A Fairy Tale for Big Girls – 9. chapter

A few days passed. Lili was beginning to accept that there was no avoiding lovemaking. Mark, in turn, was learning that every single time began with her brief resistance, which he had to overcome first. Though he did not understand why. As if she could not remember, even from a few hours before, that she would eventually yield anyway, and that she would enjoy it.

At breakfast she almost always seemed content. Sociable. Witty. In her conversations with Martin she would sometimes even toss a sharp remark in Mark’s direction. Martin found them amusing, but he never forgot to check Mark’s face to see whether he was smiling too. Mark’s reaction was never the same. Sometimes surprised, sometimes feigning outrage, and sometimes he returned her provocation properly.

Martin looked them both over and judged that they suited each other. Lili’s elegance, her gentle manners, and her quick wit all belonged naturally in the place at Mark’s side. And Mark himself seemed somewhat tamed. His outbursts had grown rare.
Lili sighed, and the thought crossed her mind that if she ever managed to escape, leaving would not be easy.

Mark decided to keep Lili downstairs with him all day. He and Martin only needed to discuss some minor unrest among the neighbors, nothing that, in his opinion, should trouble her. And more than that, he was growing increasingly reluctant to let her out of his reach. So they moved to a smaller chamber. Lili sat in a window alcove, gazing outside, trying not to listen.

For a moment she wondered what might happen if she stayed in this castle too long, but she pushed the thought away as quickly as she could. Ignoring the men’s conversation at the table, she looked around the room, searching for something to pass the time. The library pleased her. Careful not to disturb them, she crossed to the shelves as quietly as she could, quickly skimmed the titles, chose one, and returned just as silently to the window.

She ran her open palm gently over the leather binding and opened the book to the first page. She had read barely a few sentences when she became aware of the silence in the room. She lifted her head to find out what was happening. Both men were staring at her in astonishment. Mark recovered first.
“You can read?”

Only then did she realize she should not have revealed that. She slammed the book shut in a flash and, childishly, tried to hide it behind her back. Mark pierced her with his gaze and slowly rose. As he stepped toward her, she held her breath and pressed her head back against the wall.
“Lili,” he said as he reached her, “who taught you to read?”
He held out his open hand and waited. Very slowly, she drew the book from behind her back and handed it to him, almost guiltily. He skimmed the title and the first few lines, then turned to Martin.
“A travelogue. No pictures. Not even children’s rhymes.”
Both men looked at her again.
“I asked who taught you to read,” Mark repeated, slower now, but all the more insistently.
She looked away first, then lowered her head. He understood she would not answer. His jaw tightened, and an irritated guttural sound escaped his throat. Startled, she sank a little lower in her seat, staring at the floor, tense, waiting for what would come next. She did not see what he did, but she heard several loud exhales. Then he placed the book in her lap.
“You are stretching my patience in a very, very dangerous way,” he growled threateningly, then spun away.

Relief washed over her. She quickly glanced at Martin. He was watching her just as closely and intently as she had expected. She opened the book and began to read, simply to avoid looking anywhere else.

She managed to keep it up until midday. She came back to herself when Mark appeared right beside her.
“Aren’t you tired?”
“No,” she replied, trying to read his mood. She could not. “Should I leave?”
“No,” he said calmly. “I like it when you’re with me.”
His gaze dropped to the book.
“At this pace you’ll read my entire library soon.”
His voice was direct, without warmth or a hint of humor. She did not know how to respond, so she stayed silent.
“After that I’ll bring you something to embroider, shall I?” he went on.
She looked at him, thinking. Yes, this was a question. And he seemed to be waiting for another reason to be angry.
“Yes. I can embroider,” she admitted another skill uncommon among common folk.
To her surprise, the answer seemed to satisfy him.

“Eat something,” he said, gesturing to the tray of food, and returned to his seat beside Martin.
She had barely taken a bite of chicken when the door opened and a voice sounded.

“Would you like wine, my lord?”
Lili had her back to the newcomer, so she could not see her, but she knew that voice. Only when Mark agreed and the woman approached the table did Lili confirm it was Elena.
“Bring Lili a cup,” Mark said.
Elena apparently noticed her only then. Lili did not move, merely stared at the woman in silence. Elena skewered her with a murderous look but obeyed. She walked over and set the cup down on the window alcove with a sharp strike.
“Elena!” Mark roared so sharply that both women flinched. “Take that cup in your hands and give it to Lili again. And nicely!”
Elena’s expression turned offended, but she complied.
“Apologize to her,” Mark continued, furious.
Lili lowered her gaze in protest and waited for Elena’s choked words.
“…I apologize.”
Lili looked at her and answered quietly.
“It’s all right. Thank you.”

Only after Elena was given permission to leave and the door closed did Mark speak again.
“Lili, next time it is not all right. Everyone here will treat you with courtesy and respect until I say otherwise. All right?”
“I don’t think you had to…” she began, raising her voice.
“All right?!” he cut in, louder.
“…yes.”
She tried to hide the disagreement in her voice. She failed, but after a long look, Mark let it go. He turned back to Martin and they continued. Lili exhaled and returned her attention to the view beyond the window.