Less than a week after her call on Lady Susan, Charlotte was surprised to find among her post an invitation to a dinner party to be hosted by Lady Granville at the week's end. She excitedly shared this news with her brother and sister, for they too had been included in the invitation and quickly sent a note with their acceptance to the address indicated.
After browsing the contents Madelaine's wardrobe, following a outcry of panic at not have anything nearly suitable for such an event, Charlotte and Alyona rapidly determined that a new gown would have to commissioned or an old one re-trimmed. An excursion to Madelaine's modiste was summarily planned and executed with remarkable efficiency as a result of the combined efforts of all three women. Three short days later Madelaine had acquired a splendid new evening gown of lively blue embroidered velvet. It would be accompanied later that evening by a cream pair of satin gloves and matching slippers.
When the ladies descended the stairs to depart they were resplendent in their finery. Madelaine's new gown was further complimented by a delicate cream shawl and her hair was coiled into a bun at the nape of her neck and a small number of pearly pins scattered throughout. Charlotte was encased in a gown of lilac silk and white lace. On her hands she wore ivory silk gloves and the upswept braids of her hair were adorned by amethyst and pearl pins in the shape of lilac flowers which had been a gift to her from her parents on her first and twentieth birthday. Around her neck she wore an amethyst cross on a silver chain while her ears and wrists went undecorated.
The three members of the Heywood party bid good evening to Reignette, Justin's daughter, who had been determined all day that she would remain awake long enough to see her step-mother and favourite aunt in their pretty new dresses. Charlotte and Madelaine were swiftly handed into the carriage by their brother and husband respectively and soon were on their way to St James' Square where Lord and Lady Granville kept their home when in Town.
On the approach to St James' Square they passed many fine carriages bearing the arms of old and well-established families that grew finer and more powerful the further they ventured into the most fashionable parts of London's residential areas. Mayfair and it's surrounds were where the highest tiers of the upper crust came out to play during the summer months each years while parliament sat in session.
Upon their arrival at Ormond House, they were greeted by the Viscount's Butler and shown to an upstairs drawing room where the guests were gathered. They were announced with all the pomp and circumstance that the butler of a peer may be expected to grant the children of a lowly gentleman and thus left to their own devices.
It was fortunate that Lady Granville had noticed them enter before the butler declared their presence and politely excused herself to greet the newcomers and make the necessary introductions to her other guests. As the time to pair for supper was fast approaching, Lady Granville made a circuit of the room with her unknown guests with a sensitivity and efficiency that surprised no-one.
Lady Granville, with the help of her sister and friend, had ensured that her guests were situated in such a way on the societal hierarchy as to facilitate Charlotte's introduction to the highest circles of society such as it would be conducted with aplomb and ease. She only hoped her nephew would not be late for she had planned to seat the pair together and he appeared to be timing his arrival poorly.
Eventually the gentleman in question did appear and was struck quite suddenly with his hostess' displeasure at his lateness. That lady's butler was not granted even the opportunity to announce him when his aunt corralled him over a cluster of her guests who were stood by the fire amongst whom he could spy his cousin and uncle. As Lord Morpeth and Lady Granville manoeuvred around her other guests, he thought he caught a glimpse of the very lady who had so acutely attracted his interest.
Charlotte turned and smiled at her recognition of the latest addition the party gathered throughout the room. Lord Morpeth made a striking figure in his dark eveningwear as he cut through the room with his aunt on his arm. And cut through the room they did given Lady Granville's single-minded determination and the Viscount's height; he stood a clear half head taller than any other gentleman she saw.
"Miss Heywood, this is a surprise!" The viscount exclaimed, a please smile gracing his features.
"Truly? I had supposed you might have already been aware Lady Granville had extended an invitation to us to attend this evening." Charlotte pondered and was surprised at his surprise.
"I am afraid my aunt did not think to share that news." He murmured with a brief exasperated glance in that lady's direction. Lady Granville only deigned to smile serenely back at him. "Won't you introduce me to your companions?" he asked, his tone lightening.
"I will if it would please you I shall introduce you to them. Brother, Sister, may I introduce to you Lord Morpeth, the Viscount Morpeth. My Lord, the gentleman is my brother, Mr Justin Heywood, and the lady is his wife, Mrs Justin Heywood." The Viscount bowed to the new members of his acquaintance and was granted a bow and curtsey in turn from them. The group, who were shortly abandoned by Lady Granville, spent the remainder of the time before dinner in convivial conversation and, when it was announced that the time to descend for the evening meal, Charlotte was escorted downstairs by the Viscount.
Dinner itself was an rather more intimate affair than Charlotte had expected and, as she was led to her seat where the Viscount pulled her chair out for her, she decided she quite preferred such an atmosphere than the likes of the more formal dinner parties she had previously attended with Lady Susan.
Her conversation partners throughout the meal were Lord Morpeth who was seated to her right and a Mr Hugh Fitzwilliam to her left and each gentleman engaged her in varied conversation on the goings on of the beau monde and the attractions to be had in Town throughout. Mr Fitzwilliam spoke to her a little of his studies but declined to share the intricacies of his profession as a lawyer and bestowed upon her great interest in her stories of Moscow and her family and he Laughed uproariously at the telling of her initial introduction to Lady Susan which had sparked the growth in her circle of acquaintances in recent years. She was most pleasantly engaged.
