Atticus didn’t read Witch Weekly, especially not the Lonely Hearts portion. It was almost embarrassing to be put out there for the world to see, as if they were a failure in finding love elsewhere. Sure Atticus hadn’t asked many women to meet him outside of meeting them at societal events, but no one truly garnered any interest from him. He didn’t know what he was looking for, he just knew what he wasn’t. Poppy must have been speaking to mama, who seemed to be wholly concerned that he was almost thirty-one and didn’t have a wife and a child yet.
With a sigh he reached forward and took first the article into his hands, skimming over the words with his lips pressed together. He understood Poppy’s intention but it didn’t stop the annoyance from bubbling up in his gut. There was a pregnant pause as he contemplated his next set of words; he was irritated with her for overstepping her bounds but he swallowed the words to keep from snapping at her. Poppy was already bubbling over the edge with emotion and Atticus wouldn’t be the reason she felt worse going than when she came. “I don’t suppose you placed one for Basil too? He swears Mama was behind it, but I think she may have had a little help.” He finally settled on. “He was as unamused with his letter as I am mine.” He’d leave out the scathing letter his brother had sent him - that was just between them.
Atticus slipped the ad behind one of the letters, where he again skimmed over the words. They were elegant and well-spoken, just as he'd expect from any upper-class woman worth their salt. A couple of the names he recognized, but none he could instantly put a face to, let alone a personality. With another sigh, he closed his eyes and breathed through his nose as Poppy continued to try to justify her actions. After a few more moments and another frown, Atticus slid the letters and the magazine clipping back toward her. “I”m not vexed, Poppy, just…” Annoyed? Disappointed? Displeased with his entire family dipping their fingers in places they didn’t belong?
He ground his teeth together before he shook his head, taking a long sip of the tea. It tasted bitter. “I will meet them once, for your sake of not looking like a fool.” He tried to keep the annoyance out of his voice, although it came out clipped. And maybe, if Poppy knew him well, like he thought she might, he might pursue something after.
With a sigh he reached forward and took first the article into his hands, skimming over the words with his lips pressed together. He understood Poppy’s intention but it didn’t stop the annoyance from bubbling up in his gut. There was a pregnant pause as he contemplated his next set of words; he was irritated with her for overstepping her bounds but he swallowed the words to keep from snapping at her. Poppy was already bubbling over the edge with emotion and Atticus wouldn’t be the reason she felt worse going than when she came. “I don’t suppose you placed one for Basil too? He swears Mama was behind it, but I think she may have had a little help.” He finally settled on. “He was as unamused with his letter as I am mine.” He’d leave out the scathing letter his brother had sent him - that was just between them.
Atticus slipped the ad behind one of the letters, where he again skimmed over the words. They were elegant and well-spoken, just as he'd expect from any upper-class woman worth their salt. A couple of the names he recognized, but none he could instantly put a face to, let alone a personality. With another sigh, he closed his eyes and breathed through his nose as Poppy continued to try to justify her actions. After a few more moments and another frown, Atticus slid the letters and the magazine clipping back toward her. “I”m not vexed, Poppy, just…” Annoyed? Disappointed? Displeased with his entire family dipping their fingers in places they didn’t belong?
He ground his teeth together before he shook his head, taking a long sip of the tea. It tasted bitter. “I will meet them once, for your sake of not looking like a fool.” He tried to keep the annoyance out of his voice, although it came out clipped. And maybe, if Poppy knew him well, like he thought she might, he might pursue something after.
![[Image: cBAJGlb.png]](https://i.imgur.com/cBAJGlb.png)