Page 70 of Married to a Frozen Duke
"As opposed to undignified chaos, yes."
The butler announced dinner, and they sat at opposite ends of a table that could have accommodated ten more people. Thedistance between them made normal conversation impossible, so they ate in silence.
The food was excellent—some sort of fish in cream sauce, vegetables that had been tortured into decorative shapes, a soup that probably had a French name Ophelia couldn't pronounce. It was also completely without character, as if flavor might be too exciting for ducal palates.
"Is the food to Your Grace's liking?" Alexander called from his distant shore.
"It's very... elegant," she called back.
"But?"
"Nothing. It's lovely."
"You're lying."
"I'm being polite."
"Same thing, often."
She set down her fork. "Do we have to sit so far apart? I feel like we need flags to communicate."
"It's traditional."
"It's ridiculous."
"Many traditions are."
"So why follow them?"
He was quiet for a moment. "Because that's what we do."
"What if we didn't?"
"Didn't what?"
"Didn't do what we're supposed to do. We've already broken most of the rules; catastrophic wedding, traveling without proper chaperones, sharing a bed at an inn. Why stop now?"
"Because we're home now. This is... this is where standards matter."
"To whom?"
"To everyone."
"But there's no one here but us."
He looked around the empty dining room as if seeing it for the first time. "Tomorrow you could sit closer. If you prefer."
"Could I sit next to you?"
"Next to me?" He sounded as shocked as if she'd suggested they dine naked.
"People do sit next to each other. I've seen it happen."
"Not at formal dinners."
"This isn't formal. You said so yourself earlier."
"That doesn't mean we abandon all protocol."
