Charlotte and Allison were leaning against one another as the coach rattled on. It was a long drive home, even though it really wasn't that far.
John had opted to stay with his now-finance, Georgiana Lambe. He tasked Charlotte with telling their parents. He would be following his sisters in a fortnight, just as was originally planned.
The sisters were a good deal more than sombre. Allison had not bothered to wish Mr Stringer a goodbye, though Charlotte did. She told him that her sister was not feeling all that well, and that she needed to return home directly.
He seemed to be concerned at the news. "Oh. Well, I do hope that Miss Allison gets better soon, Miss Heywood. Perhaps I can call at Willingden with Mr Heywood when he returns. Or, perhaps I can stop for a visit even sooner," he swallowed.
"Of course," Charlotte replied, more for Allison than herself. "Allison would love to see you."
He smiled, then tipped his hat.
Charlotte sighed as she gazed out of the coach. It would be good to be home. To be among her siblings and to not fret about things.
Though she had to admit to herself, she missed him already.
Sidney left early in the morning for Lady Bertram's house. He had no idea what he was going to do, but he thought that the first thing he should do is retrieve the supposed incriminating letter from her.
He walked, deep in thought, hands in pockets.
If he recognized Eliza's penmanship, and it was as implicating as was suggested, he'd need to confront her. He didn't wholly trust her as it was, so the idea of confronting her caused him unease.
But he'd have to.
And what if she admitted it?
What if she didn't, and he didn't believe her?
He walked up to Lady Bertram's house…it was a fine place, seated back from the main road. There were low hanging trees and plenty of flowers in her front garden. He hesitated only a moment, thinking that it was possible that this was all a farce, but dismissed it. He rapped smartly on the door.
Her porter opened the door and nodded. "Mr Parker?"
"I'm here to see Lady Bertram."
He stepped aside and offered to take his hat. Sidney refused.
The place was rather dark…he was not expecting that, given the bright foliage outside. It was stuffy, close; heavy with perfume. He followed the porter to the back of the house.
The sitting room was quite bright compared to the hall and the parlor that he had passed. It contained lovely seating, embroidered with flowers. The paint was a light green and the windows reached from the ceiling to the floor.
"Mr Parker."
He turned. Lady Bertram was in the doorway. "Good morning, Lady Bertram. I am come to read the letter you mentioned."
"Yes I know. There are a few things that I should mention before I let you read it," she sat, and gestured for him to.
He did, across the room from her.
She cleared her throat. "Ms Campion has regarded me as her most trusted confidant for nearly nine years."
"Almost the length of her marriage."
"Just so," she nodded. "I am very fond of Eliza. But I fear for her health."
"Her health?"
"Her…." she paused. "It is a delicate matter, Mr Parker. But I believe that she is unwell in her mind."
He cleared his throat. "Her mind."
"Yes. You see, she is terrified to have a child. I cannot account for it…but the four abortions she has had under my care have no other explanation."
"I don't understand."
"I should amend that," she smiled. "The very first time I met Ms Campion, she was in a delicate way, and I helped her. It was not Mr George Campion's child," she looked at him.
"Nor was it mine."
"Very well. However, the consecutive pregnancies were Mr Campion's. And she refused to carry them to term."
Sidney shook his head. "But why?"
"There are several reasons why, I think. But it is not for me to say," she stood and handed him the letter. "Mr Young…I do not know the essence of their relationship, that is, I believe it was always platonic. But the nature of this letter is most concerning, and that is why I am come to believe what I do about Ms Campion."
He took the letter and opened it.
Dear Edward,
What you suggest is not how I should like to proceed. When I said that I was trapped, it was not because I was being forced into any situation. It is more that my own mind is trapping me.
But oh! To escape the confines of these circumstances. I cannot tell you what that would mean for me. I only agreed to it because my family desired it so, and now, we are eight years on. It stretches out before my eyes.
If I could find a way out, I'd surely take it. If my mind could be free, what a blessing!
But I am rambling. You must do what you must do.
Please inform me of your plans,
Eliza.
"But this is the most cryptic thing I've ever read," he said, looking at Lady Bertram. "What do you make of it?"
"She and Mr Young had discussed poisoning Mr Campion, and she was wavering. She wanted out of her marriage, but did not know if murder would be the best method."
"And you believe that they went ahead with this plan, and it caused her to lose her mind?"
"No. I believe that Eliza had long been on her way to losing her mind. But she was in a loveless marriage, and grew to loathe her husband by the day," she said.
"You think that she's capable of such a thing?"
She nodded.
"Then I have but one more question. Why would she mention you in a letter to me, when I had no idea who you were?"
Lady Bertram smiled. "It was surely her guilty conscience playing games with her."
He scoffed. What a notion! "Thank you, Lady Bertram," he handed her the letter.
"What will you do?"
"I'm going to confront Ms Campion, and make my decision from there," Sidney stood and left the room.
Willingden was just as she recalled: lush, green, teeming with life. Charlotte felt her spirits rise as soon as she saw it.
They disembarked and Charlotte took Allison's hand. "Come, Allison. Let there be no more sorrow! We are home."
"Aye. That we are…and way from Mr Stringer and all that he represents."
She sighed. "Dearest, I know that this is not how you desired things to be, but do try to smile a bit, if only for momma."
"I cannot believe that I miss Charlie and the twins!" she said as they walked up to the house.
