Page 28 of The Duke’s Cursed Virgin (Cursed Brides #3)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“ A re you certain the Duke is not opposed to your proclivities?” Aunt Mary asked, frowning.

Despite Anna’s advice to take a chance on Theo, Sophia’s pride won out. The next few days were spent pursuing personal hobbies: reading as many books in the library and strolling in the park with Aunt Mary and the Holtons as if she were the same unmarried companion she was not too long ago.

“He gives me freedom,” Sophia replied, trying to act nonchalant.

“Freedom? Mmm. People will start talking,” her aunt sniffed. “If you’re going to live this way, you should have just remained unmarried. I am leaving for Scotland soon, and you would have been safer there.”

Ah.

Safe not only from her uncle, but also from heartbreak.

It was an unspoken truth, touched on by the two people closest to her: Anna and Aunt Mary. The Holtons simply accepted the marriage as the result of a genuine—albeit whirlwind—romance.

“Thank you, Aunt. It’s always good to have an option,” Sophia murmured.

“Not anymore, Sophia—or should I say ‘Your Grace’ in public? You are now married. It would be improper for you to leave your husband here. The two of you have not even planned for children.”

Because there are no plans yet.

She shuddered at the idea of warming Theo’s bed for the sake of producing an heir. A child would be welcome in her heart, of course, but another means to entrap her was not.

“I understand that, Aunt Mary. I won’t leave him, but I strongly believe that Scotland is an option if things don’t go well here,” she insisted.

“Are the two of you even attempting to be more affectionate, now that you’re married?” the older woman asked, with a raised eyebrow. “It seems to me that you two were more involved before you were married!”

“Aunt Mary!”

“You don’t want the truth? The Duke seems like a decent man, but it does not change the fact that he is a bit of a secretive rake, with his harem of widows?—”

“He has no such harem!” Sophia interrupted indignantly.

“Well, you like him enough to defend him, my dear. You were far too enamored of each other before you got married. What is different now?”

“The marriage itself,” mumbled Sophia. She was not even lying.

“Ah. Well, you are an intelligent woman. You know what you must do. Do you try to make life more bearable by at least trying?”

“We are trying,” Sophia lied. “We are visiting Ravenshire together.”

“Interesting,” Aunt Mary hummed, suddenly lost in thought.

After avoiding each other for the most part, the journey to Ravenshire felt even longer than it actually was. It could be arduous on its own for someone who remained in the city for too long, but it should be just right for Sophia, who had traveled to and from Scotland.

“Have you, uh, been to this area before?” she asked, tired of the silence between her and Theo.

“No.”

“Never?”

“No. I had never been to Ravenshire or its environs. Remember that I am only here to ensure your safety,” he said coldly, causing her chest to clench. “I have no such connections in this area.”

“Yes, I understand,” she said civilly. “I also remember that we need to keep up appearances, just like many couples in the ton.”

Whatever hopes she had for even a shred of friendship dissipated at Theo’s cold and disinterested tone.

“Do not concern yourself about how I’ll behave in front of your friends. They will not suspect a thing,” Theo assured her. “As for the ton, you’ve seen many couples who have not given each other the time of day. But, yes, we will be more discreet than them.”

It was not her concern. Perhaps if he had revealed more of his real self, there would have been an opportunity to escape the hell that she had flung herself into. Perhaps being murdered by her uncle was preferable.

No.

She was not the sort to give up on life. Even though the man before her was tearing her heart into pieces, there was more to her existence than him.

Upon arriving at Ravenshire, Sophia’s mood had improved.

The estate was as grand as she thought it would be. It was also welcoming, as Genevieve’s squeal of delight got right to Sophia’s heart, wrapping it like a cozy blanket.

Genevieve’s arms flew around Sophia not long after the latter stepped out of the carriage.

“Sophia! Finally! I’ve missed you, darling. When you left for Scotland, I lost all hope that I’d ever see you again. That hope returned when I found out you had returned to London. Then, after I sent you the invitation, I was afraid that you’d changed your mind,” Genevieve rattled on.

Speechless, Sophia let her friend hold her at arm’s length.

“You’re pale. You must be exhausted. I am so sorry; do come inside. Have you been eating properly?” Genevieve asked, even as her eyes seemed to narrow at Theo.

She might be feeling something strange between Sophia and her husband. It was not how Sophia wanted to begin her visit.

“It’s the journey. I had not done it in a long time,” Sophia explained weakly. She could not even meet her husband’s eyes. “You must not fuss over me. You are the one who had just given birth.”

“Nonsense. I am now perfectly well. I have not seen you, but I’ve heard about what you’ve gone through…”

There were unshed tears in Genevieve’s eyes. It was like going home, but Sophia knew that they could not return to how they were before—young and innocent and untouched by tragedy.

