90. Richard and Charlotte

Captain Carter became a regular visitor to Rogeringham Hall over the winter, and then to Mayfair in the spring, and as well as his paying court to my sister, we often found time to practice our swordsmanship in the grounds there. It was at the close of one of these sessions that Richard finally asked if he would be permitted to marry Charlotte.

I led him into my study, where I poured us both a sherry.

"I will not say that I am surprised," I told him, "You have been paying court for nearly a year." I laughed.

"It has been a long time," he agreed, "I simply wanted to be sure that my living was in order and fit to support your sister in the manner to which she has become accustomed."

"Is all in order then?" I asked, he nodded. "Have you asked Charlotte yet?"

"I have, Your Grace." He replied, "She is willing."

"And what is your opinion of my sister, Richard?"

Captain Carter looked at me for a moment. "I would say, Your Grace, that your sister is a beautiful woman, with many social graces and many skills. She is intelligent and she is witty."

He paused a moment and then a rueful smile spread across his face. "But I suspect that Your Grace knows all of that, so I would ask in return, is there something I should know about?"

It was my turn to smile, in the time since I was first introduced to the man before me, I have come to respect him, and his quick wits.

"I want to be sure that your choice is made for the right reasons." I said, bluntly.

"Your Grace?"

"That suddenly finding yourself cast into the maelstrom that is London in the Season, you did not simply latch onto the first person that you came across, who was not dismayed by you." I lifted my left arm.

Captain Carter leapt out of his seat - very much as I expected him too. "It is only my respect for you, Your Grace, for the friendship that I feel has grown between us, that I do not challenge you here and now for that, sir!

"You undervalue your sister greatly, Your Grace." He went on fiercely, "She is a princess; she could easily have become a real princess if she had so wished. That she chooses to bestow her favour upon me is something for which I give thanks daily. We talk together and when we talk about our future, Lady Charlotte is most enthusiastic about a life together. Even with this ..." It was Richard's turn to wave his left arm about.

"Her interest in me and my life honours me, and if it were anybody else that spoke so about her - I would sir _ I would_!" He groped franticly for what he would do.

Then the Captain saw my face, and he paused in his speech. He paused because he saw precisely what I had done. Richard sat down, "Masterly, Your Grace, masterly!" He laughed. "You laid the trap and I walked straight in. Please forgive my hasty words, Your Grace ..."

"There is nothing to forgive, Richard." I reassured him, "And for hasty words, they were well said. But then again, I would not have expected less."

I topped up our glasses.

"Charlotte is a princess, Richard." I agreed with him, "All of my sisters are, and not just because of our rank, but because of their qualities, and of all of them, Charlotte is perhaps the best.

"When I returned from the war, I found that my sisters - the girls I had left behind, had grown up, and had become women. In their hearts they are still the same girls I grew up with and whom I love, but each of them has become their own person. So many changes, Richard, they are wilful, certainly, but they are also clever, resourceful, and strong."

I took a sip from my drink, Richard waited patiently for me to continue, "You may ask my sister for her hand and if she gives it, I will give my blessing. But beware, Charlotte is not a society wife. She has never been a shallow person, nor will she ever be. And because of that, she will never be a pale reflection of her husband, some wife to be left at home and called for when needed."

"Are you trying to dissuade me, Your Grace? Because that will not work ..."

"No, not dissuade you, Richard, I am simply trying to ensure that you understand what it is that you are entering into with her."

Captain Carter reflected for a moment. When he looked at me, I saw the doubt and hope flick across his face until they were replaced by firm resolution. "I understand Your Grace, I can only hope that I can live up to her and be the husband she deserves."

I stood up and offered him my hand. "I am sure that you will be - I would not have given my blessing otherwise."

Charlotte came to see me after Richard had departed.

We sat together on the couch, and she asked why I had asked Captain Carter what I had asked.

"Charlotte, of all of my sisters you and I are the closest, despite our having different mothers I feel that we are both cut from the same cloth. We think alike in many ways, we feel the same about many things, I have never felt like you were genuinely anything other than my sister.

"Hermione and I are connected through our hearts, Caroline and I, through our intellects, the twins ..." I waved my hand airily, "Who knows?

"But you and I, Charlotte, we are connected in many ways - so many, in fact, that I believe that it is our souls that join you and I."

Charlotte leaned in and kissed me, "Thank you William, may we always be so."

"I hope so too." I continued, "I like Richard Carter too, but I had to be sure that his feelings for you were genuine, that he would honour you in the way that you deserved."

"And are you convinced?" She asked.

"I am." I told her.

Charlotte and Richard dined with Helena and I the next evening and Richard, now that he had secured my blessing, got down on one knee and asked Charlotte to marry him. She agreed, and with that, my promise to Helena was fulfilled.

Each of my sisters had been presented at court, they had all had their Season and each was living the life that they wished. And even though the twins were unlikely to marry soon, their dowries had been placed into trusts and set aside for the future. With that - as they say - my task here was accomplished.

All that remained was my own future.