((Im doing good, how are you?))
Winifred said nothing. What had she to say?
He's acting so strange… she thought as they entered. She rolled his words over in her mind again. He had softened towards her tremendously. Maybe it took some humbling situation, but it happened nonetheless.
"Why do you come here often? What's so special about this place?" She asked.
(I'm good)
Marcus directed her out the back door and onto a veranda overlooking a serene lake. They sat down at a table closest to the edge, his eyes lingering on an elegant swan that glided by. "It's peaceful. Not too busy, nice view." He settled for a partial truth.
"And?" Her eyes slide over to him. He certainly looked in his element here. Not the place she had put him in her mind, but that was more akin to a saloon or a casino. She was started to feel very shamed of her earlier assumptions of this man.
His thoughts flashed back to Angeline, how broken she'd been when he'd held her only an hour ago. Rage sparked up within him, rage at his uncle.
Marcus leaned back in his seat, breathing in deeply. "It's… a calming force. I found it a few years ago.. I was upset.. it's a long story." He shrugged, the atmosphere of the place already working away at his nerves. "It's quaint, no?"
She gave a nod. She could understand that. Everyone needed that place where say could getaway.
A hiding place… For Winifred, that had been her books, little pockets into a world she wasn't apart of. For him, it was this place.
She turned her gaze to the swans gliding over the sparkling waters, the midday sun reflecting in them.
"Very quaint, indeed."
After a pause, Marcus opened the menu that had been set in front of him. "What would you like to order?" he asked Winnifred, his eyes skimming over the neatly printed pages. A light breeze blew by, ruffling his hair. It escaped his notice, however, he was too occupied with letting go of any destructive thoughts.
"Oh…" Winifred turned back to take up her menu; she hadn't even looked at it.
Her eyes caught the sight of his hair being ruffled in the wind. It was so soft and wild…like him. Her eyes slid to his face as he looked over the menu. His handsome face… those lashes low and thick, covering his beautifully chocolate brown eyes. Her gaze slid down his nose to his lips. Full and pink, his cupid's bow just as inviting to her sight. She felt silent.
Suddenly noticing the tension between them, Marcus raised his head to glance at Winnifred— and his gaze clashed with hers, already fixated on his face. His pulse sped up a little, which caused any illusion of calm to slip away. No– Goddammit, you weakling, stop it now. The mental chiding didn't make a difference, his eyes were too busy exploring hers to allow themselves to be forced back down. Like chocolate… he thought absentmindedly, before coming to his senses. No. Stop. Now.
Winifred stiffened when he eyes caught hers. What am I doing? She screamed at herself. She took her gaze from his violently, snapping her menu up to block her burning cheeks.
Darcy, you must pull yourself together! You look like a thirsty fool! Get out of your feelings and pay attention! This is your patient! She fumed behind the shield she had just placed, chiding herself viciously.
"I'll have the m-mushroom soup with cucumber s-sandwiches." she fumbled, her voice trembling, picking the first things her eyes landed on.
Marcus could have sagged in his seat. You idiot. You complete and utter idiot. She hated him. She must. There was no way she didn't, especially not after what just happened. God, he must have looked like a complete pervert, staring at her, his doctor like that. Her teasing words from a few days before echoed in his ears. It is natural for a young man such as yourself to desire a woman…
"The soup is nice, very therapeutic too," Marcus managed to reply, choosing a meal for himself.
((Oof those words are coming to bite her in the arse!!! I love it!))
Winifred kept the menu up still a waiter came and took it away, to her displeasure. She turned her eyes to her lap, picking lint from her dress. She couldn't looked at him, flustered and blushing. He laughed.
Her hands still trembled as she did her best to reign in her emotions.
The waiter eyed them with an amused glint in his eyes. "Will that be all for you and the miss?" He asked Marcus, offering him a sympathetic smile. He poured them glasses of water, his eyes flickering to Winifred slouched form before going back to Marcus, a silent question.
