Page 136 of Married to a Frozen Duke
"I'm not good at romantic."
"You're better than you think." She stood on her toes to kiss him. "I love you too."
"Despite everything?"
"Because of everything. Even the difficult parts. Especially the difficult parts, actually."
"You're very strange."
"I'm a Coleridge. We're all strange."
"I'm beginning to realise that's not necessarily a bad thing."
They walked together back to the library, where the fire was dying down. Alexander added another log while Ophelia curled up in what had become her chair. He sat beside her, and she immediately tucked herself against his side.
"So Edward can really visit the stables?" she asked.
"I suppose. If he must."
"And Charles could see more of the rare books?"
"Under extreme supervision."
"And perhaps we could have regular dinners? Once a month maybe?"
"Let's not go too far."
"Once every two months?"
"Every three months, and that's my final offer."
"Deal."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the fire. Then Alexander said, "Your brothers think I've changed."
"You have changed."
"Have I? I feel like the same person, just... more visible somehow. Like I was always here but hiding."
"That's change, Alexander. Becoming visible. Letting yourself be seen."
"It's terrifying."
"You keep using that word about emotions."
"Because emotions are terrifying. They're unpredictable and messy and completely beyond control."
"And wonderful."
"Sometimes," he conceded. "When they involve you, they're tolerable."
"Such high praise."
"The highest I'm capable of."
She laughed, that snorting laugh he'd told her about while drunk, and he found himself smiling in response.
"Your brothers will tell everyone about this," he said. "About us being happy. It will ruin my reputation as a cold, unfeeling duke."
