Page 137 of Married to a Frozen Duke
"How terrible for you."
"I'll have to be pleasant at social events. People will expect me to actually converse rather than just glare."
"The horror."
"You've ruined me for proper ducal behaviour."
"Good."
"I'll never be properly intimidating again."
"You were plenty intimidating with Harrington."
"That was different. He threatened you."
"And you protected me."
"Always," he said, meaning it completely.
She tilted her head up to look at him. "Do you really think we'll be alright? Long-term, I mean? We're so different."
"We are different," he agreed. "You're warm where I'm cold. You're open where I'm closed. You see the best in people while I expect the worst. But perhaps that's why we shall be fine. We balance each other."
"Exactly like that."
"Well," he said, pulling her closer, "I suppose there are worse ways to spend a lifetime than being thawed by a Coleridge."
"That might be the most romantic thing you've ever said."
"I love you," he said again, because apparently now that he'd said it once, he couldn't stop.
"Because I am different?"
"Because you think of everything. Because you protect me from disasters while letting me think I'm protecting you. Because you're you."
"I love you too. Even though you made rules about my brothers."
"Especially because I made rules about your brothers."
"That makes no sense."
"Very little about us makes sense, but here we are anyway."
"Here we are," she agreed, settling more firmly against him. "The frozen duke and the chaotic Coleridge."
"Former frozen duke," he corrected. "I'm at least partially thawed now."
You still have your moments of complete frigidity."
"It's a defense mechanism."
"Against what?"
"Feelings. Coleridges. Spheres."
She laughed again, and he decided he'd spend the rest of his life trying to make her laugh if it meant hearing that sound.
My parents will want to meet you properly."
