Alas, the expectations of society, I was blinded by them, failing to see what was best for my daughter.”
“Father, it is not your fault.”
“Regardless, past errors can be fixed. Or, at least, they can be made up for. Over the coming weeks, I have no doubt that you are going to hear rumors about His Grace. He might even try and reach out… a vain effort to trick you into forgiving him.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I know his type,” her father sneered. “What is important is that you do not fall for it. Men like that do not change. They are incapable of such a thing. And if he does try and apologize, it is only so that he might save himself. Sophia…” She thought her father was going to go to her then in comfort, but that was never his way.
He stayed by the door, as stiff as a statue, his kind words marred by how coldly they were spoken.
“You believe that your mother and I only want the best for you?”
“I do,” she lied effortlessly.
“Then listen to us. No matter what His Grace says or what you hear, he means only to hurt you. No good can come from falling for his lies, and I ask only that you trust the process. We will find you a new husband, in time, a husband that you deserve.”
Her stomach turned at the idea of marrying someone her parents chose. The fact that it was even being spoken about! Could they not see how upset she was? Why would they think that remarrying was the right choice for her?
They do not care about me at all. What they care for is their own reputation, and I am merely an extension of that. But Gabriel… he never cared for such things.
“Thank you, Father. I trust you.”
He smiled and exhaled with clear relief. About to turn and leave, he noticed the saucer of tea that she held. “What’s this?”
“It’s empty,” she said. “I was about to call for a maid to come and collect it.”
“Ah, yes. Allow me…” Her father stepped from the room and barked down the hallway. A second later a maid appeared.
The maid’s name was Sally, Sophia knew her well, and she was perfect for what she had in mind.
“Your Ladyship, allow me…” Sally hurried forward to take the saucer of tea.
As she did, Sophia looked into Sally’s eyes and held them.
Then, as she passed her the saucer, she made sure to slip the folded note into the young maid’s hands.
The maid’s eyes widened, Sophia held them in her own gaze, and the maid nodded her understanding as she took the saucer and kept the note hidden.
“I will leave you to it.” Her father turned to leave.
‘Father…” Sophia called to him. He turned and raised an eyebrow in question. “Tomorrow, as I have… I feel that I have been well behaved. Might I go for a promenade through Hyde Park? If it please you?”
Her father considered and then smiled. “Yes, I think you have earned it. It will be good for others to see you out and enjoying life. Your mother, your sister, and I will join you.”
Sophia smiled gratefully. “I look forward to it.”
The door closed behind her father, and she heard the familiar sound of the lock clicking.
Alone now, Sophia sat on the end of her bed, and in a most surprising turn of events, she smiled. It was not a smile of relief, certainly not one of victory. Rather, it was hopeful. As destitute as her life currently was, tomorrow might very well change everything.
She was giving her husband one last chance to prove to her how much he cared and how much he had changed. Should he take it, she knew that she would accept him back into her life because she still loved him. But should he turn her away again… that would be her answer.
One more day, and she would know what her future held.
Gabriel sat in his carriage and watched the front door of Sophia’s townhouse. He might have been rejected entry by Sophia’s father, but she could not stay indoors forever. Sooner or later, she would come outside, and when she did, he would talk to her.
More than that, I will finally tell her how I feel.
Was it so strange that he was excited to see Sophia? That he could not wait to finally admit to her the truth of his feelings? Odd that something which had terrified him just hours ago, now brought him untold amounts of joy. But that just spoke to how right this was.
He was only waiting a few moments when the door opened. He sat up, his heart leaping through his chest at the sight of a woman walking through… only for it to crash back down when he realized it was just a maid.
Gabriel exhaled with frustration and fell back.
The maid closed the door softly behind her and then looked up and down the street.
She was acting strangely, the way that she kept her head down as if she did not want to be seen.
Gabriel found himself watching her, curious about what she was doing.
And that curiosity grew as she crossed the busy street and made straight for his carriage.
She reached it and knocked on the door. “Your Grace,” she said. “Please, Your Grace, Lady Sophia has sent me.”
“Sophia!” Gabriel leapt for the door and swung it open. “Sophia sent you? What did she say?” He looked past the maid as if expecting Sophia to suddenly appear.
“She said nothing, Your Grace,” the maid said. “She did, however, give me this…” The maid reached into the front of her dress and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Then, she held it out for Gabriel to take.
The moment Gabriel took the letter, the maid vanished, leaving him alone in the carriage with the letter in his hand.
“What on earth…” Gabriel unfolded the letter and read it quickly.
Words are not enough. If you mean what I think you wish to say, I want you to prove it. Not just for me, but for yourself, Gabriel. You need convincing, as much as I. Do that, and I am yours.
Tomorrow, I will be at Hyde Park with my parents. Be there, find me, or don’t. It is up to you…
He read the letter again, his heart racing, confusion paired with excitement flooding through his body. He then looked out the window, back to the townhouse, moving his gaze upwards to the window that sat on the second floor.
A smile found his lips, the idea that she was sitting in that room watching him. And that smile grew when Gabriel realized what he had to do.
Sophia still cared for him. By the looks of it, she still loved him. If he wanted to win her back and prove that he was worth the risk, that he had changed, he needed to show her how much he loved her.
How was he going to do that? It is a good thing that I have all evening to come up with something. And that’s exactly what he did.