"Drowning out the clock ticking?"
"No."
"Because I think you were huffing those sighs at one per second." Honestly. Trying to read in the parlor with her around should have been tranquil. It had seemed that way at first, of course, Belle at the other side curled up with a book on her lap, but once again appearances prove deceiving.
"It's just, that man that just left, asking for a love potion..."
"Lust potion, dearie," he corrects her. "No potion can create love."
"Even so," she says, turning the book over so her wrist rests on the spine. Oh, how fun, a discussion. "You didn't find it absolutely revolting he would use such a thing on his own wife?"
"Better a wife than a cow."
"It's cheating!" Her face is growing crimson, but she's pushing aside her modesty. "I know it's none of my business, but if they have indeed gone through with this silly 'holding off until one of them cracks,' he should just go on and give in and be done with it."
"Admit his lust is too great for him? Beg for it? Can't do that, I'm afraid. She'll own him forever."
"Own?" For once she seems well-versed in this subject, her question more incredulity than confusion.
"Yes, own. Carnal knowledge, dearie, is how women control men." A snort responds. "I detect disbelief."
"You think that's how it is? Only a man would think women control men. Men have repressed women for ages for the silliest reasons and if she feels this is the only way she can have a say, then perhaps she's in the right."
"Strikes a nerve with you, does it?"
"It's just that it's cheating, like I said. I'm sure she wants to as much as he does, so all he needs to do is admit it."
Now it is his turn to snort. That she had a feistiness to her he knew, but the free way she speaks now contrasts so much with the girl who slammed a book shut last month just because it had one too many adult words in it. He realizes only some egalitarian fervor can be behind such outspokenness. A bit titillating in its own way.
"I'm sure." Oh, he knows his sarcasm and returning to his book won't be the end of it. One, two...
"You think it's been an easy fortnight for her?" Ha ha, her fury as well as her sighs run like clockwork.
"So you believe that if he gives in first, she'll just welcome him with open...arms," he decides on, not wanting to push the boundaries of modesty with her. "And that will be the end of it."
"Of course. She'll just be happy to know she's valued as highly as she is. Women want to as much as men. They just hide it because men like to think they don't want it."
"That makes so much sense," he says, rolling his eyes.
"It does. Men do all sorts of ridiculous things to convince themselves women are prim, unfeeling little saints so they can always tell themselves it's just a woman's nature that she doesn't want to, rather than thinking it's anything they did, a tortuous way of placing the blame on anything but themselves, you know."
"And, assuming this conspiracy theory of yours is correct, if men ever discovered the secret...everyone gets to indulge in what they want, marriages everywhere are saved, and there would be no more holding out!" He clasps his hands together and squeals. "It's so glorious! But I suppose that's bad."
"Men don't want to believe women can love them."
"I have a response." He holds up a finger. "Wait for it. It's one word. It's on the tip of my tongue...balderdash."
"Then why can't we pick our own husbands?"
She has him there, he realizes. The debate must shift or else she'll realize she's won...he replays every word in his mind and gathers his thoughts.
"So cynical, dearie. I wonder who has spurned your 'love,' as you put it, in all your experience." For a moment, he considers the fact that she may never have a husband now, but pushes the thought out.
"I, I don't have to have firsthand experience," she stutters.
"Then I'm right that you've never wanted it."
"That's an entirely different—"
"And if she wants it as badly as you assume she does, adding just a little bit more lust to her fire can't hurt, can it? Might even be doing her a favor."
"It's still not fair."
"You've implied yourself that marriage isn't fair, so you see, this whole time we were actually agreeing." His hands flail, he giggles—the final point is his. She rises and folds down the page she was on. Hesitating while looking over at the stairs, she crooks the book between her arm and chest and narrows her eyes at him. He mocks the expression while something in him feels stirred in a way, still waters finally churning.
"I'm going to retire for the night. Beastly conversation anyway." She heads up the stairs, tucking her chin in, cheeks redder than before. It would be nice if a gorgeous woman such as she wanted it, he thinks.
A/N: Just thought I'd remind everyone I don't own the show or the characters. Thank you to everyone who has left a review. Please, if you enjoy the story, or even if you don't, let me know!