Chapter 2 Farming

The next day a well fed, well rested Charlotte fell back in time with her boisterous brothers and sisters. She rode out on her favorite horse and explored her father's estate with her older brother, Henry who had just turned 21 and was to inherit the farm.

"Father does not come this far on a regular day. He likes to stay closer to the house in case mother needs him. In honesty, I do not think his health is what it ought to be for a man his age. Just look at Lord Peacham? He is the same age and still carries himself with the vigor of a much younger man."

Charlotte looked sideways at her brother to gauge his seriousness then stared out over the vast countryside of Willingden to where the sun was setting behind the manor house that was Landsdowne."

"Charlotte, you know more about the world than I do. I have never been anywhere or done anything. Papa will not hear of me going away to make my fortune, I have to make it here."

"Is that what you want?"

"Do not tell father but, no, it is not what I want at all. I want to study divinity and become a Clergyman. I feel the word of the Lord deeply. It is my calling, my...vocation. I am no good at farming."

"I see." Her eyes combed across the fields to the barn and she sighed at the condition of the chicken coop. She turned her draft horse to face Henry and noticed how thin and gaunt her brother had become. He had the look of a clergyman, not a hearty farmer.

"Do you want to take my place?" Henry was hopeful. Charlotte began to slowly walk her horse in the direction of home.

"I am sorry, brother, I do not think that is allowed under the terms of father's will not to mention those medieval primogeniture laws. Besides, you have five strong brothers to rely on."

"Do not be sorry. I have consulted with my friend, Reginald, from Waylands...because he is studying to become an attorney. He said that once I inherit, I can assign ownership to whomever I choose."

"Well, Henry, that is very kind of you to want to pass the farm on to me. Are you sure this is an arrangement the family desires? It is rather out of the common way."

"Charlotte, you have always been much better at the management of the farm than even Father. You have the skills, knowledge and when you came back from Sanditon unattached, we were all convinced you should inherit the farm."

"I guess my marriage prospects around these parts are pretty grim." she sighed again.

"I doubt there is a suitable young man within two counties with enough courage to keep up with you!" She gave her sibling a devilish grin.

Charlotte liked the idea of being her own mistress and making the decisions that could improve the farm. She dismounted at the stable and slowly walked across the lea with her eyes lifted to heaven. She loved that silly farm. She knew the families that had made it what it is today. Their farm had supported, fed and clothed all 14 of them for over 20 years and provided a life to the tenants.

She felt the thrill of ambition rise up in her like a burning volcano. She was all at once consumed with the need to get to work. A project. That would save her from her despair. She would show the world she was a force of nature. She just had to keep it a secret from her father who was still the rightful master. She would be content managing the land but giving credit to Henry.

Over the following weeks Charlotte was industrious, taking stock of the farm, its contents, assets and liabilities. She sorted through her father's papers when he was napping and made a list of priorities, including improving the workers cottages.

One night, she found her old drawings of the tenant cottage plans and her thoughts turned softly to Young Stringer. Her childish scribbles were nothing compared to his elegant designs. She had marveled at his pagoda.

His name was James Stringer now, not Young Stringer or Youngin. She remembered visiting him the morning after the tragedy. His hands laying atop his father's coffin, his eyes swollen from crying. He was unshaven, pale and in his mourning clothes, which were blue and not black due to his poverty. She was just beginning to see his true condition in life. She reached out to take squeeze his hand in an act of compassion.

"We quarreled, Charlotte. Our last words were spoken in anger." His legs couldn't hold him and he collapsed into a wooden chair nearby. He put his hands over his face and started to cry.

Charlotte moved next to him, pulled his head into her and stroked thick curls, cooing words of comfort. She didn't know why she made such an intimate gesture. She felt his pain and his loneliness acutely. He was completely alone.

He reached around and held himself to her letting out all of his sorrow. After a minute, she pulled out her handkerchief and said, "I think I'll make us some tea and toast. You need to keep up your strength."

"Thank you, Miss. I'm sorry...I"

"Shhhh. Think no more of it. We are friends Mr. Stringer. No matter what happens, I will always be your friend." Charlotte smiled and got to work fixing James up with a tray. He went to the sink to splash water on his face. "You had a hard night. After we eat, you should try to lay down and rest."

"I can't thank you enough, Miss Heywood. I know you are as good as engaged to Mr. Sidney Parker but I hope someday to find a woman as good as you are."

Charlotte laughed to lighten the mood. "I should hope you would find someone considerably better than me!"

Now that she was back in Willingden, jilted by Sidney Parker and hell bent on improving her lot, James Stringer seemed like a decent young man. Someone she might not have considered seriously as a beau before now.

Things always had a way of seeming clearer over time. She had noticed James' job as foreman was not easy. She had noticed that Tom wasn't always truthful to him and his workers. At the time she did not fully understand the extent of their conflict, she was beholden to Mary and Tom for making her their special guest, but now she saw the Parker brother's failures with acuity. Tom was a liar and Sidney was a cad.

Charlotte still smarted after all of the weeks away from Sanditon but she tried to be generous. She hoped the Parker family's new lives with Mrs. Eliza Campion Parker brought them relief and made James Stringer's life better through continued financial security.

And what of Sidney Parker now? What sort of relationship did he and Eliza have before she left him for Mr. Campion and he ran for Antigua? They must have been very much in love for him to go halfway around the world just to forget her. She imagined them happily dancing and flirting, as she had with him. Their connection had history. He had wanted to marry her for over ten years. An uncouth upstart of a Miss like herself could not come between them. It was a ridiculous idea.

Sidney was just demonstrating his ability to play the marriage game the same was Eliza Campion did, for money. They were made for each other. Although Sidney was saving his family from ruin it was still unkind of him to reattach himself without love, wasn't it? In truth, he had never actually said he loved Charlotte. He wanted to put himself in her power? Care for someone other than himself? He did not love Eliza? Around and around her mind ran until at last enough time had passed that dwelling on it was futile. Georgianna had told her never to believe a word out of Mr. Sidney Parker's mouth. So she dismissed her attachment as an aberration.

She had a farm to run.