Vic would choose the right thing eventually. She would sacrifice herself for the people, for the land, for the collective future of the entire area. She couldn’t do anything else, and even if she tried to, it would destroy her slowly. Sophia’s chest ached at the thought of Vic surrendering any part of who she was because of her.

She finally glanced up to see a curiously soft expression on the duchess’s normally stony features.

“What?”

“Oh,” the duchess said softly. “I didn’t know.”

“Didn’t know what? That I already understood how this all would end?”

“No.” She frowned. “I suspected you were smart enough to read the writing on the wall, but from your expression and your body language I now suspect I may have underestimated you in other areas.”

Sophia raised her eyebrows.

“I thought you were like the others.”

“Others?”

“Sorry, dear,” she said in a wry tone. “You aren’t the first woman to turn my daughter’s head. I saw it in her before she ever saw it in herself. I was naive enough to believe a sense of decorum and a companionate marriage would take the edge off, but I was wrong.”

Sophia had to ease back onto the settee at this confusing turn of events.

“I know what you must think of me, but I am not too small to admit when I’m wrong. It simply doesn’t happen often where people are concerned.” The corner of the duchess’s mouth turned up only briefly. “I’ve correctly judged every other woman who has caught my daughter’s eye in the years since her divorce. Every one of them has been unsuited to the type of partnership she needs, either seeking attention, money, or an utterly frivolous life. When I did my research on you, I had little trouble seeing the similarities.”

“Similarities between me and women who sought attention and power?” Sophia scoffed. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

The duchess smiled again, but this time it carried a hint of sadness. “I hadn’t ever considered the possibility that someone like you might actually develop genuine feelings for my daughter.”

“And?”

“And I enjoy this considerably less now. I wish very much that this conversation could be different now.” She sighed. “But I also suspect you understand how little anything you or I may feel changes the realities of our current situation.”

Sophia nodded slowly, every part of her body rebelling against the idea of agreeing with this woman.