My Husband Sold Me To The Dragon

"That is majestic!" Sophie's friend Lady Adeline gasps, her surprise exaggerated as Sophie shows off her most recent creation.

Sophie smiles, "I am quite proud of it. Periwinkles have always been his favorite."

Resting delicately inside a basket is a cloak with embroidered blue periwinkles.

Sophie caught her husband looking at a similar piece back when he was still courting her, and Sophie promised him then and there that she would recreate it—but better. Luke only laughed, touched by the sentiment but unable to believe the simple lady was capable of such.

Since then, Sophie has been determined to surpass the expectations he set for her.

Lady Maude examines the present next to their blonde friend, soft and untainted hands caressing the soft fabric.

"That must have taken a while." Maude comments. And it certainly did. Months of learning from different embroiderers working around town.

Not that Sophie needs to work so hard for the comfort of her life, but as her mother taught her, a good wife is one who finds new ways to please her husband.

"No need to praise me out of pity. I know you two are capable of greater things." Sophie jokes, trying to make light of the differences in their upbringing. Deep inside, she knows that it's nothing but the objective truth.

Lady Adeline and Lady Maude were born with golden spoons in their mouths—taught music, arts, and etiquette from a young age by expensive private tutors. The best of the best.

Sophie was born a noble lady, sure, but she's the fourth daughter of a lowly lord with no outstanding beauty or talent of her own. She was more likely to become a spinster, stuck working in their family home, than the wife of anyone noteworthy.

No one expected the Duke Sambridge to be smitten with her. As a matter of fact, she had only agreed to entertain his advances out of politeness, complying without a single expectation.

Despite now being a duchess, there was an impossibly tall ladder that she had to climb to reach heights her two friends are comfortable with. They never make her feel lower than them, but society has a way of reminding Sophie that she needs to sprint or else she would be left behind.

"It's so romantic though!" Adeline chirps, unable to control the starstruck expression on her face.

It is. Sophie's no stranger to making romantic gestures, but she clings onto this one as if it's her only hope of rekindling her marriage's dimming fire. Maybe it is.

"The effort is admirable." Maude says, gesturing to the bookseller's, signaling to them that she's ready to stop bickering and start getting a move on.

Sophie can only grin, endeared by her friend's fondness of books.

The two must've noticed how distressed Sophie was after the disaster that was her anniversary night because they agreed to walk around the marketplace a few hours longer than they usually do.

Once inside, Lady Adeline's ceaseless complaining begins firing. Unlike Maude, Adeline prefers to trouble herself with real life matters or, in other words, mindless gossip. The blonde can't sit still long enough to appreciate a book.

Sophie understands where both are coming from.

Lady Adeline is spoiled by her husband, the third son of wealthy earl, both in material objects and in affection. On top of that, her cousins are always up to the craziest things. It makes for good stories during parties and social gatherings.

Maude, on the other hand, had a knack for turning down marriage prospects. She had no interest in the wealthy lords her family were so set on marrying her off to. She believed in independence (and secretly, true love) and always had a feisty personality, especially when it came to men.

Sadly, her parents' patience had run out and Lady Maude was forcibly engaged to a marquess four times her age, one who'd recently lost his ex-wife. He is kind, but his stories about his past ventures always lulls Maude to sleep, she once shared.

Sophie is content watching Maude find joy through pages and pages of excerpts about lives more romantic and colorful than theirs.

Amidst the silence, Adeline gasps, trying to mask the way her eyelids are already heavy from boredom. "Wait, is that not Duke Sambridge right now? Call him over!"

Sophie's face flushes at the mention of her husband, still unrecovered from the tragedy of the previous night.

There is no way she can talk to him right now! They need to circle the marketplace one more time before she can look him in the eye.

Instead, what comes out is, "No, shush, I want to give it to him when it's just the two of us."

It's too late, however. Sophie makes the mistake of turning to where Lady Adeline is pointing. Her eyes met forest green through the window of the store. Her husband's gaze is pried away, almost from shame at seeing his wife.

That makes her frown.

"Wait, who is that girl he's with?"

"Ady!" Sophie scolds the loud blonde.

Her friend's mouth is too shameless at times. No one taught these wealthy ladies that words have consequences. As a friend, it's the bane of Sophie's existence.

But oh, there is a girl. Petite with porcelain skin. Her wavy, brown hair cascades down her shoulders much like a princess' would after hours of grooming.

She's gorgeous, but Sophie shuts down her festering insecurity before it can grow.

"He's probably on official business right now. We shouldn't disturb them, Ady."

"Oh, you're right. My apologies, Sophie. I was excited because of your gift."

Sophie offers a sympathetic smile. Her friend is painfully oblivious most of the time, but she never has any ill intentions. "It's alright."

They would've continued on as normal, but the lady accompanying Luke keeps staring holes at Sophie's back. Maude notices moments later, perceptive as usual, and steps out of the bookstore, urging the two to do the same.

They can finally escape the awkward situation.