Charlotte defies her father

"Well Charlotte, you've been unusually quiet for a young woman who's known for her outspoken manner." Lord Marlton prompted his daughter as the meat course was removed.

"I'm not sure that Mr. Worthingon is a man that I could marry." The words were out before she fully considered the consequences of the statement, but as soon as she said them Charlotte felt a great relief. Her family however was not at all amused by her defiance.

"Charlotte dear," Aunt Jane started gently "I'm afraid that at your age and with your reputation for independence, that you will not find a better offer." Her spinster sister jumped in as well, lauding the fine qualities of Mr. Worthington.

"Jason will likely be an MP for his district in a year or two," her spinster aunt chided gently, "and upon his father's **** he will take his place in the House of Lords. You are lucky to wed a man of his stature."

"I don't care if he becomes a Member of Parliament or even a Lord." Charlotte responded with far more spirit than was expected from a young woman of her age. "Jason is a philandering bully." The description was unfortunately far too accurate for her to deny any longer and as soon as she said the words aloud she wondered how she had allowed his courtship to continue for as long as it had. "I hoped to see his character improve with maturity, but I have seen no evidence of this growth and find it unlikely that he will ever change his spots."

Charlotte ignored both her aunt's weak defense of Mr. Worthington's reputation as a womanizing and their assurance that the vows of marriage would surely tame the wildness out of her groom. She concentrated instead on her father who sat in silence brooding mightily; when the explosion came both Jane and Elizabeth were shocked by the sound of his hand smashing against the table, but Charlotte was ready for the clatter of dishes and the tirade that followed. Lord Marlton cursed both her and her mother, the damned will that empowered Charlotte far beyond her years. Charlotte had heard all this before, but this time her father added a new threat. Lord Marlton vowed to summon her half-brother John back to England to contest her claim in courts, and that he personally would testify on John's behalf that his own daughter was unfit to carry on the family title and estate. When he finished the diatribe his face was red and spittle dripped from the corner of his mouth, with a shake of his white-knuckled fist be sent Charlotte away.

"Go to your chambers, Charlotte, and think well about your willful disobedience." He turned to Aunt Jane who stared at him with pursed lips and wide eyes. "Jane, see that Charlotte's door is locked and be sure that you take her key before leaving her to reconsider her irrational defiance."

As Charlotte climbed stiffly from the dinner table she heard her father muttering under his breath. "I'll invite Jason and his family myself ... " his words faded into briefly into incoherence and then "... taming the headstrong ..." and just as she was escorted from the hall "... when she appears before the magistrates with a swollen belly!"

Charlotte's mind reeled with shock and anger. Could she have misheard her father? She did not think so, did he really intend to set Jason on her like a bull on a cow just to undermine her position in the eyes of the courts?! Once locked inside her room she sat on her bed in stunned silence, the worst of it was she had no doubt that Jason would comply with her **** and impregnation. Perhaps even with enthusiasm, too many of the man's boastful comments about his successes with married ladies, young debutantes and all manner of servants and maids had to do with his forceful approach. Indeed, were it not for the careful chaperoning of her aunts she too might have been one of his victims, not that it mattered any longer, now that Jason had her father's blessings he could do as he wished. That notion, more than any of her other objections, was confirmation that she could never marry Mr. Worthington. What kind of husband would a man willing to sink to such depths make for any woman?