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Charlotte flushed in embarrassment, but there was a happiness to her at the same time. She was perfectly safe in her parents drawing room. The General knew this was all new to her. What was the harm? As long as nobody knew.
“Your uniform must have had your medals demonstrating your gallantry. Apparently, my dress is collecting badges of a different character; a temptation, a tease, a flirt and a minx. I never knew 27 was going to be so exciting.”
“Things get better with age.”
Just when she thought she could maintain her equilibrium he goes and says that.
“I am surrender sir, I am at your mercy. I cannot compete.”
The General appeared poised to say something when he stopped himself. Charlotte replayed her words and nearly exploded when she realised how her words could be construed. She looked up at him with an embarrassed smile.
“Thank you. I am still a beginner and you displayed gentlemanly kindness. Come let us join your son so that I can recover from your dry wit.”
--
Reginald Forster knew he was in trouble. She was less than half his age, although well into spinsterhood. But there was something about her that tormented him. She was not the very image of his wife, nothing so clichéd as that. He liked her backbone, her willingness to step out to the very edges of propriety, while still being able to blush at the drop of a hat.
He knew he was lonely and had seen too many of his friends succumb to the French disease to risk a commercial encounter. He just could not get her out of his mind.
Neither was stalking the other but they kept running into each other. Finally, two weeks later, the got the chance to talk at yet another social gathering.
“Just when I thought you could not look any more beautiful you turn up in this lovely raiment. Is it new?”
Charlotte did not know why she was pleased that the General had noticed. His attentions had also caught the eye of her mother who was intrigued at the possibilities.
“It is new Sir Reginald. Do you prefer that or General?”
“I do not care. Both were earned. You may purchase a commission up to Colonel but promotion beyond that is on merit. And while some knighthoods are given for spurious reasons mine was earned almost 20 years ago in the first year of the revolutionary war with France.”
“How have you been occupying your time since we last spoke?”
Dreaming of you, my dear Miss Lucas!
“I have spent a lot of time with the Colonel and his new wife. Although he is the third son, he will have to produce the heir to my estate. My oldest was struck by a horse in his youth and my second is a cleric and remains unmarried with no intention of doing so. Thus it falls to the Colonel to continue the family name.”
Charlotte had overheard her father enough times to understand the situation with the second son. And while the General did not provide any details it was clear where his oldest had been struck. A tragedy for the young man.
It was at this moment that the world changed.
“I have been considering whether to remarry.”
Seven words but his look pierced her. She was lost, totally unable to gather her thoughts never mind formulate any words. His gaze never left her.
“It would have to be an exceptional woman, to put up with an old rogue like me.”
Charlotte took a large gulp from her glass and the resultant coughing fit restarted her brain.
“Is a gentleman not meant to draw a veil over his more disreputable deeds and present a picture of propriety and good manners?”
She was nearing 28 years of age but however belatedly she had taken to flirting like a natural.
“My answer, confusingly, is both yes and no. Yes you do want to present well. That is nothing more than listing all my achievements, boring and conventional, however necessary. But no, I do not wish to draw a veil over the other aspects of my existence. I do not want a nurse, I do not want a companion, I want a wife. And I have wanted a wife for many years. The young lady needs to understand how her life is going to change. I would be a very hands-on husband.”
Just when she thought she could cope with bantering with the self-proclaimed old rogue, he clearly, but euphemistically, talks of the marriage bed. This was not going to be a chaste romance, this was going to be passionate and regular. Charlotte Lucas looked at the handsome man. There was an honesty to him, a kindness to him, and a hunger to him. A lusty hunger for her. She rather liked that feeling.
“If you do know of such a paragon then I am sure she would want you to approach her father in the morning. As a matter of local knowledge, the Rev Ferry charges £2 for a common licence.”
Lady Lucas watched her eldest child and the distinguished General smile like young lovers.
