Sentence:  And no use for anyone to tell Charles that this was because the Family was in mourning for Mr Granville Darracott […]: Charles might only have been second footman at Darracott Place for a couple of months when that <WSD>disaster</WSD> occurred, but no one could gammon him into thinking that my lord cared a spangle for his heir. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  An unforeseen event causing great loss, upset or unpleasantness of whatever kind.