My Dear Charlotte

by Hazel Holt

  I was pleased to hear that he is to join the party when you go to the Somerset House Exhibition.

  Later

  I keep this letter open to let you know that I have seen Sir Edward and have given him your news of Mr Russell, which he seemed to think important. I saw him briefly in Rugeley’s – he seems to be a constant customer there – when I was inquiring about a critique of Sir Walter Scott that Sir Thomas Egerton was telling me of. I was obliged to hurry away since our mother was waiting for me to go and call on the Chamberlynes.

  Mrs Holder, who keeps an eye on such things, says that he (Mr Russell) is Mr Woodstock’s constant companion, forever playing at cribbage or driving out with him. One thing is certain, he obviously does not think the time is ripe to inform his uncle of his entanglement with Miss West. Whether Mrs West will take steps in the matter, I do not know. I feel she would be loth to let such a prize escape her, though whether Mr Russell may be such a prize is now not certain.

  Before I forget, our mother has desired me to ask you to purchase for her two bottles of lavender water, provided you should go to the shop on your own account, otherwise you may be sure she would not have you recollect the request.

  I forgot to say that Mrs Chamberlyne told us that Mrs Estwick is married again to a Mr Sloane, a young man under age, without the knowledge of either family. He bears a good character however. She also said that she has heard from the Prices that they are not to have a house on Weyhill; for the present he has lodgings in Andover, and they are in view of a dwelling hereafter in Appleshaw, that village of wonderful elasticity, which stretches itself out for the reception of everybody who does not wish for a house on Speen Hill.

  My thanks to you for the news about Mr Russell and my thanks also to young Mr Morton should you care to give them to him.

  Yours affectionately,

  E.C.

  29th October

  My Dear Charlotte,

  It was indeed kind of the Mortons to take you to the play again. I was interested to hear of your having seen Miss O’Neal in ‘Isabella’ since we had all heard such good reports of it, but sorry to learn that, although she is a most elegant creature, she was not equal to your expectations. So I need not feel jealous, after all, of your good fortune.

  Mr Russell has been seen by me going into the post office, perhaps to collect letters he does not wish his uncle to know of. I happened to be looking in the windows of Layton’s when he emerged and he seemed confused when I greeted him and, indeed, he had several letters in his hand which he thrust into the pocket of his coat when he saw me. We exchanged views on the weather and he would have passed on but I felt I might take this opportunity to question him a little.

  “And how is Mr Woodstock today?” I asked. “It seems to me that he has lately improved a little in spirits. It must be pleasant for him to have you and Mr Rivers to entertain him.”

  “Indeed, I do think he is better than he was.”

  “He talks of going to Bath; will you go with him?”

  “I do not think it likely he will leave Lyme until this unhappy business is cleared up. But, of course, then I will happily attend on him in Bath.”

  “And will Mr Rivers go also; or will he have returned to Barbados?”

  “I do not think he can stay away from Barbados for much longer.”

  “His business here about the Estate has been accomplished then?”

  “Not yet. My uncle has been in no fit state to consider the plans he has.”

  “But you will advise him?”

  “Naturally I will do whatever is in my power to help.”

  “Your aunt, I believe, had hitherto overseen his work there?”

  “That is so, but, alas, she died before she had the opportunity to do so this time.”

  At that moment we both saw Mr Rivers walking with Miss West along the Parade. “Mr Rivers seems to be a great deal in Miss West’s company,” I said. “Do you think he may have intentions in that direction?”

  For a moment he looked after them with an expression of extreme annoyance, but he recovered himself quickly and said, “I have no idea about Frederick’s intentions, but I had the impression that he is still greatly attached to the memory of his late wife.”

  “Of course. But there is a son, is there not, do you not think he may wish to provide the boy with a mother?”

  “It is possible, though they say that does not always answer, if there is not liking on both sides.”

  “No, perhaps Miss West is not the person to take on a ready-made family.”

  He did seem quite put out to see them together so perhaps he still retains his affection for her and may yet find the courage to speak to his uncle. What Miss West’s thoughts may be in this matter I do not know. I cannot but feel she would be happier with Mr Rivers than with Mr Russell, even with his debts paid. But doubtless she will do as her mother wishes.

  The masons are now repairing the chimney, which they found to be in such a state as to make it wonderful that it should have stood so long, and next to impossible that another violent wind should not blow it down.

  I envy you your choice of shops and am very envious of what you say of the delightful caps in the shops in Cranbourne Alley

  Yours affectionately,

  E.C.

  1st November

  My Dear Charlotte,

  Sir Edward came today, having left his boys at the farm to see the ferrets. “And I fear,” he said, “they will not leave without one, and how will I face my keeper when I inform him they are his responsibility when the boys are gone to school?”

  “Come, Sir Edward,” our mother said “you cannot make me believe that you are afraid of your keeper.”

  “But I assure you, ma’am, the whole success of the shooting season depends upon Higgs, and if he is put out then all will be lost.”

  “You talk a great deal of nonsense, sir. Now bring the boys back here when they are done. Cook has just this morning made some macaroons…”

  She went off into the kitchen to seek out what she could find for them.

