Engaged to a Friend by Rose Pearson

Author:Rose Pearson [Pearson, Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Landon Hill Media
Published: 2020-06-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“I did not see Miss Bartlett all last evening,” Oliver mused, picking up a brandy glass and swirling it around gently. “I confess I find her a most unusual young lady.”

Lord Jennings chuckled. “One that you will continue to consider?”

Oliver hesitated. “I—I could not say,” he replied slowly. “It is not to say that I do not find her to be of interest to me, and certainly, she has a gentle beauty about her, but that I find the time I spend with her to be...” Tilting his head, he looked at his friend steadily, trying to find the right words. “It can be a little exhausting.”

Lord Jennings did not laugh or throw back a teasing remark as Oliver had expected. Instead, he simply nodded musingly and then shrugged. “That might change, with time. It is only the beginning of your acquaintance, is it not?”

“It is,” Oliver agreed, “but given that Lady Blackmore will be a part of my life should I continue with Miss Bartlett, I find that the idea of continuing my acquaintance with the lady to be a difficult one.”

Shrugging his shoulders, he frowned hard, trying to reconcile all that he felt and all that he considered. Whilst everything that he said was quite true, there was still something more about his acquaintance with Miss Bartlett that was lacking. Whilst he had been grateful for Lady Croome and her support in encouraging the acquaintance, he had found it very difficult to have even the smallest conversation with Miss Bartlett, despite his attempts. She had begun to relax just a little after a good few minutes, but their discussion had been stilted, and even he had struggled to think of what to say. As they had walked in the park, Oliver had found himself wishing for the ease of manner that came whenever he spoke with Lady Croome. With her, he never once struggled with what to say, with what to remark or comment upon. There had never been any difficulty between them in that regard, not even from their very first conversation! When Lady Croome and Miss Bartlett had walked back to the carriage, leaving him to walk behind, he had found himself unconsciously comparing the two ladies and finding that, no matter what he considered, Lady Croome was always superior.

“I am being foolish, of course,” he said aloud, a little irritated with himself. It would not do to compare the two women, especially since he had been acquainted with Lady Croome for some time and had developed an intimacy within their friendship that could not be easily replicated. “I am sure that I should give a little more consideration to Miss Bartlett, especially given that Lady Croome has put so much effort into encouraging the acquaintance.” Even as he spoke, Oliver became aware of a small stab of pain entering his heart. Confused, he frowned hard, wondering at why he had felt such a thing simply because he had mentioned Lady Croome and her attempts to find him a suitable bride.

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