Winifred opened her eyes once the music stopped. It was like she was a child again, entranced by the gentle music of her music box. The only joy and calm she had in her life at the time. She was saddened as it faded, but she smiled at the beautiful memory that would always linger. She clapped for Marcus. "Bravo!"
Markus felt heat and colour flood his face. He rubbed at the back of his neck, giving a bashful smile. “You liked it?”
((I love that spelling of "Marcus"))
"I loved it! That was beautiful!" Winifred approached him, her hands falling to her sides. "You're really talenten."
(Frick Sorry, my bad)
Marcus bit his lip. “Thank you… That means a lot..”
((NO, don't apologize, I wasn't being sarcastic! XD MAybe I should've added an exclamation mark? I dunno ...Frick intended emotions barriers R.I.P....))
Smiling, Winifred leaned against the piano. "Can you play again?"
(Oh no it’s fine I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable or anything! Sorry I’m really preoccupied rn)
Angeline spoke up, a smile on her soft features. “Ask him to play his violin, he won’t be able to refuse you.”
((Oh, lol…. Don't rush! Do what you've got to do, dear!))
Winifred's eyes widened. "You play violin too? Oh, please play for us!"
(Oof it’s fine
Thanks though)
Marcus sighed loudly, by their was a definite smile on the curve of his lips. “How could I ever refuse?” He stood with a dramatic flourish and picked up his violin case, which stood nearby. Removing the sleek, glossy instrument, be began to tune, His bow gliding across the strings.
Winifred watched his hands work along the precious instrument. He moved with such grace and such poise, it was absolutely otherworldly.
((Am I the only one thinking Sherlock right now….?))
(chants ominously
SHERLOCK SHERLOCK)
Doing a final scale to ensure that the instrument was perfectly tuned, Marcus took a deep breath and began to play. His fingers seemed to run up and down the length of the fingerboard, his bow gliding smoothly over the strings. His whole body swayed slightly in time with the music, which floated around them and settled in the atmosphere, light and airy.
His glorious playing filled the room and warmed Winifred to the core. How incredible was he? Winifred couldn't even begin to fathom it. She watched his fingers dance along the fingerboard.
Pure magic.
The music began to rise to a crescendo as he began to play the accelerando on his mental map of tumbling notes, fingers flying faster and faster, bow drawing with such perfect energy across the instrument.
But eventually, the piece was over, the stream of music coming to a drawn-out end.
Winifred was speechless as her heart tried to grasp the last notes of the song, begging for them to return and play on. There were tears in her eyes as she clapped for Marcus.
Angeline’s applause joined Winifred’s, feeding the gentle flames of his happiness. “You… like it?” he asked sheepishly, closing the clasps of the instrument’s case.
"Yes! It's absolutely splendid." Winifred told him, pulling him into a hug. "You're brilliant."
Marcus sank into her embrace for a few, brief moments, smiling triumphantly. "Thank you, love. I was a bit rusty, sorry, I haven't played in a few months."
"If that was rusty, you must be an absolute masterpiece when in practice." She laughed. "I'm going to hold you to higher standards the next time you play."
Marcus gave a bashful shrug. "I'm not that good…"
From the sofa, Angeline laughed quietly. "Yes, you are. I remember you used to be quite the…"
He snickered. "Vainglorious bastard?"
WInifred's eyes widened. "Well the Angeline, you got closer to describing him than I ever did." She teased with a wink in Angeline's direction. "Marcus, I have a favor to ask of you, now that I know of this."
Marcus raised an eyebrow in question, offering an elegant, one-sided shrug. “And what would this favour be?”
Winifred thought for a moment, then produced a letter from her pocket. SHe had carried it everywhere with her in fear of misplacing it. "A dear friend of mine, Sebastian Alexander Thompson… he's getting married. And the lovely couple is in need of an musician."
Marcus’s face fell just as quickly as it had lit up. “Oh…. Winifred, I would love to, but…. you forget that to most of the world, I’m the rich, dangerous, delinquent young man trying to usurp his poor uncle. And besides that…. Luc would sooner kill me than allow me to go.”
"He doesn't have to know and besides… It's time we get you a new image. We all know what that monster said is not true." Winifred reasoned, but she said nothing further except this: "But I understand, I just thought I'd ask."
“I….. Winifred, I wish I could go, I truly do. But he’ll find out. He always does. And then he’d hurt you or Angeline as a way to punish me..” Marcus sighed, casting his eyes downwards.
WInifred crossed the room to him and took his hand. "Then worry not of it." She stood on her toaes a bit and kissed the line of his hair.