"Are you defending me?" Alaric asked, amazed.
"I'm explaining you. There's a difference."
"Is there?"
"Also, I love him."
The crowd gasped.
"You can't just declare that!" Alaric protested, echoing her earlier words.
"You did it first!"
"That's different!"
"How?"
"I don't know, but it must be!"
"Equal declaration rights," someone in the crowd called. "If the duke can declare love, so can Marianne!"
"Thank you!" Marianne said. "See? The village understands equality."
"The village understands drama," Alaric corrected.
"Same thing in Hollingford."
"I've noticed."
They stood on the platform, facing each other while the entire village watched with the intensity of an audience at the best theatrical performance.
"So what happens now?" Marianne asked.
"Now I court you properly. No lies, no pretense."
"How does one properly court a baker?"
"Early morning visits, helping with deliveries, suffering through your experiments."
"I don't experiment."
"You made savory gingerbread last week."
"That was innovation!"
"That was a crime against gingerbread."
"You ate three pieces."
"I was being supportive."
"You liked them."
"I like everything you make."
"Even the failures?"
"Especially the failures. They're honest."
