He used her name. For some reason that didn't bother her. In most she would find it forward, ill mannered but Lillian found herself liking the way her name sounded when he said it. 

She smiled, her head tilting a little and a stray strand of hair falling from it's loose position. Her hair had not been well pinned up today and it seemed to threaten to fall at every moment. "Apollo, Artemis...gods and goddesses of the Greek world. I rather enjoy the stories of their heroes."

A blush formed as he turned the book. It wasn't long before he closed it, hiding away the illustration. Her aunt would never have approved. Of the book, of his viewing it with her or of him being alone with her. 

"You bring up an interesting point and one I happen to ask myself often." Lillian took the book from him, placing it in her lap. "To me, the monsters as they often call them are beautiful and not to be treated as evil or bad. Often they are creatures or men, changed due to circumstances and just doing what they need to fight back, to survive as you put it. In Greek myths it is often the beautiful gods and goddesses who are the ones who bring down the worst experiences. For instance if Zeus stopped bedding every woman he desired no matter if she wanted it or not a great number of the so-called monsters would not exist."

A blush rose quickly in her face colouring her cheeks a pretty pink. It was not a topic one discussed in civilized company.

"I just meant that it seems in their stories monster does not mean evil. Sometimes yes, though I would argue that often not. They are often the result of the wickedness of others and made to suffer."

She leaned forward. It had been months since she was able to engage in such interesting conversation.

"Where do you stand on monsters then? Are men monsters?"