When the meal ended and the ladies split from the gentlemen to retreat once more to the drawing room, Charlotte was sorry to leave behind the company of her dinner partners. But companionship that brought her equal enjoyment was to be found amongst the ladies and so she abandoned them to their port and cigars quite willingly. In this time there conversations aplenty to be had amongst the women on many a trivial topic, and amongst the more sensible ladies some quite profound discussions on politics and economics and it startled Charlotte to discover the influence these ladies exerted on their lords and husbands.
Such conversations drifted off as the gentlemen could be heard making their way up the stair to re-join the rest of the company for further conversive engagement to while away what remained of the evening. Charlotte, who had been joined among a cluster of chairs by a window by her sister and Miss Susan, found herself rapidly engaged in discursive topics of one nature or another by Lord Granville and Lord Morpeth. While the former of the pair was whisked away by his wife as her brother made his way to over to his wife, the latter was only too happy for his attention to be monopolised by the young lady who was very quickly becoming one of the most dearly held amongst his all his many friends and acquaintances.
When, eventually, the time came for the guests who were not family to depart homeward bound, the Heywood party bid farewell to their hosts who had extracted a promise from the group to accompany them to Astley's Amphitheatre the next week and took their leave. Charlotte had enjoyed the evening immensely and, as she prepared for bed, contemplated what could possibly have been the Viscountess' intention in introducing a mere gentleman's daughter such as herself to so numerous a group of highly-regarded society ladies. But, regardless of her present confusion, Charlotte had already begun to form what would truly prove to be a lasting bond of friendship in the lady's daughter and she welcomed the chance to know Miss Levson-Gower better.
The following afternoon Charlotte was surprised to learn that Lord Morpeth had escorted his cousin to call upon her. And this was following a call from one of the other gentlemen who had also been in attendance the previous evening.
One Mr Hugh Fitzwilliam was the third son of an earl whose older brothers, the Viscount Cromford and a Colonel in his majesty's army, had reputations and attractions that far outstripped his own as a lowly younger son. Mr Fitzwilliam was a newly minted lawyer serving the criminal courts and, though tolerably friendly, seemed to Charlotte an overly serious man whose humour was often expressed at his own expense. While he was reasonably attractive and certainly he was well connected, his interest, though flattering, did not resemble in any way that which led to a lasting affection as she knew from witnessing her siblings' courtships and subsequent marriages.
Having been witness to these, Charlotte aspired to share the same affection and respect and friendship with her own future husband, whoever he may be, as her siblings had formed with their own spouses. Nevertheless, she had agreed to accept another call from the gentleman in the comings as she felt it would unpardonably rude to refuse him even the slightest chance to prove his affections and win her own. Yet, despite this, Charlotte did not fully consider it likely that he would succeed in the endeavour.
The Viscount and Miss Levson-Gower were shown into the room by her brother's butler who had greeted them at the door and collected their outerwear. Charlotte, Madelaine and Justin rose to greet their guests who happily settled onto the comfortable furnishings of the parlour when directed to do so. Susan settled into the chaise next to Charlotte while Lord Morpeth selected an armchair at an angle that allowed easy conversation with all in the room and an excellent view of Miss Heywood's profile as she engaged himself and his cousin in conversation.
Charlotte was quick to renew the introductions between her brother and their guests. Her brother and Lord Morpeth gave each other short nods of acknowledgement while Susan tilted her head rather more delicately in greeting to the unfamiliar gentleman.
The group sat for some time in conversation over the previous evening's events as they dissected the actions and discourse of varying individuals as people of fashion were wont to do after a night of entertainment. Charlotte and Miss Levson-Gower eventually broke off to speak of the delight of Town compared to the Country, and while both declared a decisive preference for the latter it had to be acknowledged that there a greater variety of means with which to occupy one's time.
The two young women had just determined to accompany each other on an outing of some kind or the other when they were drawn back into the discussion being had by the other occupants of the room who had diverged to speaking on the state of the Monarchy and the latest on dit around the King's latest ill-advised conduct. While the topic was one that inspired much debate, it quickly risked trespassing into the improper, at least for the ears of tender females and so they digressed, and suddenly it seemed hours had passed and their guests could remain no longer or risk being impolitic.
It was as the Viscount and Miss Levson-Gower were preparing to leave that the gentleman paused while accepting his hat, gloves and cane back from the maid who had been sent to fetch them and turned to look at Charlotte once more. "I wonder, Miss Heywood, if you might grant me the pleasure of your company on a ride in Hyde Park tomorrow? If your time is not otherwise engaged that is." He enquired hopefully and awaited her response with baited breath.
Charlotte smiled, pleased with this turn of event and assured him that she was not otherwise engaged. "Though I fear I must confess that I am not a very skilled rider, my Lord. Will you risk the shame by association should I make some terrible faux pas?"
The Viscount only smiled and replied teasingly in turn, "I should be most honoured to share in your embarrassment should such an event occur, Ma'am."
"Very well then, a ride it shall be, Sir." Lord Morpeth acknowledged her acceptance with a smile and a bow then pressed a chaste kiss to the back of her hand as he and his cousin took their leave of the ladies.
