Kintbury Extract / Kintbury | Diane Jane Ball The Austens of Bath

extract from chapter 22

1805: Re. Kintbury

Photo: Queen Square, Bath

When the weather warmed up, Jane and Cassandra took extended walks around Bath each afternoon. Passing through Queen Square on their way back home one day, they came face to face with another old friend.

‘Charles,’ exclaimed Jane in surprise. ‘I didn’t know you were in Bath!’

It was Charles Fowle, Fulwar’s younger brother and another of Mr Austen’s former pupils from Kintbury. He had been a close companion of the girls growing up.

‘I arrived last evening and leave directly,’ he said. ‘My brief employment here has been to secure some lodgings, but I return in a couple of weeks for a month. I was planning to write to you and beg the pleasure of a dance with you both when I’m here.’

‘You know very well we would love to,’ replied Jane earnestly. ‘Are you come for a holiday?’

‘I’ve been ordered to take the waters,’ he said, with some embarrassment. ‘I’m forced to join the rest of the invalid population and seek a cure.’

Photo: Hetling Pump Room, Bath

Charles was never one to succumb to illness as a boy and was one of life’s optimists. He believed that a positive attitude could fight off any ailment, and Jane and Cassandra understood that this course of action would not have been his choice. He picked up on their quizzical looks. ‘My wife tells me it’s because I work too hard,’ he finished, with a roll of his eyes, not wanting to say any more.

‘We will be a lively party, for sure,’ said Cassandra, looking forward to the prospect of spending time with him again. ‘But we must vow to only act in ways which will cheer one another up. All we seem to have done of late is send each other condolences.’

Photo: on display at Jane Austen's House, Chawton

It had begun when the Austens had written to Charles Fowle to express their sorrow at hearing about his brother, William. Fulwar had informed them that William had died from an illness in Egypt, where he was still with the British army. He had been just thirty-four years old and left behind two small children who would never know their father.

It was not long after that when Charles Fowle was forced to return the kind wishes at the death of Mr Austen. Charles had always attributed his success as a lawyer to the direction and discipline he had learned in his schoolroom and was genuine in his sadness.

Now, it was Mrs Lloyd’s death which had caused their latest round of respectful correspondence. Charles Fowle was her nephew, so the grief felt for this cherished woman was shared amongst them all.

‘You will have heard about Fulwar’s meeting the king, no doubt,’ said Charles with a grin, keeping the conversation bright.

‘Yes, Eliza wrote to tell me,’ Cassandra smiled back. ‘She seemed very proud.’

Like many young men of their acquaintance, Fulwar was part of a volunteer regiment of soldiers; his particular troop of riflemen was based in Kintbury, and he was their Lieutenant Colonel. As part of a tour of the country to keep up morale, King George had come personally to inspect them and been impressed by what he had seen. ‘I knew that you were a good clergyman and a good man; now I know you are a good officer,’ he had said to Fulwar, and the gratified clergyman had dined out on the compliment ever since.

Photo: Jane Austen Festival, Bath

St. Mary's Church, Kintbury, Berkshire

Jane and Cassandra walked home, delighted after saying their goodbyes and knew that their mother would be equally as thrilled to have Charles Fowle amongst them again soon. He was just the same as they remembered him: charming and cheerful with a hint of flirtatiousness, but they could not help but be disturbed by his gaunt looks. They hoped that his wife was right and the problem really was due to him working too hard. He had two young daughters now who needed him, and they hoped that his stay amongst the many cures in Bath would soon make him better.