“Yes, she did. She is very charming.”
Charlotte laughed lightly. “Indeed, though sometimes embarrassingly direct.”
He flushed a little. “I predict she will be one of those ladies who know just how to help everyone.”
“You’re probably correct. Tell me, do you spend much time in Town?” She led him to a chair and sat on the sofa next to it.
“I try to always be present for the parliamentary sessions.”
“Indeed. I am very interested in politics. To which party do you belong?”
He stiffened a little. “Why the Tories, of course.”
“Oh.” That was a disappointment.
“I take it your family supports the Whigs?”
Charlotte smiled politely. “Yes, Lord Worthington does as well.”
Merton raised a supercilious brow. “I would not wish to speak badly of my cousin, but he does have what I consider to be rather extreme views.”
She struggled to maintain a pleasant expression. This is what Grace meant about using one’s manners when one would prefer not to. “Indeed, and which of those views do you consider extreme?”
“I shall give you an example. All this talk of social reform. Why should the average man have a vote? They wouldn’t know what to do with it. There is a reason our society is ordered as it is.”
Charlotte spoke to him for quite a half an hour before tea was served. Though Merton was one of the more attractive gentlemen she’d seen, he didn’t seem to have an original thought in his head. Did he truly believe the things he said? It was as if he was living in the last century. Such a shame. She allowed him to escort her to where Grace was pouring tea and took the cup he handed her.
Perhaps husband hunting was not going to be as easy as she thought it would.
* * *
Early the following morning, Charlotte knocked softly on her sister’s bedchamber door. “Grace?”
“Charlotte, come in.” Grace sat at her dressing table while Bolton put her hair up.
“Grace, what did you think of Merton?”
“I thought him very well mannered. Particularly after the provocation Worthington and Louisa offered.”
“I agree that was not well done. But did you think him a little—well a little stodgy?”
Bolton finished, and Grace signaled to her to leave. “Yes, I think stodgy is the word I would use.”
“It is not as if he is older.”
“He is young and handsome, but stodgy, nonetheless.” She grinned. “Some people are born that way, others learn it.” Grace gave Charlotte a wry smile. “I would caution you not to expect him to change. Don’t lose heart, he is only the first eligible gentleman you’ve met. There will be plenty more.”
Charlotte couldn’t keep her brows from drawing together. “What do you think I should do?”
“Look around. There is no reason for you to marry this year, unless you want to. Keep in mind that a handsome face and pleasant manners are not everything, and may, indeed, hide a number of sins. You must agree on how you wish to live your lives as well.”
“Did you and Worthington do that?”
Grace paused for a moment. “We are fortunate in that we are both very liberal thinkers.”
Charlotte nodded thoughtfully. Grace was almost always right, as she was now. Unless some being came along and magically changed Merton’s views, he would not do for her. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, my dear.” Grace grinned as she stood. “Come, let’s go down to breakfast before the children pile in.”
