Sanditon on Reflection (eBook)

Prologue

“Time will explain.” Jane Austen - ‘Persuasion’

Willingden - 1812

In her sixteenth year, 18 February 1812, Charlotte Heywood sits quietly in her classroom, her glossy auburn locks curling around her shoulders. The rain is beating against the large window of her classroom and the wind is lashing the trees on this stormy Tuesday morning but she is warm and comfortable. Although she adores her nine siblings, she enjoys the quiet of her class room which is a part of a complex of rooms behind the main house. Charlotte’s study time which is four days a week requires her to spend five hours in class with her tutor after morning chores and for part of the afternoon she serves as the teacher of five of her younger siblings teaching them writing and mathematics. Then she has her late afternoon chores.

On a normal day, she would entertain mathematics, history, writing, reading of the classics, French and German. But today, she sits relaxed with a large volume of drawings of architectural delights from all around Europe and a book of Shakespeare’s sonnets. She always enjoys her classes, but because it is her birthday, and in celebration of her attaining her sixteenth year, her tutor has allowed her to choose her own lessons for the day. She loves the thought of travel to visit the glorious buildings she craves to see and pours over the drawings as her imagination takes her to exotic locations. She also enjoys Shakespeare’s sonnets as she imagines how she might encounter love someday as a handsome man of mystery emerges from the shadows of one of those magnificent buildings. A particular favorite is Sonnet 116.

Despite her love of dancing, Charlotte has grown up as a bit of a Tomboy, able to ride and when she is not being observed, ride astride for side saddle is so impractical in her mind; shoot, garden, care for livestock and even serve as her siblings’ nurse in dealing with scratches, scrapes and the odd sprain and even on one occasion a broken bone, and now she is awaking to her own body as she feels the mystery of herself becoming a young woman. She has found herself considering what her future might be and dreaming about the yet unseen face of the man with whom she might share it. Although she has never been further from Willingden than the five miles to Hailsham and never seen the sea despite the nearness of Eastbourne, she is desirous of opportunities to travel. She like the entire family is well aware of her Father’s notorious unwillingness to travel away from Willingden, but she knows of her Father’s visits to London to “collect his dividends.” She resolves to ask him if she may travel with him on his next visit to London. Finding a propitious opportunity as she accompanies him on his early morning rounds of the farm, she asks the question. ‘Papa, may I travel with you to London on your next visit?’ He looks a bit startled and replies, ‘Why would you wish to go to London, Charlotte? It is a dirty place and unpleasant. I can barely wait to leave it for the fresh air and open fields of Willingden! But let me talk to your Mama and then we will decide.’ ‘Thank you, Papa,’ Charlotte replies. ‘I so want to see London.’

Later in the morning, as Charlotte walks from her classroom toward the dining room and goes by the drawing room, she overhears a conversation underway. It is her Papa’s voice. Charlotte hears, ‘Jane, Charlotte wants to accompany me to London, and I understand. She has now sixteen years and of course she wants to see London. But she looks so much like her Mother and I worry that the resemblance might be noticed.’ How strangely put to my Mama, thinks Charlotte as she continues on to the dining room.

Two months have passed and Charlotte’s excitement is palpable. Her Papa and Mama have agreed to her accompanying him to London. And her sister Anne, two years her junior, will accompany them as a companion for Charlotte while her Father conducts his business in London. Both are over the moon with joy. They depart on a beautiful and warm April day as flowers are springing up in the fields and the woods glow with the beauty of lime green leaves. The discomfort of the roads in terrible condition after the wet winter and spring months are unnoticed by the girls as they contemplate the magic of a visit to London. Charlotte has visions of the well dressed men and women on the streets and the processions of royal carriages all in gold and gilt carrying the rich and mighty of England. They chatter incessantly and the time passes without notice until they arrive in Tunbridge Wells, where they will overnight in the inn before continuing to London on the morrow. Charlotte is amazed at all the people and the buildings that far exceed anything she has ever seen before. They find rooms in the inn with Charlotte and Anne sharing a room neighboring their Papa’s. They change and soon Papa knocks and asks them to accompany him to dine. They go down to a large dining area and are greeted, Mr Heywood very familiarly, by the Master of the Inn, a bear of a man, as they are shown to a table. ‘Mr. Heywood,’ he says, ‘wonderful to see you again! Are you on your way to London and who are these lovely young ladies?’ ‘Yes, we are on our way to London,’ Mr Heywood responds, ‘and these are two of my daughters, Mr Catchpole. Allow me to introduce Charlotte and Anne.’ ‘Miss Heywood, Miss Heywood,’ he returns, ‘it is a great pleasure to meet you,’ as both girls curtsy prettily. Mr Catchpole continues, ‘I would counsel an early start tomorrow. The roads are in terrible condition as you already know from your journey from Willingden but they are even worse from all the traffic almost to London.’ After apprising them of the dinner offerings, Mr Catchpole wishes them a good onward journey and says he will look forward to seeing them on their return journey. They take their meal and then retire for the evening.

Morning comes quickly and they are again greeted by a fine day. Mr Heywood gathers the coachman, carriage and their rested horses from the stable and they set off. It proves to be a “very rough lane” as Mr. Catchpole had warned, the roads are muddy and rutted and it is slow going but the excitement between the girls grows as the spires and buildings of London loom in the distance. Charlotte can barely contain herself as she admires the grand buildings in London and as they pass by Buckingham Palace, she imagines herself entering to attend a ball on the arm of a handsome and mysterious man dressed in splendid fashion. She recalls from her lessons and shares with Anne that this royal palace was earlier called The Queen’s House and is the residence of Queen Charlotte, the Mother of the Prince Regent. They continue on to find their lodgings and settle into their rooms for a early night because tomorrow will be a very full day. Papa has promised them a tour of the city which will include a stroll through Hyde Park, the Palace of Westminster and then St. Paul’s Cathedral taking in other sights along the way.

They start the morning early with a good breakfast then out into the sunshine they go. Charlotte and Anne marvel at the buildings especially the smart houses, the massive structures standing all around them and the elegantly dressed people they see along the way. Mr Heywood explains the city and talks of royal palaces and the great and wealthy of the city. Charlotte wonders at his knowledge and says, ‘Papa, you know so much! Why have you never told us these stories before?’ He responds that he was waiting for an opportunity to tell when he could show them what he was talking about. They conclude the day with a stroll through Hyde Park where they see many well dressed people walking arm in arm in the warm afternoon sunshine. In the distance, they see a royal troop of soldiers, resplendent in red, smartly marching to the beat of a drum. Closer on and coming toward them is a splendidly dressed coterie of women and gentlemen in top hats. Mr Heywood suddenly says sharply, ‘Charlotte, Anne, we must go now! It is getting late and I must rise early on the morn to conduct my business.’ He turns away from the approaching group and when Charlotte and Anne remain fixed staring at the glorious sight of wealth and privilege, he grabs both by their arms and pulls them after him. Charlotte glances at his face and sees a very unfamiliar look of anger, or is it perhaps fear, on his face. ‘What is the matter Papa,’ she asks? ‘Nothing,’ he replies, ‘come with me; quickly now.’ ‘Yes Papa,’ she and Anne chorus.

Upon their return to the hotel, Mr Heywood...