THE MASKED BRIDE

Chapter 6

"Why not" Sophia asked

" I can't marry a woman who allows other to walk over her or allow others to torture her, my name carries more power than you seem to realize , use that power" Theodore advised her

Sophia didn't understand what was going on yet but her life was starting to change for the better because of her soon be husband

" I do not want to use your name to deal with my family drama, I just wanted to be able to leave, it would feel wrong , you agreeing to marry me is already more than enough " Sophia explained

" do not run away from your father's house as a coward Sophia, gracefully leave this place with your head up, I don't care how you use my name to torture people just do it and stop pretending to be afraid because you feel it is safer not to fight back " don't you agree Theodore asked as he stretched out his hands for her to take as they walk back to reunite with her family.

There are a lot of thing Sophia needs to do to her family only if she has someone backing her up and she almost let that opportunity slip right through her fingers. Deep down she was glad the Duke was pushing her in this direction…. She was wearing more than one mask in her life, the physical mask she wears to hide her face and the one she use to act timidly in front of her family and she wanted one of those masks to come off today

"Philip you really cannot consider Sophia to be the one to marry the Duke" Clare said as her husband came back to dining room.

" He is so bent on marriage Sophia and she has agreed I have no choice anymore than to entertain their Marriage " Baron stated

" we have think about our daughter Amelia , do you know how embarrassing it will be for her to loose the Duke to Sophia?, for heaven sake the girl wears a hideous mask has the Duke even seen her face? ….. something isn't right I can feel it, did you by chance find out what was said between the two of them at the night of the party?" Clare asked

" I have said Said this many times, the Duke is so unpredictable, so I can't understand why he choose to Marry Sophia" said the Baron

" we cant allow her marry the Duke , I have worked too hard too hard for a moment like this only for it to go to Sophia , she's only agreeing to this to spite me, I will speak with the Duke as there was no way she would allow the Duke marry Sophia " Sophia said

" speak to me about what?" The Duke asked as he entered the dinning room but he was not alone as Sophia was right beside him holding his hand as she walked….. I am sure your father has told you good news as Sophia and I shall wed soon

"Henry please present the gifts" the Duke said as he signaled the butler

"Yes young master" Henry said as he moved as quickly as he could to place each of gifts in front of the three family members

" there more gifts to be brought here, as time goes by, this is just a small taste of what is to come, I hope it is to your liking " said the Duke

" do you wish to seat Sophia?" The Duke said as he pulled out a chair for her

" thank you"Sophia said as she sat down

As Sophia sat down , the first person her eyes went to is Amelia since she was the one watching her the most .

" you have not opened your gift yet Amelia" sophia stated

" Y..you" Amelia started but quickly held herself back when she saw the Duke's eyes they were daring her to say something he wouldn't like

" Sophia please enlighten us more, why did you say yes to the Duke, you are not one to get married" said Clare

" no one has ever asked if i wanted to get married and I'm thrilled to marry a man like the Duke I've heard many good things about him thanks to Amelia….. isn't he a good man Amelia?" Sophia glanced at her angry sister

" he was mine and you stole him" Amelia replied ignoring her father signaling for her to shut up

She sat back down unable to watch the Duke be protective of Sophia

" I never gave you the idea that I'm yours Amelia and I thought we've gotten over the drug which causes prople to hallucinate " the Duke asked the Baron as he stood over where Sophia sat

" of course not the drugs has been gotten rid of a long time ago" the Baron answered

" as I can recall you took quite a few of them , I would hate to know your younger daughter has gotten her hands on them, of that is the case I shall pity her desperate attempts to get my affection when I clearly said I'll never have any romantic feelings for her, I can show you where to her treated" the Duke offered

" no offense Duke but you cannot walk into our home and get involved in our family issues you're not married to Sophia yet" Clare stated

" forgive me Sophia is now my fiancée and anything that makes her upset concerns me because I care for her so much that I could kill anyone who upsets her" the Duke stated as he glared at Amelia

He had a feeling that out of the three family members , Amelia was the one who upsets her more, he had one thing in common with Sophia so far, their dislike for Amelia

Amelia Fidgeted in her seat as she got the warning the Duke was trying to pass, she clenched her fists tightly under the table to the point her nails were painfully digging into her skin but she didn't feel anything