Penniless wasn’t entirely Caroline’s objection to Mr. Kirke. Her dowery was enough to live the life she had always led if the man in question for penniless. But her parents wouldn’t approve of the match. After all she was a daughter to be married off for the benefit of the family - and she had set her sights on someone of a certain caliber. Otherwise there simply wasn’t a challenge in the matter.

As if reading her thoughts Mr. Kirke asked her exactly who she would have thought herself with. She certainly didn’t know a who, but one thing she did know, and wasn’t about to sugar coat to someone who obviously she didn’t need to charm was, “Certainly someone with manners.” Her tone was light while her words would sting. But compared to their previous conversations it was quite a bit kinder than she had been so far.

“And yourself Mr. Kirke? I don’t imagine you had an American heiress as your desired match.” Certainly she was out of his league, but by the British standards she supposed the pairing did indicate a certain point - and one that didn’t revolve around the notion of a romance. In this society it was clear that she was to realize she was not worthy of anyone other than a popular name with no holdings, family name, or money to fall back on.