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Nova blinked. Was Mr. Pettigrew talking to her? She threw a quick glance over her shoulder to see if anyone behind her was responding with more recognition than she was. There was no one, so he clearly was addressing her but... OH! 'Ben's sister', that was her. She thought it was probably the first time she'd ever been addressed thus.

Good evening, Mr. Pettigrew. She offered him a shy little wave back. Nova knew Arthur Pettigrew was a friend of Reuben's, but she hardly shared her brother's attachment to him. She knew the generalities of his past and couldn't say she thought highly of someone so careless with their finances, but that was a long time ago and clearly there was more to him than that if Reuben had cherished their friendship for so long. He seemed to have truly learned from his past mistakes, or at least there was no sign of impending financial ruin that she'd heard about. Not that it was really any of her business and she hardly courted gossip, but it was impossible to forget things about people once heard.

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Yes. She looked about her and realized that she'd completely lost sight of him in the momentary distraction of Mr. Pettigrew. He is just over... thereabouts. She glanced in the direction she'd been trailing after him in (really this is what she got for dawdling). And are you here with Mrs. Pettigrew? She fairly certain his wife was called Desdemona but they weren't on first name terms anyhow.

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How sweet. She meant it, even if she hadn't said it gushingly as some might. As she looked at him, she found herself wondering - not for the first time, but for the first time in a long time with any seriousness - what sort of encouragement or discouragement he gave to Reuben when Reuben was in one of his more challenging periods for life choices. Was he a good or bad influence upon him? These weren't particularly helpful thoughts to be having in his presence and so she looked up at the sky for a moment to distract herself.

Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art- Nova stopped and looked away from the stars. Had she only thought that or said it out loud? She looked at him sheepishly as embarrassment started to creep in. Do... Do you like poetry, Mr. Pettigrew?

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Deeply so, yes. It was disappointing that Reuben's good friend was not a connoisseur but not altogether surprising, she would've been more surprised if he had been. And novels.

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It was difficult to declare any one novel her absolute favorite, there were a handful she frequently went back to, but even of those she wasn't sure she could fairly choose an overall favorite. She pursed her lips slightly as she gave the question the serious consideration it was due. Well, I did recently re-read The Mysteries of Udolpho, it is certainly one of my favorites. Have you read it?

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Nova wasn't quite sure how seriously to take his response. Would he actually read it? Did it matter really if he did? She wanted to think well of any friend of one of her brothers, but she knew well enough by now that certain people saying they would read something she recommeneded did not mean they meant to do so in earnest. If he actually did though she'd be amply impressed. Then again, maybe she should spare them both the awkwardness should they have a conversation in the future where it might come up? You need not feel any obligation to do so on my behalf. Immediately she regretted saying anything. Didn't she sound full of herself? He probably never had any intention to read it anyway and now didn't she sound like she would've held him to his word otherwise, a word that was only intended to humor her?

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