Winifred stood and found herself waiting for Marcus. It was like she wanted to move, but she didn't know how. She kept silently. But her eyes followed his form as he stepped closer to the passing waiter, whispering to him. She raised a brow to him.
Marcus raised his own brow in return. Waving goodbye to Thomas, he held out his arm to Winnifred. He lead her back through the restaurant and out the door to the carriage, which was waiting.
Winifred took his arm and was silent the whole way. She spoke only when she was in carriage, settled in her seat, only half sure the moment had truly passed. "Thank you…. For the lunch… It was truly.." She fought for the right word to appear. "Interesting! It was very interesting."
Marcus chuckled, the carriage door swinging shut behind him. "I'm glad you enjoyed it." The horses pulling their compartment began at a sharp canter, leaving the cozy place behind.
Winifred lurched with the carriage before righting herself. She looked to Marcus.
"Who was the waiter? A friend of yours? Thomas, I think you said his name was?" She questioned.
Yeah, the young boy whom you added to you playful banter… She cursed at herself in scolding.
Marcus somehow managed to keep his composure. "Thomas is an old friend." He managed a teasing smirk. "Why, are you planning on seeing him shirtless some time soon?" It was a relief to have something to use against her as a joke, she seemed to never run out of things to tease him with.
Winifred rolled her eyes. "Maybe I will, who knows where this career of mine may take me." She leaned back in her seat, seemingly a bit more relaxed now. She was happy that they had gotten past the 'Cake Moment', she would call it. As awkward as it at been, it had truly been satisfying to touch his lips. She gave small smile.
Marcus definitely did not miss the feeling of her hands against his lips. Or cheeks. Or chest.
At least, that's what he told himself repeatedly.
He chose to chuckle lightly in response to her comment. "Winnifred Darcy, you are not what I expected."
Winifred looked to Marcus. "What did you expect?" She asked, genuinely curious. She had never asked him why he took an immediate disliking to her when she first came. She had wondered though. It was better ask now that he was in a better mood. She leaned forward. "Tell me. I actually want to hear your expectation that I butchered."
Marcus tilted his head slightly, considering her question. “For one, I did not expect someone my age. I thought you’d be a bit like…. a governess, I guess. And even when I saw you I thought you’d be austere, condescending. That you’d treat me like I was completely insane. Dangerous. Mal-developed.” He shrugged. “That’s what most people think of me anyways. My tactic to get rid of other… doctors, nannies, and the rest has been to either scare them off as soon as possible or act despicable until they get fed up. It worked with seventeen of them…… and then there was you.” He scratched at his neck. “It was clear that you didn’t want to be here, which is admittedly understandable, but you were also stubborn and wouldn’t leave. With past doctors.. they’ve been my uncle’s way of keeping tabs on me. Making sure I’m docile. I—“
For the sixth time that day, he seemed at a loss for words. “Doctors… they either couldn’t care less about you and are in it for the money, or they want you to ‘open up’ to them. The idea of ‘opening up’…. I’m not really for it.”
Winifred listened and thought she might laugh with the delirious joy and pride she felt. She was the odd-ball, she was the different one for him. Out of seventeen doctors, she was the one who stuck around. It also confirmed her own theories about Marcus Crenshaw. "This is all completely understandable and what I expected of you. Ya see, because, you are a plant…" Winifred raised a hand. "I consider you a human being in my mind, tis' just an analogy. But you behave as such because you require a lot of attention and care that can be a bit strenuous and frustrating because it appears as though no progress is being made. But I have come to see…you bud on your own time."
She slipped her gloves off, a look gathering in her eyes as her mind began to work. It was clear and obvious, this is what she was made for, it was what she loved. "Doctors tend to forget that looking into another's past is not like looking through a microscope and gathering data. They tend to forget that this is a human mind that they are….battling with. There are mechanisms and emotions that need to be triggered within oneself to offer pieces and bits of important information to a stranger. It requires trust, which most lack the ability to gain in the first place. So instead they inhibit the ideology that if you 'opened up' and talked of your heart to them, it makes things better. That is forced confession and it does nothing."
Marcus nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, that makes sense. It’s— it’s relieving, to be honest, to be having such an.. intellectual conversation. Seventeen doctors.. you’re the first one that— other than my initial… lack of respect for you— has actually genuinely tried. It’s intereritng too, because you’re the first female doctor I’ve eve had.” He kept his secretive smile to himself. I’m budding, according to her… she sees me a flower. “You said that I have… budded? Pray tell, Winnifred, what sort of flower am I?”
Winifred laughed softly, a gentle and almost pretty sound that surprised even her. She had always hated her laugh. "Lord Marcus, I believe you are taking this analogy much too far but If I had to actually choose one to associate you with…." She bit her lip as she trailed thoughtfully. "It would be….a Night Blooming Cereus." She nodded, approving of her choice. "Yes… A Night Bloomer, as I like to call them, is true to it's name, it blooms at night. The budding and growth process can take 4 to 5 years. Very slowly progress indeed. And it's a very short-lived species, one in particular blooms only once a year for one night."