Her chest tightened, and she had to blink fiercely so as not to cry in front of her friend.

There was no time to overthink things, though.

Rosaline and her husband Adam, the Duke of Oldstone, were also close behind. It made Sophia dizzy to think that they would be in the company of dukes and duchesses like themselves… except she would feel even more like a fraud around them.

The Duke and Duchess of Ravenshire and the Duke and Duchess of Oldstone were true love matches.

She and Theo… They were not.

“Sophia!”

Rosaline did not waste time. She rushed to Sophia with a beaming smile and embraced her heartily.

When they broke apart, Sophia could not help but notice the faded scars that went down her friend’s arms, as well as the one on her cheekbone. She had not seen what the accident had to her friend, and pain shot through her.

“Don’t fret. They are quite a sight, aren’t they? They are my battle scars,” Rosaline whispered.

“Oh, I-I am sorry. I can’t help it. That night did so much to us,” Sophia mumbled.

“It’s been far too long,” Rosaline said. “Come inside with us. Tell us what the years have done to you—all the good, and all the bad.”

Sophia could only nod. She missed both of them. She was glad that they wanted her there.

Being cousins, Rosaline and Genevieve seemed to have a stronger bond. However, she had never questioned their loyalty as friends before tragedy struck them. Back then, she had been part of a steadfast trio.

Could she be part of it once more?

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted her husband exchanging polite greetings with the other dukes, Wilhelm and Adam. She felt relieved that Theo was trying his best, and when they were inside the house, the men seemed to have found an easy rhythm, talking about business and other matters of importance.

Meanwhile, Sophia had been spirited toward the drawing room. It felt unreal, but she had no complaints. Simply being there with her friends made her face split into a big grin.

The conversation flowed smoothly as if they had never been separated. Still, there were some questions that must be asked.

“There’s something that I must ask both of you,” Sophia finally declared in a steady voice, yet her heart was pounding. “I know it’s not a pleasant matter to remember the accident.”

“I am fine with it—recalling what happened,” Genevieve said, reaching out to pat her hand. “What do you want to talk about?”

“Was there anything unusual? Something out of place? I know you’d say that everything about that night was unusual…” Sophia trailed off.

She half-expected her friends to dismiss her questions, but Genevieve seemed to be deep in thought, while Rosaline’s brow was furrowed with concern.

“Aside from the accident…” Rosaline hummed.

“Yes,” Sophia confirmed. “Except I don’t believe it was an accident.”

Genevieve gasped, her eyes widening at the suspicion. “You don’t mean to say that it was done on purpose?” she asked, her voice breaking.

It was, after all, one thing to lose the ones you love. But it was another to find out that someone tried to hurt you and your family.

“I had another carriage accident not too long ago,” Sophia admitted. This time, it was Rosaline’s turn to gasp. “Someone certainly did it to me.”

The men, who were only a few feet away, turned their heads toward their wives in curiosity.

“I-I have my suspicions. There are some signs that my uncle may be involved. It merely started with an instinct. However, some things have occurred to make me think that he may not be the man everyone thinks he is.”

“Your uncle? The current Marquess of Foxmere?” Genevieve wanted to confirm.

“Yes. However, I cannot prove it yet,” Sophia admitted ruefully. “I went to his accountant—who was my father’s accountant—Mr. Barlow. The man claimed that my uncle’s financial records are clean, but my instinct tells me there’s more to it.”

“Do you think Barlow is involved?” Genevieve asked, looking a little scandalized.

“I don’t know,” Sophia said. “He told me that my uncle’s finances were clean, and I believed him. I wonder how much of the records at Barlow’s are for show.”

“How can we help?” Rosaline asked. Her chin was raised in determination.

“D-Did either of you notice anything right before the crash? Any detail at all might help.”

“W-Wait,” Genevieve said, hesitating a little. She had turned a little pale. “There’s something. I heard a man’s voice. He was shouting at our coachman, I believe. I didn’t think much of it. After what happened, it just felt like everything had blended together. Sights. Sounds. Feelings.”

“I know what you mean,” Rosaline murmured sadly.

Suddenly, Sophia was gripped with guilt for making her friends relive their tragedy.

“Do you really think that someone meant to harm you? Perhaps someone meant to hurt all of us?” Genevieve asked, her fingers gripping her fan so tight that her knuckles turned white.

Sophia could not blame her. When they were young, they had so much to lose. Then, they were ostracized, outsiders who couldn’t get any lower than where they were.

At this very moment, Genevieve and Rosaline were back to having a lot to lose. Sophia was the only one who could face danger without fear.

