fiance chapter 20

“[Ah, Sophie.]”

A masculine groan, like a rasp against his vocal cords, escaped his throat. He seemed overwhelmed by the long-awaited kiss, desperate, as if embracing a fleeting phantom. Trailing kisses down her neck, he inhaled deeply over her heart. Meanwhile, Sophia felt her senses dulling, as if she were waking from a dream. The Duke seemed to notice. His face contorted in a grimace.

“[Damn it, damn you, Sophia.]”

He tightened his hold on her, as if he could prevent her from fading away. Throughout the dream, he had seemed godlike, magnificent, but now, he appeared merely human, powerless. Human, unable to defy the natural order. As if realizing he couldn’t hold her, he ceased his futile attempts, lifting his head to meet her retreating gaze. His eyes, now frozen, seemed to accuse her. Sophia felt a surge of triumph mixed with pity.

“[Don’t be happy. You’re destined to return here anyway.]”

The Duke’s words sounded like a curse. He stared intently at her until she fully awakened, as if his gaze could bind her and drag her back.

Gasp! The dream crumbled. Sophia’s eyes flew open, drawing a breath like someone surfacing from water. A fierce gust of wind struck her face. A dizzying sensation shot up from her toes. Looking down, she saw a terrifying sight. She was perched precariously over the terrace railing, as if about to jump. 

She gasped again, squeezing her eyes shut before opening them. She wondered if it was an extension of the dream, but it wasn’t. Had she woken a moment later, she would have plunged to the ground below. It wasn’t a great height, but enough to break a limb or two. Sophia scrambled back inside, her legs giving way the moment she was over the railing. She collapsed onto the floor.

“What…?”

She had heard of sleepwalking, but never imagined it would happen to her. Sophia, bewildered and frightened, stared down at the terrace below. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the dream about the Duke was somehow responsible. [Don’t be happy. You’re destined to return here anyway.] The Duke’s words and the lingering memory of his kisses haunted her. Sophia rushed to the mirror, checking her lips, her neck, lifting her nightgown to examine her breasts. Her body was untouched, pristine. She raised a hand to her lips, tracing their outline. The memory of the Duke’s hot mouth, his breath warming her own, lingered. Her fingertips trembled. She clenched her fists, exhaling shakily, then pulled her knees to her chest.

“This can’t be happening.”

She couldn’t understand why she had such a dream. It was so cold, so frightening. The Duke’s suffocating presence and obsession still clung to her. The dizzying sensation of nearly falling from the terrace remained vivid, leaving her legs weak. Sophia buried her face in her knees. She didn’t sleep again that night.

***

Morning was tedious. The lingering effects of the dream and the near-fall from the terrace left Sophia feeling detached, half-lost in a haze. Solid’s presence, so welcome the day before, and Anita’s subtle provocations no longer held any significance. The conversation at breakfast was utterly dull. Even the usual society gossip, which normally captivated Sophia, failed to spark any interest. Noticing her unusual silence, Felix placed a hand on her head, his voice filled with concern.

“Are you feeling unwell again, Sophie?”

His touch felt strangely hot and unpleasant. Sophia frowned, shaking her head.

“No. I just didn’t sleep well.”

The Countess, silent throughout the meal, spoke up.

“Sleeping with the window open will do that. Even though it’s spring, the night air is still chilly. Especially since you’ve only recently recovered, you should be more careful, Sophia Hilden.”

Felix’s eyes widened.

“You slept with the window open, Sophie?”

“N…No.”

“No? Mrs. Dickson said she saw your window wide open when she was in the garden last night.”

Sophia froze. Mrs. Dickson couldn’t have seen…could she? The thought that someone might have witnessed her near-fall sent a wave of dizziness through her. No, if she had, there would have been a commotion last night. Sophia forced her trembling hands beneath the table, clenching and unclenching her fists.

“I understand, Mother. I’ll be more careful.”

Fortunately, there were no further questions. Only Felix’s worried gaze and the Countess’s disapproving sigh followed. Solid, seemingly oblivious to the exchange, continued eating quietly.