It's been a long day and I'm very tempted to just skip supper and go to bed, but I know I can't offend Martha like that as she's prepared my favorite roast pheasant and she's always eager to please. Jasper and I had ridden the entire day, talking as we forced Tar and Sprite over the acres of land that were to be mine. Father had popped a new one on me this morning with his lecture. Usually he simply told me I needed to be ready to take responisbility and that he was to die in less than a month (something he'd been telling me since I was fifteen, seven years ago), but today when he called me into his study he started the usual way and then announced that by now I should be seeking a wife.

Which rather startled me indeed. Surely I had a few years. Father himself had gotten married at thirty to my mother. She had been much younger, barely seventeen. But father simply looked at me as if I were insane and announced that he'd started looking at my age. And he listed a few of the young ladies nearby, and they were truly young, Miss Harriet Farrow thirteen, Anna Gable fifteen, and Sarah Clington sixteen. I was extremely uncomfortable, and fled as soon as I could. Surely father didn't mean for me to court these girls? They were foolish, immature and rather silly. I found Jasper quickly and told him everything.

He was as surprised as I was, but he shrugged and said that Miss Clington wasn't really that bad. I sighed and we took off on our horses, him comforting me and saying I simply had to pretend to be interested. I sigh as I pull off my boots and put them away. Dinner smells impressive, and I feel a bit lightheaded from all the riding. I walk into the dining room, and take a seat next to Ester who is looking rather cross."Something wrong?"

"No," she mutters.

"Nothing? Your governess didn't demand you finish that pillow?"

"Father said I couldn't go to the ball at Chivenham."

"Poor thing," I say dryly. It's not as if Ester does anything at the balls, as she is rarely asked to dance and is a nightmare at it anyway. On occasion I will ask her out of pity and will come out of it with a few bruised toes. Usually she dissapeared with Susanah and giggled in a back room about who knows what.

Ester sticks her toungue out at me, and quickly pulls it back in as Father walks in. He's not fond of her antics and says it's time for her to act like a fifteen year old girl instead of a five year old boy. She leans over and asks quietly "I suppose you're going?"

"I suppose I must," I say, cross at the thougt. Dancing is a waste of time. I'd much rather take up a good novel and spend the night in such a manner than trying to instigate somewhat intellegent conversation with shy little girls and loud, bustling ladies.

"Surely you can get Father to let me go?"

"I doubt I could. I'd have to sell him my will."

"I thought you already had."

I grimace. I don't know where everyone gets this obedient, oldest son thing from. "You know nothing of the matter, so I suggest you hold your tongue."

She pouts. "I know more than you think."

Father shoots us a piercing glance and Jasper walks in. "Shall we say grace?" Father says. He looks at me and I nod, rushing over the words I have had memorized since I was a boy. Jasper sighs.

"Michael, prayer should be a reverent matter, not a rushed technicality." I've hated Jasper's piousness but I know it will make him an excellent clergyman.

"Sorry," I say, helping myself to the abundance of food before me.

Father clears his throat and looks at us meaningfully. "I have invited the Farrows to dinner tomorrow night."

I groan and he looks at me sternly. "Yes Father," I say. Surely this is the product of Father's conversation with me earlier today.

"I expect all of you to behave," he looks at Ester, "And be welcoming to the entire family." He knows Ester hates Harriet and she has good reasons to.

There's a murmer of agreement from the three of us, and I finish dinner quickly and go to my room, not really concerned with being polite or proper.