It was such a quiet and cold morning. She wrapped the new coat that was provided for her in the closet of her room and draped an extra layer over her back with a thick wool scarf.
She thought she looked like a chubby loaf of bread in these wrappings, and she still felt the cold. However, Lord Ariam was still wearing only his thin shirt over his black pants. He dressed like it was summer.
For a moment, Sophie was stunned. She wanted to ask if he didn't feel the cold, but decided against it because she thought talking about the weather was quite lame.
There were a couple of other things that made Sophie feel a bit unsure of what to feel about Duke Romanov. Not only did Sophie wake up to find the Duke inside of her room and actually waiting for her, but the man also claimed to treat his employees well when he offered Sophie a job.
However, Sophie didn't need to have stayed here for too long to notice that was not exactly the case. Yes, Duke Romanov did not shout or hit any of his employees like Aunt Helga sometimes did, but there was a look of hesitation and great respect to him.
All of the maids and even guards who were stationed in the great dining hall were extremely nervous about committing even one mistake. It was in the atmosphere and Sophie knew how to read it so it was odd.
This fact made Sophie a lot more nervous with the Duke. She did not know what he wanted with her and what kind of interest this man may have in her.
Sophie did not wish to say that she was beautiful, even though she really was, but she was aware that from Richard Lancaster and others in Cawden Academy, she had some boys interested in her.
Now Sophie was slightly afraid that Duke Romanov may have had a penchant of interest in her and that was the ONLY reason why she was here.
"Is the meal not to your liking?" Leland asked when he saw Sophie only idly circling her spoon across the bowl of food. He remembered the times when a younger Sophie did that whenever her mother prepared carrot and peas mash.
Sophie's eyes widened and she quickly shook her head. "No, I mean yes… I am grateful for the meal, my lord. I do not find it lacking. Apologies for my lack of manners."
"You are free to eat whatever you like. We have a lot of available dishes for you to eat and it would be a waste if you do not eat them. Even my servants all eat well." Leland spoke. "So, please do not hesitate and tell me if you wish for something else."
"Ah, I think I will eat what is on my plate, your grace." Sophie inclined her head and started to eat.
Duke Romanov's words about his servants eating well sounded honest. The maids and guards in the house did not seem envious that Sophie and Duke Romanov were eating good food, unlike that of the maids and servants in Aunt Helga's house.
When Sophie stayed with her relatives, while they were affluent enough due to the riches inherited from their grandfather, the servants and maids were only allowed to eat the cheapest and most hardy of meals.
If Valerie and Lucia could eat sweet cakes, the softest buns from pastry shops, and dine in restaurants around Hastings, Sophie would see and also take part in the servants who only ate plain and hard foods.
So Sophie could see that even if perhaps the servants were still servants and employees of Lord Romanov, they did not lack for anything at all. All of them seemed nervous, but perhaps it was because they were eager to please?
Sophie drank some of her water and glanced up at Duke Ariam Romanov. The reclusive duke was eating even though he still wore his mask.
The way that his spoon touched his lips and didn't spill anything or even touch anything else was a sign of grace and noble upbringing.
Leland did come to realize that Sophie was scrutinizing him and was still wary of his identity as Duke Romanov. He knew that the young woman could be quite smart and perceptive in ways that were dangerous if he let his guard down.
He suddenly turned to her and asked casually. "Are you feeling bothered by my face?"
"Huh?" Sophie instantly pressed her mouth. She realized she was being rude by not paying attention to what the duke was saying and responded that way. "I-I'm sorry... my mind was somewhere else, your grace."
Leland touched his mask. It was black and made of plain leather that covered his entire face except for his eyes and mouth. When she saw him for the first time, Sophie had been so curious as to why the man felt the need to cover his face, but she came to her own conclusion that he must have a disfigured face.
This made her feel pity for him, and it only took a short time for Sophie to stop thinking about it. She didn't want to focus on how the man looked. What's important was how he was as a person. If he treated her well, then Sophie would think of him as a good man.
What lay beneath his mask was none of her business.
"Are you or are you not feeling bothered by my face?" Leland repeated his words.
Sophie quickly shook her head. She felt bad about straying her thoughts earlier. The duke now misunderstood her and thought she was looking down on him because of his face.
"N-no... I am not," Sophie quickly replied. "I wasn't even thinking about your face. My mind was somewhere else..."
"Am I that uninteresting that your mind is somewhere else while you are here with me?"
Leland couldn't help it, but suddenly he was feeling so jealous. Was Sophie thinking about her dead husband, that she didn't even feel remotely interested in knowing about the man who just saved her life?
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