Persuasion
Charles Hayter
Henrietta’s suitor
A scholarly cousin of the Musgroves, a country clergyman who is the sensible choice for Henrietta.
Charles Hayter is the eldest cousin of the Musgroves and a country clergyman. He is serious, scholarly and gentle, a little shy and devoted to Henrietta.
He is the sensible, steady alternative to a dashing naval captain. He lacks a captain’s glamour but has his own kind of steadiness. He is a man of books and parish duties, who does not make a fuss. Henrietta’s feelings for him are real, even when she is briefly dazzled by the naval visitor.
In the story
Contains spoilers.
Hayter is the man Henrietta really loves. When Captain Wentworth steps aside, Henrietta and Hayter are betrothed.
His quiet success is a small romantic story that runs beside Anne’s. He has no dramatic scenes of his own, but his steadiness gives the Musgrove family a happy ending of its own. In the end the dashing visitor goes to Anne, and the clergyman goes to the sister who loved him first.
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