  “Your mother is very kind,” Sir Edward said.

  “It gives her pleasure, and, indeed, I feel you deserve some recompense for our having introduced your sons to the ferrets.”

  He smiled and then said, “I am glad of the opportunity of thanking you properly for your information about Mr Russell’s finances.”

  “It was the merest good fortune that my sister was in the company of one who knew him. But I must assure you that Charlotte questioned him most discreetly. I am sure Mr Morton was not aware of the reasons for her questions.”

  “Yet another diplomat in the family.”

  “Oh Charlotte is the sensible one.”

  “Well, I am most grateful for her good sense in this matter. I am going to London shortly and hope to make further inquiries myself. Discreetly, of course.”

  “I believe he has not yet told his uncle of his financial position. I met him leaving the post office the other day and he had been collecting letters which I believe he did not wish anyone else to see since he appeared embarrassed when he saw me and seemed disinclined to make conversation.”

  “So you engaged him in conversation, Miss Cowper?”

  “It seemed a good opportunity to do so when he was somewhat confused.”

  “Of course. And what did you glean from this conversation?”

  “Certainly his dislike and jealousy of Mr Rivers. I am sure he fears him as a rival with both his uncle and with Miss West.”

  “Indeed?”

  “Mr Rivers is in her company a great deal at present and Mrs West seems quite satisfied that he should be so.”

  “Mr Rivers does not seem to be in a hurry to return to Barbados?”

  “Apparently not. He has plans for the estate there, I believe, that he wishes Mr Woodstock to approve.”

  “Mr Woodstock is active in this matter?”

  “It would seem that he will have to be now that Mrs Woodstock is no longer there.”


  “She oversaw Mr Rivers’ running of the estate?”

  “Indeed, she and Mr Woodstock’s man of business – but mostly Mrs Woodstock – dealt with it all.”

  “And had she seen these plans of Mr Rivers’?”

  “No, since she died before she had the opportunity to do so. In fact, I can recall her telling him, just before she died, that she wanted to see his accounts. It was in public, at a ball in the Assembly Rooms, in front of everyone. Poor Mr Rivers was greatly mortified.”

  Our mother coming back into the room as I was telling Sir Edward this broke in, “Indeed, that was her way – poor Mr Rivers, we all felt for him! Such a vulgar thing to do, speaking of business at such a time and in the card room too, but Mr Rivers, in the most gentlemanly manner merely bowed and withdrew. He is a charming man and we will all feel the loss of him when he returns to Barbados. Though he may yet remain in England since Mr Woodstock is greatly attached to him and Mr Rivers waits upon him most attentively.”

  When Sir Edward returned with the boys – who were immediately taken off by our mother and regaled with delicacies – he asked, “Do you think Mr Woodstock will ask his nephew’s advice about Mr Rivers’ plans?”

  “Certainly Mr Russell believes he will. You think he may hope to find something amiss there?”

  “It would be convenient for him. Miss Cowper, I would be most grateful if you could contrive to discover what happens there.” He paused for a moment and then said “I am aware that I should not ask you to do such a thing.…”

  “On the contrary, sir, anything that will add interest to my life is most welcome.”

  “You wish for interest, Miss Cowper?”

  “Not in the general way of things, I think, but within my own circle, perhaps, a little interest, something out of the ordinary, is an agreeable addition to life.”

  “You are fortunate to be so contented.”

  “I see no point in being anything other. Indeed, by and large, I find sufficient to interest me in the people and places around me; my observations provide entertainment enough.”

  “I am most grateful for those observations. And now I must relieve your mother of my sons and that burdensome animal.”

  How delightful that you were in a private box at the theatre, thanks to friends of the Mortons, right on the stage and, as you say, much less fatiguing than in the common way. However I note that you did not leave Don Juan in hell until half-past eleven and yet were up early the next morning to go to Grafton House. I salute such energy!

  Your affectionate sister,

  E.C.

  5th November

  My Dear Charlotte,

  I was pleased to hear that our uncle is now sufficiently recovered to have attended service last Sunday at St James and later, to take advantage of the unseasonable mildness of the weather, to enjoy a short drive in the carriage. Does this improvement mean that your return home may be hoped for soon? I do not have to tell you that you are greatly missed and asked for almost daily by our acquaintance here in Lyme.

  Sir Edward will, by now be in London, and I hope his inquiries may be fruitful as this business of Mrs Woodstock’s death has now dragged on for so long that people no longer talk about it, considering it stale news. However, Mr Rivers is still here in Lyme and our mother says that to see him and Mr Russell both attending on Mr Woodstock puts her in mind of two dogs jealously guarding a bone. We called upon him yesterday and found the poor man in a state of some confusion. Mr Russell, it seems, had offered to help him consider Mr Rivers’ plans for the estate in Barbados, which had annoyed that gentleman considerably. He implied that it was the concern only of Mr Woodstock and his man of business and that Mr Russell should not interfere – all of this couched in the politest tones, but very firmly expressed, and Mr Russell taking offence and protesting that his only wish was to assist his uncle and implying, on his part, that Mr Rivers might have something to hide. All of this we had got from Mrs Holder, who had happened to call when both young men were absent and poor Mr Woodstock was able to confide his problems to her.

