Page 16
--
“Engaged to General Forster! My dear Charlotte, impossible!”
"Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza? Do you think it incredible that the General should be able to procure a young woman's good opinion, my good opinion?”
Elizabeth stopped and tried to gather her thoughts.
“No, dear Charlotte you are right. It is not incredible but it was a surprise, as my outburst showed. I had not realise that you were courting.”
“I am not sure that what we were doing could be categorised as courting. But regardless of the before, this is the now, and the after is next Friday.”
“Next Friday!”
“It would be Monday but we have to wait a week under the Common Licence.”
Elizabeth processed the words and looked at her friend in astonishment.
“You are in a hurry to get married?”
“Yes, but not for the reason that will be speculated about. I am still a maiden and will go to ceremony as such. But we bring out a torrid passion within each other and even the reading of the Banns for three weeks was too long.”
If Elizabeth had been given one hundred guesses she would never have considered Charlotte Lucas as being consumed by torrid passions. She had no idea what to say. Charlotte was enjoying teasing her normally loquacious and erudite friend.
“I have come to ask that you stand up with me as my bridesmaid next Friday.”
“Of course. Thank you for thinking of me, and I will be honoured. Where are you going to live?”
“The family estate is in Suffolk, south of Ipswich on the River Stour, so not too far.”
--
“I did not expect to be having this conversation with a man older than me.”
The General ruefully smiled.
“I did not expect to be having this conversation at all. But then I met Miss Lucas and suddenly she was all I could think of. I got Philips in Meryton to prepare the marriage settlement, I did not want to delay by going to London.”
Sir William Lucas reviewed the document working through the various clauses dealing with children.
“It is unlikely that your children with Charlotte will inherit but as you have no grandchildren at present you are making sure that the possibility is considered and dealt with.”
“I am. It is not likely but until the Colonel and his good lady actually produce a male child it needs to be clearly laid out.”
“You know that Charlotte’s dowry is modest.”
“I do. I am not marrying her for the money. I find myself in love with her. Which even as I say it sounds absurd from a man turned 60. But the heart wants what the heart wants. You can see for the provisions for her and any children, that she will be looked after. It might not be luxury but it will be comfortable. She will be a widow for many years.”
--
Sir Reginald and Lady Forster had a scandalously happy marriage of 33 years. They had five children including two boys, who ended up as the heir and the spare for the family. Colonel Forster did not outlive his father, he was thrown from his horse and left his young wife with two daughters. Whenever Sir Reginald was asked the secret to his good health, he claimed an active lifestyle while glancing at his wife, who blushed on cue, and neither of them said anything else. The two of them were made for each other, kind, generous, patient but most of all passionate.
Plain old Charlotte Lucas, ever worried about being a burden to her family, discovered the joy of being in love with a good man. She called him a flirty old rogue every day for more than 30 years and he lived up to the billing. She was the envy of all her friends.
