Page 113 of Married to a Frozen Duke
"The village is grateful," she said finally, the words echoing in the vast room.
"So I understand. James mentioned there was quite a response."
"People want to help. They're bringing food and medicine to the Wheelers."
"Community spirit. How touching."
She couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or genuine. "Is it so hard to believe that people care about each other?"
"It's not hard to believe. It's just... unexpected."
"Why?"
"Because in my experience, people care about themselves first and others only when it's convenient or advantageous."
"That's a very lonely way to see the world."
"It's a realistic way."
"It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you expect the worst from people, they'll usually oblige."
"And if you expect the best?"
"Sometimes you're disappointed. But sometimes you're beautifully surprised."
"Like with the Wheelers?"
"Like with you," she said, surprising them both. "You forgave their debt. You didn't have to, but you did."
"You didn't give me much choice."
"You always have a choice. You could have dragged me out of that cottage and evicted them anyway. But you didn't."
"I was avoiding a scene."
"You were being kind, even if you won't admit it."
He set down his fork, studying her across the expanse of the table. "Why do you insist on seeing good in me when I've given you so little reason to?"
"Because I think it's there, buried under all that duty and tradition and fear. I think the man who forgave the Wheelers' debt, who's spending his nights trying to find ways to protect me even if I don't want that protection, who stood at the altar covered in vomit and still finished the ceremony...I think that man has more good in him than he wants anyone to see."
"And what if you're wrong? What if I'm exactly as cold and calculating as your brothers think?"
"Then at least I'll have tried to see the best rather than assumed the worst."
They finished dinner in thoughtful silence, and afterward, instead of immediately retreating to separate corners of the house, they found themselves in the library. Not together exactly, he was at his desk working on correspondence, she was reading by the fire, but occupying the same space without conflict.
It was progress, she supposed, even if everything else was falling apart around them.
She was deep in her book when James appeared, looking apologetic. "Your Grace, there's a messenger from the village. He says it's urgent."
Ophelia's heart clenched. "Is it Lucy?"
"No, Your Grace. It's... perhaps His Grace should hear this as well."
Alexander looked up from his papers, frowning. "What is it, James?"
"There's been an incident in the village, Your Graces. Some of the local landowners are upset about the forgiveness of the Wheelers' debt. They're saying it sets a dangerous precedent,that tenants will expect similar treatment. There's talk of a meeting, possibly action against families who can't pay."
