A “Worthy” Suitor
Sophie stood by the window, gazing at the empty yard outside. The trampled snow glittered with remnants of New Year’s sparklers, and tattered strands of tinsel clung to the bare branches of the shrubs. The town felt lifeless, everyone asleep after the exhausting celebrations of the previous night. Inside, Sophie felt just as hollow.
How could she have been so deceived? Why hadn’t she sensed the falseness in him? Now, everything was clear—but back then… Nigel had seemed clever, devoted, a little resentful of his father. *Seemed* being the operative word. She had truly believed he loved her.
The click of the front door lock made her flinch. She had rehearsed an angry speech, but now every prepared word fled her mind. Quiet footsteps paused behind her. Sophie held her breath, waiting. A shiver ran down her neck as Nigel’s warm breath brushed her skin.
“Soph,” he murmured, leaning his head against her shoulder.
She stepped away. “Are you still cross with me?” Nigel’s voice was coaxing. “I don’t know what came over me. The way he looked at you—I just… I was overwhelmed.” He waited, but Sophie remained silent.
“You’re partly to blame, you know. Smiling at him, leaning close, eyes locked on his. I couldn’t bear it.”
“Don’t twist it. We were only dancing,” Sophie said flatly.
“Come on, forgive me. Jealousy’s natural when you love someone.” Nigel tried to turn her toward him, but she shrugged off his hands.
“Soph, honestly, it’s ridiculous. I’ve said I’m sorry,” he insisted, softening his tone.
“You should be apologising to *him*, not me.” Sophie finally met his gaze before turning away again.
“I went to the hospital, alright? Apologised to your sailor friend.” Nigel’s eyes flashed with malice, though Sophie missed it, still staring out the window. “He didn’t press charges, so they let me go. Let’s just forget it. When he’s discharged, he can come round, we’ll have a drink, smooth things over.”
Sophie whirled to face him.
“*We*? Forget it? Have a drink? There *is* no ‘we.’ Not anymore. Leave the keys and get out.”
“Oh, so you’ll bring *him* here instead?” The smoothness vanished from Nigel’s voice, replaced by icy venom.
“Go. I never want to see you again. You lied to me.” No matter how hard she fought to stay composed, hurt and fury seeped through.
“Should’ve taught *you* a lesson too, not just him. Remember what you said to me?” Nigel seized her arm above the elbow, gripping painfully, yanking her close until their faces nearly touched. In his eyes, Sophie saw pure hatred.
“Let go—you’re hurting me,” she pleaded.
“I’ve wasted *years* on you. No, darling, I’m not going anywhere. You *will* marry me.” With his free hand, he pulled a ring from his pocket. “Never got to give you this.” He lifted her hand, forcing the ring toward her finger. Sophie struggled, but his grip only tightened.
“Let me go! I won’t marry you!” Tears welled in her eyes.
“You will—if you want that sailor of yours to stay alive and unharmed.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh, I would.”
***
“I’m leaving tomorrow,” Daniel said.
He liked Sophie—a lot. But he’d been afraid to tell her he was going. They’d only just started seeing each other.
“Where to?”
“Southampton. Got into the naval academy. Sorry I didn’t mention it sooner. Wasn’t sure I’d get in.”
“Will you at least call?” Sophie asked, voice small, eyes downcast.
“Don’t sulk. What else can I do? We don’t have the sea here. Soph, I don’t want you feeling obliged to wait. Training’s long, then I’ll be at sea for months at a time. You’ve no idea how hard that life is—waiting.”
“Don’t decide for me,” Sophie snapped, lifting her chin.
“You’ll be at university. Plenty of lads there—”
“Fine, just go, then!” Sophie shouted, spinning on her heel and storming off.
“Soph!” Daniel almost chased after her but stopped himself.
He lingered a moment before walking home alone.
When he returned for the Christmas holidays, Sophie was overjoyed. They went to the cinema, took long walks. Daniel spoke of his life in Southampton—the academy, the sea, his friends—and Sophie listened, hoping he might kiss her.
