Five Years Later

“There is nothing for it, I am afraid. You are going to have to find yourself a situation.”

Miss Sophia Weston stared at her brother in shock, her whole being crumbling beneath his scornful gaze.

“A governess or the like,” he continued airily. “Something in that regard. I am quite sure there will be plenty of men looking out for such a thing.”

“In fact, I have managed to procure you a few advertisements,” Sophia’s sister-in-law crooned, holding out a sheaf of papers. “And one from a duke as well! My dear friend, Lady Margaret, had a letter from him and thought you might be inclined to reply to him. I am quite sure you will be able to find something suitable.”

Sophia did not take the papers from the new Viscountess Brookridge, keeping her gaze trained on her brother, who was looking away from her with all the careless disregard she had grown used to.

“Why are you doing this, Peter?”

Her brother drew himself up, as though he expected her to refer to him now as ‘my lord’ instead of the usual Christian name she had used for two decades. “You, Sophia, cannot live on my charity any longer. It is time that you found your own path in life.”

“But you promised Papa that you would take care of me!” Sophia exclaimed, her vision blurring with tears, as she thought of her dear father, who had passed only a little over a year ago. “You stood by his deathbed and vowed that–”

“And this is how I have chosen to take care of you, Sophia,” he grated, interrupting her. “When I made that promise, I did not mean that I would allow you to live here, using my possessions and eating up my wealth.” He gave a harsh laugh, just as the viscountess smiled in agreement. “You are somewhat plain, and I have no intention of allowing you a Season—for that would simply be even more of my funds lost for no good cause, so I think a governess would be best.”

“Or a teacher, should you care to write back to one of the many schools that are keen for new blood,” the viscountess said, setting the papers down on the table to her left. “You will not, I am sure, refuse to thank me for all my hard work in finding these positions for your scrutiny.” One arched eyebrow rose, as she fixed Sophia with a stern gaze, as though reminding her that she was less than nothing in her eyes.

A deep, unsettling fury began to rush through Sophia’s very core, sending molten heat into her veins.

“I will not thank you for throwing me from my own home,” she breathed, her eyes narrowing as she looked back at the lady she had once hoped to call a friend. “This is your doing, is it not? You are the one who has persuaded my brother to push me aside, to send me away from the only home I have ever known. And to think, all of this so that he can spend more money on you!”

She did not know where the torrent had sprung from, but the anger made her say things she had kept within her for so long. The fury at being so discarded, being so easily cast aside by the brother who had promised to care for her, burned hot and furious.

“You, dear brother, have treated me with more disdain than I ever thought possible. You made a promise to our father, which you are now reneging on. Taking away any hope of a future from me by sending me away was not what our father intended for me, and you know it! How can you be so unfeeling?”

Drawing in a sharp breath and aware of just how hot her cheeks were, Sophia waited impatiently for her brother to speak, ignoring her sister-in-law entirely. Peter shifted a little uncomfortably, one hand tugging at his cravat, as he cleared his throat.

“I suggest you look through those advertisements, Sophia. They may be your best chance at a successful post, as Evette has done her best to vet each of them carefully. I would have expected you to be a little more grateful that she showed you such kindness, but then again, you have become rather churlish of late.” He sniffed disdainfully, although his eyes did not quite meet her gaze. Linking arms with his wife, he lifted his nose in the air. “Come, my dear. Let us leave my spoilt little sister to consider her future.”

As he walked away, Sophia felt herself begin to crumble from within, tears clogging her throat. Blinking furiously to keep them at bay, she silently urged her brother and his wife out of the room so that she might finally collapse with grief and pain without their knowledge.

“Oh, and Sophia,” came her brother’s voice, just as they reached the door. “I expect you gone within the month. So, do get on to writing those letters just as soon as you can.”

A quiet chuckle came from the viscountess, as he led them both out of the drawing room. Sophia, her lungs gasping for air as she forced herself to take short, slow breaths, clenched her hands tightly together in an effort to stop herself from trembling.

As the door closed behind her brother, Sophia sank down into a chair, the sheaf of papers just to her left. Tears began to pour from her eyes, her soul sinking into despair. Her brother had once been the kindest, gentlest man imaginable, and she had hoped that their relationship would always be one of care and consideration, given just how close they had been. However, her brother’s marriage appeared to have changed all that. Now, she was little more than an afterthought.

