Betraying the Duke

Betraying the Duke
 

                            ©2016 by Sophia Wilson

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are a product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, events or locales is completely coincidental.

Chapter One

Not all women have to have the same dreams; some have bigger dreams than the miniscule ones revolving around house matters and a shackled married life. Sophia’s mother, however, believed otherwise.

Born and raised in a family led by a man who took pride in his work as a physician, Sophia was bound to be both inspired and motivated, regardless of her gender; little did she know how much a problem this would prove to be; her mother was often her biggest enemy.

William Hatcher was well known as a hardworking and able man that had built his entire life from the bottom up all with his very own hands, and thus the community respected him immensely and the family was thought of nothing less than noble. His theories and hypotheses had led to various great findings and people from far and wide would visit him, just for a consult, hoping he would have some free time for themselves. Sophia’s mother however, Lilly Hatcher, was quite the opposite. Having been raised the traditional way, living in a household heavily influenced by the code of conduct and discipline resembling the military, she had all the attributes of a stern and domineering woman and mother.

Sophia’s grandfather had served his entire life in the Royal Navy and had chosen Sophia’s dad for her mother himself as he didn’t believe in love. Although with all the time spent alongside William, Lilly Hatcher did love her husband. She considered herself lucky to find a man she had learnt to love especially in her circumstance where love was never the priority; a strict father could birth such beliefs, and living with such irrational thoughts rooting ancestrally from her maternal family line was the main reason Sophia and her mother didn’t get along. Arguments and tantrums were a daily event in the Hatcher household and Sophia had grown tired of them the minute they had begun.

“Sophia, I am not having this argument again, not now! I do not have the energy for it and I’ve got many things to do!” her mother said, almost yelling before she stormed off out of her room, disappointed with Sophia once again.

All I asked was whether or not I could at least apply for medical schooling; she didn’t have to get so distraught about it! I do not understand! She can love and marry a man that is a physician but she finds it absolutely ridiculous if her daughter simply proposes to be one! It is so unfair!

Frustrated, she locked her door and fell on her bed flat, burying her face in her pillow attempting to scream and crying hot raging tears.

I will never understand her, and she will never understand me. We just cannot get along! All I’ve ever seen growing up is my father working as a physician and being celebrated for it. He’s helped cure people and taken care of them. I too, want to be a physician like him! What is the point of this life if I cannot do anything to help others? It is a humble and noble vision, who cares if it doesn’t interest eligible men when they end up at our house in search of a wife. I do not plan to be a mere housewife anyhow; I’ve seen what it has done to my mother!

The tears streamed down her face faster now, as the rage slowly turned into another close form; utter sadness. It could never take getting used to, these fights with her mother, not with both of them sharing the same genetic and familial stubbornness, she had noticed it more after these outbursts they would share, neither of them willing to surrender. Sophia believed wholeheartedly that she was right about her passion and her dreams and her mother believed she was right with hers, trying to make sure that Sophia would be wed and be settled instead of bargaining her life with an unpredictable medical profession; she didn’t want Sophia to end up all alone.

A fragile little knock came from the other side of the door. Sophia knew who it was.

“Come in,” she replied allowing her little sister to come in.

Mary opened the door, peeking with her head first to check if Sophia was alone before taking any further steps forward. She walked in carefully after seeing her sister lying in her bed gloomy and unhappy.

“Are you okay, Sophia?” asked Mary caringly, hating her sister crying despite how much they fought and argued.

“Yes, I am alright Mary,” Sophia said lying, not wanting to worry her little sister.

“I heard you two fighting again. What was it about this time? Being a physician or not wanting to marry?” asked Mary who knew much more for her age and was only four years younger than Sophia.

Sophia didn’t respond and looked coldly out the window right next to her bed. Mary understood, she had seen this all before way too many times to find it all new and strange.

“Maybe she’ll come around. I still think you should talk to Father about this, I am sure he’ll have something supportive to say. You cannot be doing this alone,” Mary advised her confidently.

“You and I both know how well it turned out last time. He didn’t say anything of the topic and Mother kept interrupting,” Sophia reminded her sadly.

“Yes, but that was so long ago! You cannot be such a coward about something you really want Sophia! You should speak with him again, there is no harm in trying. Can it possibly get any worse than this?” asked Mary skeptically.

Sophia shrugged at the suggestion, but she was desperate. Admissions would close off soon and she had very little time to convince her parents and make all the needed preparations for medical school.

Her little sister hugged her comfortingly, making sure she knew that she was supporting her no matter what, and left the room to leave Sophia alone with her thoughts.

Sophia thought little and cried much.

Chapter Two

In the evening, Sophia’s father arrived home as he usually did just as the sky darkened. The table was set with plates and cutlery, ready for dinner. Sophia had been much too upset to give a helping hand in the kitchen and so, she had stayed in her room all day. She had finally decided to speak about the matter once more with her father; her little sister’s words had inspired her, she also had no other choice.

