Frederica Part V

Felix becomes feverish and it is several days before he is on the road to recovery. When he is getting better, Alverstoke returns to London. Frederica finds that she misses his help. On her return with her brother, she is worried that his illness may have left a weakness and she feels it would be a good idea to take him away to recover fully. But she gets very litlte help from Harry or Charis. Charis is weeping over the idea of going away from London and Endymion and Harry is not willing to put himself out to find them lodgings at the sea side, but he gets annoyed when Vernon offers the family hospitality at his own country house, Alver Park, where they could enjoy country air....Her aunt, Seraphina, who had been in their house as chaperone, has moved out because their Aunt Amelia has just lost her husband and she feels that she should be with her sister, so another member of the family has let her down. Frederica is feeling very tired and worried and fraught at coping with the family. She had become used to having Alverstokes help, while they were at Monks farm with Felix. She over looks Charis having secret meetings with Endymion because she sympathises with her sister though she does not wish for her to marry him. SHe realises that she has failed to get Charis married to a rich man, and now she wont be able to afford to bring her to London again for another season. This depresses her, as she loves Charis and wanted the best for her. In the meantime, Charis has been meeting her beau secretly but with Harry keeping an eye on them. He urges them to make up their minds and get married, and points out that he is Charis's guardian, and can give permission for her to get married under age.