Poppy frowned at the word ‘suspicious.’ She’d told him hadn’t she? What would have been suspicious or underhanded would have been introducing them blindly and not telling him at all! Trying to smooth ruffled feathers though, Poppy lifted her chin and didn’t deign to respond. She took another sip of her tea then, for something to do, and listened as Atticus talked about her suitors. She felt her cheeks warm. If he only knew… Poppy had plenty of ideas of her own prospects and what it might be like, in turn, to have someone vetting for her. She didn’t adore the idea, but she knew it was a necessity to a degree. She trusted Atticus more than anyone else in her family to vet with her best interests though, and she was hurt he didn’t think the same her. She wasn’t a mere child anymore! Far from it in fact. She was of marrying age and would soon be out; Atticus could marry someone of her standing and age right now if he wanted to badly enough! (She balked at the very idea, but it was still true.)
Perhaps she was being overly sensitive. She’d known he would be annoyed about it, and she’d plunged on regardless because Poppy knew it was for the best. She really ought to just ignore his complaints and move on, managing him like a child just as he managed her. Setting her cup aside and deciding to do just that, Poppy tucked the letters away gracefully back into her bag.
“Well, I believe you’ve already met Ms. Blackwood,” she said. (Aunt Viola had written to her about that exchange already and Poppy had set it aside as complete.) “As for the others, both Ms. Malfoy and Ms. Mountbatton are lovely in their ways. But I shan’t like to give you preconceived notions. I have asked mama to invite them each to my ball in June, and you can meet them then. After you’ve made up your own mind, then I can share my experience and urge you towards which I think might be the better match.” She raised her head defiantly then, daring him to protest. She, like any other concerned woman in his life, has as much a right to opine about his relationships as the next-- if not more, since she would be the one saddled with a beast lest Atticus make an unfortunate choice. “I think if you give them an honest chance Atticus, you might well find your bride very soon.”
© Fox