Page 7 of A Lady's Propitious Match
“How was Germany? Did you meet many women there? I have heard some incredible things about European women and I would love to know how true they are…”
“I am not having this conversation with you.” Seeing the sheer determination in Graham’s burning gaze only suffocated Christopher more. He could not cope with everyone looking at him like that, with the expectation that he was going to be their jester.
He did not care for Graham’s thinly veiled critiques of Christopher’s life choices. He needed to get out of there, and quickly.
“I actually must get some air.” Christopher forced himself away from his brother’s grip. “But I am sure I will have lots to tell you all when I return. I will recall my best ones.”
That must have been enough because Graham did not fight him anymore. That did not mean he was done. Christopher heard a few comments being made about him as he exited the room, which only pushed him further out of the house.
Christopher kept on walking until he reached his favorite gentlemen’s club, wanting congenial company. Anything had to be better than spending time with his family when they were trying everything that they were trying to do tonight.
“Christopher, I did not know that you were coming tonight!”
Christopher was surprised by the sight of his closest friend, Lord Elliot Belmont, sitting at the bar with a drink in hand, and a friendly welcoming smile on his face.
“Hello, Elliot. I needed a break from the family.”
Elliot laughed as Christopher took a seat beside him. “But you have not been back from Europe for a very long time. Pray, how can they vex you so, already?”
Christopher scoffed. “Oh, you have no idea. My mother is determined to keep me here in London, to stop me from travelling abroad again, so she is doing everything that she can to matchmake. She wants me to marry Miss Henrietta Devereux.”
“Well, she is quite beautiful…” Elliot trailed off when he spotted the expression on Christopher’s face. “I understand. Navigating persistent family expectations can be a real challenge. It is not the easiest to choose who you would like to be married to, when your parents are involved. But do know that they have your best interests at heart. They do always want what is right for you.”
Christopher ordered a drink and hung his head low. “I do not want to be married to Henrietta, however beautiful she may be. I can not muster the right enthusiasm over superficial courtships or securing a match just to satisfy society’s ideals. But much as I try to tell my mother, she does not understand my real goal. I came home with the hope that I could nurture students here, and expand my tutoring services in London. To prove myself. But now I am wondering if I should have returned at all. Things were so much easier when I was away.”
It was obvious that Elliot did not really know what to say, but just having him around, being kind and comforting rather than brutish like his brother was preferable.
At least here, Christopher felt like he could talk without the pressure of judgement resting down on his shoulders.
“It is always this way, during the Season,” Elliot acknowledged. “You are simply lucky that you managed to miss out on a year or so of it. The pressure is always going to be there, especially as we grow older.”
“If only we could spend more time hiding away in gentleman’s clubs such as this one,” Christopher laughed, feeling a little lighter simply from being allowed to share his burden. “Exploring what we want to do, living life at our own pace without any pressure from others. Life would be so much simpler for all of us.”
“Hear, hear.” Elliot raised his glass and clinked it against Christopher’s in a cheers gesture. “It certainly would be so much better. Unfortunately, being born into a family with a title and an inheritance keeps us out of the work houses, but leaves us with pressures the working class would not even begin to understand.”
Now that was something Christopher could drink to. Sometimes he thought that it would be so much easier to be born without pressure. Then he could simply be whoever he wanted to be.
