Chapter 7. Landsdowne
James felt very proud to be driving the wagon with Charlotte by his side and children in the back. He felt like a father, a man with a family even though he was really just a very lonely orphan of a laborer.
Charlotte felt it too. Her eyes stealthily moved sideways and caught the light glinting off of his broad shoulders. She noticed his contented confidence and it switched on a feeling of longing that squeezed her deep inside.
He reached over with his hand and found hers. He held it for a moment to impart his compassion and strength to her in her time of need then quickly let go when seven year old Martin popped up behind James with his hands on his shoulders to see which road they were taking. Charlotte smiled mischievously at James causing him to sheepishly flash a dimple. It was the first time she had smiled all day. It reminded her that it was possible she may eventually overcome her sadness.
James enjoyed being with the Heywood clan even in this dark hour. It was as if the universe sent him to be there on that day. Mrs. Heywood made him feel like one of the family. Watching the siblings interact and negotiate their day made him quite despair that he was an only child, that he never knew his mother since his life took hers. He remembered the remorse he felt when his own father died. He remembered how thoughtful and comforting Charlotte was toward him. Now he was here for her.
"James." Charlotte put her hand on his arm "I want to thank you for all you have done for us. Mama so appreciates your help and well, I do too. It will likely be sometime before the cottages can be improved."
"Charlotte." He looked into her brown eyes with his own, "you don't have to thank me. It is my pleasure. By the way, you are holding up bravely and I'm sure your mother appreciates that too." She glanced back at her little siblings, pressed her lips into a tight smile, nodded her head then focused her tear filled eyes on the horizon, trying with all her might to hold them in.
When they got to Landsdowne park, the children were rendered speechless at the magnificent red and gold tree-lined boulevard, the gardens and the elaborate Baroque fountain.
When they pulled up to the front door the Lord, himself, rushed out with arms waving madly.
"Miss Charlotte Heywood! To what do I owe this wonderful visit?" Five young heads peeked out of the straw at him. " And more friends! Preston! Call for tea." Lord Peacham, a stout agreeable fellow, greeted them warmly and the footman handed Charlotte down while James supervised the haphazard unloading of the other passengers.
"Lord Peacham..." She curtsied.
"You may call me Sir Edgar." he interrupted with a smile.
"Sir Edgar..." she smiled back, "this is my very good friend, Mr. James Stringer from Sanditon. He was visiting with my father about improvements to the workers cottages. He is an architect."
They shook hands and James corrected Charlotte, "I'm just the foreman on the Sanditon development but I have ambitions, Sir."
"and you may remember my siblings from church. We are here on business, sadly."
Sir Edgar led them all in and after the initial niceties said, and the sandwiches, tea cakes and fruit ate quietly, Charlotte asked if James could take the little ones on a walk through the gardens while she met with Lord Peacham privately.
"No, no Miss Heywood, I'll have my man take them on the outing. What say you Preston? A walk out of doors? I need a word with Miss Heywood and her companion." Even though he was an older bachelor, he still felt a chaperone was required whenever he spoke to a single young lady.
And so the very kind butler took the well behaved Heywood crew into the garden to sample it's delights and fix up a basket for them to take to Mrs. Heywood. They filled it apples,persimmons, and bunches of fragrant herbs and Sweet Annie.
Once sequestered in Sir Edgars elegant study, Charlotte could pass along her news.
"I regret I must tell you that my father passed away, last night. The Doctor thinks it was his heart. "
Lord Peacham was deeply saddened. He stood before the window looking toward the garden and the little Heywood's for what seemed a lifetime. Charlotte and James were patient but perplexed.
" You are not aware, then, why your mother sent you to deliver the news to me?" Lord Peacham poured himself a little glass of brandy. Charlotte shook her head.
"I believe your mother is aware of the way things had been going for your father, financially. "
Charlotte cocked her head inquisitively. "I knew father had not been up to actively managing the estate himself. Henry tried but I fear his talent lays elsewhere. The crop last year was not very successful."
