Author's Notes: A word about the last chapter, "Letting Go." It was necessary for Alexander to get advice from more than one person in order to finally make him see that he has to let go of all that angst of his past, and he needed to move forward with his life. He is a stubborn man, and he needed to be pushed and made to feel a bit uncomfortable. Tom was the right man for the job.
Alexander is profoundly lonely, or was so before Charlotte came into his life and made him feel alive again. As Augusta said, he was almost restored to a human being with Charlotte's influence, and she is doing all she can to keep him from reverting back to the man he once was.
Now, there are others who see his worth, and who are willing to share lessons they have learned in life with him to help him keep moving forward toward a life filled with love and hope. A life he deserves, as does our Charlotte, as does everyone.
I appreciate your comments and that you are reading my story! —Annabella Grace
Chapter Eight: Home and Family
The day before Alexander was to collect Leo and Miss Heywood from Willingden, he went to see Tom Parker.
Tom asked him to come to the study so they could speak privately.
"Mr. Colbourne, have you come to tell me what your intentions are toward our Charlotte?"
"Yes, I have. I want to spend my life with her. I will do all I can to earn back her trust, and if I am successful, I will ask for her hand. I will make my intentions known to her father tomorrow."
Tom said, "I believe that you will understand Miss Heywood much better after you see her with her extraordinary family. It is quite an experience, and a perfectly delightful one."
Mr. Colbourne said, "I look forward to it."
After Mr. Colbourne left, Tom thought about Mr. Colbourne. He had never liked him, but he realized that he had never known him either. Colbourne reminded him of Sidney in some ways. He was a man who had allowed circumstances in his life to cause him to retreat inwardly for many years, just as Sidney had done. Charlotte was the woman, for both of them, who inspired both men to love again.
The next day, Alexander and Augusta arrived in Willingden before lunch. They were expected, and a picnic had been planned.
Leo ran up to them and said, "I have had the very best time, Father and Augusta! I could live here forever!"
She hugged them both and then ran off with Caroline and Catherine, Charlotte's twin sisters.
Charlotte turned to her guests and said, "Welcome to our home, Miss Markham and Mr. Colbourne. Please come in, and let me introduce you to the rest of the family. Alison and Declan are here as well."
After introductions were made, Mrs. Heywood suggested they leave for the lake on the property where they would have their picnic.
On the walk to the picnic site, Declan joined Colbourne, and Alison walked with Charlotte.
Declan said, "I see you remembered our conversation at Miss Lambe's birthday ball and have not retreated, Colbourne."
Alexander smiled and said, "No, I have not."
Declan said, "There are times when you have to concede the battle to win the war, Colbourne, if you do not mind my military talk. Or at least that has been my experience. When my Alison first came to Sanditon, she was enamored with Captain Carter. I had to set back and watch while the woman I cared for grew closer to another man. I hoped that Captain Carter's true self would be revealed before it was too late, and if that happened, I would have my chance to win her heart. In the meanwhile, I was always there for her and supportive in any way I could be."
"As it happens, it all worked out for me, and while I conceded a few battles along the way, I eventually won her heart."
"In your case with Miss Heywood, it is not another man, but her need to forge her own path. There is a compromise that will have to be made in order for you to win her heart. It is you who will have to make the compromise in your expectations of her. She is battle-weary, Colbourne, and would rather retreat from love than risk anymore pain. I cannot say I blame her after all she has been through."
"I encourage you to give her the time she needs to recover from all that has happened in her life. Be there for her, and show her the man you are. Do not be afraid to let her see how much you care for her, but without any expectations that she will return your feelings. If you intend to win back her affections, it will take patience."
Colbourne thanked him for his advice, and the topic of conversation turned to the Family Heywood and the antics of the little ones. Declan assured Alexander that Leo had fit right in with the Heywood children.
They crossed over the stone bridge and walked about a quarter of a mile to a secluded spot with crystal clear lake. It was an idyllic location, and Charlotte explained to him that they all had learned to swim in the lake.
Everyone helped spread out blankets and the ladies unpacked the food. The smaller children went to play for a short while before lunch. Augusta and Charlotte's sister Rachel, both eighteen, found things in common to talk about.
When the picnic was ready, the family gathered to eat. The meal was unlike anything Augusta or Alexander had ever experienced. The food was delicious, but it was the people who made it so remarkable. There were many conversations being carried on, and there was so much laughter. Miss Heywood took bites of her food while holding the youngest child in her lap. She smiled and laughed at her younger siblings. Everyone was having a wonderful time, and Alexander saw Miss Heywood through new eyes.
She was born to be a wife and mother. She had the best example of what life could and should be as a family, so unlike how he was raised. In this setting, Miss Heywood was relaxed and so happy. She had never been more beautiful to him.
After the remains of lunch were packed up, the Heywood siblings, including Charlotte, played a game of cricket. The siblings were quite competitive and good-natured taunts were shouted. Augusta and Leo were finally persuaded to join in and from the smiles on their faces, it was clear they were having a wonderful time. It was decided that they would play a second game, and both Alexander and Declan played this time.
All too soon, it was time to go, and Alexander could not ever remember having a more enjoyable afternoon.
