Charlotte: the practical education of a distressed gentlewoman

Left destitute and alone in the country by her gambling father and brother, Charlotte De Vere is forced to put the family estate up for sale after their demise. The unspeakably vulgar Freddy Talbot purchases it and almost immediately his extended family takes up residence. Tolerated in society solely because of their wealth, the Talbot's combine a native ruthless business sense with a buried social vulnerability. Charlotte initially mistakes their social awkwardness and attempts to help her for contempt. She flees to Bath, and finds that without social introductions she is alone. In desperation, she apologizes to Freddy's little sister Elizabeth and they start to build a real friendship. Charlotte and Elizabeth take up the invitation of an old family friend for the De Vere's to go to London. She little knows that the family friend is an adventuress who lives by luring mugs into gambling dens. Elizabeth, with Freddy's help rescues her. Meanwhile, back at the family estate treachery is afoot. Charlotte's solicitor has fled for America after defrauding the estate. To make matters worst, her good-for-nothing brother posted a 'post-obit' bond that she cannot pay. Just as Freddy and Charlotte realize that they are in love, the deadbeat brother arrives to precipitate another crisis. Thinking he was betrayed, Freddy expels Charlotte in anger. It takes the combined efforts of his family and their friends to resolve this final crisis, but all ends up well.

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