Perhaps…

No matter what Theo felt about her, though, losing him would still be a terrible blow.

“I do,” Sophia replied, her lips pressed together in a thin line.

“It was a terrible night,” Genevieve acknowledged softly. “I wish that I had paid more attention to every detail.” She rubbed her arms as if she was feeling cold.

“You can’t blame yourself. It was a night the three of us would rather forget,” Sophia said apologetically. “I am the one who should be sorry to make you relive the night that destroyed our lives.”

“Nearly,” Rosaline said.

Her two friends looked at her quizzically.

“Nearly destroyed,” Rosaline confirmed. “But not completely. We are still here, fighting. All of us have found love and are continuing our lives. We have rebuilt ourselves.”

Sophia swallowed. If only her friends knew how much of a fraud she was. Lying to her friends about her marriage… Would they ever forgive her?

Deep in thought, Sophia didn’t notice that Theo had risen from his chair and approached them. The other Dukes followed.

“That voice may be the key to linking your uncle to the crime,” he said coolly.

Genevieve glanced at Sophia. There was so much regret in her eyes. Then, she turned to Theo.

“I wish I remembered more.”

“You have tried your best. Some people completely block their memories to survive,” Theo said. “I will do everything in my power to uncover this. To bring justice to you, and your families.”

“And you won’t be alone,” Wilhelm chimed in, “Both Adam and I will help. From what you’ve told us, you are already in possession of a ledger that contains some suspicious transactions. We should be able to identify his associates.”

Theo pursed his lips, eyeing the other dukes warily. Then, his eyes fell on Sophia.

We need their help , she meant to tell him with her eyes, don’t push them away too.

Before Theo could respond, Adam took a step forward.

“A corrupt marquess should never escape justice,” Adam added. “Especially not a marquess who dared to harm our wives’ families. You can count me in. If Foxmere is truly involved in this, we will ensure he will be punished accordingly.”

Sophia’s eyes returned to her husband, pleading him to accept the dukes’ help.

“I am grateful for your pledges,” Theo said, sounding sincere.

She let out a quiet breath of relief. Even so, a part of her mind gnawed at her; despite her husband’s eagerness to protect her, to accept help from others in order to pin her uncle down…

This mission… It gave him the perfect opportunity to be away from her.

And once her uncle faced justice, once Sophia gave birth to Theo’s son…

She would lose her husband forever.

“You should not have kept that from me,” Sophia angrily interrupted another bout of silence in the carriage.

She was angry, indeed. Although she was grateful for his help, she had a right to tell her. This was her past, her life.

“What?” Theo asked innocently.

“The investigation. You have been conducting it without me. You didn’t tell me that you were conducting it at all!”

“The road is rough enough for us, wife.”

The dismissal made Sophia angrier. How dare he tell her to retreat?

“You kept this from me. You investigated my uncle,” Sophia said.

“I did what was necessary. We should not wait for Foxmere to make a move. We need to catch him before he strikes again.”

Much to her dismay, she did agree with that. But he had to go and make the decision for both of them.

“Then at least I should know what is happening! I deserve to know what’s being done to my life. I wanted to speak with Genevieve so we could find out more, but I did not know my dear husband has been conducting an investigation without my knowledge!”

“I am handling it,” Theo gritted out, clenching his jaw hard.

“Handling it? Perhaps you are right. You managed to gather more from Barlow than I ever could. I am a woman; I am at a disadvantage, and you know that. Which makes it even more infuriating that you did not think to tell me about your findings! Why must you constantly shut me out?”

“Do you really think that, Sophia?” he asked with a deep frown.

“Yes!” Sophia hissed. “Never mind. I should not have expected anything less from you. You and the other dukes can ‘handle it’ while I travel back to Scotland.”

“We have only just married. You cannot leave London without me,” Theo reminded her.

His hands were now resting on his knees, and he leaned forward so that his face was mere inches from hers.

“Yes, I can,” she insisted stubbornly, tilting her chin up.

“Sophia, we are married. We must have an heir first.”

She scoffed at that. What kind of reason was that to remain in London? Did he not realize who he was talking to? She was already ostracized from the ton. Another scandal would not shake her.

“I apologize if I no longer believe in our marriage. Please remember that I am used to scandal and whispers. I am used to being shunned like a leper. Being treated as though I can make me pass the tragedy to someone else, like the plague!”

“You will not leave our house, Sophia,” Theo said through gritted teeth.

Sophia groaned, “I?—”

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out.

Her blood turned to ice as the past surged back with a vengeance—whispers of the storm, screams in the dark, and the sickening crunch of wood and bone.

It hadn’t just followed her to London. To the present.

It was waiting to finish what it started.