My Dear Charlotte

by Hazel Holt

  I endeavour as far as I can to supply your place and be useful and keep things in order. The chickens are all alive and fit for the table, but we save them for something grand. This may be quite soon since our father has invited Sir Edward Hampton to dine with us. It is not yet decided who will be invited with him, my mother’s suggestion of Dr and Mrs King was rejected by our father who says it would not be suitable.

  It seems that before he left for London Sir Matthew Russell requested, nay demanded, that Sir Edward should investigate the circumstances of Mrs Woodstock’s death. I gather that the latter was most reluctant to do so, declaring to my father that it was all a great deal of nonsense, but, given that he is but newly appointed magistrate and in consideration of Sir Matthew’s connections in high places, he felt compelled to agree. I can quite understand why our father is reluctant to invite Sir Edward and Dr King together, but our mother is most indignant and says it is tantamount to accusing Dr King of I know not what. On our father’s suggesting that Mr Russell and Mr Rivers might be of the party, she pointed out that they too might be considered unsuitable to be entertained at the same time as Sir Edward in his capacity of magistrate, and it seemed to her that if such considerations were to be acted upon then we will now be barred from inviting the greater part of our acquaintance to meet him. However, this interesting event – whoever may be invited – will not take place immediately since Sir Edward is gone into Somersetshire again on business and will not return within the next ten days.

  To set against your new novel, of which nobody has ever heard before, and perhaps never may again, we have got “Ida of Athens,” by Miss Owenson, which must be very clever, because it was written, as the authoress says, in three months.

  There, I flatter myself I have constructed you a smartish letter, considering my want of materials; but, like my dear Dr Johnson, I believe I have dealt more in notions than in facts.

  Yours affectionately,

  E.C.

  26th July

  My Dear Charlotte,

  You will be happy to learn that our father has this day received a letter from Frank in Vienna, sent with dispatches to Lord Keith. A great part of it was concerned with diplomatic matters and the progress of the mission, and our mother was disappointed that there was not more information about the various personages and descriptions of the court. However, I could not but reflect what a fine thing it is to have a brother who moves in diplomatic circles and is thus privy to the high secrets of state that lesser mortals must remain in ignorance of. He does not say how long he will remain there since it seems that negotiations are not progressing well.

  What fine weather this is! Not very becoming perhaps early in the morning, but very pleasant out of doors at noon, and very wholesome – at least everybody fancies so, and imagination is everything. Since it was so fine yesterday I called upon Maria Brompton to suggest we might walk together as far as Uplyme. However, she was engaged to visit Layton’s with Miss West who is anxious to purchase some rose-coloured satin to line a cloak, in which she no doubt wishes to dazzle Mr Russell. Maria suggested that I should join them, but, given the circumstances of my last meeting with Miss West, not to mention the fact that I find her company excessively tedious, I declined.

  Being determined on a walk I took the path towards Marshwood, which because of the fine weather was quite dry underfoot. I had not progressed for more than half a mile when, rounding a bend, I was almost knocked off my feet by a hoop vigorously bowled by two small boys. They were much abashed by the incident and stood nervously waiting for some sort of rebuke. A young woman came up behind them and began to apologise profusely.

  “I am so sorry ma’am, they ran on ahead of me and I could not keep up with them. I do hope you are not injured in any way…”

  “There is no harm done, I assure you, I was merely startled.” The boys still looked anxious, so I continued, “It is a very fine hoop, quite like the ones my brothers used to have and which they would never allow me to try.”

  They looked more hopeful at this and the older of the two offered me a turn with this one – which I was obliged reluctantly to decline. Their governess, for so I took her to be, was very shocked at this exchange and said she could not imagine what their father would say when he heard of it.

  “Pray do not bother him with such a trifling matter,” I said. “Am I right in thinking that these are the sons of Sir Edward Hampton? I am sure he has many other more important matters to consider than youthful high spirits.”

  “They are indeed the sons of Sir Edward…” the governess began when the older boy, who I took to be about ten years old, extended his hand and said “I am George Hampton, ma’am and this is my brother John and we are very sorry.” I shook the proffered hand and said I was delighted to make his acquaintance. The governess, obviously wishing to bring the incident to a close, once more murmured some apologies, and, turning round led the boys back the way they had come. I too turned back and proceeded homeward. When I told our mother of my encounter she was full of sympathy for the boys and said it was a shame for them to be cooped up in that gloomy house with only a spiritless governess for company.

  “To be sure William and Frank were often wild and boisterous at that age,” she said “ but that is the nature of boys and certainly no-one could have turned out as well or given us so much cause for satisfaction. But, there, with no mama and Sir Edward so busy with his own affairs I suppose they are bound to be neglected. Talking of Sir Edward,” she went on “Mr Russell called while you were out and I am sure he is very put out that Sir Edward is to investigate his aunt’s death. He did not say so in so many words, but it seemed to me that he considered it an impertinence on Sir Edward’s part.”

