Arthur took a sip of his tea. The initial awkwardness of meeting Matilda again had faded and replaced by the friendly banter they shared back in Bath. The only difference, they were no longer accompanied by friends and family.

[b]“Well I do feel privileged indeed to be one of the select few. I dare say you need to sprain your ankle more often as this is a nice change to conversing in a larger gathering.” [/b]

He was thinking of Mrs Farr specifically. From what he had been told by Matilda and Eleanor, the gate-keeper to Matilda’s time and attention isn’t always the easiest to get along with. This moment he is sharing with Matilda, he knew would be few and far between.

Taking the last sip of his tea and placing back on the side table, Arthur dropped the smile.

[b]“I’m sorry Matilda,[/b]” he said. 
[b]“I do regret not writing to you. It is of no fault of your own. I very much enjoyed the friendship that we shared in Bath.”[/b]

His thoughts went back to the days leading up to him leaving Bath; internally wrestling with the thought of proposing. His brother had been right, there were very few people who he enjoyed their company as much as Matilda. But at the end of the day he was the second son with a modest income, though enough for him to live, not one to provide a lifestyle that Matilda would be accustomed to.