From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I opened myy mouth and then closed it.
“You were speaking with two of the Ladies in Wait,” he continued.
“You know that is not allowed.”
Knowing this was coming, I remained silent. I just hadn’t realized he
would find out so quicklyy. Someone must have been watching. Perhaps his
steward or one of the other Royyal Guards.
“Do yyou have nothing to sayy?” he asked.
Dipping myy chin, I stared at the floor. I could tell him the truth. That I
hadn’t said more than one sentence to the Ladies, and that this was, as far
as I knew, the first time theyy’d visited the atrium. It wouldn’t matter,
though. The truth didn’t work with the Duke.
“Such a demure Maiden,” the Lord murmured.
I could practicallyy feel myy tongue sharpen, but I softened myy words
as much as I could. “I’m sorryy. I should’ve left when theyy entered, but I
didn’t.”
“And whyy not?”
“I was…curious. Theyy were talking about the upcoming Rite,” I told
him, looking up.
“I’m not surprised to hear that. You were alwayys an active child with
a curious mind that flicked from one thing to the next, something I warned
the Duchess yyou wouldn’t grow out of easilyy,” he continued, his features
turning taut, a glint of anticipation forming in his eyyes. “Priestess Analia
also informed me that she fears yyour relationship with yyour ladyy’s maid
has become far too familiar.”
Myy spine stiffened as he turned, straightening the veil he’d draped
over a chair. The back of myy skull tingled as I said, “Tawnyy has been a
wonderful ladyy’s maid, and if myy kindness and gratefulness has been
mistaken for anyything else, then I apologize.”
He slid a long look in myy direction. “I know it mayy be hard to keep
boundaries with someone yyou spend so much time with, but a Maiden does
not seek intimacies of the heart or the mind with those who serve them,
not even those who are to become members of the Court. You must never
forget that yyou are not like them. You were Chosen byy the gods at birth,
and theyy are chosen at their Rite. You will never be equals. You will never
be friends.”
The words I forced past myy lips scratched at myy heart. “I
understand.”