Muriel
added. He had been on his way to his family home, Hamsdale Heath, in Northumberland.
"You must tell us how your sister and brothers are
getting on," Charlotte urged.
"And you must tell me news of Augusta and her husband. I have not had a letter from her in some time," Sir
Samuel insisted.
Aunt Penny interrupted, "I am sure that all your conversations can wait until after Sir Samuel has settled in
his room and recuperated from his journey."
"As you request, Mrs. Parker," Sir Samuel acknowledged. "I shall see you both at supper and we will speak
then."
"But Sir Samuel-" Muriel thought his premature
departure was grossly unfair.
"Papa-" Charlotte pleaded, hoping their father might
intervene on their behalf.
"You shall see him at supper," he said in a tone that
would brook no protest. "We've spent many hours on the
roads. You must allow our guest to properly rest. Now off
with you, Sir Samuel. There will be plenty of opportunity
for discussion and family gossip later."
"Very well." Muriel did so wish to have a long con versation with him, and not just about their families. "I
suppose I shall need to wait."
"That's my girl." The Duke smiled and gestured for
them to follow. "If you please, ladies. I would like to
speak to the two of you."
Charlotte took hold of Muriel's hand and they followed their father to his library. The room felt complete
when he entered. The walls of leather-bound books
seemed to welcome the Duke.
"I am quite fond of that young man." His Grace had
meant Sir Samuel, of course.
"As are we," Charlotte answered for the two of them.
"If either of you could see about matrimonially securing him, I'd be more than grateful." The Duke winked
at his daughters.
"Oh, Papa, you shouldn't tease us so." Charlotte pulled
the door closed behind them.
"Char-Char does have a dozen or so suitors presently
doting on her; one more shouldn't make a difference."
Muriel squeezed her sister's arm, letting her know her
words were spoken as a mere jest. "I'll see what I can
do Papa, although I am only fifteen."
"Soon to be sixteen, although I do not believe I could
part with you so soon." He walked behind his desk,
glanced at the papers that had accumulated on its surface since his absence, and settled into the chair. "Now
tell me what has transpired since these suitors of Charlotte's arrived. Your aunt seems to be most distressed by
their presence."
"Every one of them is worthy and wonderful." Charlotte could only manage to say good things about their
gentlemen visitors ... or about anyone, truth be told.
"I would expect to hear nothing less from you, my
dear Charlotte." The Duke turned to his youngest.
"What say you, Muriel?"
Muriel glanced at her sister before giving an opinion.
"There has never been such a gathering of suitors. Not
since Augusta's party, but you must multiply their number by three."
"After receiving Mrs. Parker's missive I did notice
the lack of young men in Town. I believe she was correct deciding you should remain in the country." The
Duke shrugged and exhaled. "What is the use of going
to Town if half its inhabitants are here? Just before I left,
I heard many more were planning to vacate, to the dismay of the Almack's Patronesses."
"Lord and Lady Hopkins plan a ball for their daughter
Lady Margaret tomorrow night," Charlotte informed him.
"I've heard they have invited many families to stay
with them, simply switching the venue from their townhouse in London to their country house." The Duke
glanced thoughtfully at his daughters. "Shall we open
Faraday Hall and invite house guests as well?"
Muriel wished Aunt Penny were present to help make
the decisions. "We do not have as many distractions
here in Essex as they have in Town," she said. "I think we
have more than enough to do, planning entertainment
every afternoon for this last week and who knows for
how much longer."
"Not only is Sir Samuel here, but we also have Sir
Philip staying
added. He had been on his way to his family home, Hamsdale Heath, in Northumberland.
"You must tell us how your sister and brothers are
getting on," Charlotte urged.
"And you must tell me news of Augusta and her husband. I have not had a letter from her in some time," Sir
Samuel insisted.
Aunt Penny interrupted, "I am sure that all your conversations can wait until after Sir Samuel has settled in
his room and recuperated from his journey."
"As you request, Mrs. Parker," Sir Samuel acknowledged. "I shall see you both at supper and we will speak
then."
"But Sir Samuel-" Muriel thought his premature
departure was grossly unfair.
"Papa-" Charlotte pleaded, hoping their father might
intervene on their behalf.
"You shall see him at supper," he said in a tone that
would brook no protest. "We've spent many hours on the
roads. You must allow our guest to properly rest. Now off
with you, Sir Samuel. There will be plenty of opportunity
for discussion and family gossip later."
"Very well." Muriel did so wish to have a long con versation with him, and not just about their families. "I
suppose I shall need to wait."
"That's my girl." The Duke smiled and gestured for
them to follow. "If you please, ladies. I would like to
speak to the two of you."
Charlotte took hold of Muriel's hand and they followed their father to his library. The room felt complete
when he entered. The walls of leather-bound books
seemed to welcome the Duke.
"I am quite fond of that young man." His Grace had
meant Sir Samuel, of course.
"As are we," Charlotte answered for the two of them.
"If either of you could see about matrimonially securing him, I'd be more than grateful." The Duke winked
at his daughters.
"Oh, Papa, you shouldn't tease us so." Charlotte pulled
the door closed behind them.
"Char-Char does have a dozen or so suitors presently
doting on her; one more shouldn't make a difference."
Muriel squeezed her sister's arm, letting her know her
words were spoken as a mere jest. "I'll see what I can
do Papa, although I am only fifteen."
"Soon to be sixteen, although I do not believe I could
part with you so soon." He walked behind his desk,
glanced at the papers that had accumulated on its surface since his absence, and settled into the chair. "Now
tell me what has transpired since these suitors of Charlotte's arrived. Your aunt seems to be most distressed by
their presence."
"Every one of them is worthy and wonderful." Charlotte could only manage to say good things about their
gentlemen visitors ... or about anyone, truth be told.
"I would expect to hear nothing less from you, my
dear Charlotte." The Duke turned to his youngest.
"What say you, Muriel?"
Muriel glanced at her sister before giving an opinion.
"There has never been such a gathering of suitors. Not
since Augusta's party, but you must multiply their number by three."
"After receiving Mrs. Parker's missive I did notice
the lack of young men in Town. I believe she was correct deciding you should remain in the country." The
Duke shrugged and exhaled. "What is the use of going
to Town if half its inhabitants are here? Just before I left,
I heard many more were planning to vacate, to the dismay of the Almack's Patronesses."
"Lord and Lady Hopkins plan a ball for their daughter
Lady Margaret tomorrow night," Charlotte informed him.
"I've heard they have invited many families to stay
with them, simply switching the venue from their townhouse in London to their country house." The Duke
glanced thoughtfully at his daughters. "Shall we open
Faraday Hall and invite house guests as well?"
Muriel wished Aunt Penny were present to help make
the decisions. "We do not have as many distractions
here in Essex as they have in Town," she said. "I think we
have more than enough to do, planning entertainment
every afternoon for this last week and who knows for
how much longer."
"Not only is Sir Samuel here, but we also have Sir
Philip staying
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