Chapter Forty-Three
My dear Charlotte,
After a very long and heartfelt conversation with the reverend Mr. Morton, I confess myself extremely troubled and confused.
When last you and I were together, you were in a state of such happy anticipation, knowing you would marry Mr. Frederick Morton.
Now, I hear you have retracted your acceptance of his offer and refused him.
I am at a loss to perceive the reason behind your act.
I only wish you to be happy and I feel marriage to Mr. Morton would make you so.
To own the truth—it is why I made the offer of the living at Clayton House to him in the first place.
In our talks during my convalescence, I strongly sensed your approbation and admiration of him.
Your mutual love of books, art, and music made the two of you, to my mind, a very good match.
And yet, you have written him to end your engagement with no clear explanation.
Mr. Morton is as confused as I am as to why he has lost your good opinion, and his sorrow over your letter is very genuine.
He came to me not to beg my assistance in changing your mind but simply to seek clarification of your rejection, since you did not give him the reason for your refusal.
Sadly, I was unable to enlighten him in any manner.
Pray, write at once and let me know of the true reason for your change of heart.
If you have discovered some aspect of Mr. Morton’s character that would warrant your actions I must be privy to it since he is now our rector.
If I must speak to the Bishop about replacing him, I beg you to advise me at once.
Please come home so that we may discuss it in person.
I remain,
Your devoted father,
Evan Kendall
Dear Father,
My heart is so heavy. Not just with knowing I have disappointed you, my sisters, and brother in changing my mind toward Mr. Morton but also in realizing how deceived we all were in his character.
I write this next part sadly, for you are unaware of the action taken by Dorothea and Reginald that is at the heart of all of this.
Be not alarmed—they have done nothing illegal—but I recently learned they decided on their own to add a great deal of money to my ￡1000 dowry in order to make me a more attractive prospect for marriage.
Not only did they not inform you of this, but they also did not reveal it to me.
As a result, while I initially believed several gentlemen who paid their addresses to me did so because they held a sincere admiration for me, in truth, they only had their eyes on the money.
Not knowing of my larger dowry made me vulnerable to the expressions of love from Mr. Robert Morton who, it is now discovered, needed money desperately to save Brentwood estate.
And, it is clear to me that his brother, Mr. Frederick, can be no less guilty of wanting me not for myself but for the income that would make his life one of ease and comfort.
This is why I must refuse him. As you know, I was not eager to marry at all when you sent me to Haverstone but, out of respect to my sister’s efforts and to be an obedient daughter, I tried my best. I foolishly believed myself to be in love.
To learn now that it was all under false pretenses is a heartache I shall carry with me always.
I shall remain at Haverstone for the present.
Your loving daughter,
Charlotte
Dear Charlotte,
Since you did not forbid me to, I have shared the contents of your most recent letter with Mr. Frederick Morton.
While your news of the Gillinghams’ gift shocked me, he tells me he already knew of it.
He learned of the size of your dowry when his brother gave an explanation of his rushed marriage to Miss Graham.
I can comprehend that your sister and her husband had your best interests at heart to add to your dowry, but we both agree you should have been informed.
While Mr. Robert Morton’s reasons for pursuing you seem clear—he wished to save Brentwood Estate—you have not, to my mind, proven any similar motives for Mr. Frederick. He vociferously denies wanting to wed you for your dowry.
I believe him and I think such a statement clearly shows his true admiration and love for you.
I repeat what I wrote in my last letter—that you and he would make a good match and have a happy marriage.
In light of this declaration, I again urge you to reconsider your refusal of him and return home as soon as may be possible.
With sincere affection,
Your father
Dear Father,
Even should Dorothea and Reginald withdraw their money for my dowry, I find I can no longer trust men or my own heart. I think it best that I remain steadfast in my refusal of Mr. Frederick Morton.
Please know that I miss you all, but I cannot return to Clayton House yet.
Your loving daughter,
Charlotte