Chapter 15 - Fifteen
Suzy pushed open the heavy dining room doors, the feeling of hunger bubbling in her stomach. The room was grand, decorated with ornate furniture and gleaming silverware. A long table, laden with an array of delectable dishes, dominated the center of the space.
Across from the head of the table, Ryan sat rigidly, already halfway through his breakfast. His face was an unreadable mask, his brow furrowed in concentration.
Suzy, feeling a flicker of self-consciousness under the watchful gaze of the several servants and guards lining the room, cleared her throat. "Good morning" she greeted cautiously.
Ryan’s response was a curt nod and a barely audible "Hmm," his eyes never leaving his plate. Suzy, slightly deflated, took a seat opposite him, the distance between them vast and uncomfortable.
She cast a nervous glance around the room, the heavy silence broken only by the clinking of silverware. Servants glided silently around the table, their movements uncomfortable.
"Isn’t this a bit... much?" Suzy muttered under her breath, gesturing towards the watchful guards. "It’s like they’re expecting me to run away."
Ryan finally tore his gaze from his plate, his eyes flickering across her face with a hint of annoyance. "These are my guards," he replied curtly, his voice devoid of warmth. "Their presence is for your safety."
Suzy felt a surge of defiance rising within her. "Safety from what?" she retorted, her voice barely above a whisper. "A rogue scone?"
Ryan’s jaw clenched. He despised her constant need to challenge him, to question him. Wouldn’t she just accept her position and behave like a proper Duchess for once?
Ignoring her witty remark, he focused on his food, hoping to avoid further conversation. Suzy, sensing his disapproval, bit back a retort and decided to focus on the more pressing matter – the delicious food that awaited her.
The aroma of fresh pastries and savory sausages filled the air, making her stomach grumble. Suzy eagerly reached for a flaky croissant, her mouth watering in anticipation. As she did so, a jolt of clumsiness struck. Her napkin, caught between her chair and the table, snagged and slid to the floor.