  I must tell you that you are likely to have a visit from Sir Edward at Sloane Street. It seems that he informed our mother that he was going to London and (purely as a matter of form I have no doubt) asked if she had any commissions for him while he was there. Our mother, inspired I am sure by your frequent references to Grafton House, seized the opportunity to bestow upon him a letter to you with many instructions about purchases she wants you to make (Layton’s being so sadly lacking in everything one really desires) with the money for you to pay for them without appealing to our uncle for funds to do so. I imagine Sir Edward was somewhat discomposed (our mother denies this) at being taken so readily at his word, but was too gentlemanly to show it. Our mother’s letter is even now, in Sir Edward’s carriage, on its way to you. So you will have the opportunity (which you have frequently wished for in your letters) to form your own opinion of him.

  Our father is doing all in his power to increase his income by planting the new crops throughout the estate and does not despair of getting very nearly two thousand a year.

  Mr Foote (a cousin of Mrs Chamberlyne who was also present) dined with us on Friday and I fear will not soon venture again, for the strength of our dinner was a boiled leg of mutton, underdone even for Cook and Mr Foote (I later discovered) has a particular dislike of underdone mutton, but he was so good-humoured and pleasant that I did not much worry at his being starved. He gives us all the most cordial invitation to his house in the country.

  While Sir Edward is away I determined to continue the ‘investigation’ on my own and have now learnt from Lucy (who got it from Sarah) that both Mr Rivers and Mr Russell were in the kitchen at Holcombe at some time during the day that Mrs Woodstock died and while the fatal syllabub (if such it was) had been made and was set aside on the dresser. Mr Rivers has the habit of going through the kitchen to get to the stables – a perfectly reasonable route to take. Mr Russell was sent down by his aunt to see why the bell in the Library has not been answered, which also bears the ring of truth. I do not think it would have been difficult for either of the two gentlemen to add some noxious substance to the syllabub since there is always (so Lucy says) so much going on in the kitchen that any one action might very well pass unremarked.

  Whether this information is of any use I do not know. Certainly it is likely that suspicion would rest most strongly on these two persons, and although there is much wickedness in the world, it is difficult to think that any person one has actually conversed with might be capable of such a deed.

  Bates informed our father that the tinkers are in the neighbourhood again, so your chickens will be secured at night with especial care. Excuse the shortness of this, but I must finish it now, that I may save you an extra 6d.

  Yours affectionately,

  E.C.

  8th November

  My Dear Charlotte,

  I was not entirely surprised to receive a letter from you so quickly since I was sure that you would be eager to let me know your opinion of Sir Edward! He certainly called upon you very promptly on his arrival in London. I would by no means call him handsome, though his appearance is good, I admit, for someone of his age, and his manners can be pleasing when he so wishes. I was surprised to learn that he proposes bringing back the purchases you are making for our mother since they could very easily have gone by carrier, and I can see why our uncle should have wished to include him in your theatre party by way of thanking him for his good offices.

  You say that although our uncle’s health is greatly improved, his doctor does not yet think him quite recovered and says his stomach is still rather deranged, and is keeping him in rhubarb and giving him plenty of port and water. So our aunt declares that she cannot do without you, and I suppose we must reconcile ourselves to your longer absence. At least we may imagine you in a continuous round of pleasure which (to our nobler natures) must give us great satisfaction though, of course, to you it must be nothing short
of a genuine sacrifice!

  The weather has been very cold, and yesterday I went with Miss Blair to watch the boys skating on the pond in the meadow by the beech. I hope the frost will hold for their sake. Our mother obliged me to look out the skates that Frank and William used when they were small and which she has been keeping these many years for little Charlie’s use when he should be old enough. Afterwards we all came back home, at our mother’s request, for hot soup and of course tarts for the boys. Miss Blair was nervous, at first, about the boys skating but our mother assured her (on no good grounds that I know of) that Sir Edward would wish them to do so. Miss Blair now looks upon our mother as the fount of all wisdom, not least because she (our mother) has found an excellent situation, when the boys go away to school, for her (Miss Blair) with the Goodwins – you may remember them as an amiable family with two small daughters – in Clifton. Miss Blair is delighted since she has a sister who teaches at a school in Bristol. Whether Sir Edward will be content to have his household rearranged in this way I do not know – it will be a test of his good nature to see how he reacts!

  I have passed on to our mother the news that there was but two yards of the dark slate poplin (at 4s a yard) but that the man at Grafton House promised to match it and send it off correctly. She thinks the stockings you bought at Remingtons were a bargain at 12s for the silk and 4s.3d for the cotton. The edging sounds very cheap and the plaiting lace at 3s.4d. I will write and tell Mary (since I owe her a letter) that there was no second set of Hook’s Lessons for Beginners, and that you therefore have chosen her a set by another composer since you thought she would rather have something than not and that it cost 6s. Whether this will satisfy her I cannot tell, but she must admit that your intention was good!