An Inconvenient Trilogy by Audrey Harrison

An Inconvenient Trilogy by Audrey Harrison

Author:Audrey Harrison [Harrison, Audrey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Audrey Harrison
Published: 2014-11-10T08:00:00+00:00


Chapter 13

Charlotte had dressed carefully for the ball. She loved the dresses she now owned through Stephen’s and Elizabeth’s kindness. Stephen. If only she could dance with him, she thought with a sigh. They had jumped a few stages of a normal relationship, straight to kisses and marriage proposals and heartache. Not the stuff of romance novels, where the hero woos the heroine and there is a steady progress of the romance, she thought ruefully.

The preparations for the ball had been different to the other entertainments that had been going on. Charlotte knew that both Violet and Elizabeth hoped that she was going to make a match of it with someone in the area. Elizabeth had confided one day that, although she was no matchmaker, she was hoping that Charlotte would settle in Somerset, so that Elizabeth could enjoy her company for longer. The two had grown close over the weeks of her visit, and Charlotte had to admit that to be able to see Elizabeth every week would be a real temptation when thinking of a place to live.

She could have laughed off the matchmaking if she did not think that there was going to be an approach to Lord Dunham for her hand in marriage. She was flattered that she had been welcomed into local Society, although she acknowledged that it was her connections with the Dunhams that ensured she would be accepted. What Charlotte failed to realise was that her admirers were genuine. Yes, she had no fortune, but she was a beautiful girl and her liveliness and kind nature were very real added attractions to the young men of the area.

Mr O’Hara was the most persistent of her admirers and she worried in case she was being rude by her behaviour towards him. She was doing her best to make him understand that she was not interested in him romantically. He called every day, he sent flowers every morning, and he asked for the first dances whenever there was the opportunity. Tonight, again, he had secured the first two dances. Charlotte had been unable to refuse, she did not want to encourage him, but she could also not refuse the request of dancing, if she hoped to dance with anyone else. It would be a poor reflection on herself and her hosts. She had decided though, that she had to tell him that he must not continue with this attention. Others, in the wider social circle were beginning to speculate on a match between them.

Charlotte smiled to herself as Maggie stood behind her, performing her usual magic on Charlotte’s hair. A few months ago and Mr O’Hara would have been everything she had ever wanted. He was handsome, funny, kind and thoughtful, everything that a good husband should be. He had only one fault and that was, he was not Lord Halkyn. No matter how perfect Mr O’Hara was, how comfortable his income was, how nice his house in Bristol was, he was not Lord Halkyn.



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