(XD)
Marcus gave the waiter, Thomas, a slight nod, eyes flickering briefly to Winnifred. They knew each other well, going back a few years, he was one of the only people Marcus trusted. "That's all, thank you." This was all he said verbally, but his eyes pleased his friend for help. Thomas winked, mouthed a message, and left the veranda.
After a pause, Marcus cleared his throat. "I apologize, Lady Winnifred, for my inappropriate behaviour. I hope that you will forgive me, and we can move on as acquaintances." He almost said 'as friends', but he remembered the promise they'd made to each other on her first day; no friendship, no attachments.
Winifred straightened slowly, her head rising. "I fear both have behaved like such immature children. All is forgive and brushed aside." she waved hand dismissively in the air, scattering her embarrassment. Most of it. She was relieved he had spoken first. She took a sip of her water.
Marcus smiled, relieved. "I'm glad." He shifted forwards slightly, keeping his stance casual, relaxed. "How are you after…. this morning's events? That operation must have been taxing, I'm sorry if I put too much pressure on you." You've apologized to her three times in the past two hours, get a hold of yourself!
Winifred gave a sad, sympathetic smile. He must be wracked with grief… she thought, her mind returning to that morning. Angeline was someone dear to him, perhaps the only companion he had. And she had been harmed in the worse way.
"Think nothing of it. Your concern was of Angeline, and I commend that of you. I was trained to do what I did, under pressure and with efficiency. I fear I took too long, to be honest."
"Not at all–" Suddenly his voice was choked with emotion. Taking a moment to regain his composure, he continued. "I can't thank you enough for what you did. I can trust that this will not reach my uncle's ears?" Marcus shifted again, hands twitching slightly.
Compassion lit her up in her eyes. "Of course not, just as I said the first time you asked." She smiled. But in the back of her mind, she couldn't wonder why he didn't want Lord Crenshaw to know.
He doesn't seem to want him to know anything.
Marcus could see the question on her face. “My uncle— was the one— my uncle raped Angeline. That was him. If any of this gets back to him the consequences for her could be life-threatening. I can’t have that happen.” He swallowed, looking away for a moment. “He’s not— he’s not a good person.”
Winifred blanched, paling as her eyes widened. "Marcus that is a very strong accusation to make against….." her sentence fell away. She remembered when Lord Crenshaw had groped her rear.
He was a perverted man… That she knew. She knew what his kind were liked: manipulative and lustful. What Marcus said was believable. After all, Angeline was just a maid to Lord Crenshaw, a lesser female. He could have her if he wanted. Or so he thought.
Winifred shook her head. "I am so sorry Marcus…"
Marchs’s walls fell away. He leaned his elbows on the table, resting his face in his hands. His shoulders trembled for a brief second. “I— I have lived with him my whole life— he’s tried things with Angeline before but never—“ Pull. Your. Self. Together.
"Marcus…" She whispered, standing from her chair and moving beside him. She placed a hand on his back, rubbing it gently. She kneeled beside him and sighed. "I…. I am so sorry that you have to battle against that man. To protect your friend, you are so bold and so strong…"
Marcus almost shuddered under her touch, but didn’t pull away. “I am neither of those things..” he told her quietly. “But this isn’t my pity party. You were the brave one here, I don’t know where she’d be without you.”
Winifred dipped her head to him. She sat for a moment and watched him. "Marcus Crenshaw… you are a strange man. But you have a few good virtues about you that make you a reliable person even if you don't want to be. Angeline is lucky to have you."
Marcus shook his head in disagreement, not trusting himself to speak. When he finally managed to compose himself, he took a quavering breath in. A breeze blew through the veranda, ruffling his hair further. “I- I am sorry for my strange behaviour today, forvjve me, I… I’m still a bit shaken.”
"I understand. No one is to be okay with things like this. And it takes awhile to bring yourself to means that it is the past and you cannot change it." She took his chin into her hands, gently. She looked him in his eyes.
Those beautiful eyes….
"This is by no means your fault. At all."