The anger in Viola's face softened a little at her maid's concern. Dear Ava. She'd always been so loyal, despite everything. "There are worse situations," she said. "But yes, it's not exactly a picnic."
Funny, how, before she'd come here and met Lachlan and seen the way the Aurellians were often forced to live their lives, she would have thought herself quite magnanimous, admitting that other people had it worse than her when it felt like her own world was falling apart. Now it didn't feel magnanimous at all, just like a fact she had to own up to. A reality that existed separately from herself and her troubles. A reality that she could only really do something about because she would inevitably choose to marry Linden.
"He does have an intimidating manner," Viola agreed. "But he won't hurt you, Ava. I can promise you that. He's not really a... cruel man. Just..." she exhaled hard. "A tremendous ass."