I UPDATED! LOOK AT THAT!

Haha, sorry about the wait...


Beillschmidt was standing at the head of a long table set with an extraordinary amount of food. His mouth twisted into a grin as Madeleine stepped through the doors at the end of the room. "Come in, liebling."

Madeleine frowned. He kept giving her nicknames and had only addressed her by her real name once. She hated it. She was being made his doll, a plaything. He didn't treat her like a real person and she added it to the list of things she hated about the man.

She walked to the table and a footman was immediately at her side to pull the chair out for her. She sat and the footman moved the chair forward, then disappeared. Beillschmidt took his seat and smiled. "Eat as much as you like, Birdie."

Madeleine refused to respond and simply began filling her plate. She ate slowly, delicately, and she tried to ignore his eyes constantly watching her.

She finally set down her fork and looked at him. "Are you not going to eat, sir?"

He chuckled. "I am fine. And don't call me 'sir', the name is Gilbert."

She sighed. "Very well."

He pouted slightly. "Why do you dislike me so much, Birdie?"

She rolled her eyes, resisting the urge to explode at him. "Why do you think?"

He sighed. "If you want to see your father, I can summon him here for you."

Madeleine paused. "You would do that?"

Beillschmidt sighed. "I don't like seeing you unhappy. I want to hear your laugh, I want to see your smile. I don't want to see your tears, or hear your sobs. Please, Madeleine?"

Madeleine sighed. "I am sorry, but a caged bird never sings." She stood, placing her napkin on the table. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to bed."

Beillschmidt nodded quietly and clapped his hands. A footman appeared at her side and led her out of the room. As the door closed, Beillschmidt buried his face in his hands and cursed his existence. The footman delivered Madeleine to her room. She shut the door and ran to the bed, burying her face in the covers, sobbing.

A quiet knock on the door stirred her from her tear-induced sleep. She stood up and wiped her eyes. "Who is it?"

"It's me, Feli. Are you alright, Maddie?"

"Come in, Feli."

The door opened and a subdued and worried Feli walked in. "Are you okay, Maddie?"

Madeleine nodded and sat back onto the bed. "I just, I just want to go home. I hate Beillschmidt, and I hate it here. I never wanted to get married in the first place, and now I'm far away from home, trapped like a bird, and treated like a doll, just a plaything for my husband's enjoyment."

Feli hugged Madeleine tightly. "It's okay, Maddie. Mr. Beillschmidt's actually really nice."

Madeleine laughed harshly. "As if. That man doesn't have a kind bone in his body."

"You just have to give him time," Feli insisted.

"I don't want to give him time!"

There was a knock on the door and Madeleine sighed. "Go away!"

"I'm afraid I must ask you to let me in."

Feli's eyes widened. "It's Ms. Elizaveta!" she whispered and hurried to the door, opening it to an older woman with brown hair and bright green eyes. She stepped in and smiled reassuringly at Madeleine, as Feli shut the door. "How are you adjusting?"

Madeleine scowled, sitting up. "I hate it here. I hate my husband, I hate my father, I hate my life!"

Elizaveta nodded. "I agree. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for Beillschmidt."

Madeleine frowned. "Why do you work here if you hate him?"

Elizaveta ignored the question. "Unfortunately, he is the master of the house and can get violent when he doesn't get his way. So, it's best if you at least go along with his requests. So long as you do so, he won't hurt you or do anything untoward."

"He's cruel and mocking and I'll have nothing to do with him."

Elizaveta sighed and sat next to Madeleine. Feli came down and sat next to them, taking Madeleine's hand and beginning to stroke it gently. Elizaveta patted her leg. "What I'm about to say should never be expressed outside this room."

Both Feli and Madeleine nodded.

"Gilbert Beillschmidt is a hard man who has a hard life, but he has kindness in him. And, Madeleine, I believe you can help him return to the man he was in his youth."

"Have you known him that long?"

Feli smiled. "She used to love him."

Elizaveta gave her a sharp look. "That may have been, but I have long since moved on. I hate him now."

Madeleine smiled. "Doesn't seem like it to me, but, I'm glad you told me. I don't know if I can do that, though. He's just frustrating."

Elizaveta laughed. "He's more than just frustrating, my dear, but you'll be fine. If you ever need anything, you can talk to me."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Oh, please, call me Elizaveta."

Madeleine nodded. "Thank you, Elizaveta."

Elizaveta patted Madeleine's leg. "You'll be fine." She stood. "Now, I must be going. You will likely be summoned for breakfast." She smiled. "Try to deal with him."

Madeleine sighed and nodded. Elizaveta smiled and left. Madeleine sighed and with Feli's help, she got ready for bed and flopped onto the bed, quickly falling asleep.


Yeah, it's short. Sorry. But, hey, I updated! Haha, sorry...I've been on so many tangents and writer's blocks that I almost gave up. But I came back for you, my dear followers. Thanks for being patient!

Please review!