Tiberius wasn't sure what was more frustrating: her choice of vocabulary (pining!), her tone as she said it, or the way she leaned against the door. She was physically intruding into his personal space now, even if she was only a few inches into the doorway, in addition to encroaching on his patience. If she had hit anywhere near truth with her jab, it might have provoked him to fury, but the notion that he could pine for anyone, least of all his useless saltpeter wife, was so ridiculous he couldn't possibly be truly angry about the remark.

That didn't mean he was going to waste time entertaining it, though. Without comment, Tiberius gave the door a hefty shove, intending to shut it in her face — even if that meant sending her sprawling across the hallway as a result.