Page 87 of Married to a Frozen Duke
"Yes?"
The door opened slightly, and Alexander stood there in his dressing gown, looking uncertain.
"I wanted to... that is, about tomorrow..."
"We shall be fine," she said. "We'll smile and be polite and no one will suspect we're barely speaking."
"That's not..." He paused, seemed to gather himself. "I don't want us to be barely speaking."
"Then what do you want?"
"I don't know. Something better than this."
"This being cold formality and mutual suspicion?"
"Yes."
"Then perhaps you could start by trusting that I'm not plotting against you."
"It's not that simple."
"Isn't it? Either you trust me or you don't."
"I want to trust you."
"But?"
"But you're a Coleridge."
"And we're back to that." She lay back down, suddenly exhausted. "Goodnight, Alexander."
"Ophelia..."
"Goodnight."
He stood there for another moment, silhouetted in the doorway, then retreated, closing the door softly behind him.
The next morning dawned grey and drizzling, which seemed appropriate. Ophelia dressed with special care, choosing a gown of soft rose that her mother had always said brought out her complexion. Mary arranged her hair in a style that was elegant but not severe, and even managed to coax a few curls to frame her face softly.
"Your Grace looks lovely," Mary said, and there was warmth in it despite their new formality.
"Thank you. I need all the armor I can get today."
"Your brothers' visit?"
"Yes. They arrive this afternoon."
"I'm sure it will be wonderful to see them."
Ophelia wasn't sure 'wonderful' was the word she'd choose, but she smiled anyway.
Breakfast was marginally less awful than it had been. Alexander made an effort to actually converse, asking about her plans for the day and listening to the answers. She responded in kind, and they managed nearly fifteen minutes of something approaching normal conversation before lapsing back into silence.
"What time do you expect them?" he asked finally.
"Knowing Charles and Edward? They said afternoon, so probably either much earlier or much later than expected. Punctuality isn't their strong suit."
"What is their strong suit?"
