“I think any good person is full of secrets.” Atticus murmured quietly as he watched Ms. Blackwood. He knew of her; he’d seen at the balls and gatherings, seen her at a distance amongst whom he could only assume were friends (although if she said the same for him, Atticus would deny most of them being friends. They were merely social people with whom he enjoyed a conversation or two with), and couldn’t put his finger on why she wasn’t being courted. On paper she seemed nearly perfect, although he could only assume she was picky of her future spouse. Lord knows he was and it drove his mother absolutely insane. His own standards he set for what he wanted in a wife seemed too high but he certainly wasn’t lowering them any time soon.

Atticus liked his freedom too, he supposed. Sure Mama Foxwood lived with him but she didn’t demand his attention every waking hour - clearly, since she’d had enough time to discuss and execute this little plan of hers. Having a wife with friends who she actually wanted to go out and see was important. Of course had no intentions of taking a mistress (he wasn’t sure he’d be able to juggle two women at once even if he had his heart set on one), but that didn’t mean he wanted to be his wife’s sole entertainment. His fingers thrummed against his leg as he took a glance over at his mother before he carefully looked back over to the woman before him. Ms. Blackwood at the least, checked that box.

“Fair enough, Miss Blackwood. Knowing your spouse right when you got married would be rather dull and I can only imagine that’s how wandering eyes start.” Atticus stated as he leaned forward to once again take a sip of his tea. “How many suitors have you turned away for being dull? A lot, I can imagine. Mother tried to set me up with a friend’s daughter once, and it was much like talking to a block of wood. I couldn’t imagine going through life trying to converse with that every day.” A bit rude, but oh well. It was the truth.

“Outside of the social season, what do you do? Dreams for a career?” Atticus hummed quietly. He had views on this, although it was safe to say they’d changed over the years.

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