Sophie

Previously

…In that moment, nestled against the strong curve of his shoulder, Sophie felt the complete convergence of their lives. The house was hers to manage, the fields his to tame, and the decisions, made together or separately, were forged in the shared reality of their endeavor. The whispers of her authority were no longer tentative sounds in the quiet recesses of the house; they were firm instructions that shaped the daily labor of dozens of people and dictated the future of their burgeoning estate. She was no longer just the bride; she was the cornerstone of the plantation, finding her voice not in song or polite society, but in the steady, demanding rhythm of making things grow.