(Aw thank you so much!! That’s exactly how I feel about your writing, you’re word use and description is so amazing, your characters really shine through!)
Marcus was grappling with the tiny voice in his head, the one screaming about romance and courting and flirting. She blew on your chest for God’s sake! She’s seen you half-naked.! Still, he couldn’t exactly deny the fact that she was quite a fetching woman. “I’m a regular there, it’s quite a nice place.”
((Aww imma cry))
Winifred smiled. "Well that's nice. I'm sure the food with be wonderful." Her smile faltered, her thoughts going back to that morning. He still hadn't combed his hair, she loved its riotous nature. It suited him so well.
(Aw)
"Do you–" he faltered slightly. "Do you happen to have a comb on you? It seems improper for me to go to lunch with the Doctor that healed my best friend with this un-brushed mess."
Winifred had the audacity to look crestfallen. "Uh, yes…" she fished through her purse and pull her comb out. "Here." She handed to her, covering her saddened look and brightened. "Don't break it with those knots.." She smirked.
Marcus's mind flashed back to earlier that morning, when she had pulled his hand from his hair in order to stop him from combing it. He wondered if it was better to leave it uncombed after all. "I'll be careful," he told her, removing his hat and raising the comb to his hair. "If the lady would not mind me asking…" he started, feeling strangely vulnerable and knowing that she could tell, "Would she prefer for me to leave it as is?" He silently prayed that Winnifred would not be upset by his question.
Winifred's eyes widened, utterly perplexed by his question. She was shocked that he asked, and he seemed to care of her opinion. She tried to think of something cheeky or witty to reply with; but she came of short. So she answered him plainly.
"The lady would prefer you leave it." She replied.
Marcus offered her a lopsided smile, pressing the comb back into her hand.
What are you doing?? Get yourself together!!
"In that case, I believe that it is fine as is." He folded his gloved hands in his lap, glancing over at her.
Winifred could hardly breathe as he handed her back the comb. She froze utterly and completely. He's not going to comb his hair because I don't want him to? What is this? What is he playing at? Her mind was on a rampage. Marcus was switching up the game.
Slowly, her fingers curled around the comb and she pushed it back inside her purse, her wide brown eyes never leaving Marcus.
"Oh." That was all she could manage.
Marcus felt an odd sort of fluttering in his chest, but as soon as it was registered he had shoved it away. No. Stop. Now. His gaze definitely did not linger on her chocolate eyes, wide from surprise, for a second longer than necessary. His fingers most definitely did not twitch in longing to gently close her open mouth. Stop it.
He turned his head away, trying to get a grip on himself. "What was it that you had to pick up from the post?"
Winifred's mind began to function once more. She blinked. "Um, just a care package from my aunt. And a few new supply from my professor. He keeps me in the loop, since I cannot purchase these items myself." She told him, turning her gaze to her gloved hands, fussing with her skirts.
(just curious, in the description of the rp you say 'it all started with a game of cards', what exactly happened?)
Marcus nodded his head. "Wait, why can't you purchase the items yourself?", he asked, furrowing his brow. "If money is a problem I'd be happy to pay."
((Well, before Winifred takes the job as Marcus's nurse, she was with her aunt, visiting her in the asylum. What they do for fun is, they take a choice, In this case it was whether or not Winifred would take the job, and gamble it on a game of cards. She lost, her aunt told her to take the job)
Winifred looked up at him. "Oh, that's not the issue at all. I-" she looked up at him with a small smile. "I am an illegal doctor. Woman aren't allowed to have this type of occupation in all places. I am only limited to nursing jobs, but I've taken on many that have nothing to do with nursing. My caliber of knowledge within the medical world is far more than is should be."
(ooh cool, thanks)
Marcus blinked, surprised and very impressed. "Wow, that's– that's very admirable. And difficult to achieve. And I must say, I am very glad that your knowledge extends so far, you probably have and will save many lives." He meant it completely genuinely, there was not an ounce of scorn or sarcasm on his face.