On the walk back to the Heywood Manor, Mr. Colbourne asked to speak to Mr. Heywood alone. The men lagged behind the rest of the family to have a private conversation.
"Mr. Heywood, I love your daughter. I want very much to court her, and then when the time is right, I want your permission to ask for her hand."
Mr. Heywood was thoughtful for a moment, "My Charlotte is determined to have a say in her life. Are you willing to respect and honor that, Mr. Colbourne?"
Alexander said, "Yes, I will respect and honor her independence."
Mr. Heywood stopped walking and turned to look at Colbourne directly.
"You are a father yourself, and I hope you never know the pain a father feels when a man has broken his daughter's heart."
"As a father, it is our job to protect our daughters, and I failed in that. When Charlotte agreed to marry Ralph Starling, I knew he would never hurt her, but I also realized that my daughter did not love him. She agreed to marry him to please me. Thankfully, they came to a mutual agreement to end the engagement. Ralph put her feelings before his own because I know that young man dearly loves my girl."
"I want Charlotte to marry the man she loves with all of her heart, but he must love her the same."
Mr. Heywood continued, "You may have my permission to court her, but I ask that you put her feelings before your own from now on. I have been married for twenty-five years and I can tell you without a doubt, that a happy wife equates to a happy life."
Mr. Heywood gave him a smile and said, "I have twelve children to prove it."
The two men laughed.
Alexander extended his hand to Mr. Heywood, "Thank you for your advice, and I promise you that I have learned from my mistakes with your daughter. I will endeavor to never make her unhappy again."
Mr. Heywood said, "Thank you, Colbourne."
When they got back to the house, Alexander thanked Mr. and Mrs. Heywood for the picnic and for having Leo for the week. Leo hugged everyone and then climbed into the carriage. Augusta and Rachel promised to write, and then Alexander helped her into the carriage. He waited to hand Charlotte in, and watched as she said goodbye to her family.
After hugging everyone goodbye, and promising to write, Charlotte turned to her father. Mr. Heywood took his daughter into his arms and whispered something to her. He held his daughter for a minute or so, and then said, 'I love you, Charlotte."
"I love you so much, Papa. I will write soon."
After giving her mother one more hug, and telling her she loved her, she turned to Mr. Colbourne, and he handed her into the carriage.
On the way back to Sanditon, the girls chatted, and Alexander enjoyed seeing them so happy. Leo told them about her time on the farm and all the fun she had with Catherine and Caroline. The younger Heywood children had built a fort in the woods and had played soldiers for hours and hours. They had also gone fishing, and Leo had caught her first fish.
She had gone hunting with Charlotte and three of her brothers. Miss Heywood had told her she was too young to handle a gun just yet, but she promised she would teach her when she got older.
Leo told her father and Augusta that Miss Heywood could shoot a gun better than any of her brothers, and one night, they had rabbit stew for dinner. Leo said that someday, she wanted to be able to shoot a gun as well as Miss Heywood.
At one point, Leo stopped chattering and dropped off to sleep. Charlotte held her in her arms and Alexander loved her for her tenderness toward his daughter.
Augusta was observing her uncle and Miss Heywood.
They seemed more relaxed with each other, and even though they did not say much to each other, it was at least a comfortable silence between them.
Alexander found his thoughts drifting back to the remarkable scene between Charlotte and her father.
How easily they expressed themselves to one another. In his entire three and thirty years, he had never said, "I love you" to anyone, nor had anyone ever said those words to him. At night, when he laid down to sleep, he thought of Miss Heywood, and he would whisper the words to her. Someday, he hoped to speak those words to her when they were together.
She was used to expressing those tender feelings. Unlike him. It had been encouraged in her home; unlike the home he grew up in where children were seen and not heard.
In his life, he had only recently learned what it felt like to really love another person. Of course, he loved his brother, but it was not something he had ever thought about. He was not close to Samuel, and they rarely saw each other. He thought of Tom Parker and his love for his own brothers, Arthur and Sidney.
He had come to love Leo and Augusta. They were his family now, and he could not imagine his life without them. The romantic love he felt for Miss Heywood was so powerful that he found it consuming at times.
Love is what made Heywood Manor a home, and all who dwelled within, a family. It is what made Trafalgar House a home as well. They had embraced Miss Heywood as a beloved sister and a true member of their close-knit family.
Leo woke from her brief nap, and the rest of the ride was spent listening to her stories from her time at Heywood Manor. She had them laughing and she embarrassed Charlotte a few times, but Miss Heywood had a sense of humor about it all.
When they arrived at Trafalgar House, he got out first and helped her out.
"Thank you again for the wonderful day, Miss Heywood. Your family is extraordinary."
'Charlotte said, "Yes, they are, Miss Colbourne."
"Miss Heywood. There are some things I would like to discuss with you. Will you please come to Heyrick Park tomorrow morning when it is convenient for you?"
Charlotte was surprised by his request, but said, "Yes, I will come to Heyrick Park in the morning."
Alexander nodded his head to her, and said, "Until tomorrow, Miss Heywood."
She replied, "Until tomorrow, Mr. Colbourne."