  I said that was a little unfair since Sir Edward was only performing his duty as a magistrate and could hardly do otherwise, but our mother continues to regard the whole affair as a slight upon Dr King and cannot be moved from that position.

  I have made myself two caps to wear in the evening and they save me a world of torment as to hair-dressing, which now gives me no trouble beyond washing and brushing, for my long hair is always plaited up out of sight, and my short hair curls well enough to want no papering.

  I note what you say about not using the receipt for chicken and asparagus fricassee that Lucy procured from Sarah. I do not believe that it was in any way responsible for Mrs Woodstock’s demise, since both her husband and her nephew both partook of it with no apparent ill effects. When I mentioned your misgivings to our mother, she declared that if it had been so Dr King would certainly have mentioned it. So that must be the final judgement on the matter. She continues to attribute Mrs Woodstock’s death to ill temper and over indulgence in Madeira wine. Nevertheless, perhaps we should settle on having a plain roasted bird when Sir Edward comes to dine since any possible threat to a magistrate might put us in danger of the law.

  Our mother said that Mr Russell looked remarkably well – legacies are a very wholesome diet and I am sure that being relieved of the threat of Mrs West’s approaching his aunt with her story must add greatly to his well-being. However, I imagine this happy state of affairs cannot continue forever, for the lady is determined and Mr Russell may not yet be sure of his uncle’s blessing to such an unequal match. You can imagine with what pleasurable anticipation I await the next development in the matter.

  You deserve a longer letter than this; but it is my unhappy fate seldom to treat people so well as they deserve.

  Yours affectionately,

  E.C.

  30th July

  My Dear Charlotte,

  You are quite mistaken in thinking that I am interested in Sir Edward and his family. It is true that I found his sons delightful and I am indeed sorry for their unhappy situation. But as for their father, he seems to me a singularly uninteresting man. I find that kind of stern countenance and general gravity most dispiriting, and when one does converse with him he takes little trouble to listen to what one has to say and answers as brief
ly as possible. As for your thinking him shy, I am sure that is no such matter, since he appears to have no trouble in talking quite animatedly to our father about estate and sporting matters. No, I fear he can only be set down as a dull man – as you know, my particular aversion – and I shall spend no more time talking of him.

  Of my charities to the poor since you left you shall have a faithful account. I have given a pair of worsted stockings to Mary Hutchins, Dame Kew, Mary Stevens, and Dame Staples; a shift to Hannah Staples and a shawl to Betty Dawkins; amounting in all to about half a guinea.

  You will be interested to know that Lucy has it from Sarah that Sir Edward called at Holcombe Park with the intention of carrying away the bottle containing the laudanum that Chapman was accustomed to administer to Mrs Woodstock every evening. As you may imagine, Chapman, not the easiest of servants, made a great fuss at this, crying out that she was being accused of murdering her mistress. Poor Mr Woodstock had a good deal of trouble to pacify her, being greatly upset himself, and only the continuing reassurances of Mr Rivers (Mr Russell being away from home) served to calm them both. I gather that Sir Edward merely stood by and watched this disturbance with some irritation and made no attempt to ameliorate it. This makes him unfeeling as well as dull, a combination which you must admit is past bearing.

  I imagine he has taken the bottle away for examination to see if it does indeed contain laudanum and not a strange poison from some far-off land. Most exciting – we might well be living in a Gothick novel!

  Our mother, as you may well imagine, considers Sir Edward’s action to be yet another slight upon Dr King, and if it were not for the fact that invitations have already been given to Mr Rivers, Mr and Mrs Chamberlyne , the Holders, Maria Brompton, and Sir Edward himself, and that a whole salmon has been ordered, she would have been in favour of cancelling the affair.

  You will have noted that Mr Russell was not invited, although his cousin is to make one of the party. He is gone to London, it is said ‘on business,’ but I wonder if it may not be to avoid any encounter with Mrs West, and she will surely not approach Mr Woodstock while he, Mr Russell, is absent. Mr Woodstock himself was sent an invitation to dine, it being thought that his period of mourning might not prevent his participating in so modest an entertainment, but he sent a message to say that his nerves were still too unsteady to permit his venturing out. It must be a novel experience for him to be able to claim any ailment of the nervous system, for that has been hitherto the sole prerogative of his wife.

  Hancock has been here today putting in the fruit trees. A new plan has been suggested concerning the plantation of the new inclosure of the right-hand side the elm walk: the doubt had been whether it would be better to make a little orchard of it by planting apples, pears, and cherries, or whether it should be larch, mountain ash and acacia. What is your opinion? I say nothing and am ready to agree with anybody.

  I have had many enquiries as to when you are coming back to Lyme and have had to explain that you are promised to Mary when you should leave Bath. I have just this day received a letter from Mary complaining that she had been expecting you this last week and declaring our uncle’s attack of gout, which prevented this event, to be ‘all imagination’ and most inconvenient for her. However, I gather from your letter that you are to be conveyed thence by our uncle and aunt when they leave for London so you will have a more comfortable journey than if you had been obliged to travel by post. I imagine they will break their journey somewhere else on the road and not pass the night with Mary, Robert and the children, since I fear the latter, especially with a new addition to the family, would not be to our uncle’s comfort even if he were in completely good health.

