Page 107 of To Love And To Cherish
Charlotte appeared to deliberate before speaking. “We had a boy in Sunday School like that, Jack Hanson. When he threw himself on the floor during Sunday school, I asked the other teacher to leave him be. I ushered the other children out and left the door ajar. I told Jack he could find me when he was ready. He screamed another minute, then rose, came to me, and asked for water. He tried once more after that, but has not had a tantrum in six months.”
Bertram’s eyes lit with something like hope. “I shall try this. It sounds so simple. Where is your home, Miss Lucas?”
“In Hertfordshire, sir, in a village called Meryton.”
Charlotte kept him engaged the remainder of the meal, and when they adjourned to the drawing room, Mary was more hopeful of a potential match between the pair.
William then drew attention to their purpose. “We would like to establish a parish fund for the care of the indigent,” he said. “Mary has begun gathering volunteers to sew clothing for the children, and we would also like to provide medicines and tinctures. At present, Dr. Clark and Mr. Jones bear the cost of charity entirely.”
He went on to propose an annual fundraiser, with Lady Catherine’s generous donation of five thousand pounds as a foundation. “We hope the other principal estate owners will be willing to pledge an annual sum as well. Finally, if we can persuade the other parishioners to give what they can in time and effort as well as in monetary donations, I believe our program will succeed.”
Both gentlemen agreed. Mr. Jones offered to teach any willing parishioner the making of tinctures, and Dr. Clark expressed his gratitude.
“One in three house calls I make is charity,” he said. “But how does one turn away a mother with a sick child? I cannot do it.”
Mr. Bertram proposed setting aside a substantial sum as capital for investment, with the parish using the interest to assist the poor, and the others readily rallied behind the plan. Both Grant and Bertram agreed to have their solicitors investigate suitable investments in the coming month.
William volunteered to visit each household in the parish to collect small weekly contributions for what they would now call the Health and Welfare Fund, and Mary resolved to rally the married women to sew and assist in preparing extracts under the physician’s and apothecary’s direction.
Once the business was settled and tea taken, the guests dispersed into smaller groups. Mrs. Grant and Daniel sat in a corner chatting with Kitty. And Mary was pleased when Mr. Bertram sought out Charlotte once more.
“I wonder,” Bertram said, “if you might offer counsel on how to persuade a child to bed at a reasonable hour.”
Charlotte listened as he described a nightly ordeal of chaos and defiance. Miriam, it seemed, had never known boundaries.
In her measured way, Charlotte said, “In my home, my younger brothers played outdoors daily, were bathed, and then their nurse spent an hour reading to them. Lanterns were extinguished by half-past seven. They were allowed to talk in bed, but not to rise. All four were asleep within the hour.”
“Oh, what I would give for sleep at eight,” Bertram muttered. “At ten, she is still racing the halls.”
Charlotte offered murmurs of sympathy and no judgment. She understood now that this was not a man nursing romantic wounds, but one floundering beneath the weight of a strong-willed child, desperate for help.
The following morning, Charlotte worked in the kitchen garden with Mary and William. The mid-March day was dry and fine, and they took full advantage, laying plans for the coming fundraiser. They were pondering over the details when the sound of carriage wheels interrupted them.
Mrs. Tilney appeared in the doorway, breathless. “Mr. Bertram, ma’am.”
All three looked up as Mr. Bertram stepped into view. He turned directly to Charlotte.
“Miss Lucas, might I persuade you to walk out with me?”
She removed her gloves and apron without hesitation. “Gladly.”
He turned to William. “We shall remain upon the main road. I will return Miss Lucas within the half hour.”
Charlotte slipped inside to fetch her bonnet and shawl. When she returned, they passed through the garden gate together.
Mary watched them go, a pleased look softening her features. “He is speaking quite animatedly,” she remarked.
William raised a brow. “I wonder what matter brings him out so early.”
Charlotte was equally curious. Morning calls before eleven were unusual, and she wondered what urgent thought had driven Mr. Bertram to the parsonage so soon after breakfast. They walked in silence for a few moments, the gravel crunching beneath their feet, before he spoke.
“The hot water worked,” he said. “I had the maid fill the hip bath and gave Miriam an old toy boat I’d kept. Her head cleared. She said it did not hurt anymore.”
Charlotte relaxed. He wished to speak of his daughter.
“I have studied hydrotherapy,” she replied. “It can be quite effective. I’m so pleased it brought her comfort.”
He grew more serious. “As for bedtime, I took her outside and we played ball, actually, I threw and she chased. She seemed tired. Mrs. Wilkins bathed her, and I read to her. I had not realized she was old enough for stories. Her nanny cannot read, and I am ashamed to say, I had never done it before. She nearly fell asleep, but just then, Mrs. Wilkins entered to put away laundry. Miriam leapt from bed, shrieking that we could not make her sleep. She finally dropped to the floor at ten.”
