As many of you know I am writing an historical novel. I'm not planning on stopping at one, I want to make it into a series all based in the Elizabethan Era (Depending on how I do with the first one of course ) So I was thinking about how different actions bring about murder. Love of money, blackmail, jealousy, hatred, obsessions, hidden secrets, anger; and how the actions of one person can affect a lot of people: family, friends and loved ones. However, it can be so hard to portray them all. Basically in my current novel three people have died, however these people didn't have family, one was a girl off the street, another an old gamekeeper who lived alone in his hut with his dog, and one of the Queen's advisors. Basically the one that I can use the most to play on the emotions of my readers is the Queens Advisor, but he is not a nice man and generally everyone hates him, so they won't feel much sympathy for his death. So I'm struggling a little; my book I feel, needs to be expanded a lot, much more than it is at present, which is why I have stopped writing it at all and have begun to re write it.
How do you play on the feelings of your reader when you have killed a person they do not like? How can you make them feel sorry for him? I don't want him to be married as he was having an affair with a married woman, so he has to be single. My ideas were a child, you see; someone who he left behind who needed him, but since he isn't married I veer away from that idea. I decided to come here for ideas to see what you all think; yes, I promise to post this on HWHF when it opens, but it's too long to wait for me to post it. I need ideas now! Thanks in advance!

I shall return to reply! Just pm me if I don't do it soon. I'm very interested, but unfortuanately, I'm being called away from the computer.
I'll come back.

Well, first, I would like to establish that the Elizabethan era is my favorite of all favorites (and yes I have a few).
You mentioned leaving a child behind, but you are don't want it to be a birth child. The child could simply be a nephew, (or something) that shows up once or twice before and endears himself to the audience, but makes it known that he is dependent on his uncle. He could need his uncle's funds to realize his dreams of being something, or even to meet basic needs. Just some ideas.
Aleena

That is a good suggestion, Aleena, thank you.

I'll be sure to bob you a PM if you forget, Aldara.

*has been poked*
If you want the readers to feel sorry for the man that they don't like who has died, you need to make him likeable. Give him a redeeming quality. However, if all you want is that they are sorry he died, and not necessarily sorry for him, you have more options.
a)Take a look at the viewpoint of the woman he's having an affair with. That's hard, because obviously they feel... something... for one another, but she's married, so... yeah.
b)Put in some of the little details that make the reader aware that he is missed. He's a Queen's Advisor, there's got to be something. Say 'if Advisor was here, he might have some ideas about how to get out of this mess' or something of that sort. 'If Advisor were here we would still be connected to this noble house...' I don't know the plot, so I can't be too specific, but try that.
c) Show a scene from something he supported. Maybe he was a hated character but he loved the arts and funded a museum. So have a scene where his museum is shown as suffering because of his death.
d) Have someone who is reliant on him, like Aleena mentioned. It doesn't have to be a child -maybe it's his mother.

Those are really helpful, Aldara. Thank you so much!