Chapter 13: “The Way the Other Person Wants”:
Lily’s laughter would not stop, and she was starting to get angry at this rude man.
“I won’t come tomorrow.”
Only then did he finally stop laughing.
“Why not?”
She could not bring herself to say that she didn’t want to come because he had been teasing her so harshly. That would have been truly humiliating. So instead…
“I haven’t even had lunch, and I’m helping with your acting.”
“You mean, even though you got the prize and a formal position at the hotel thanks to me, it’s still not enough?”
It was the kind of remark that would irritate anyone, but Lily simply nodded. Besides, reciting lines did make her hungry.
Hearing the embarrassing rumble in her stomach, Christopher raised his voice slightly.
“Fine. Let’s eat.”
“There’s another problem.”
“A picky and expensive practice partner, huh?”
He leaned back on the sofa, now amused, like a benevolent king allowing her to say whatever she wanted.
“I can’t come every day. If I’m caught, I’ll get fired.”
Christopher tapped the sofa’s armrest lightly with his fingers, as if considering, and replied casually.
“Who would fire a maid who works well and won a prize? So come at this same time tomorrow.”
What kind of confidence allowed him to speak like that?
“You don’t know. You don’t know how strictly the hotel manages its maids. It’s a high-paying job, but easy to get fired.”
“That won’t happen.”
Unlike the serious Lily, a lively expression appeared on his face. Teasing a maid trying to refuse in a difficult situation.
“You need evidence for me to accept that.”
“Shall I write a letter to Lord Belmore? Tell him you’re a maid he absolutely needs? Or should I go in person?”
Lily flatly refused, seeing how much he was clearly enjoying this.
“No, that’s fine. You’ve already helped me enough before.”
“Then you’ll come tomorrow, right?”
He said it happily, and Lily nodded in frustration.
“What do you like?”
It was a passing question, but no one had ever asked Lily such a small thing before.
The people who donated outdated cloth to the convent, or gave broken toys to the children, only told her to be grateful.
“You must have something you like.”
“I…”
Lily hesitated for a moment before answering. There were many things she liked, but she did not know what to say. What came to mind immediately:
The scent of flowers, books containing the world, towering piles in libraries she could never finish reading, the mahogany desk to stack them on.
And a deep, cavernous voice reading the books aloud?
No, that wasn’t allowed.
“Books.”
“You’re not a goat, you can’t eat them. You said you were hungry, so you must mean something edible.”
He added, seemingly unconcerned by her strange answer.
“As a separate matter, if you like books, you may read mine.”
“There aren’t any books in this room.”
“If you want, I’ll have them brought here.”
Lily turned her head toward a neatly packed suitcase, wondering if books were packed there.
“They’re in the safe. I usually put things like that in the safe.”
“Really? You really put books in a safe?”
His deep, handsome eyes softened gently.
“No. But I will from tomorrow.”
Then Lily realized he had teased her again, and she gritted her teeth.
The next day, as soon as lunch arrived, Lily hurried up to the third floor.
She didn’t notice her panting, but froze at the door.
He, as if waiting for her, slightly opened the door and spoke.
“Why are you dawdling at the door?”
Startled, Lily almost fell back from the door.
Seeing his handsome face, her cheeks flushed slightly.
“Come in.”
The aroma of delicious food wafted from inside.
“What are you doing standing there?”
He repeated, and Lily gave a light nod and stepped inside.
Inside was a warm soup, a succulent steak, spiced hot vegetables, a jug of orange juice, black tea, and a soft cream cake topped with strawberries.
Seeing the silverware-laden spread, Lily was flustered.
“I told you to sit.”
He pulled out a chair and guided Lily, standing awkwardly, to sit.
“Eat.”
He placed a plate before her and repeated gently.
“Who said you had to eat to be my practice partner? That’s why I said, let’s eat together.”
She hadn’t expected such treatment; it was more than mere lip service.
“That was just a remark. I shouldn’t touch your food.”
Lily refused firmly, so he put down the napkin.
“Then I won’t eat either. Seems like it’s not tasty.”
Not tasty?
Lily looked at the wasted food, the aroma intoxicating, dessert sweetly tempting.
When she picked up her fork, he finally looked satisfied. He might have surprised everyone if they knew she dared touch the guest’s food.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
Lily, lost in thought holding her fork and knife, shook her head and poked the hot vegetables.
“Eat the steak too.”
The commanding tone made her hesitate.
“Yes.”
She quickly swallowed and chewed the vegetables. Somehow, she felt she had to eat quickly.
Was it because of how fast she moved while chewing?
“Slow down.”
He repeated, and she nodded, food in her mouth, then hastily answered again.
“You don’t have to speak with food in your mouth.”
A noble lady would never speak while eating. Her cheeks puffed, full of food, were rather cute.
She nodded again.
Meanwhile, he offered a plate of the sliced steak.
“It’s fine.”
“No matter how well you clean, you wouldn’t want to eat steak rolling on the floor.”
His remark sounded like a reproach for her lack of etiquette, so Lily bowed her head.
She had never eaten proper meat except preserved sausages filled with pork.
“Not to your taste?”
Noticing her pale face, he asked. Lily watched him elegantly place a piece of meat in her mouth.
How could a man be so graceful?
“No.”
“Is work hard? You seem too thin. Not eating well?”
Suddenly she remembered Mr. Gardner’s phrase for pigs or sheep on the farm being “too skinny, not marketable.”
She blushed, hearing it as an insult to her appearance.
“No, I’m fine for work. Healthy enough and strong too.”
She wanted to say that right now, enduring this moment was the hardest part, being observed like a hawk while eating. She’d rather rehearse lines.
“Then you’ll finish all this too.”
She sighed, staring at the scones, mini desserts, omelet with beans, buttered pancakes, and candied fruits stacked on the tray. Too much for two people, and he barely touched the food, watching her eat.
“I’ll try.”
“Good. We’ll go until the end today, so eat plenty.”
She avoided his gaze by drinking water in large gulps.
If shame could kill, Lily might have died a few times in front of him already.
He smiled, as if aware or unaware of that feeling.
In the small, cozy room, she couldn’t avoid his gaze. At the same time, she realized she was, for the first time in a while, free of gloomy thoughts.
It was a strange, surprising feeling. No one she loved existed, no progress finding her parents—but she was happy.
“It’s a bit warm.”
Lily pressed her cheek against the cold glass. Looking out, she could see where the convent had been.
How long would it take to read the script today? How many rehearsals? Could it be alright to enjoy this?
“Where do you perform the play?”
“At Rotunda Hall. Want to see?”
“Oh, no.”
She immediately refused, feeling it presumptuous.
“If invited, you could come in. But not in maid attire, of course.”
Her cheeks likely remained red, even pressing against the glass. She murmured.
“I may not see it, but I’m sure you’ll do well.”
“I’d like to see if I recite the lines properly, like now.”
Lily shook her head.
“No need to do that because of me. You’ve already been inconvenienced enough.”
She removed her cheek and bowed politely.
“I’ll repay you for the meal and… your kindness as best I can.”
“Miss Elizabeth.”
He said gently.
“Repayment should be done in the way the other person wants.”
She lifted her head, and as if waiting, he offered her a plate.
“I mean, you haven’t finished yet.”
