(I'm good, you?)
Marcus responded with the raise of an eyebrow. His blush had faded by now, heartbeat returning to normal, giving him enough bravado to quip back. "Something tells me you haven't met many men, either." He was referring, of course, to the flustered way she had acted moments earlier when he'd taken hold of her hand.
Winifred waved a hand dismissively. "As you were saying, Marcus." She gave him a bored look, using his first name too.
I'm mean, if were getting that comfortable with each other…
Marcus's other eyebrow followed, somewhat disbelievingly. "I think that's the first time you've called me anything other than Lord Crenshaw or Stupid Brat," he grinned victoriously, "Does that mean I've done something right?"
Winifred shook her head. "I'm just trying to be friendly. Would you prefer 'stupid brat', because I do. It suits you more." She took another bite of her cucumber sandwiches.
Marcus chuckled lowly. "Funnily enough, you're not the first person who's said that to me. And what should I call you? Doctor? Or just Winnifred?"
"I'll be lenient… Winifred will do." She crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair. And just like that, they were back at square one.
See? All that sentimental nonsense pushed aside!
Marcus felt disappointed in the pit of his stomach, they seemed to be back where they’d started. Except— not really, the first time they’d met he’d hurled a knife at her head, but still. He decided to go out on a limb. “You’re frosty all of a sudden.”
She shook her head. "No, not frosty at all." she disagreed. "Just….a little less aloof." she fluttered her fingers with emphasis. She raised a brow. "Did you prefer my aloof-ness." Her tone deepened slightly. "Or did you really enjoy the flirting?" She tilted her head. She should've expected as much.
“I never said anything about flirting,” he smoothed over, lifting another spoonful of soup to his lips. “But I enjoyed the friendliness, I must admit. We have connecting rooms, might as well get used to eachother.” Shrugging, he swallowed the mouthful.
She gasped. "If that was friendliness to you, I fear what flirting looks like." she chuckled. "I am use to you Marcus, what you want, is for us to get comfortable…I worried as much."
Mischief glinted in her eyes as she thought of the trouble she could stir with this opportunity. It was only a matter of if she would. She raised a brow. Your go, Marcus.
He knew exactly what she was playing at, and he was not about to let her win this round. "If I remember correctly," he drawled with a lazy grin, "It was you who so thoughtfully removed my hand from my hair this morning. I believe that was the first breach of our original agreement? And, it was you who insinuated just minutes earlier that you liked me shirtless? If you worry so much, maybe you should be more careful with your actions, Winnifred."
Checkmate.
Winifred blushed but oddly, she wasn't ashamed of it. He had caught her in the middle of her schemes, feeding the desires she couldn't decide if she wanted. She'd take her loss fairly. "Touchē… But I must add, you didn't stop me, nor did you scold me like you usually would. So, you are as much a culprit as I…" She pointed her spoon at him.
"To be honest, you caught me off guard." Marcus shrugged, giving her most of the truth. He felt an odd spark, spotting the blush on her cheeks. "So maybe I am a culprit, but in a forest fire, who is more to blame, the arsonist, or the passer-by who was too shocked to do anything?" He added the last bit with a bit of a twinkle to his eyes, so that she would know he was only teasing.
She laughed. "The arsonist…" She set her spoon down and smiled. She had to admit, this turned out to be a wonderful lunch.
"I want to come here more often…" she said. With you… But she would never let herself admit that.
Relieved that she hadn't misinterpreted his joke and slightly disarmed by her later comment, Marcus finished his soup and set down his spoon as well. "We can come back anytime," he replied, choosing his words carefully.
Thomas came back to collect their plates, mouthing something to Marcus that he didn't catch and disappearing again. A minute later, he came back bearing two plates with a slice of chocolate gateau on each, a dessert that they hadn't ordered. Marcus was about to protest, but Thomas cut him off. "A dessert for the Lord and Lady, requested by Lord Marcus as a surprise."
Marcus immediately saw what he was trying to do, and played along. "Thank you, Thomas." Thomas nodded and smiled, mouthing 'It's on the house' to him before returning inside.
"Oh." Surprised, Winifred looked to Marcus. When had he ordered this? She glanced down at the dessert and then up to Marcus, catching his eyes. "Chocolate…" She smiled, getting lost in those eyes. Had he done this by coincidence? Or had he- Winifred snapped from her thoughts."I-it's my favorite." she added quickly.
"I'm glad, or else we'd have to return the cake," he smiled easily, going along with Thomas's plan. Now that he thought about it…. the chocolate, her eyes.. it seemed as if Thomas had caught on much faster than he'd expected.
Winifred picked up her dessert fork and took a small bite. The chocolate was warm and sweet, practically melting on her tongue. She closed her eyes and sighed.
This is pure heaven.. she thought. She'd have to thank the cook personally for such a glorious meal.
Marcus allowed himself a second to memorize each point of her face while her eyes were closed, quickly diverting them back to his own plate and trying the cake. And it was amazing, Thomas and the cook had really overdone themselves, he'd definitely thank them later.
Winifred opened her eyes slowly and took another, very eager bite. She smiled. "The is magnificent. You have good taste, Marcus." she commended him. "Very good taste."
Are you included in that? he thought, and immediately hated himself for it. That was exactly what his uncle would say.
"Thank you, Winnifred, I'm glad you liked it."
"Like it? What an understatement. I love it." She licked chocolate from her lips, not wanting to wipe it away with a napkin. Such a waste!
Winifred had quite the sweet tooth, she preferred sweets over anything, but of course, they were unhealthy, so she didn't eat them often.
Marcus had to pull his eyes away from her lips before they could follow the movement of her tongue running over them. He smiled at her, taking another bite of cake and not realizing that he'd left a smudge of chocolate to the right of his mouth. "Well, at least I got that much right."
Winifred laughed before her eyes landed on the smudge. "You've got a little…" She trailed off, shedding her glove and reaching over before she thought about it. She wiped the smudge away with her thumb, brushing against his lips ever so slightly.
They are as soft as they look… she thought as she slowly pulled away. She wiped her thumb clean on a napkin, silently. She slipped her glove back on and cleared her throat. "Um…. you had chocolate on the corner of your lip."
Marcus's cheeks flamed up immediately. His lips still tingled where she had burshed them, and he cursed himself for being so weak. "It's– thank you," he replied, slightly awkwardly. Her face… it had been so close to his…. Goddammit. You lack a spine.
"I-I just did because you would've smudge it more if you had done it yourself….." She rambled before stuffing another much larger piece of cake in her mouth. Her cheeks burned just as Marcus's did.
This is just gotten much more awkward then either of us anticipated…. Good job, Darcy!
(Their so awkward it adorable)
(Ikr)
Marcus stares at the table as he finished his cake, carefully not to smudge anything else. “It’s fine, Winnifred,” he managed, chewing on his bottom lip. “Don’t worry about it.”
(Winifred and Marcus: Povocative Teasing challenged until cake comes
Winifred: Wipes away a smudge in a seemingly innocent gesture
Winifred and Marcus: Blushing
Me: CAN YOU FEEL THE SOCIALLY-AWKWARD LOOOOOOOOVE TONIGHT?)
Winifred said nothing else s she finished the cake. She set her fork down and placed her hands on her lap. "Um…are-are you done? We should really be heading back now…"
Why do you want to escape so soon, hmmm? You still have to ride back with him! She thought with a wince. That ride was bound to be horrendous.
(lollllllllllllllllll)
Marcus nodded, getting up out of his seat. He contemplated offering his arm to her, but was distracted when Thomas walked by. Grabbing his friend by the elbow and pulling him close, he whispered a 'thank you', earning a wink from the waiter.