Wiping her eyes, Sophia hung her head and stared at the floor, her mind scrambling for an idea of what she might to do counter this plan for her life. After all, she was the daughter of a fine family and had a significant dowry tucked away for her, but now, it seemed, she was to be sent away because of the proclivities of her brother’s new wife. There appeared to be no way out. How foolish she had been to ever hope that she and Evette could become friends. Evette had hated her presence in her new home ever since the day they had returned from their honeymoon, even though Sophia had her own bedchamber and drawing room. It was not as though they were even much in each other’s company, but it was now evident that the little time they spent together was too much for her sister-in-law. She had clearly been collecting advertisements for a few weeks, given the number of papers on the table.

“Oh, Papa,” Sophia whispered, pain rifling through her, as she thought of her dear, loving father, who had never had a cruel word to say to anyone. “How much I miss you.”

With a deep, heart-wrenching sigh, Sophia picked up the papers and stared at them blindly. So, this was to be her future. She was to be sent away, entirely without love or loyalty from her family, to start life as a governess. She had never taught a child before; she had never even been involved with children, and yet, this was what she was expected to do. There was no doubt in Sophia’s mind that her brother meant every word he said. Were she not to find a position, then she would be left on the doorstep of the manor house with all her earthly possessions in a few bags at her feet. The cruelty within him had grown steadily, ever since he had taken a wife.

Closing her eyes, Sophia forced herself to draw in a few steadying breaths, forcing the rest of her tears back. Were she to get through the next few weeks, she would have to find a determination within herself, a strength of character that she had not often had to call upon before this day. She would separate herself from her brother as much as possible, take meals in her room, and concentrate on what she would need to take up the role of governess or teacher, whichever came her way first. Her fine gowns would have to go, although Sophia knew she could not bear to part with them all. New, dowdy, plain gowns would be bought and worn, dark colors surrounding her, as was expected of a governess. No longer would she have the beauty and light and color she was used to. Peter had taken all that away.

Leafing through the papers with shaking fingers, Sophia read each one in turn, trying not to feel the pain that deepened with every word she took in. There were posts for teachers, posts for governesses, and even one for a matron, which she disregarded at once.

None caught her interest; none tugged at her heart. There was not a situation that called out to her more than the others; they were all much the same. Besides which, Sophia knew she could not afford to be choosy. To be out of her brother’s home in a month meant that she would have to write back to each of these advertisements at once, aside from the request for a matron. Five letters, each with the hope that she might receive at least one response.

Her heart filled with heaviness and feeling a weight settle on her shoulders, Sophia made her way from the drawing room and slowly climbed the staircase to her bedchamber. Closing the door behind her, she turned the key in the lock, feeling as though this was the only place she might have a little privacy from her brother and sister-in-law. They would not see her torment, as she scratched out each reply; they would not see the tears on her face, as she sealed up each one. They had already done more than enough damage.

By the end of the day, Sophia was completely spent. Her tears had long since dried, but her heart was still broken. Taking a dinner tray in her room, she ate quickly, eating only because she knew she needed to keep up her strength and not because she was particularly hungry.

Life was going to change for her now, and the only thing she could do was accept it. Her brother was not likely to change his mind, and it was more than obvious that her sister-in-law did not want her company in the house any longer. How much she had hoped for when her brother had first married – and how much had been dashed from her.

Rising a little unsteadily from her chair, Sophia made her way to her wardrobe and opened it up completely. Gowns of all colors and shades spilled out, reminding her of all the wonderful times she had with her family, or enjoying a pleasant evening with a few friends. Even though she had not yet had a Season, her father had always ensured that Sophia had occasion to enjoy a country ball or a musical recital or two. She would have enjoyed her Season two years previously, had it not been for her father’s ill health, and then, of course, the year after that, her dear father had passed away. The gowns that had been bought and prepared for her Season now hung, unworn, in her wardrobe. They would never be worn, for a governess did not wear such things.

Pulling them out one after the other, Sophia flung them heedlessly onto the floor, her pain and sadness overwhelming her entirely. Tears ran down her face in rivulets, pain tearing her apart until she thought she might not be able to contain it. Unable to stand, Sophia sank down amongst the soft gowns, burying her head in her hands as she sat amongst them, sobs shaking her frame.

Her life as she knew it was over. Her brother and sister-in-law would no longer be a part of her life, for Sophia was sure that, once she found a new situation, they would not so much as think of her again. She had no fortune to speak of, only her dowry, which would never be given to any man given what now lay in her future.

Darkness billowed around her as the flames in the grate began to flicker. Shrouded in gloom, Sophia felt her heart sink all the lower, beginning to shatter within her. Everything was gone with the hopes for her future discarded.

From now on, she would be entirely alone.