Chapter 6. Death
That night, Mr. Heywood, unexpectedly passed away quietly in his sleep. His health had been failing but he rallied to dance and his heart could not take the exertion. He died on Charlottes birthday.
The next morning everyone was called into the breakfast parlor.
"Children. Mr. Stringer...I mean James, I must share some very bad news." Mrs. Heywood's voice cracked and tears filled her eyes. "Papa has passed away. He was not feeling well and God chose to bring him to heaven."
James was struck by the loving way Mrs. Heywood delivered the news to her children. Charlotte ran to her mother and hugged and held her as she shook with sorrow. Alison and Anne collected the littlest ones into their arms for comfort and the young boys tried to be brave. When Mrs Heywood sat slowly into her soft chair the boys gathered at her feet, Martin with his head in her lap. Ben holding her hand. William sat near her holding onto Jemma and Jane.
James saw Henry out of the corner of his eye. The Heywood heir turned toward the door, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably. James gently put his arm around his shoulder for comfort. Henry glanced back wiping his eyes on the back of his sleeves.
James whispered, "I lost my father four months ago. If you ever need an ear, and that goes for all of you young fellows, I am a good listener."
Charlotte remembered how well James listened to her rambling. She smiled wanly at him, dislodging another tear, as Maggie buried her tiny face in her skirts. . Baby Toby, crawled up into James' arms, sucked his thumb and fell back to sleep. James gently rocked the bairn and followed the elderly house maid, Nellie, into the next room to return him to his innocent slumber.
The pastor arrived later that day to console and the solicitor was sent for to read the will. The children were each allowed time to visit the body and arrangements were made for the funeral.
Mrs. Heywood asked Charlotte to join her in her room as she packed Mr. Heywoods' clothes away in cedar boxes. She needed a distraction and thought some of the boys might fit into his things soon. She considered her future financial status. Henry was a young man now and soon to be Master of Heywood Hill.
Charlotte quietly entered the room and put her arms around her mother as Mrs. Heywood stared like a zombie out at the fields, coming up with a plan.
"What can I do?" Charlottes' brown eyes pleaded with her mothers' blue.
"Of course. I need the distraction. Papa's clothes are worn but William might fit into his things now. Henry is too slim, I fear." Charlotte joined the sorting and examining of each item.
"Henry wants to study Divinity. He and I have been working on the farm accounts and I think we may be able to send him to school if we have a good harvest." Charlotte felt Henry's preference needed to be known.
"I think I have very clever children. Who will manage the land?"
"Me, after all is said and done. You know I've been in charge since I came back. No one has complained."
"You are right. Everything seemed to get back on track after you came home. I appreciated how you and the older children stepped up to save your father from too much exertion. It was very kind."
"It is my pleasure. I find the work very diverting."
Mrs. Heywood looked lovingly at Charlotte and took her face in her hands.
Mrs. Heywood had been Maria Lucas before she wed the love of her life. Her father, a knight of the realm, Sir William Lucas, disapproved of the match at first. Mr. Michael Heywood was an accidental gentleman, a younger son, destined for the regulars who by luck and loss inherited a small estate. Did she regret her choice? Her life was never one of luxury. Unlike her sister, Charlotte, (after whom her first born daughter was named) through her marriage to a Mr. Collilns, inherited her own small estate in Hertfordshire just a mile from her brother Charles' Lucas Lodge.
"Charlotte, would you and James visit Lord Peacham and pass on our tragic news?" Tears began to fall again. She wiped her eyes with her husbands handkerchief, "I know he will be a sympathetic neighbor."
Charlotte looked incredulously at her mother. Lord Peacham owned the estate that ran adjacent to their land. He was the only titled landowner in Willingdon and his house, Landsdowne, was the jewel of the county. The request surprised her but she wanted to please her mother so agreed.
Charlotte changed into her mother's mourning dress and bonnet, leaving her palest dress with Allison who was working with Annie on dying the family garments for the funeral and mourning period. She remembered James wore blue to his fathers burial, there being no women in his life to attend to such particulars.
"So. Tell me about this... Lord Peacham." James said as he grunted and hitched the heavy wagon to the team with William.
"Well." Charlotte lent her hand. "He is a bachelor of about fifty some odd years of age. His estate, Landsdowne, is one of the most beautiful houses in England. He is very wealthy and a very good farmer by all accounts."
James nodded to encourage her continuation. "Go on."
"He and my father were friendly although not in the same class. I remember, when I was a little girl tagging along with my Pa and Lord Peacham as the walked the perimeter of the land together pointing out improvements and talking about livestock and honeybees. He is a congenial fellow."
James handed Charlotte into the wagon only to be accosted by a cadre of children begging to take a ride and escape the sadness of the house. James looked hopefully at Charlotte for approval.
"William, Ben, Jemma, Martin, and Jane, you may come along but Toby and Maggie must nap."
Annie and Allison came over to the wagon and lured the little ones into the house with the promise of a biscuit while Henry was tasked with arranging for the funeral with the rector.
"Now. Heywoods. " Continued Charlotte sternly, "You must all be on your best lady and gentleman behavior and stay close by us." Then they all scrambled into the wagon and made themselves comfortable. The sun was high in the Autumnal sky and the leaves were just beginning to blaze.
Mrs. Heywood came outside as they began to roll away. "We're taking five, Mama. Your welcome!" Charlotte called with a smile. Mrs. Heywood sighed with relief and went inside to lay down for a well deserved rest with the youngest.