80. The next morning

I mentioned that I would be having lunch with Captain Carter to my mother at breakfast.

"I'm sorry?" Charlotte looked at me, innocently. "Who?"

"Captain Richard Carter, of the 27th Foot, just returned from the Peninsular, the nephew of General Bradley, wealthy with an estate in Oxford?" I reminded her.

"Oh? Who was this?" Margaret asked.

"That very dashing looking officer, most handsome he was, at the garden party." Louise told her.

"Oh, with the ... er?" Margaret held her left arm up. "That one?"

Louise nodded, "Yes, a foot officer though, not Horse or even a dragoon sadly, but other than that, no disfiguring scars, quite handsome." She said with an impish grin, looking directly at me. I smiled back at her. By mentioning the two cavalry types, Louise was implying that they were worth more than a mere foot soldier. That might be something worth addressing with her some time.

"Was he as charming as he looked, Charlotte?" Margaret asked, with an air of feigned innocence.

"We only talked for a few moments, so I am sure that I could not say. He did seem quite pleasant though."

"Excellent," I smiled, "I am going to suggest that he and I go for a ride on Rotten Row this afternoon."

Charlotte's face was a picture, she did not seem to know where to look, or even what to do. She finished her breakfast and immediately went upstairs.

I was in my study, composing a letter to Henry, who was in Rogeringham supervising the changes to what we were calling the estate office, and his own house, when Charlotte sought me out.

Her pretty face was sullen and she had a pout one could stand upon.

"Should I not have invited Captain Carter?" I asked.

"You might have asked me first," She growled.

"Really? And why was that?" I asked, "'He was pleasant', and you 'only talked for a few minutes'." I reminded her. Her frown deepened.

"I invited Richard Carter here as a friend," and I explained about Thomas Raine and how I hoped that Captain Carter could shed more light on his passing. "I did not invite him as a possible suitor for you. Now, if you wish to change that situation, that is entirely up to you. Based on what I have seen so far, I would have no problem with that, but - and I repeat - that choice is yours, and yours alone."

Her visage darkened even more, but she did not say anything.

I put down my pen and leaned forwards on the desk. "No one, especially not me, is ever going to make you do anything that you do not wish to do, Charlotte, no one will force you one way or another.

"He is very pleasant company." Charlotte said quietly after some thought.

"May I make a suggestion then?" I asked, Charlotte nodded. "I expect Arabella will be here soon, she normally is. It looks like a nice day, Captain Carter and I will probably ride out on Rotten Row, why don't you suggest a trip around Hyde Park with her, this afternoon? Failing that take Caroline with you, in the brougham."