Wearing British clothes as a second-generation aristocrat

80. These are all potential blind date partners.

After lunch, Madame Maria immediately whispered to Aldo, who was standing beside her, "Aldo, go to the study and fetch those four portraits."

"Yes, madam."

Aldo left quickly, and a moment later, he returned with several servants, carrying four exquisitely framed portraits in gilded wooden frames. He then gently placed the portraits in front of Dugan one by one.

The four portraits depict four beautiful and graceful noblewomen, and the exquisite craftsmanship clearly indicates that they are the work of a renowned artist.

Maria pulled Dugan to sit down on the sofa and said with a smile, "Dugan, you're 24 years old now, well past the age for marriage. Your father and I have chosen four girls for you, and regardless of their background or family connections, they are all a good match for our Connaught family."

Although Dugen knew about these arrangements before returning, he still felt both helpless and heartwarming when faced with this pressure to get married.

The old count said to Aldo, "Aldo, let's begin."

"Yes." Aldo took out a few sheets of paper, stood in front of the first portrait, and began to read them aloud.

"This young lady is from Vienna, Austria, and is the youngest daughter of Count Leopold von Stein, Elizabeth von Stein."

The girl in the painting is dressed in a traditional Austrian court gown, with cascading golden hair, deep and gentle eyes, and a dignified and elegant demeanor.

Aldo continued reading: "The Stein family is an old hereditary count family of Austria, loyal to the Habsburg dynasty for generations. Miss Elizabeth's father, Count Leopold, was a councilor of the Austrian Imperial Court and commander of the Royal Army's Guards Cavalry Regiment, enjoying the Emperor's deep trust. Her mother, Sophia Elizabeth von Elizabeth Habsburg, was a direct descendant of a collateral branch of the Habsburg dynasty, with pure and noble blood."

Elizabeth was the youngest daughter in the family. She grew up in the court and loved music and painting.

After Aldo finished reading, he glanced at Dugan.

Dugan remained noncommittal, simply nodding slightly before shifting his gaze to the second portrait.

So Aldo stood in front of the second portrait, changed the paper, and continued reading.

The second girl was a typical British beauty, with smooth brown hair, clear eyes, gentle and elegant features, a slender and graceful figure, and a classic British-style belted dress.

"The second one is Baron Arthur Grey's only daughter, Ella Grey."

"The Grey family is an old hereditary baronial family in England, with extensive lands and estates in Yorkshire. Miss Ella's father, Baron Arthur, is currently a Chamberlain in the Royal Household, deeply trusted by the Royal Family and with extensive connections in aristocratic circles. Her mother, Lady Charlotte Grey, comes from a collateral branch of the Duke of Marlborough, of noble lineage."

Aldo paused here, glancing at Dugan again.

"Continue," Dugan said expressionlessly.

"Ella is an only child and received the best aristocratic education from a young age. She is proficient in multiple languages, horsemanship, and court etiquette."

Then, Dugan looked at the third portrait.

"Next." Dugan was getting impatient.

The girl in the third painting has jet-black hair and delicate, three-dimensional features, exuding the passionate and lively spirit of a Southern European woman, combining wildness and elegance.

"The third is Isabella Alvarez, the youngest daughter of the Marquis Diego Alvarez."

"The Alvarez family is a long-established hereditary marquisate in Spain, with more than a dozen properties in Andalusia. Miss Isabella's father, Marquis Diego, is a high-ranking official of the Spanish royal family and also serves as the Director-General of the Overseas Trade Agency, with extensive connections in the Mediterranean business circle. Her mother, Maria de Bourbon, comes from a collateral branch of the Spanish Bourbon royal family, and has a noble lineage."

Mrs. Maria had been observing Dugan's expression. The first three young ladies were all from noble families, both in terms of their background and lineage.

Even within the entire European aristocratic circle, she would be the object of countless wealthy young men's desires.

However, Mrs. Maria could tell that Dugan didn't seem interested in any of the young ladies.

Finally, Dugan's gaze fell on the fourth portrait.

"Hmm?" Dugan immediately recognized the fourth portrait as that of Miss Katalina, whom he had met once before in India.

Dugan glanced at his father instinctively.

The old count sat to one side and happened to be looking at Dugan.

The father and son exchanged a glance, instantly reaching a tacit understanding that only men can comprehend.

So Dugan raised his hand and pointed to Katalina's portrait. "Tell me about this lady."

Aldo crumpled up the previous three pieces of paper and stuffed them into his pocket. Then he took the last piece of paper and began to read.

Catalina de Urgell, born in Girona in 1786, is 18 years old this year. She comes from the Urgell family, a core branch of the Barcelona family. Her family was once one of the most prominent noble families in Catalonia and the hereditary rulers of the County of Urgell (an old territory, now in northeastern Spain). Although they lost control of the core of Catalonia after 1412, they still retained the estates and noble titles in the Urgell region and are one of the representatives of the "Barcelona lineage" among the old Catalan nobles.

Catalina's father is Juan de Urgel, Count of Urgel in the Kingdom of Spain, a young descendant of a collateral branch of the Barcelona family. Catalina's mother is from the Roca family, an old noble family of Aragon, Spain, also a native Catalan noble family, and of Barcelona maternal lineage. As the Count's only daughter, Catalina is the sole direct descendant of the Urgel family, and the sole heir to the family bloodline and the identity of the "Barcelona lineage."

Miss Catalina's father, Juan de Urgel, is the current Speaker of the Catalan Regional Council of the Kingdom of Spain, and has considerable influence in both the Catalan and Spanish parliaments.

Dugan looked at his father, Oris, again, and the old man nodded slightly.

Dugan glanced at his father, Maria, who smiled. "Miss Catalina is also a good choice, but I've heard she's currently surrounded by many suitors."

Dugan waved his hand, "That just proves how good she is. Mother, you have to have faith in your son."

"But..." Maria was still a little worried.

"Ahem..." At this moment, the father, who had been silent all along, spoke up, "Maria, Dugan is no longer a child, and we should respect his choice."

After saying that, the old man said to Dugen, "My son, I believe in you. Your mother had many suitors back then, but in the end, she still became your mother, didn't she?"

Lady Maria was about to say something when Oris interrupted her.

"Alright, my dear, Dugan still has to report to the Ministry of War!" After saying that, the old count said to Aldo, "Aldo, prepare the carriage and take Dugan to the Ministry of War."

"Yes, sir." Aldo hurried off to prepare the carriage.

Oris leaned closer to Dugan and said, "Your mother doesn't know about this yet. Go to the War Department, and Secretary Pratt will explain everything to you."

In 1804, the British War Office in Whitehall, London, was divided into three main sections: the Household Cavalry House, the Office of the Secretary of State for War and Colonies, and the Ordnance Office.

The Guards Cavalry Building houses the Army Commander-in-Chief's office and is where the Army's daily administration takes place; it is the Army's central hub.

The Secretary of State for the Army and the Colonies held dual positions, overseeing both the army and the colonies. However, India was excluded, as it was then under the administration of the East India Company.

As the name suggests, the Ordnance Bureau was the logistics department that managed ordnance.

The Secretary of War at the time was named John Jeffries Pratt, but he was generally referred to as Lord Camden in the cabinet.

When Dugan arrived at Whitehall, he saw guards in red uniforms standing on both sides of the gatehouse, with officers hurrying in and out.