Thanks to everyone who has reviewed!
Chapter 6
The dreadful ride finally ended when the carriage stopped in front of Hyde Park. Mary practically jumped down the carriage and ran as far away from that dreaded Lord Eddington as soon as the carriage halted. She just had to get away from him as far as possible.
Really, what is wrong with me? thought Marie as she briskly walked towards the picnic area that Kitty had already set up with the help of the servants. How could I act that way whenever I'm around the man? My manners, all gone! She sighed at her dilemma, An accomplished young lady would never dream of insulting a Marquess and a future Duke. And there I was, blabbering away at him like he was just another annoying boy!
Her thoughts were soon replaced with amusement when she saw the picnic scene before her. Mr. Crawley was trying to chase Annabelle around, blindfolded and yelling "Annabelle my darling, where are you!" Probably another sad attempt from Annabelle to get rid of that dreadful man! Thought Mary. Annabelle was also running around, trying to get rid of Mr. Crawley who was hot on her heels. Both of them were practically destroying the picnic table and knocking things over all over the place. One servant was trying to catch Mr. Crawley so that he could take off that blindfold. Another was trying to catch Annabelle so that she could stop running. And the two maids were trying to clean up the mess the two left behind. Finally, there stood poor Kitty, looking wildly around trying to decide who to chase down.
Mary laughed silently at the scene before yelling at the top of her lungs, "Everyone! STOP!"
To her surprise, everyone stopped. All were looking at her, well except for Mr. Crawley who was looking at a totally different direction. Mary walked over to Annabelle and said, "My dear Annabelle, I understand how much you dislike Mr. Crawley, but would you just try to stop destroying the picnic? I promise you that I will keep Crawley away from you and you can talk all you want with Lord Eddington if you will just stop running."
Annabelle looked excited at her before nodding her little blond head vigorously.
Mary then walked to Mr. Crawley. She slowly moved his head towards her direction and took off his blindfold. He looked dazedly at her and even more dazed at the scene before him.
"Mr. Crawley," said Mary in a low voice so no one else could hear, "A man about town such as yourself should know that chasing a girl around does not make her swooned by you! It only makes them disgusted, repulsed, and completely uninterested in you."
Mr. Crawley stared at Mary, and quickly sputtered, "Well-well o-of course I knew that!"
"Exactly, and you should know that the way to get a woman to swoon at your sight is to be aloof!"
"Aloof? But how would the lady understand your intentions?"
"Mr. Crawley! You should know that you have to have a woman swooned before you declared your intentions. You need to pique her interests first; make her feel like she's just another woman, but still keep her hoping. Make her make the first move, and then dazzle her with romance. Make her feel like she is lucky to have you! That is how to win a woman's heart…but of course you knew that!"
"Of-of course I knew that. Th-this is just a part of the plan! Yes, yes the plan! To make Miss Annabelle fall in love with me! This whole chasing thing was just-just a part of the plan. Don't worry Miss Bennet, I-I know what I'm doing!"
"Of course I know Mr. Crawley," said Mary, silently laughing inside.
"Now, Kitty! Why don't we start this picnic!" Mary yelled out loud to the other side where Kitty was standing besides the picnic table.
Mr. Crawley immediately ran to the picnic table, as far away from Annabelle as possible, and started- well more liked attempted at flirting with Kitty all the while eyeing Annabelle every minute or so.
"Mary, what on earth did you say to the man? Why is he looking at me like that and why on earth is he flirting with Kitty?" Asked Annabelle, astounded at the change in Mr. Crawley's attitude.
"Oh Annabelle, don't trouble your pretty head with such matters. Go! There is Lord Eddington right there," said Mary, pointing at the Marquess who was looking at her with a very funny expression on his face.
Annabelle immediately led out a yelp of surprise and ran directly at the Marquess. Mary saw that Mr. Crawley had ceased flirting and was now shooting daggers with his eyes at Lord Eddington. Oh brother.
Mary walked over to Mr. Crawley, and dragged the raging man away.
"Mr. Crawley, don't look like you are jealous. Do you know what Annabelle is doing? She's jealous that you are flirting with Kitty. Now, just stay away from her and you will make her even more jealous. Then, she will fall in love with you… But of course, you already knew that."
"Oh, off course, of course…I knew that," said Mr. Crawley.
She looked again at Lord Eddington and Annabelle, who were standing underneath a tree on the other side of the picnic table. She saw, in surprise, that Annabelle was not the only one who looked like she was having fun, the Marquess was laughing as well. He was whispering in her ear something that made her laugh even harder, making her beautiful face even more beautiful. Unlike with me…the only thing he could do is insult me and make me look even more ugly. The only laugh he gets is not with me, but at me.
She couldn't understand why such a realization suddenly made her lonely
Short chapter, but hope y'all like this! Anyways, remember to REVIEW!!!!