She wrung her gloves a bit, this was treading in more personal territory, but it was a way to build trust. "You take to time to open to another person. You did such with mean and it explains why you have very few friends that you trust. It could take months or even a year of conversation and slight pestering before you ever tell me anything remotely important that pertains to you. But… you have your moments when you bloom. One has to stand the heat of your words and fiery temper and wade through the darkness of that frighteningly intellectual mind of yours, to see what's truly inside of you. You have such a wonderful scent – or aura – about you, your kind, fiercely loyal, and quite hilarious. But, that side of your only exists for a short period of time. I….try to hold on to the moments when I see them. They are truly beautiful…"
Winifred truly believed her heart would burst and she would die, right there in that carriage as she dared to lift her big, brown eyes to Marcus's. She had spoken her heart, at least a good sum of it. "All the sake of the analogy of course…" she muttered.
Marcus was, quite frankly, stunned. Stunned that she saw through him like that after such a small amount of time, that she’d taken the time to interpret him, that she cared enough to try in the first place. And shocked that she found a part of him beautiful, worth waiting for.
He softened under the impact of her words, expression opening up just a little. “If I’m being honest, it is refreshing to have someone interpret me. Thank you, Winnifred, for the analogy.”
((I have an idea of potential fluff! How about it starts to rain before they get back to the manor? They have to walk through the rain and Winifred gets sick and Marcus decides to take care of her?))
"You're…very welcome…" Winifred tucked hr gloves under her thigh.She wanted to tell him everything right there. She wanted to spill the contents of her heart to him. She knew she couldn't.
There is a time and a place…
(Ooh yesssssss and maybe he shields her from the rain with his coat?
So then would we do the dinner with Luc/attempted murder the next day?)
Marcus allowed himself only a second to gaze at her, then pulled his dark eyes away and fixed them on the sky outside, choked with thick grey clouds. Frowning at the chill that blew in through the window, he drew the curtains over it. “Almost home.”
((Yup! And I was thinking…. could Luc come by Marcus's room to 'discuss' what he interfered between Him and Angeline, and just to taunt him, he would tell Marcus what he is going to do to Winifred after the dinner. So that way Marcus would know of the dinner?? Or Winifred could just tell him about it in her sickbed??))
Winifred nodded as she caught a glimpse of the angry grey clouds outside. She shivered at the cold that chilled her, sinking into her clothes, her skin. "I can't believe such a beautiful day could turn so disgusting in a matter of moments…" She grumbled. She was never one for bad weather, her immune system just couldn't handle it. And she certainly wasn't dressed in preparation for the change.
(Omg yesssssssssss this is going to be funnn
I like the idea of Luc telling him about the dinner
Do you want to be the only one in control of Luc for the scene?)
(Also, could the carriage splinter a wheel before they reach the destination so that they have to walk further?)
Marcus nodded, folding his hands in his lap. He debated offering her his coat, seeing as a shiver was passing through her body, but he decided to wait until they got outside, for fear of being too forward.
((Yesh! Okay! I've got Luc for that scene. And one splintered wheel coming right up!))
Winifred tried to find some topic to bring up to continue the friendly mood of the afternoon but her tongue had grew heavy and she could find nothing to say. So she looked out the window and tried to gauge how far they were from the manor.
Maybe we can beat the rain… she hoped against hope. But instead, she watched as lightning flashed across the sky and thunder rumbled soon after, such a loud and powerful sound.
The horses spooked and ran onto the sidewalk, dragging the carriage with it. The force splintered a back wheel and threw Winifred from her seat. She yelped as she was sent careening into Marcus.
(Awesome!)
Marcus let out a noise of surprise, his back hitting the wall of the carriage with force. A jarring pain ripped through his chest, but he quickly put his arms around Winnifred, who was half in his lap, to right her and gently shift her off of his leg. “Are you alright?” he asked, concern lining his forehead. His dark chocolate eyes studied her for any sign of pain.
As Marcus helped her get upright she nodded. "I-I'm fine. Are you okay? Oh' they must've jarred you. Oh, you're stitches! How does your chest feel? I'll have to check it when we get back to the manor….whenever that will be…" She sighed and shook her head. She could her the townsmen helping to calm the horses as they came to a stop. "The wheel! I-it splintered!" She heard the Footman yell as rain began to fall.
“I’m fine,” he assured her gently, “But the carriage isn’t. Come, let’s get out.” He carefully stepped out of their compartment and put onto the road, already dotted with droplets of rain, and waited to help Winnifred down since the footman was busy with the broken wheel. Rain fell heavily on his shoulders, catching on the ruffled strands of his hair and trickling down his face, and they were still a few streets up from the manor. By the looks of it, they’d have to walk.
Winifred stifled a groan. She didn't want to go out in the ran but it didn't look like she had much of a choice. She let Marcus help her down and hugged herself. The ran was cold on her bare arms and face. Looking over at Marcus and smiled. "It doesn't look that far…" She finished with a shiver as frosty winds ruffled her skirts.
Marcus quickly slipped his light jacket off his shoulders, settling it over hers and buttoning it up at the front like a cloak. His fingers accidentally skimmed her collarbone in the process, sending an electric shock up his arm, but he pretended not to notice and straightened. “Better?”
Winifred gasped as the weight of his jacket fell over her. That had been the last thing she had expected. Her eyes fell on his as his finger brushed the skin of her collarbone, her breathing hitched. "Yes…Much…"she looked away. "Thank you…"