A Bitter Truth question

I think it is moving toward a romantic relationship, although very slowly. I picture him 10 to 15 years her senior.

mild spoiler: (view spoiler)[ He referred to her as "darling girl" at least once toward the end of this book. (hide spoiler)]

I also don't believe their relationship would be a problem. As someone stated WWI is happening and ideas about what makes for a proper marriage is changing. Also, both Bess and Simon are commoners and I think Simon is so well regarded by her parents they would be happy that they have fallen in love. And I do think they are in love with each other though I think Simon is being reserved about it due to the age difference and his regard for her parents. I think Bess just doesn't know she is in love with him yet since he has always been there.

I've tried to figure that out as well. Simon served with her father in India (?) so was an adult or very young man at least when Bess was a child. I guess he could go the big brother route or the romantic way. We may never know.

I love their relationship. I keep hoping it'll turn into something more. For some reason, and I can't remember which book might have given me this impression, I envision Simon in his mid-early thirties. But maybe that's just me picturing a perfect couple.

Simon is (I believe) quite a bit older than Bess , but not as old as her father and cares for her very much, in a brotherly or uncle way. He respects her father and her too much to change their relationship. I hope it stays that way, she needs protection sometimes!

I love the Simon-Bess relationship and I hope it doesn't become sexual in nature because all of the elements of a romantic connection (without the conformity to societal dictates) are present already. She is much younger than Simon, brave and adventurous like Simon, attractive like Simon and the two share intimate relationships with common people. If Simon was to approach Bess for her hand her family might be very happy, considering his friendship with her father and mother, and it would be historically accurate for such a man to select a younger wife but it would limit the freedom from the parlor and nursery that so enlivens Bess' life.

I have thought all along it would end up as a romantic relationship but I am pleased with the pace it is going. I think at some point there will be a sudden moment of peril or something that will make them realize their feelings.

I do think Simon's feelings are more than that of an older brother but I suspect he either does not think he is worthy of her or is to respectful of her father to even consider pursuing her that way.

If Simon and Bess ever do get together romantically, it will be a bit of a shocker. I believe Simon served with Colonel Crawford as a Sergeant-Major. That means he was a non-commissioned officer or Other Ranks, at a time when commissioned officers were drawn from the upper classes and Other Ranks were not. Social class still mattered a great deal at that time, as you can see if you watched Downton Abbey.

I think that their relationship will mature into love one of these books. She relies on him, but she doesn't have daughterly feelings for him. It's just that he's always been around, like the guy next door.