Winifred was practically beaming like the sun, a bright smile on her lips. "Thank you, Marcus."
The carriage stopped and the footman knocked. "We have arrived at the post office." He said. Winifred still had her eyes on Marcus. "Uh, yes, I'll be right back. " She opened the door, her eyes finally sliding away. But her mind, it was still on the mysterious male.
Marcus looked down at his lap when she left, trying to collect his thoughts and emotions. What was happening to him?? You complete and utter imbecile, stop getting distracted! After tonight, she won't want you anyways… He bit his lip so hard that his teeth almost drew blood. Just stop. Why would he want her to want him anyways? What was wrong with him?
Winifred's mind remained on Marcus and his actions as she got her packages and returned to the carriage. As she handed them to the footman she wondered what could've cause his change in emotions. Her own words came to mind. Lord Marcus, I have said it before, but you are a lonely young man, it's normal for you to desire a young woman….
Winifred's cheeks flushed tomato red as heat engulfed her, the footman finally getting her hand as she unsteadily got into the carriage. She didn't raise her eyes to Marcus, her wide gaze remained glued to her lap.
Am I the woman he wants to bed?
Marcus could almost read her thoughts, and it was slowly tearing him apart. “Are you alright?” he asked, although he already knew the answer. “I—“ He cleared his throat. “I am sorry if I offended or made you uncomfortable.”
Winifred waved a hand dismissively. "My mind drifted, that all." To uncharted waters, I'm afraid… she added in her thoughts. And she had no idea how to get back to safer ground. So, she sat there, studying her gloves. "Don't worry you mind about it. Tell the driver where we're going so we can eat." She instructed him, that steadiness returning to her voice once more.
Marcus nodded, finally drawing himself together. Fully composed– at least externally– he did as she instructed. Soon the carriage was moving along at a moderate pace. "Did you retrieve everything you came for?" he asked her, now able to meet her eyes unwaveringly. It was then that he realized that there had been almost no pain coming from his chest; the painkiller she'd given him really worked miracles. He decided not to take it tonight, he'd had enough of relief and it was time to slip back into the familiarity of pain.
"Yes, yes I did…" she gave him a nod. She looked away from him, out the carriage window, finding solace in the warm sunshine that leaked through. "How does your chest feel?" she asked him, her face still to the window. She couldn't manage to look at him any longer. She had already treaded outside of professional boundaries within her thoughts.
Winnifred looked away, and Marcus was disgusted with himself when his heart sank. Stop it. He managed to keep the act up, but barely. “The painkillers did the trick.”
This was bad. Lying should come easily, should come out flawless. It had always been that way for him. But apparently not anymore. Wishing she would look back at him and hating himself for it, Marcus rubbed his thumb over his knuckles. “We’ve almost arrived.”
"Hm." She shifted a bit in her seat, her one leg over the other as she waited for them to arrive at their destination. She felt disgusted with herself. How could she think of such things after what had just happened? His friend lay in pain and sorrow at the manor and her she was, think such immodest things. She had brought him out to distract him.
Consider him distracted, he must be thinking about how much of a harlot I am…
(good morning)
"Are you sure you're alright?" Marcus prompted gently, turning his head to look at her as the carriage came to a stop outside of a pleasant little building with large windows and a pretty arched roof. The door swung open, and he got out, offering an arm to her.
((Good Morning!))
Winifred looked at him as she exited the carriage, hesitantly, she took his arm.
"Yes. I'm fine." she answered, her voice betraying her. She was in fact far from fine. But that was her personal issue. Why should she burden him with her problems?
She looked to the restaurant. It was quaint and homey-looking, even if small.
(how are you?)
Marcus hesitated. He could tell that she was clearly not fine, but he didn't want to push her. After a pause that lasted long enough for him to walk her through the door of the restaurant, he spoke. "If you need to talk, that's fine by me. If not, also fine." As soon as they entered, thoughts of Angeline came crashing back down on him. He'd taken her here once, snuck her out of the manor….