"Yes. Your father approached me on several occasions for loans, which I was happy to oblige. The current situation is...that most of your farm has been mortgaged. I control more than 3/4 of the interest in the land. But do not be alarmed! I would not dream of evicting your lovely family. I only wish to have my steward include Heywood Hill under his management. We have more modern techniques and highly skilled laborers. I will, of course continue to provide employment for your tenants. "
"I see. That is very generous Sir Edgar. I do not know what to say." Charlotte dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief.
"Your mother and father and I are good neighbors. We look out for each other. Your mother was instrumental in helping my late mother recover an article of great importance when your parents were first married. It's a long story..."
So it was that Sir Edgar was more than willing to offer the Heywoods forbearance and his steward to run their land. Charlotte was disappointed at first that her labor would not be needed on the farm but realized her mother and the children would need her help in other ways. They were all free to stay at Heywood Hill indefinitely and receive a monthly pension in exchange for the income of the farm. What more could they ask for in their circumstances?
"I do not want to disappoint Henry as the heir but I do think the annexation and security was what your father would have wanted."
"Lord Peacham. I mean...Sir Edgar. We are indebted to you for your kindness. If you are worried about Henry's inheritance, do not be. He longs to become a clergyman."
"Well, I will see what can be arranged. I have some connections at Cambridge. I studied divinity myself."
Tears of relief welled in Charlottes eyes as she thanked him. When her gratitude started to get embarrassing James suggested finding the others in the garden and heading back with the news.
As the three of them wandered down into the shrubbery calling for the children, Lord Peacham took James Stringer aside.
"I would like to get your opinion on some potential architectural improvements I would like to make to Landsdowne. Maybe you and Miss Charlotte would like to come back with Mrs. Heywood for dinner in a few days?"
"That is a very kind offer, my lord. Sadly, I will be heading back to Sanditon shortly. I have to wrap up my last big project but I would love to speak with you after that. Perhaps in December? Should I extend the offer for dinner to the ladies?" James replied with a solid handshake.
"December it is! You must stay through the holiday and...bring your pens."
The next day, at the reading of the will, James leaned against the wall at the back of the room as inconspicuously as possible and tried not to stare at Charlotte. He positioned himself so that he could see her face in the mirror above the mantel in the great room at Landsdowne. She looked stunning in her mourning dress even if her nose was red and her eyes were swollen. .
James could not deny that he was passionately in love with Charlotte Heywood. She saved his father's leg from being amputated. She was the only one to come see him, in his home, to check on her father after the accident. She stood by his side at his fathers funeral. She was the only person on earth who had ever seen him cry. Although they had only known each other three months, he felt as though he had grown up with her. Maybe he had grown into a man by her. He loved her the minute he set eyes on her. He had never wanted anything more in his life and the only way to get her was to love her more than anyone else could.
The will was short. There was not much to dispense. Mr. Heywood left some trinkets to the children and the farm to his wife for his children. Charlotte was bequeathed a beautiful carpet of many colors from the East which she unrolled on the floor of her room as soon as she could.
The light was beginning to fade and the siblings took James to see their own Cricket pitch and stretch their legs. "Your brothers and sisters did a good job today." James noted. He picked up a dusty old ball and lobbed it at Benji who caught it with two hands and threw it to Alison then they all heard the dinner gong and ran back to the house.
"Someday we'll get our cricket match." Charlotte was tired of sadness and darkness. Henry gave a smile of encouragement.
Charlotte moved slowly as a women older than her years. James put out his arm for her to hold onto and gave her a sigh. She put her hand under and pulled her other hand over for extra security. Her hold on him was more of a hug so he put his other hand over hers to complete the comfort. The clouds began to form overhead as a warm front moved in. The wind began to whip and with a storm brewing, the rest made their way slowly back to the house.