Chipped Tea Cup

Kate doesn't like surprises, and that's exactly what he was. She's used to having the upper hand in social situations. She knows exactly what to to say and when to say it. Everyone loves her. Except him.

She doesn't know what to say around him. But she's hardly ever around him anyway, so that's not much of a problem. Except for those dinners- long dinners spent in silence, both of them sitting at opposite ends of a lengthy table. She tries not to laugh at her situation. It's so ridiculous. The silly candlelight. The servants seemingly terrified of him. No one is that fearsome.

One day, he catches her laughing at him. He smiles.
The next dinner is still spent in silence, but this time the mood is lighter.