Jim didn't know what he was expecting when he formally asked for Mary's hand, but it turned out not being nearly as bad as he was preparing himself for. Granted, the reaction more than lived up to it— a resounding no right off the bat, accusations that he only was after their money, that no force on Heaven or Earth would be enough for the Earl to ever accept a marriage between his oldest daughter and a man like him.
Not that he knew the first thing about men like him, but Jim said nothing through it all, despite very much wanting to. The whole thing still lacked a certain kind of explosiveness that he was prepared for, but then again that might be because he was an American and they always did expect things to be a lot louder and more unrestrained. So at least in that aspect, it wasn't so bad.
As for the rest... well, Jim had promised Mary he wouldn't leave until he got her father to say yes, and he damn well meant it. And now that he knew she wanted to marry him too, there was no way in Hell he'd just turn around and leave now. Something that clearly frustrated the Earl to no end, but eventually he did buckle and at least accept that he wasn't going to get rid of the American so easily.
Jim also knew that Mary's mother, Cora, had taken a certain liking to him, and slowly had softened her husband to him. His title as captain and the decorations he'd received for his service in the war also seemed to work in his favor, just like learning that the Kirk family was far from poor, and that Jim himself had told him in all the words necessary that he'd never touch their money. He didn't need it, after all.
It was a slow process, but little by little he'd managed to get friendlier quips from the Earl, actual lasting conversations that didn't end up with Jim being asked to leave in some way or another. He'd even been asked for a drink and a cigar every so often, and while he wasn't a fan of hunts, he'd also agreed to join when he'd been invited, taking the chance to impress the Earl with his marksmanship. Wouldn't do any harm to his cause, at least.
On the way back to the house, he'd actually gotten a laugh out of the Earl, at some slightly inappropriate (and very American) story he'd shared. It had been a gamble to go with it, and he knew that had it been months ago he'd have been banned from the property for good, but he was immensely pleased to see that his unusual if somewhat brazen charm had slowly crawled its way into the Earl.
So, he looked more than happy with himself as he set his things aside, biting back the urge to ask the staff if they needed help with preparing lunch. He knew better than that, as different as things might've been back at his mom's farm. Instead he washed up and came out to the gardens in search of Mary, while they all waited for lunch to be ready— and as he found her talking with her mother, he made his way over with a smile, bowing his head a little at Cora.
"Mind if I steal your daughter away for a little while?"
for thequitecontrary
Not that he knew the first thing about men like him, but Jim said nothing through it all, despite very much wanting to. The whole thing still lacked a certain kind of explosiveness that he was prepared for, but then again that might be because he was an American and they always did expect things to be a lot louder and more unrestrained. So at least in that aspect, it wasn't so bad.
As for the rest... well, Jim had promised Mary he wouldn't leave until he got her father to say yes, and he damn well meant it. And now that he knew she wanted to marry him too, there was no way in Hell he'd just turn around and leave now. Something that clearly frustrated the Earl to no end, but eventually he did buckle and at least accept that he wasn't going to get rid of the American so easily.
Jim also knew that Mary's mother, Cora, had taken a certain liking to him, and slowly had softened her husband to him. His title as captain and the decorations he'd received for his service in the war also seemed to work in his favor, just like learning that the Kirk family was far from poor, and that Jim himself had told him in all the words necessary that he'd never touch their money. He didn't need it, after all.
It was a slow process, but little by little he'd managed to get friendlier quips from the Earl, actual lasting conversations that didn't end up with Jim being asked to leave in some way or another. He'd even been asked for a drink and a cigar every so often, and while he wasn't a fan of hunts, he'd also agreed to join when he'd been invited, taking the chance to impress the Earl with his marksmanship. Wouldn't do any harm to his cause, at least.
On the way back to the house, he'd actually gotten a laugh out of the Earl, at some slightly inappropriate (and very American) story he'd shared. It had been a gamble to go with it, and he knew that had it been months ago he'd have been banned from the property for good, but he was immensely pleased to see that his unusual if somewhat brazen charm had slowly crawled its way into the Earl.
So, he looked more than happy with himself as he set his things aside, biting back the urge to ask the staff if they needed help with preparing lunch. He knew better than that, as different as things might've been back at his mom's farm. Instead he washed up and came out to the gardens in search of Mary, while they all waited for lunch to be ready— and as he found her talking with her mother, he made his way over with a smile, bowing his head a little at Cora.
"Mind if I steal your daughter away for a little while?"