Charles, for the first time, felt his scrutiny directed back towards him and he didn't really care for it. It took him by surprise and he couldn't help himself from internally flustering. He knew he was a good catch, yes he might be a second son, and yes he might have been married already but he was well off, he came from a respectable pureblood family, he was handsome, he only had one issue from his first marriage (and it was female), he was freshly promoted and aiming higher still, his older brother Edward... Well he could die young, it happened to plenty of people all the time. The only thing she could possibly fault him on was his character and really, how could she? He was restrained and clever, chivalrous when absolutely necessary, his political leanings were admirably conservative (not that she needed concern herself with those), and he certainly felt as though he was the sort of man who immediately demanded respect from others. He certainly had an ample helping of insecurities but he had those under control and locked up tight, they never ruled him and that's what really mattered.
Nevertheless, he squirmed.
Was it possible that Miss Lestrange was unwed for the very same reason he presently was? He'd never considered that the blight on young ladies these days might also have struck his own demographic. Were the gentlemen of society as lacking as the young ladies? He thought of his brothers - both of them were idiots in their own ways. One in three gentlemen not being a disappointment was a poor statistic indeed. Perhaps there was something to it.
"Fortune, I wager, has little to do with it." He certainly wouldn't be leaving his second marriage to luck, not that he really had before, he'd left it to others he'd trusted but now he would only trust his own instincts.
Nevertheless, he squirmed.
Was it possible that Miss Lestrange was unwed for the very same reason he presently was? He'd never considered that the blight on young ladies these days might also have struck his own demographic. Were the gentlemen of society as lacking as the young ladies? He thought of his brothers - both of them were idiots in their own ways. One in three gentlemen not being a disappointment was a poor statistic indeed. Perhaps there was something to it.
"Fortune, I wager, has little to do with it." He certainly wouldn't be leaving his second marriage to luck, not that he really had before, he'd left it to others he'd trusted but now he would only trust his own instincts.