  You will be amused to learn that Rugeley, as an inducement to our continued subscribing, insists that his collection is not to consist only of novels, but of every kind of literature, &c. He might have spared this protestation to our family, who are great novel-readers and not ashamed of being so; but it was necessary, I suppose, to the self-consequence of half his subscribers.

  I will await impatiently an account of your journey and news of Mary.

  Your affectionate sister,

  E.C.

  5th August

  My Dear Charlotte,

  I am very glad your journey was comfortable and that you found the roads in excellent order and had good horses all the way. I am sorry to hear that Mary had one of her headaches when you arrived and it was well that our uncle and aunt had arranged merely to drink tea and then proceed upon their journey.

  I am happy to learn that little Charlie is grown and is a now a fine boy of six and that Anne has such charming ways. I am sure they are delighted to have their favourite aunt with them again. It is fortunate that our uncle’s indisposition did not keep you any longer in Bath since the christening of the latest offspring is to be next week and your presence as his chief sponsor could not well be spared. Have they yet decided upon a name? I believe Mary favoured Percival while Robert stands firm by John, the name of his uncle with the East India Company from whom he has expectations.

  I was fortunate enough to encounter Mr Rivers as I was walking along the Parade and he told me that Sir Edward, now back from Somersetshire, has called upon Mr Woodstock. This visit, as you may well imagine, after the upset of the last one, caused much alarm, Chapman going off into hysterics at the prospect of facing one she takes to be her accuser. However, all was well. Sir Edward returned the bottle and told Mr Woodstock that the contents were simply the mild tincture of laudanum that Mrs Woodstock had been accustomed to taking and that, even if more drops of it than usual had been administered, it would not have been sufficient to cause her death. Indeed he told Mr Rivers, who was also present, that had she taken the whole bottle, although the effects might have been unpleasant, it would not have been fatal.

  “So,” Mr Rivers asked (Mr Woodstock being much taken aback by this blunt remark), “do you mean that there is no reason to think that her death was anything but natural?” But apparently Sir Edward refused to commit himself on this score, saying that further enquiries were being made. This, of course, threw Mr Woodstock back into a state of agitation so that Mr Rivers had much ado to calm him. After a mere exchange of civilities Sir Edward took his leave without giving the poor man any sort of reassurance.

  I exclaimed upon his lack of sensitivity in handling the affair and Mr Rivers said, “Sir Edward is a very good sort of man, most conscientious, and only doing his duty in this matter. As for his manner, he was a soldier before he came into his inheritance – that is the estate at Hatch Beauchamp, left to him, I believe, by an uncle – and soldiers, you know, are inclined to be abrupt.”

  “Indeed, sir, I had not heard he was a military man.”

  “He was on Wellington’s staff for a while,” Mr Rivers said, “and I believe the Duke thought highly of him.” So I suppose we must excuse Sir Edward his manner since he learnt it from his commanding officer – I remember Frank saying that the Duke could often appear forbidding, though I believe he would unbend and was perfectly civil in the company of ladies!

  So the mystery remains – if mystery indeed it is – as to what caused Mrs Woodstock’s death, though the fact that Sir Edward continues to pursue the matter would seem to suggest that he still has doubts on that score. From our conversation, I was struck again by Mr Rivers’s good sense and am pleased that Mr Woodstock has so sensible a relative to support him, especially since Mr James Russell has seen fit to absent himself at the time when he might be useful to his uncle. I do not know when he, Mr Rivers, intends to return to Barbados, but I believe he will remain as long as this unhappy business over Mrs Woodstock continues.

  Our mother is very happy in the prospect of dressing a new doll for Anne as you requested and desires me to tell you that it will be despatched as soon as she has found materials enough to complete it. Our father is glad to hear so good an account of Robert’s pigs, and desires he may be told, as an encouragement to his taste for them, that Lord Bolt
on is particularly curious in his pigs, has had pigstyes of a most elegant construction built for them, and visits them every morning as soon as he rises.

  Remember me affectionately to everybody and believe me your affectionate sister E.C.

  10th August

  My Dear Charlotte,

  Our dinner party has now taken place and may be considered a success. The salmon and the roast fowl were both excellent and the ragout of veal, in spite of my doubts on the matter, was perfectly good.

  Sir Edward being of the company and Mr Woodstock being absent, the conversation, as you may imagine, largely turned upon the death of Mrs Woodstock. This was obviously not to Sir Edward’s liking. His chief questioners, you will not be surprised to hear, were Mrs Holder and Maria Brompton who, in spite of the briefest and most unhelpful of replies, persisted in asking for details of the death and the progress of the investigation. Our mother was anxious to know Sir Edward’s attitude to Dr King and was much gratified to learn that he roundly condemned Sir Matthew’s treatment of him. Since he also let it be inferred that he considered Sir Matthew a pompous fool, our mother found herself completely in charity with him.