“No, you can’t.” Anger flashed in Sophia’s eyes this time. “You can’t imagine the choices I’ve made because you’ve never been forced to imagine them. And I resent that. I resent the fact that you’ve been able to remain fundamentally good, and pure, and pristine in your impeccable chivalry when I have been forced time and time again to choose between demons. I resent it even now when I’m trying desperately to choose something better this time.”

“You don’t have to choose.”

“I do, and I can.” Sophia’s voice cracked. “For the first time in my life I’m finally in a position to choose something good, something selfless and honourable and long lasting.”

A heavy sense of dread settled in Vic’s stomach. “What does that choice entail?”

“I can save you.” Sophia balled her hands into two tight fists as if bracing for a fight. “I know how it feels to have your dreams used against you. What it’s like to live with shame and resentment always swirling deep inside you even when you refuse to apologise for the choices you made. I know what it’s like to have the thing you want most, the thing you’ve fought hardest for become the thing that haunts you in the night.”

Vic stood, wanting nothing more than to comfort the hurt she heard in that refrain, but Sophia shook her head sharply.

“Someday you would feel the same way about me that I feel about the compromises I’ve made.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Good. I don’t want you to ever know. I don’t want to change you.”

“Nor would I change you.”

Sophia made a noise somewhere between a scoff and a sob. Vic reached for her again, only for Sophia to step back. “I’m never going to have an easy past to reconcile. I’ll never have a pure bloodline. I’m never going to be quiet and demure on social topics. I’ll never be an asset in your quest to secure your dukedom.”

Vic threw up her hands. “I don’t care about the blasted dukedom! The title, the castle, the bloody responsibility, none of it means as much to me as you. I’ll renounce the whole lot of it. I don’t want it anymore.”

“Yes, you do,” Sophia shot back, “and I wouldn’t love you if you didn’t.”

Vic froze. “What?”

“‘I couldn’t love you, dear, so much if you loved not honour more.’” Sophia’s shoulders sagged. “That’s what you said last night, and it’s true. I couldn’t love you enough to walk away if you weren’t as honourable as you are.”

“Love?” The word stuck in her throat the same way it stuck in her chest.