Chapter 3: Unsuitable Brides

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The saga continues...

If you're late to this party, you may want to check out Chapter One and Chapter Two before proceeding directly to Chapter Three in which Lady Charlotte presents James with a list of hopelessly unsuitable brides (graciously contributed by my wonderful readers!)

 

~Chapter 3: Unsuitable Brides~

A few days later…

Charlotte's heart pounded as she handed over her Select List of Candidates For The Position Of Mrs. Archer-Rhodes to James, who had come to call. She had discovered it was tricky business selecting a spouse for someone else, especially when she did not quite believe he really was in the market for a bride. That was the sort of thing gentlemen did not just declare. She hoped his response to the ladies her list might shed some light on his situation.

She watched with bated breath as his eyes scanned the page.

"Gladys Overton?" James inquired, with a lift of his brow. "Really?"

Charlotte arched her brow in response and dared him to mention that although Miss Overton had many admirable qualities, she also had some very crooked teeth.

"She has a dowry of twenty thousand pounds," Charlotte told him, glad to relate that tidbit of information and perhaps glean if James was marrying for financial reasons.

"Ah," he said, non-committally. He did not see her frown, for his eyes were still on the page. "And Violet Eddington?"

"A tender, sensitive soul. She's quite emotive," Charlotte said, sipping her tea.

"A crier? Are you attempting to fix me up with a crier?" James fixed her with a hot, questioning gaze. Why did that make her pulse race? It was just James for lord's sake.

"I was not sure of your preferences, James. If a sweet, delicate flower is not to your liking, you might prefer the next on the list. Lady Chelsea Ridings is an accomplished equestrian."

His mouth tugged into a grin and he asked,  "What do I feel that the term "accomplished equestrian" harbors untold horrors?"

Because it did. Lady Ridings was horse mad. She always smelled faintly of the stables. Her conversation was dominated by bits and bridles and the antics of her beloved gelding, Reginald. Horse mad, indeed. But what else could she be with a name like Ridings?

Charlotte declined to mention any of that.

Charlotte wasn't sure if she wanted him for herself, but she knew she didn't want to lose him. Not just yet. If he were fixated upon unsuitable women, she'd have time to decide and may just become more appealing by comparison. Strategy, that was.

"Lady Millicent Strange? Isn't that your imaginary friend?" James question, and Charlotte laughed.

"Was. When I was seven. And it was just to test your memory. There is also Lady Leona Montrose. She's a bit of a bluestocking and her father is a bit…touched."

"Touched?"

"Eccentric if one is being polite. Barking mad or utterly cracked if one is not," Charlotte said bluntly, never having mastered subtlety.

"She sounds like she's needs a savior," James murmured. And Charlotte thought, No. Oh, no. No.

"Shall we call upon her now? I have the afternoon free," James asked with the most rakish of grins and how Charlotte say anything but yes?

 

Question: It occurs to me that we have not described our hero! Tell me, what does he look like? Dark hair, eye color, etc…