But he only brushed his lips against her frost-chilled cheek before leaving. The next day, he was gone again.
Yes, there were plenty of boys at university. Some flirted, some tried to court her. But she wasn’t interested. Daniel called infrequently, asking about her studies in a friendly tone. Yet whenever she admitted she missed him, he quickly changed the subject.
The following spring, her father’s aunt passed away. Her husband had died years earlier—a local councillor, always in some high position. They’d had no children, and the aunt had kept distant from relatives, perhaps fearing they’d beg for money or favours.
So it was a shock when her will revealed she’d left her spacious flat in the city centre to Sophie, whom she’d met no more than a handful of times. At first, her father didn’t believe it. Then he was thrilled.
“That flat’s massive, right in the heart of town. Doesn’t even need refurbishing. Once you’re married, you and your husband can live there,” her mother mused.
Sophie decided not to mention the flat at university. No need to stir envy or accusations of arrogance. But word slipped out. Some resented her, others called her snobbish. The class rep even asked if they could host parties there.
Early in her second year, Sophie met Nigel, an older student. He’d sat with her in the canteen, struck up a conversation, and they began dating. Daniel was far away, hadn’t asked her to wait, hadn’t promised love. Were there no girls in Southampton?
“Nigel… not the son of the deputy mayor, is he?” her father once asked.
“I don’t know,” Sophie shrugged.
“Well, ask him. Seems a decent lad, serious. A proper match.”
Sophie took it as a joke. But she asked Nigel anyway.
“Yeah. Never mentioned it. How’d you guess?”
“Not me—my father. He likes you.”
“He’s just a regular bloke. But mine… unbearable. No freedom. Can’t wait to graduate and leave. Want to rent my own place, move out.”
That evening, Sophie suggested they let Nigel stay in the aunt’s flat.
Her father agreed immediately.
“Let him have it. Won’t charge him much—future son-in-law, after all—but he’s not poor, he can pay you something,” he chuckled.
Nigel was delighted. He swept Sophie off her feet, spun her around, kissed her fiercely.
“You’re a true friend, Soph. Don’t know what I’d do without you. Just need to talk to my parents. I’m an adult. Mum’s been nagging me to settle down anyway.” He hugged her tightly.
Their relationship escalated quickly. If Sophie stayed over at Nigel’s, her parents scolded her half-heartedly. They already pictured her married to the deputy mayor’s son—perhaps even his successor.
Sophie liked Nigel, but his reluctance to introduce her to his parents, his evasiveness about them, unsettled her. Whenever she asked, he changed the subject.
After graduation, Nigel took a job at a small firm, claiming it was to spite his father. Soon after, he proposed. Sophie refused.
“No rush. I’ve still got uni—”
Time flew. Before she knew it, New Year’s Eve arrived. A friend invited them to celebrate at her country house.
“Bring that fancy fiancé of yours. Loads of people coming—it’ll be fun.”
“How’d you know about Nigel?” Sophie asked, surprised.
“Ran into your mum at the shops. She told me. You’re sly—marrying the deputy mayor’s son and not a word. Hope you won’t forget your old friends?”
“I’m not marrying anyone,” Sophie muttered.
They arrived early. Guests trickled in, cars lining the driveway.
“How’s everyone staying the night? The house is packed,” Sophie said.
“Who comes to sleep?” her friend laughed. “We’re partying till dawn!”
The table was set, the tree twinkling, snow falling outside. The men grilled outside, Nigel among them, drinking to keep warm. Finally, they ate. No one waited for midnight—glasses were raised, toasts made. Then came the dancing. Her friend asked Sophie to help wash dishes.
“Hold on,” Nigel stopped her. “New year, fresh start. You’The years that followed were filled with laughter, the steady rhythm of the sea, and the quiet certainty that she had found happiness—not in grand illusions, but in the simple, enduring devotion of a man who had always loved her.
