Chapter Twenty-nine
Sophia stared at the rolling countryside passing by her carriage window.
This was a journey that might become familiar to her in the future, but right now, she could not care less about the rolling hills or the neatly trimmed hedgerows.
Not even the almost fully grown lambs gambolling together raised a smile.
This was the second day of travelling and one of the last days left to her as an unmarried woman.
Heading towards your wedding shouldn’t feel like heading to the gallows, but she didn’t think her mood would have been any different.
Within the cramped confines of the carriage, her four sisters fidgeted, alternately squabbling and making up.
She hadn’t the energy to stop them or join in.
All she wanted was to get the next few days over with and then begin her new life, pretending she was absolutely fine when her husband went off on his travels the moment he was released from the terms of his late brother’s will.
Had he thought about what would happen to her then?
She didn’t even know if he had his own house.
If he did, would she live there on her own?
Or would she be expected to live with the Dashworth family?
She didn’t know them. She would be thrust amongst strangers and expected to get on with her life.
She pressed a hand to her chest; it felt as if someone had tightened her stays too much, restricting her ribs, but they were the same as always.
‘Do you think he will wear that red jacket again?’
‘I hope so. I should like to see it,’ said Annie.
‘As if he would look at you. You are only just out of the classroom. You have not even had your come out yet.’ Marrisa’s retort was scathing.
‘Perhaps he wants a younger wife. You are already aged.’
‘I hardly think he is going to look at a debutante. He must be at least thirty.’
Through the haze of anguish it hit Sophia that her sisters were talking about the Duke of Glanmore.
It seemed Marrisa had still not given up on her idea of marrying the man, despite not knowing him, and now Annie was joining in this foolish debate.
At least Georgie and Cressida had not commented, although they were giggling about the width of Tobias’ shoulders, nonetheless.
‘I am going to find him and…’
‘Marrisa,’ Sophia said, butting into the conversation because she could take it no more.
‘If you so much as consider looking in the direction of the duke, I shall tell him everything you have ever said about him. If you take it any further than looking, I will make your life difficult in every conceivable way.’
Silence fell within the carriage. All four of her sisters turned to look at her as if she had sprouted a second head.
As well they might, for she had never spoken in such terms before.
Even she was a little shocked at the tone her voice had taken, but now that she had…
it felt good, liberating. This week was going to be difficult, but her sisters did not have to make it worse with their erratic behaviour.
‘I do not think…’ began Marrisa.
‘That is true,’ said Sophia. ‘You do not think. You merely act. If you wish to attract the Duke of Glanmore, you will comport yourself like the lady you have been raised to be: with dignity befitting your station.’
‘Oh, Sophia, do not be so dull and…’
‘No.’ She’d had enough of this. It did not matter that she was different from her sisters.
In this she was right. ‘For once you will listen to me. From the little I have seen of the duke, he would be a terrible husband for you. He may be handsome, but he is serious and dry and you need someone vibrant, like yourself. He may look well in a fine jacket, but you are talking about the rest of your life, Marrisa. And, just as importantly, the rest of his. You must treat your future with the respect it deserves and not do anything foolish. You two do not suit. Accept that and move on to someone more appropriate.’
Marrisa crossed her arms under her chest, a sure sign she was about to dig in and argue. Sophia normally gave up at this stage, but not today, not about this. If she could save one person from being forced into a marriage they did not want, then she would do everything she could to prevent it.
She leaned forward. ‘I am as serious as I have ever been, Marrisa. You will not corner, trap or in any way coerce the duke into meeting with you. You owe me this much.’
‘Why do I owe you anything?’
‘The marriage I am about to enter into is because of your foolish actions.’
Marrisa rolled her eyes. ‘Oh, poor Sophia, having to marry a man who looks at her as if she has hung the stars. I feel so sorry for you.’
Did Christopher really look at her like that?
That was news to Sophia. She would think about it later when she had space to breathe, but that was not the point of this conversation.
If her sister could not see that she had done something wrong, Sophia was never going to convince her otherwise.
Her anger deflated as quickly as it had risen, but there was one final point she needed to make.
‘I wanted a choice, Marrisa. You took that away. Do not do that to someone else.’
Either her words or the tone in which she had said them finally got through to her sister. Something in Marrisa’s demeanour loosened and she dropped her arms. For a moment, Sophia thought Marrisa might apologise, but instead she didn’t argue back, which was a victory in itself.
The rest of the ride to Glanmore Park took place in taut silence, which matched Sophia’s mood perfectly.