Ernest Point of View
"I've got you something Charity" I say after we finally get a moment from the Earl and Dowager Countesses happy reaction and shower of affection and she looks as I produce a ring from my pocket with 4 diamonds.
"Oh Ernest" she says. I gently place it on her ring finger and kiss her knuckle
"I love you, Lady Charity" I utter and I wrap my arms around her.
"I love you, My Ernest" She whispers.
"You will soon by the Mistress of Ledford Park after our wedding" I whisper.
"I will be Mrs Sinclaire" She whispers as Briar runs over.
"Is it true?" She asks and I smile and watch as Charity proudly shows off her engagement ring
"It very much is" I smile and she squeezed Charity tightly.
"Your gonna be a wife" she whispers.
"And one day, inherit the title of Countess of Edgewater" I remind Charity.
"And you will be my Earl" Charity whispers with desire and smiles. Briar rushes her away and I just lean against the wall, am I really ready to make a massive commitment again. Shut up, Ernest, you love her, you've not felt this way since Roselyn and Lady Charity hasn't looked at Duke Richards. There is Mr Harper, Prince Hamid and Miss Parsons But they're just her friends and they just look out for her.
"Well, well" Duke Richards says, tearing me away from my thoughts and I look over to him.
"I think you better stay away from me and my fiancée" I growl.
"It won't last, I can promise you that" he growls back, and my heart feels like it's in my throat.
"I have the blessing of her father and grandmother, and I will marry her and you will watch my fiancée walk down the aisle to become the Mistress of Ledford Park" I tell him.
"She will be won over by myself eventually" he smirks and I walk off, I can't stand that idiotic man. I see Lady Charity brushing her hair and I knock on the door.
"If that's Mr Sinclaire, tell him I'm in love with a handsome man" she smirks.
"Oh I'd love to hear about this man" I smirk back as she turns to me.
"Well he is dashingly handsome and he asked me to marry him" she says as she wraps her arms around me as she lets her curls fall free.
"Oh yes? And did my lady say yes to this dashingly handsome man?" I ask.
"Oh yes, he's very hard to resist" She whispers and she hovers her lips over mine and I push mine against hers.
"Tell me more about your fiancé" I smirk and rub her back and she tilts her head.
"Well he's the master of Ledford Park so he's very, in my eyes, powerful" she whispers smirking at me and wraps her arms around my neck and I can't help smile.
"Oh yeah, tell me more about this man. I think I may have to defeat him so I get the Lady for myself" I smirk to her and she kisses me and I gently push her back against the wall.
"Mmmmm" She whispers and smirks.
"My god, I can't believe my luck" I whisper and have a thought and step back.
"Ernest?" She asks as she looks over to me as I think of something to introduce my future wife to Ledford Park.
"I'm going to hold a dinner, at Ledford Park, inviting our nearest and dearest to be our first dinner we host as a engaged couple" I say and I hold her hand in mine and she nods.
"It may give me a chance to stay at Ledford Park as well" Charity smiles and kisses me.
"I definitely will allow that and I'm sure the Earl will as well" I smile.
"I'm sure, but he might not, might just say we can marry but he wants me under his supervision as I'm still adjusting to this life, I'm use to having a cup of tea and then cleaning everything up" Charity says, and looks down.
"Charity, your dad would never do that, he's so lovely and your doing very well adjusting life to being a lady" I whisper and kiss her.
"Henrietta still refers to me as a bastard, as not belonging here and Edmund is ok with me but isn't too thrilled about me" I whisper.
"I think on the contrary that Mr Marlcaster sees you as a sister now" I whisper and rest my forehead against hers
"Lady Charity, your father said that dinner is going to be ready in half an hour" A servant says.
"Thank you, I'm going to go and get changed for dinner" Charity says and pushes me out her room and smirks.
"See you soon" she says and I grin as I walk away and go and get changed
Charity Point of View
I look through my dresses and see a blue dress and gold belt and I put my hair up and I go down and see Ernest.
"My Lady, can I say you looking dazzling, I swear your one gorgeous Lady, you would make a man a very happy husband" Ernest says.
"It's a shame my husband to be talking about himself in third person" I smirk.
"Ernest, Charity" Father says and we smile.
"Father" I smile and kiss his cheek and he pulls me into a hug, my father is one of the kindest, most wonderful people I have ever met in my life and I feel like even though I've not known him that long, that he's just wonderful and me, Lady Grandmother, Father and Ernest sit down and Ernest holds my hand under the table and I look at him and he gives me a kind smiles
"I'm so thrilled your engaged to someone you seem to genuinely care about Charity and who clearly loves you, this is wonderful" Lady Grandmother says and smiles as our dinner is served.
"Thank you" I smile to the lady who gave me mine.
"Your very polite" Father compliments and Lady Grandmother smiles as she sips her drink.
"Thank you father" I say and Ernest sips his drink.
"Well here's to my wonderful daughter and yourself Ernest" Father says.
"Indeed, here's to the two of you!" Lady Grandmother says.
"I just want to say thank you, Sir, you have no idea how much it means to me that you trust me with your daughter she's the most wonderful Lady and I love her so much" Ernest says.
"I love that my daughter is going to be with such a good man and I am so thrilled you're the one who makes my daughter daughter. I am honoured that one day you will be my son in law" Father says and I can see tears starting to form in Ernest's eyes and I smile and squeeze his hand
"That means a lot, thank you so much" Ernest says.
"Of course, Ernest" Father says and I hold his hand and smile and eat in a comfortable silence.
"So Charity" Father says and I look up.
"Yes father" I say and he reaches across.
"I was thinking at your engagement party, that I should make a toast to your mother" he says and I look at him, and feel a stray tear come down.
"That would mean so much to her, Father, she would really love it, thank you" I say and he reaches forward and wipes the tear from my eye.
"It would be my pleasure" He whispers.
"I'd like to inform you that myself and Lady Charity will be hosting a dinner at Ledford Park if that's ok" Ernest says and Father nods.
"Of course, before or after your engagement party here? I've booked it for Saturday" Father says.
"Maybe next week or the week after, I would like to ask if Lady Charity could come to Ledford Park for a weekend though" Ernest asks.
"Of course, she's your fiancée" Father chuckles as we eat.
"But your daughter" I chirp.
"Yes but I trust you and Ernest, so you can of course go to Ledford Park, but you must write me a letter to let me know your ok" Father says.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure she does" Ernest says and I smile, I finally feel happy, and I feel blessed father wants to pay tribute to Mama.