Hello all! It has been several years since I put pen to paper, but this idea just wouldn't leave me alone. I love the notion of finding solutions and resolutions in odd places. I'm also a bit of a geek when it comes to odd pairings, so bear with me. To be clear, this fic is most definitely in support of the Sydney and Charlotte pairing, however, from a very different angle. Without further ado!
Chapter 1: The Art of Abstraction
Eliza Campion stared blindly out of the carriage window, her mind not a million miles away but rather deeply embedded in her own personal turmoil. As she pulled her eye line from the passing scenery to regard her travelling companion, her remorse and worry deepened. Never had she seen Sydney Parker so broken and adrift. He was lost in his own thoughts, or more likely memories, not realizing or caring that he was being watched. How could she have been so obtuse? How could she have let it… let them come to this?
In that moment, there were three things she knew without a shadow of a doubt. First, neither she nor Sydney were anywhere close to the young, impetuous creatures they were in their youth. She had grown keenly aware of societal expectations due in large part to life as a rich man's wife and Sydney had become stayed and withdrawn through his own grueling life experiences, refusing to allow anyone to penetrate his core. Well, that last notion wasn't necessarily true. There was one individual who had managed to break down his walls and pierce his self-imposed solitary confinement. That assertion lead Eliza to her second epiphany.
A fortnight ago, when she still harboured her ill-conceived flight of fancy that she and Sydney could rekindle the romance of their childhood, she was certain his feelings for a certain farm girl were nothing more than a silly infatuation. How wrong she had been. She'd grossly underestimated their connection and now inwardly cringed at her own willful ignorance and blatant disregard of what was right in front of her. When she'd finally had the presence of mind four weeks later to recognize that not only was Sydney madly in love with Ms. Heywood, but that her own feelings for him were not what they once were and never would be, it had all been too late.
There was no way they could back out now. They were so ensconced in wedding plans and she'd made such a spectacle of the whole affair, breaking the engagement would be nothing short of social suicide. Neither of them would be able to live down the gossip that would ensue. Despite her wealth, she would be shunned from all acceptable social circles and Sydney and the Parkers would be ridiculed mercilessly. She could handle the judgment from the toffs, however, she could not stomach the second prospect.
This thought seamlessly drove her into her final realization. She had been close to the Parkers for most of her life. Nearly twenty years. They were like family to her. There was no way she could abandon Tom Parker to be carted off to debtor's prison and his wife and children to live in squalor and poverty. She could also not allow the Parker family to become the target of derision. No, there was no other choice in the matter. Their salvation lay solely in her and Sydney's hands. She had to endure yet another loveless shell of a marriage and Sydney… For his sake, she hoped Ms. Heywood was true to her word regarding marriage. Seeing her wed to another so soon after would probably destroy Sydney and Eliza wasn't sure she had the strength to piece him back together after that kind of heartbreak.
Suddenly, the gentle rocking of the carriage came to an abrupt stop and she was shaken out of her dark musings. They had arrived at their destination and Eliza steeled herself for the task at hand. Normally she loved visiting Sanditon, remembering how she run and play along the shores as a child. However, the prospect of meeting the new architect Tom had procured for the rebuilding was not something she was looking forward to. By all accounts, the gentleman had no real experience or training. Of course, Tom sang his praises as if he was heralding the second coming. Eliza had little doubt it had more to do with the fact the man's services were engaged at a steep discount. She would not allow her money to be thrown away and squandered on mediocrity simply to save a few pounds and no man was going to talk her out of her opinion.
As Eliza climbed down from the carriage with the help of her overzealous soon to be brother in law, she regarded her surroundings and felt her spirits sink even further. Sanditon still appeared to be in complete shambles. What a fine mess she found herself in.