The three of them were greeted by the footman and were led through the house towards the dining room. Mrs Hollyworth was ecstatic as she commented on every little detail of the house, though usually negatively comparing to the ‘grander Hollyworth Estate’.  The Major felt out of place as he normally did at these events. He may have grown up and attended many dinners such as these, but after joining the Army he had actively tried to avoid such occasions, usually at the annoyance of his brother William and the Colonel. Arthur would of normally attempted to rope in Major Hewson or even Captain Mathieson in his stead, but Hewson the blacksmith’s son, and Mathieson the womaniser usually left the Colonel favouring Arthur. In this case Arthur accepted without complaint, as he was willing to endure awkward conversations, and boring entertainment to catch a glimpse of Matilda. 

They entered the dining room just as the everyone else did from the otherside of the house. The dining room was what one would expect of an Estate this size. The long table dominated the room however with plenty of pace on either side to move freely. Mr Farr was quick to introduce the three of them to their guests, Mrs Bennet and her son Hugo. Arthur bowed politely as his gaze crossed the room and fell upon Matilda. His eyes met hers for a mere second, but a second longer than anyone else’s. He tore his gaze away from her blue eyes before he attracted attention to himself.  

Before the group could fall into an awkward silence, Mr Farr invited everyone to take a seat. The Major followed his Colonel’s direction and took a seat beside him.