86. The Season ends - Henry and Caroline

The Season came to an end, and around The Ton, fathers (and brothers) heaved a sigh of relief that the drain upon their purses would be eased. It was no longer necessary for women to have a new gown or dress for every single occasion (well, no more than usual, anyway). The number of events and occasions dropped, and many people left the Ton for the better airs of the country.

We did, and as the summer ended, we prepared for Caroline's marriage to Henry.

Unlike Hermione, Caroline did not require a 'farewell party'. The relationship between us, and Henry, was such that it was not felt necessary. My sister went into the union with Mr Adams, with my friend Henry, with her eyes open and ready to be Lady Caroline Adams.

My gift to them was the three properties that Dodgson had appropriated. This would give them the additional rents and revenues, but also - if they chose to do so - they could dispose of some of the properties to the canal trunk, which was still going ahead, though without Sir Montague Fellowes. It would add considerably to the family's income.

The church of St Mary, Rogeringham, was packed, most of the staff attended, Henry had been popular when he had worked below stairs, and in his work managing the estate he had maintained an easy, almost affable approach. Richard Carter, acted as escort for Charlotte, and I suspected (I hoped) that I would soon be talking to them about the next wedding.

The ball that evening to mark their nuptials was also declared as marking my birthday, which was a few days afterwards. Like our Grand Winter Ball, it was attended by people from all over the county.

I met with Henry's half-brother, the new Lord Brunton, Sir Walter. Unlike his elder half-brother who has an easy affable nature, my initial impression of the younger man, was that he was a prickly character, who bristled when people so much as looked at him. Brunton's wife was pretty and vivacious, with a particularly musical laugh. She appeared to embrace my sister Caroline, almost immediately, and as I watched Sir Walter seemed to thaw and by the end of the evening, he was quite enjoying himself.

As they were staying with us at Rogeringham Hall, he joined me for a brandy afterwards.

Away from the other wedding guests, Brunton, was quite different, he still seemed to be uncomfortable, but he was more relaxed. We chatted for a while, and he admitted that initially he was sceptical of Henry, having never really known him. That he had risen as far as he had - to the position of my assistant, before his inheritance, had come as a shock. That I had allowed him to marry my sister was an even bigger shock.

"I hope that you will forgive me saying so, Your Grace," he began, and his tone was completely respectful, "But surely Lady Caroline might have made a better match than my brother, however highly you regard him."

I suppose I should have expected it, that more conventional members of our society would view my willingness to allow my sisters to marry as they wished and not exert more control over the unions (that is - marry them off to gain advantage from the match), with suspicion and caution. I ignored it - in a way.

I explained to Sir Walter, that I had done exactly what it was that I was supposed to do - the unions were my decision to make, and I had made those decisions. The difference was that where many fathers - and older brothers - would have simply married the girl off where and when they thought fit, I had simply taken a very close account of my sisters' wishes in making my decisions.

"And anyway," I said, "In Henry's case I was quite happy to allow him to marry my sister, because he had achieved his success entirely on his own merits, his inheritance had merely enabled events better."

Lady Brunton, who joined us at that point, with my mother, declared that she had never seen a couple that looked more fitted to be together.

"My wife is a very good judge of character, Your Grace, more so than I am," Brunton admitted sheepishly, "She was very impressed by Henry, and of course Lady Caroline. I should have listened to her earlier."

"Well, perhaps that is another reason to celebrate the day then." I declared, raising a glass in Lady Brunton's direction, "A rapprochement between two brothers. Your brother is a good man and an honourable one, as I am sure you will discover."