London,

November 1826

The weeks passed quickly upon Charlotte's arrival back in England and soon it felt as though no time at all had passed when she found herself in a carriage once more, this time returning to London to engage in the Season. They had docked at the Thames a short distance from the City proper in late October whereupon they were greeted by a mass of carriages and carts which would convey them and their belongings onward to Town.

She had been delivered to her brother's house where she was greeted by her brother, his daughter and his new wife whom he had married just days before she departed three months previously. Charlotte had spent some weeks in Town with her brother and his family and had found great enjoyment in becoming better acquainted with her new sister. Amongst this she spent some time wondering Bond Street and Oxford Street and perusing the wares within some on the warehouses in the business districts searching for Christmas presents for her family and friends.

For some of her family members, particularly her nieces and nephews and youngest siblings, she had brought back with her a delightful collection of children's toys and figurines and other knickknacks and accessories from Moscow and St Petersburg. She had also purchased several lengths of dyed and painted silks for the oldest of her sisters. It was her brothers and friends she browsed for upon her return to her beloved home country. Eventually she settled on a collection of agricultural volumes from Hatchards for her father; and for her mother she had had the good fortune to spy a dusty copy of Persuasion tucked away in the back shelves.

For her brother, Justin, and his family she purchased a plain but very well-crafted Pall-Mall set for she knew her rapidly growing niece delighted in moving the balls as her aunts and uncles played the game. For her eldest brother and her oldest friend, she had purchased a handsome pair of silver and onyx trinket boxes for the keeping of rings and other small things. Charlotte also went with Alyona to purchase oranges, packets of versatile cotton seconds, healing salves and some of the more difficult to acquire herbs and spices for distribution among her father's tenants in Willingden and her own at Walcot Hall.

So, her time in London quickly drew to a close and Charlotte, her brother and his family left the smog of London behind for the clearer skies and open fields of the Surrey countryside. The two-day carriage journey passed in good cheer and anticipation for all within and they were greeted enthusiastically by their large family when they eventually arrived at their parent's modest estate just as the winter snows began in earnest.


The winter of 1826 was a cold one and the family could most often be found beside the fires throughout the house. Though the younger members of the family did frequently venture outside to enjoy the snows that had fallen strong that year and some weeks earlier than was usual. They crafted snowy statues in the gardens and trampled puddles throughout the back rooms of Charlotte's childhood home and a good time was had by all. That Christmas was, as it often was, a merry affair for the expansive Heywood family.

When the time came to unwrap presents, Charlotte was gratified by the excitement of her younger siblings, nieces and nephews upon receiving the gifts she had brought them from so far away a place as Russia. Her mother and father and older siblings had thanked her effusively for her thoughtfulness in choosing their own presents and Charlotte had delighted in their pleasure. From her family she had received in turn an assortment of things; a lovely pair of kid gloves from her parents and a thick woollen shawl from Justin and his family to a delicately painted tea set from Anna and Julia and a rather more crudely carved set of chess pieces from her younger brothers upon which had been painted some quite gruesome faces by her youngest sisters.

Throughout the days of Christmas, Charlotte and her sisters visited their father's tenants, delivering the baskets of items Charlotte had purchased in London and which she would also be delivering to her own tenants come the new year. How strange that still sounded, having her own tenants. It was not long before her time with her family drew to an end yet again and she departed for Walcot Hall with Anne and Justin and their families, for it was not seemly for her be alone, unaccompanied and unprotected, away from her family even in a home that was now entirely her own.

They remained at Walcot Hall throughout much of January and February complete. She was grateful for her brother's presence for he spent a great deal of his visit in discussion with herself and Mr Martin, her steward, over the changes that had been implemented at the estate since entering her employ. Charlotte, of course, was aware of these changes and improvements, but her brother was better placed to evaluate their benefit and efficiency and to identify where further work and investment was needed.

When not handling the estates affairs with her brother or overseeing the management of the household with her housekeeper and sister's guidance, Charlotte spent her time conversing with her sisters, walking through the estate's parkland and working her way through the contents of the very well-stocked library. It was not long before the chill of winter gave way to the gentle breezes and re-emerging sunshine of spring. As February rolled into March, Charlotte bade farewell to her sister as they left Walcot Hall behind; Anne and her daughter to return home to Surrey while Charlotte and her brother and his family returned once more to the busy streets of London.

Upon arriving back in their nation's capital where Charlotte would, this time, be residing with her brother for the duration of the season, though much of her time would undoubtedly be spent in Lady Susan's company, they resolved to settle themselves and spend some days in only their own company before their activities began in earnest.