William Hatcher kissed his wife, who was busy garnishing her freshly roast chicken hot from the range, on the cheek as he entered the kitchen still clothed in his work clothes. He lovingly petted Mary’s hair.

“Dinner is ready, Will,” Sophia’s mother said to her husband as she finished garnishing.

“I will be right there, love. Just need to get cleaned up, you know how these clothes for work make me feel!” he said, as he left immediately to change his clothes, hungry and exhausted.

“Go call your sister for dinner, Mary. She’s been so moody and angry lately and she hasn’t left her room all day!” her mother said, fed up. Mary nodded and proceeded to go upstairs, obediently.

“Come for dinner, Sophia! Father’s home!” Mary yelled from outside her room.

Just as she was about to knock thinking that Sophia had ignored her calling, the door opened. Sophia stood there, dressed and washed up for dinner, smiling.

“I am coming…before you knock and make much noise on my door,” Sophia said, walking past her. Mary was a little confused; she was expecting her sister to be in the same state in which she had left her earlier. She hurriedly ran after Sophia, trying to get past her and into the kitchen first.

“Good evening, Sophia! And where have you been?” her father asked her, cheerily.

“Good evening, Father. Oh nowhere, just busy,” she answered him, looking at her mother.

“Well come then, sit down. Your mother has made a wonderful dinner for us, it will get cold,” he ushered her to sit down.

Sophia sat herself next to him, making sure she was close enough for conversation.

The dinner went on mostly quietly with her father talking briefly about work and asking everyone how their days were. Sophia was trying to find the perfect time to say what she had prepared for in her room. Mary was eyeing her, catching on to what Sophia was about to do, so she spoke.

“So Father, would you agree that your profession is one that is both honorable and very important in today’s day?” Mary asked abruptly.

“Well, um… yes. I mean of course, I do…” her father replied, a little baffled with the sudden impulsive question.

“So this means you would advise people to become a physician if they were able, would you not?” asked Sophia, jumping into the conversation.

“Well yes, I would,” her father responded, hesitantly trying to figure out what they were coming unto.

Sophia’s mother, quicker than her father, had caught on.

“Sophia, dear, why do you not let your father have a nice hot meal without bombarding him with such questions?” her mother said, glaring at her.

“I would, but then again Father is oh-so busy saving people, I do not want to take up any more of his time, besides, family dinners are a wonderful time to discuss such things,” Sophia said boldly, ignoring her mother’s vague warning.

“Another word, Sophia and you can have your dinner alone in your room!” her mother said angrily, not approving the way Sophia had answered her.

“Sent to my room for what? For asking a question? For talking to my father? I am one and twenty and I cannot have a conversation in my own home with my own father?!” Sophia replied to her mother, trying to remain calm.

“You and I both know where this is leading, Sophia!” said her mother, her tone rising.

Sophia’s father firmly smacked his palm on the table.

“Enough!” he said, and as he did so, everybody went quiet. It was unusual for her father to get angry.

“Can someone please explain to me what is going on? Why are you two arguing? What did I miss?” he demanded, looking at the both of them.

Just before the two of them could speak, he raised his hand to silence them.

“No, not you two. I do not need to hear long tales,” said her father, growing impatient.

“Mary, you tell me what is going on, so we can settle this right here,” he said in a calmer voice.

Mary looked at everyone, nervously.

“Um, well, Sophia asked Mother if she could apply to a medical school to become like you and Mother said no because she wants to marry Sophia off,” Mary said hesitantly, all in one go.

“What? You are interested in attending medical school, Sophia? I thought it was just a passing fancy or that maybe you were not serious about it,” her father said, perplexed as though it had never occurred to him before.

“Yes, I am serious! I’ve dreamt of being a physician just like you! I want to help people too and do something amazing in the world. I thought you would understand that, since you already are one,” Sophia began explaining herself.

“That is a good vision, but there are a lot of factors that come into play, Sophia. This job is a lifetime dedication and it isn’t easy for women. You have to get married one day and have your own family, enrolling in medical school will not allow you those things,” her father spoke, almost like her mother.

“What do you mean? You are saying that not getting married is the end of the world? That getting married is the equivalent to saving so many lives? How could you even say that?” Sophia said, trying not to feel too hurt and disappointed with what he was indicating.

“Watch the way you speak with me Sophia Grace Hatcher! I didn’t say any such thing, what I said was that there are different priorities for women and right now getting married to an able and eligible man is the top most priority! There will be no further argument on this matter, what I’ve said is final.” Her father’s words had cut her like a knife.

She stared at him, feeling shattered from the inside and rose to her feet. She threw her napkin on her seat and marched out of the kitchen, without a word.

My Father is my mother, I am done for.