Most Ardently

by Gabe Cole Novoa

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single boy in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a future wife—unless that boy was Oliver Bennet. Not that Oliver was in possession of a good fortune, mind you, but it seemed impossible to him that having such a fortune would so completely transform his disinterest in one day having a wife. Or, more importantly, being one.

Jane smiled. “I’ll keep Mama busy. If the ball becomes too much tonight—” “I’ll let you know. Thank you, Jane.” She hugged him tightly and whispered, “Anything for my little brother.”

It was a special thing, to have one’s reflection in harmony with who they were.

“I would love to,” Oliver said, and then the strangest thing happened. Darcy smiled. Just a little.

“Are you sure?” Oliver asked. “I didn’t think I was allowed entrance without a membership.” “We’re permitted to bring a guest,” Darcy said. “We could bring a guest every week if we wanted to. I’d be happy to make you mine.”

I’ll likely marry the first man who will take me, regardless of my feelings about him, because people in our position don’t have the luxury of marrying for love. We must make sacrifices if we want to survive.

It seemed the longer he spent in the bliss of being the boy he was always meant to be, the more miserable he was forcing himself to play the part of the girl he never was.

head. “You think you would enjoy things less if you enjoyed a larger variety of activities?” “It’s logical, isn’t it?” “Only if you believe yourself to have a limited amount of amusement that can be exhausted.”

Oliver began to wonder if Caroline had ever read a book at all.

“To be clear,” Oliver interrupted at last, “I’m only walking because Caroline insisted. I couldn’t care less whether that was enough to pique your interest.”

“If a gentleman asks me to dance, I’ll accept. But I won’t go parade myself about in front of them like a peacock looking for a mate.”

“Your partner seems to be rather chatty.” “An apt observation. Thankfully he seems to be the variety of chatty that only wants to hear himself speak.” Darcy arched an eyebrow. “That’s a good thing?” “It is when I have absolutely no interest in speaking to him.”

He wasn’t even looking at Oliver at this point, which Oliver supposed wasn’t all that surprising. Did Mr. Collins even see him? Or was Oliver just a vessel for him to continue to build his status in polite society?

“No one wants to deny themselves happiness, Oliver,” she said. “But many of us have to choose a middle ground if we hope to survive.”