2. Chapter 2 (1/2)
so, sometimes things might seem a bit repetitive, but that is because other people will be reacting to the information. i hope you like oliver.
oliver spent much of their lunch talking with the children. madalene, especially, left him feeling a bit homesick. his daughter, amelia, was the same age. he wished he could have
ought her to london with him, but the task at hand prevented it, or so his mother was convinced. occasionally, he found himself glancing in the direction of miss jane bennet. he had heard much about her and her sisters in his four year acquaintance with the gardiner's. he knew they were much older than his friend's children, but knowing and seeing were two very different things.
edward and margret had told him that the eldest miss bennet was a sweet young woman, who bore the weight of her family's expectations. their estate was entailed away and there was no fortune to attract suitable matches. mrs. bennet, according to the gardiner's, constantly ranted and raved about what would happen to them if mr. bennet was suddenly taken from them. that could account for her solemn appearance. that would wear on anyone.
he found himself comparing her to his late wife. ophelia had been his family's choice, and she appeared to be everything his family expected in a wife. she came from a respectable family, had a hefty dowry, and looked the part of a lady in society. but she was a cold and cruel woman. the first three months of their marriage was pleasant. it wasn't until after they discovered she was expecting that she showed her true colors. she informed him that, boy or girl, she would only bear him the one child. once the child was born, she fully intended to live her life as she chose. amelia was born on their first anniversary. ophelia was gone before the week was out.
during the course of her pregnancy, oliver had come to terms with the kind of woman he had married. he would let her have her way, so long as she left the child and himself alone. he set her up with her own account, and she was welcome at any of his various homes, but never when he was in residence, and she was never to return to roxwood estates. eighteen months passed with the occasional update from his various sources. then came the express: ophelia and her newest lover had been in a carriage accident. he had her body released to her family for burial.
miss bennet seemed to be her exact opposite. she was quieter, shy, and moved with a natural grace that ophelia lacked. she obviously adored her young cousins. he shook his head. nothing good could come from comparing anyone against someone who was dead and gone.
"but, mama, you promised we could go to the park!" whined madalene.
"darling, we do not whine, and sometimes plans change. we haven't had a chance to visit with mr. andrews for many months now,"
"do not think you must change your plans for me, margret. i shall be in town for several weeks. there will be plenty of time to visit."
"aunt, i do not mind taking them. leah and mr. bates were going to accompany us anyway." this was met with the children's' approval. leah appeared to get them ready.
"jane, you do not have to take them."
"i know, but to be honest, i could use the fresh air myself, and we both know there will not be much peace this evening if john is not allowed to use up some of his energy." they laughed. miss bennet bid oliver a good afternoon, and went to meet up with her cousins and their escorts.
"now, what was this offer you mentioned earlier?" asked margret. they had settled themselves in the sitting room. your mother must have made a very strong case for you to consider it."
"as you know, for the past three years, my mother has solely focused on seeing me remarry."
"and you have thwarted her at every turn," laughed edward.
"well, her newest tactic involves amelia," he sighed. "amelia has always been aware that her mother is gone. since our visit last fall, she has been asking for a mother and siblings. my mother, of course, has been using it to her advantage. my daughter needs, and obviously wants, a mother. there are things that, as her father, i cannot give or teach her. though it is the trend for those in our position, it has never been my wish for her to be raised by a governess alone, but i refuse to repeat my first marriage. that said, my mother has relented and has conceded that only i know what is best for amelia and i. she will suggest matches, but she will accept the woman i choose to take as my wife."
"that is certainly an improvement! so you are serious in your search for a wife," said margret.
"yes, i intend to find a wife. i imagine you shall be seeing quite a bit of me, margret. there is only so much i can endure from scheming mothers."
"you are certainly welcome at any time, so long as you do not mind jane."