“William, she will be seventeen in February. If they do things like they did with Jane, she will be allowed to come out locally not long after her birthday,” Richard declared. “There is nothing wrong with admiring her at this age, as long as you say nothing until after she is eighteen.”
“She is so lively, and I am much more taciturn,” William moaned. “Will she want to be with someone like me?”
“Do not mope about like you have lost her before you come close to declaring yourself. That will do you no good,” Fitzwilliam admonished. “Think about this: Jane and I are like you two, except I am more like Lizzy and Jane is more like you. We fit together because of the differences. Do you not comprehend that Lizzy, in disposition and talents, would most suit you? By her ease and liveliness, your mind will be softened, and your manners, especially with those with whom you are not acquainted, will be improved. There are benefits for Lizzy on your side too, even given that immaculate memory and vast intellect of hers. From your judgement, information, and knowledge of the world, she will receive much benefit. Your understanding and temper, though unlike her own, will answer all her wishes.
“So please, William, there is no need to accept defeat before you have begun to woo her. Once we are married, I will ask Jane to provide me with information about Lizzy, which will be helpful in your endeavours to court her.”
“You are right. It would not be very intelligent of me to make assumptions and act like they are fact. If I do that, I will hobble myself,” William realised. “Thank you, Richard. You have helped me to see things in a much clearer light. Now, all I have to do is wait.”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Lord Jamey Carrington was enjoying the food laid out to break his fast when Mr Samuelson, Netherfield Park’s butler, entered the breakfast parlour and offered him the silver salver. Hadlock recognised his father’s script immediately and dismissed the butler after taking the missive.
He hoped it was not bad news as he broke the Holder seal and smoothed out the single page.
“Richard Fitzwilliam, you are a sly one,” Hadlock said to the breakfast parlour as he slapped his thigh. “Now there are two Carrington siblings in courtships.” He put the epistle containing nothing but glad tidings aside and finished the food he had selected for his morning meal.
After the meal he donned his great coat, hat, and gloves and made his way down the drive to where his coach awaited—one his father had purchased from the Bingley Carriage Works. It looked like the possibility of rain; hence, he had decided not to ride his horse to Lucas Lodge. Another reason he preferred the carriage was that he would arrive not smelling of sweat and horse. Thankfully, it was only two and one-half miles to Lucas Lodge.
Hadlock was pleased that his prospective father-in-law had calmed down and was not so much awed by his rank. He sensed that the eldest Lucas son, Franklin, was more pleased than his parents that Charlotte was being courted. Hadlock believed it was because Franklin Lucas had been concerned about being saddled with a spinster sister once he inherited the small estate.
Soon enough the coachman drew the matched team of four to a halt in the drive at Lucas Lodge. After the obligatory greetings to his future in-laws, Hadlock settled near Charlotte on the settee. “Read this,” he stated as he handed Charlotte the note.
“That was only a matter of time!” Charlotte exclaimed happily after she read the letter.
“What is it, Charlotte?” Lady Lucas, who hated not knowing everyone’s business, asked. “Is it good news?”
“Yes, Mother, it is very good news. Lady Jane is being courted by Mr Fitzwilliam, the master of Rosings Park. Jamey’s father wrote and told him the news.”
“It is not private, is it?” Lady Lucas verified. She loved to gossip, but more than that she did not want to upset Charlotte’s noble suitor.
“No, Lady Lucas, it is not a secret,” Jamey confirmed. “Feel free to tell anyone in the neighbourhood who knows my sister.”
“You have made my mother very happy,” Charlotte said with a smile.
Hadlock smiled at the woman who owned his heart. Some called her plain, but he saw much beauty in her, inside and out. It would not be long before he proposed.
Chapter 27
May 1808
Netherfield Park was full of those attending the wedding of Charlotte Lucas and Viscount Hadlock.
Jamey had proposed, and Charlotte accepted him on the first day of 1808, a Friday. When Jamey had approached Sir William for his blessing—Charlotte was already of age—he had not been sure who had been more excited about the engagement, he and Charlotte or Sir William and Lady Lucas. He had seen a look of pleasure in Franklin Lucas, which Jamey had not been sure was happiness for his sister or at the knowledge that she would never be a burden on him.
What none of them were aware of, and would not have cared if they had been, was the reaction of one Caroline Bingley when she read the London papers which contained the engagement notice. Even though her brother had told her Viscount Hadlock was courting someone, she had ignored that as nonsense. It had been true, and that had precipitated a tantrum for the ages. All that was left to break in her chamber was the mirror on the dresser. All too late, she realised Uncle John would not replace it, and she would have to clean up the shards of glass and other mess herself.
She decided that as the viscount was out of reach, she would honour the earl’s son, Mr Fitzwilliam, with her hand. Even though he was only a second son, he did own a large estate in Kent, so he would do as an entrée to the first circles. If Miss Lucas could have Viscount Hadlock; she would marry her own earl’s son.
A long engagement had been decided on in an abundance of caution. Given Charlotte’s much lower social status, the families did not want anyone to be able to say that they married in haste because she was with child. An almost five-month engagement made that speculation a non-issue. Lady Lucas had been as pleased as could be at the length of the betrothal because it allowed her more time to crow to those in the neighbourhood about her soon-to-be viscountess daughter’s stupendous match.
Seeing that Charlotte was a popular and respected member of the local society, even those who wished that Viscount Hadlock’s eye had fallen on them did not begrudge Charlotte her happiness.
The day Charlotte and her affianced selected for the wedding was Saturday, the fourteenth of May 1808.
Even though the wedding was months away, Hadlock had the wedding contracts drawn up soon after Charlotte accepted him. When he took them to Sir William to review, his father-in-law-to-be spluttered when he saw that Hadlock was settling five and thirty thousand pounds on his daughter. Her dowry was five hundred pounds, and it had been gently suggested to Sir William that he should add that amount to Maria’s dowry, as Charlotte had no need for it. Sir William had followed said advice. When his affianced had been asked to join them in her father’s study so she could read the contract, she had tried to argue that it was far too much. That was until her betrothed explained that when—hopefully many decades in the future—they inherited the earldom, like it had for his mother, the amount settled would practically double.
A few days after the settlement had been signed, the rest of the Carrington family arrived at Netherfield Park.
