Charlotte Heywood

**Charlotte Colbourne (née Heywood)** is a fictional character created by Jane Austen in her unfinished novel Sanditon. In the 2019 period drama adaptation, she was portrayed by Rose Williams.

## Charlotte Heywood

### Relatives

* Mr Heywood (father)
* Mrs Heywood (mother)
* Alison Heywood (younger sister)
* Declan Fraser (brother-in-law)
* Alexander Colbourne (husband)
* Samuel Colbourne (brother-in-law)
* Leonora Colbourne (step-daughter)
* Augusta Markham (step-niece)
* Baby Colbourne (daughter)

## Early Life

#### Charlotte's Family

Charlotte was the 22-year-old eldest daughter of the Heywood family in Willingden, Sussex. Her father was a farmer, and the family finances were stretched due to their family of 12 children. Among her many siblings, she was closest to her sister Alison. A lover of learning, Charlotte assisted her parents in the education of her younger siblings. Her home life was generally happy, but there was some pressure for the girls to marry in order to ease the financial burden on their family.

### Meeting the Parkers

Charlotte's life changed in 1819 when she met Tom and Mary Parker. When Mr. and Mrs. Parker's carriage crashed on a hill near the Heywood home, Charlotte and her family befriended them and welcomed them to their house. Mr. Parker, who was spearheading the effort to make Sanditon, a former fishing village, into a seaside resort with his business partner Lady Denham, invited one of the girls to stay with them over the summer. Charlotte decided to join them, and they headed to the Parker home: Trafalgar House.

## First Visit to Sanditon

Upon arriving in Sanditon, Charlotte found herself immediately swept up in the vibrant energy of the bustling town. Her keen observational skills and genuine curiosity led her to become an astute observer of the diverse and ambitious residents, each with their own dreams and desires. Charlotte's willingness to engage with the intricacies of Sanditon's social fabric often resulted in her becoming intricately entangled in the lives and intrigues of its inhabitants.

One of Charlotte's most significant relationships developed with Miss Georgiana Lambe, a wealthy and independent heiress of mixed race. The two young women formed a deep and meaningful connection, with Charlotte taking on the role of protector and confidante for Georgiana, who faced societal prejudices and challenges unique to her background.

Charlotte's journey also led her to Sidney Parker, the brooding and complex brother of her hosts. Their initial interactions were marked by tension and misunderstandings, but over time, their dynamic evolved into a deep and undeniable attraction. Charlotte's compassionate and understanding nature played a crucial role in unraveling Sidney's layers and uncovering his vulnerabilities.

As the series unfolded, Charlotte's character underwent a remarkable transformation. Her experiences in Sanditon forced her to confront societal norms and expectations, particularly in matters of love and marriage. With each challenge she faced, Charlotte grew more confident and self-assured, demonstrating an ability to navigate the intricate web of relationships and ambitions that defined the town.

### Fire in Sanditon and Sidney's Decision

After a fire devastated the town, causing a serious financial loss to the Parker family on account of Tom's failure to maintain insurance, Sidney was obliged to marry Mrs. Eliza Campion in order to use her money to save Tom's business and the town in general. During an emotionally fraught parting at the cliffs of Sanditon, Charlotte and Sidney said a final goodbye to each other before she returned home to Willingden.

## After Sidney's death

### Immediate Aftermath

Sidney Parker succumbed to yellow fever in 1820 during a journey to Antigua. This was a matter of great distress and grief for Charlotte, although she felt she could not publicly express her grief because she was not his widow. Charlotte learned the news of Sidney's death when Mary Parker visited her in Willingden. Mary also expressed concern about Georgiana's need to have a good friend by her side, and invited Charlotte to return with her to Sanditon along with her younger sister, Alison Heywood.

Upon her return to Sanditon, Charlotte was overjoyed to see old friends again but was still haunted by the memory of Sidney, with his portrait that still hung at Trafalgar House serving as a reminder of her loss. At Arthur's suggestion, she went alone to the church and lit a candle in Sidney's memory.

### Outlook on Love After Losing Sidney

During her last stay in Willingden, Charlotte's father had reiterated his desire that she marry local farmer Ralph Starling and settle down in her hometown. One reason Charlotte chose to return to Sanditon after Sidney's death was to avoid this situation, as she did not love Ralph in a romantic way and did not want to marry him. When Alison gushed about finding husbands for herself and Charlotte in Sanditon, Charlotte said she wanted to avoid romance. Determined to protect herself both financially and emotionally, Charlotte decided to find gainful employment so that she would not be under a man's power again.

### First Meeting with Leo and Augusta

During a military parade, Charlotte noticed a young child, later revealed to be Leonora Colbourne, fall into the road and almost get trampled by a horse. She ran and rescued her at the last minute. Upon discovering Leonora was injured, Charlotte took her and her 18-year-old cousin Augusta Markham, who was meant to be looking after her, back to their home at Heyrick Park. During the carriage ride, Charlotte learned that both the girls' mothers had died, and Augusta had in fact lost both of her parents fairly recently, and was staying with her uncle. When Charlotte delivered the girls back to their home, she met the housekeeper of Heyrick Park, Mrs. Wheatley, who informed her the family was in need of a governess.

### Meeting Mr. Colbourne

Charlotte's first meeting with the master of the estate, Mr. Alexander Colbourne, did not seem to go well. They had differences of opinion on what sort of education the girls should receive. Charlotte wanted to use the position as governess to broaden their minds to the world around them, and Mr. Colbourne was more concerned with them developing all the typical accomplishments expected of young ladies. Charlotte surprised Mr. Colbourne with her forthright words, and apologized for wasting his time. As she left Heyrick Park, however, she was followed by Mr. Colbourne’s loyal dog, Luna, who had taken a liking to Charlotte and allowed her to pet her. As Charlotte walked along the cliffs back toward town, Mr. Colbourne rode toward her, stopping his horse to ask if she would accept the position as governess.