My Fair Lady (Lady Dimitrescu x Actor Mark story)

Chapter 24: Gardens in the Day. Storms in the Night

     Author's Note: Disclaimer. THIS chapter is the longest one by far. Over 10,000 words! Which is basically the equivalent of three chapters in one. So I would read this knowing you'll be reading for a good while haha! 

     Please let me know how you felt about this length. Was this just a little too long or did you like having a good chunk to read? Let me know in the comments! Your feedback really helps considering you are the ones reading this. Not every chapter will be this lengthy, but I was able to have this chunk of plot fit together in one chapter instead of dividing it into two. Anyway, enjoy the story!

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     Mark woke in the morning, feeling like he'd been hit by a train, but faring much better than he had last night, or at least what he could recall of it. The memories were quite muddled. He recalled speaking to Lady Dimitrescu briefly, and Selvia, bless her soul, coming to care for him in his drunken haze. His dirtied wine-stained clothes still stuck onto him, now only slightly damp but mostly dry and crinkling in uncomfortable ways.

     Sighing exasperatedly as he squirmed and toppled out of bed, Mark poured himself a cup of water provided in a pitcher by his bedside table. After making sure he'd drank a full cup, he wandered over to his dresser, pulling out his robe. Removing his clothes proved tricky, but eventually he got all the dirty clothing off of himself and swapped them for his robe. He hoped a nice warm bath was all he'd need to refresh himself and start the day off right. 

     This time as Mark entered the bathing chambers, he'd brought not one, but two towels, as well as double checking the soaps. The trauma of the jokes played on him made him a tad paranoid. He was honestly relieved to know none of the maids had done so to him, but it was quite disheartening to now know these jokes had been planted by Lady Dimitrescu's own daughters. Did they perhaps take a disliking to him already? Was this their way of showing their distaste of him, or worse, did they happen to know something he did not... about his affections towards their mother? Mark tried to not let such knowledge be taken to heart, hoping the daughters simply played such jokes on him because he was the newbie around. It still baffled him to know those three were in the castle the entire time of his stay and he hadn't once known.

     The three daughters Dimitrescu were all quite beautiful, each gifted with alluring features that would surely make men's hearts beat ever faster. They were also strangely tall, taking after their mother no doubt. Perhaps one day they would grow to be just as tall. Mark lightly chuckled at the thought; a family of giants. 

     Once he'd finishing cleaning himself, Mark dried himself of any moisture, fluffed up his damp hair until it was almost completely dry, and returned to his room to change into his clothes. He dressed in colors of beige and cream today, skipping on the red after last evenings incident.

     After ensuring he looked presentable before a mirror, Mark made his way to breakfast. When he sat down, maid's bringing forth his breakfast for the morning, Mark couldn't help staring at the empty chairs around him. It was rather peculiar to him that the Dimitrescu's ate with him at dinner each night without fail but did not attend breakfast. Perhaps he could ask about why that was later. For now, he focused on the delicious meal before him and ate his fill, the tasty cooking serving to lift his spirits and set his day on a course for something better.

     The doors to the dining hall suddenly opened, and Mark was quite surprised to lock eyes with the lady of the castle, watching her enter.

     "Oh, good. You're here," Lady Dimitrescu simply said upon spotting him.

     "Good morning, my Lady. Was there something you needed of me?" Mark inquired, his cheeks turning pink ever so slightly.

     He found it harder and harder to avoid his feelings towards the large woman, and who could blame him? She was truly beautiful and carried a presence that demanded attention.