By mid-March the season had begun in earnest and Charlotte and her sister-in-law, Madelaine, could, more often than not, be found gracing the drawing rooms of their acquaintances in Town. Their mornings were often spent strolling in Hyde park, though they rarely rode for Charlotte's seat with a side-saddle was not so strong as when she sat astride and it would not be proper to seen so in public. Their evenings were filled with trips to the theatre or dances or dinner parties held by their circle of friends.

It was on a Wednesday afternoon during what one might refer to as acceptable visiting hours, that Charlotte and Madelaine ventured into a more fashionable part of Town to call upon Lady Susan at Berkeley Square. Upon admittance through the front door and their escort to the drawing room by the butler, they found the lady of the house engaged in conversation with three other ladies; two elder and the last appearing perhaps a few years younger than themselves.

Charlotte was quick to recognise one of the ladies as Lady Granville but could not claim to be acquainted with those that remained. She was saved from the awkwardness of intruding upon a visit by those not of her own acquaintance by Lady Susan who greeted her cheerfully, ushered her new guests into the room and requested an introduction from Charlotte to the other woman who had accompanied her.

"Oh, yes of course! This is my brother's wife, Mrs Madelaine Heywood. Sister, may I introduce you to Lady Susan Worcester, Marchioness of Worcester. And the lady by the window is Lady Granville, Viscountess Granville whose acquaintance I made in Russia though I cannot claim to know the other ladies present." Charlotte obliged, making the introduction between the ladies she knew.

Madelaine dipped her head serenely in greeting to the two ladies. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintances Lady Worcester, Lady Granville."

Lady Susan waved aside the pleasantry and assured her that they were all friends here. "Susan will do well enough, child, though if you prefer it I am willing to tolerate Lady Susan for politeness' sake. Now I do believe you have yet to become acquainted with the other ladies. May I introduce to you, Lady Howard, the Countess of Carlisle, and Miss Susan Levson-Gower, Lady Granville's daughter. Ladies, Miss Charlotte Heywood of Walcot Hall and Mrs Madelaine Heywood, wife to Mr Justin Heywood of Willingden who is Miss Heywood's brother."

"Well now that that tedious business is out of the way, Miss Heywood, it is quite lovely to see you again. I hope you and your family have all been well? I remember correctly your eldest brother and his wife must have welcomed their newest babe into the family now." Lady Granville enthused as she set down her teacup in favour of turning to converse with the newcomers.

"Oh, yes, baby Lucy was born in the new year and she is a complete delight to us all! Any you ma'am? Your family are all in good health also?"

"Oh yes, quite well, all of us. I was saying to my dear sister just now that our spirits are all bolstered to be together once more after such long absences. My father and nephew, whom you have met, were waylaid some several weeks longer in St Petersburg as the waters were not safe to sail on. They did not return until Yule had passed us by!" The Viscountess disclosed with emotion. Charlotte smiled understandingly and turned to Miss Levson-Gower who seemed a quite sort and not inclined to speak without invitation.

"I should image, Miss Levson-Gower, that you are happy to have your parents home with you again? I have always found for myself that, though I enjoy my independence from my own family, I appreciate them all the more after time away from them."

Miss Levson-Gower smiled at the older girl's attempt to include her. "Yes, Miss Heywood, I am glad to be with them again for I missed my mother and father sorely while they were gone. And please do simply call me Susan; it is surely tiresome to be always wrapping one's tongue around 'Miss Levson-Gower'."

Charlotte acquiesced to this request and was about enquire if Susan was enjoying her time in Town and how she liked the entertainments when Lady Howard asked after her acquaintance with her son.

"I Suppose, Miss Heywood, that you must be the young woman my son paid so much attention to during his trip with our father. I find myself wondering what you made of him? Which is to say, away from a society that is so very regimented in its expectations of young ladies and gentlemen."

Charlotte pondered this question for a moment before she responded with her impression of Lord Morpeth. "He was everything that was gentlemanly Ma'am. I suppose he may have been freer with his words than might have been the case had we been introduced in Town. But then, it seems unlikely that we would have ever made each other's acquaintance otherwise so I cannot speak to what might have been. I find I can only tell you that his company was lively and manners very pleasing."

"Then I am pleased to be assured that he did not forget himself, Miss Heywood. I thank you for humouring me." Lady Howard acknowledge with a smile. It was a sly, secret sort of smile that only those who knew her well would be able to interpret as reflecting the scheme that was surely developing in her mind.

The rest of their visit passed in friendly conversation and soon they risked appearing rude for the length of their call, and so with parting farewells and promises to call again, Charlotte and Madelaine left Berkeley square and it's residents behind, making their way back to her brother's home near Regent's Park.