“You are no ruffian.” Her defiant words made him look at her sharply.
Their argument finished abruptly, and they just stared at one another. The strange quietness between them was interrupted by Mrs. Philips moving to her feet.
“Here are the liquor glasses, my lady.” She placed a variety of other glasses on the table.
“Thank you,” Lady Charlotte said hurriedly.
Was it me, or did she struggle to look away from me, then? Aye, I think she did.
Charlotte laid the glasses out in front of the duke.
“This is for brandy, this one is for port, and this is for sherry.”
“Aye,” he said resignedly, sitting back and lounging in the chair. She took his shoulder as a reflex and made him sit tall again. “How do ye nae get a bad back all the time?”
“I do get a bad back.”
“What?”
“I just put up with it.”
“Oh, aye. This is getting wiser by the minute. Let me put meself in pain forever more just so I sit right at a table. Lass –”
“Lady Charlotte!”
“Do ye mean to say ye are never comfortable at the dining table?” he asked, leaning toward her, speaking determinedly, for he was assuredly going to have an answer now.
She took his shoulder once more and placed him in the right position, then she took the chair on the other side of him and demonstrated by sitting perfectly properly.
“I am quite comfortable like this.”
“Aye, it looks like someone has swapped yer spine for a steel pole.”
“It is what is done.”
“As asking someone about the weather is.”
“It is to stop people being wild like children,” she objected, sudden passion in her voice as she leaned forward. She appeared on the verge of resting her elbows on the table too, though she managed to stop herself.
“Nay, I am not convinced.” He shook his head, continuing their argument. “It sounds more to me as if that is an excuse for those who are just afraid to speak their mind.”
“You…” She trembled, seemingly with anger. “You think that? I am not afraid to speak my mind.”
“I never said ye were.” He stared back at her. “Do you nae see how it could be though? Would ye nae rather talk freely about anything ye wish to, rather than going through a checklist of what ye must and must nae ask yer neighbor at the dining table? I have had enough of this.” He stood, stepping away from the table, wanting nothing more to do with this lesson.
“I tried to do as you wanted. I am showing you etiquette.”
“I want people to nae be afraid of me anymore. I daenae want to perform like some English dandy,” he spat back in her direction.
“I see this lesson has gone poorly indeed.” She stood abruptly from her seat.
He looked around, noting her face was as red as his own.
“Ye are leaving?” He stared at her, uncertain whether he wanted her to stay or not. He was so angry, he could well imagine being rid of her was the best decision.
“Well, at least you can get one thing right. When a lady stands from the table, so must a gentleman.”
“That is respect across all manners of society. That one is not reserved for this ridiculously fancy table.” He gestured disparagingly to the glassware in front of him.