"I miss all of them," Charlotte smiled.
The littles were in the garden, and Catherine, the youngest, saw them first. "Charlotte! Allison! Oh! Look! They've come!" she ran up to them both. jumping into Charlotte's arms, causing her to drop her bags.
"Darling dear! What a sight you are!" Charlotte kissed every inch of her face. "Where is Charlie? Is he helping Caroline and Lilliana? Or is he off sporting with his mates?" she chided, putting her down.
"He sports every day Charlotte! But he's always here for meals. And he does help Caroline tuck the boys in," Catherine took her hand and pulled her to the house.
"Just the boys?"
"They're scared. I'm much too sensible to be scared."
Charlotte laughed and saw the twins. "Lilliana! Caroline!" she went to them, hugging them both. "How wonderful to see you," she smiled.
They weren't smiling as broadly. "What's happened, Charlotte?" asked Caroline. "When we received your letter this morning, we thought…"
"…all sorts of things," finished Lilliana.
"I'll tell you later," she patted Caroline's hand. "It's nothing to fuss about."
And then Allison came in. "Hello, lovelies," she smiled.
Sidney was waiting for Eliza in his parlor. He had invited her to come to discuss things and to ascertain his further actions. Part of him believed that he could not marry her, but another part remembered that Tom's family and their well-being depended on him. How could he abandon his family?
He sighed as he sat there, willing himself not to think about Charlotte. He could not bear to hope.
The bell rang, and with the sound his palms pearled sweat. He stood as she entered the room.
"Hello, Sidney," she smiled.
He nodded. "Ms Campion."
And her face fell. "Well. Might I sit?"
"Please," he gestured, and sat as she took the place across from him. "I saw Lady Bertram."
"Did you," she shifted.
"I did. I have many questions, as you might imagine. But one that I simply cannot rid myself of, is why did you mention her in your letter?"
He watched as her eyes begin to well. "You have no idea what I've been through, Sidney Parker," she hissed. "You think that you've lived a life of heartache? It's nothing…nothing. Compared to what I've lived."
"Explain, then."
She swallowed. She appeared to be mulling something over; her eyes skirted around the room. "Are we alone?"
"All of the servants are either in the kitchen or above stairs."
She nodded, then sighed. "When I married Mr Campion, he was a sort of confidant. I had known him for a short while, but had only spoken with him intimately a couple of times. I had told him of my love for you, but how my parents would not have our connection. I met him through a Mr Young. Mr Young, it turned out, was a most wicked man."
"I have never heard you mention him."
"That is because he is of uncertain character, and I turned to him when I knew things would be impossible with you," she swallowed. "He…Mr Young…took advantage of my delicate state. And there I was. And Mr Campion offered me comfort and a way out with funds to assure it."
Sidney stared at her. "You mean…?"
"I ended the pregnancy. That was why I left you so abruptly. And without explanation," she sighed. "I married Mr Campion because he told me that he would assure my safety and reputation after such an interlude. But he was so old, Sidney! And I felt trapped. And I had no friends…and I did not want something like a child to tether me to him should I ever found a way out."
"Good lord."
"Do you judge me? How dare you! You have no right to judge me! I was imprisoned…a loveless marriage is like nothing else. He was wealthy, to be sure. And I wanted for nothing," she paused. "Except my own happiness," her breathing was heavy. "It was nearly eight years on. I saw Mr Young at a ball and we spoke. I told him about my marriage…and we began a correspondence. He became increasingly infatuated with me, and I confided in Lady Bertram. It was wonderful to feel the intimacy of someone who I thought cared for me. Lady Bertram was not so convinced of his regard, but I held tightly to it. And soon he devised a plan to rid me of my marriage."
Sidney's breath was short. "Why would you believe Mr Young after he left you in such a state?"
A tear fell down her face, and she shrugged. "Desperation?" she laughed. "I do not know. Believe me when I tell you I never encouraged his behavior. I do not know if he ever went through with any of it…all I know is that George never woke up one morning."
"And you were a very wealthy widow."
Eliza nodded. "I was a very wealthy widow."
"So, you are an ignorant accomplice," he muttered. "And what of Mr Young?"
"He came to me after the funeral. I dismissed him outright."
"And you ended three pregnancies with your husband."
"I did not love him, Sidney! I could not bear his children!"
"Eliza, I must say that I believe you are a target. If what you say is true, Mr Young is somewhere out there, possibly a murderer, and with full knowledge of who you are. You should leave the country."
She stared at him. "I should leave the country?" she breathed.
"It is advisable."
She swallowed. "And what of you and our marriage?"
He laughed, then stood. "Ms Campion, how could you ask me such a question, when you yourself could not bear to be in a loveless marriage? If you care at all for me, you'll understand how I could never agree to this. And how can I know for certain that you were not involved in Mr Campion's death? You never explained why you mentioned Lady Bertram in your letter."
"I …I believe I must have been mistaken. An honest mistake."
Sidney nodded. "One of the only things about you that has been honest," he scoffed. "Leave the country, Eliza. And for fifty thousand pounds, I will never breathe a word of this."
"You're bribing me?" she spat.
"I am. I've told you. I am a selfish man. Fifty thousand pounds, Ms Campion. And rest assured that nothing will come of this…though you may wish to consider paying off Lady Bertram, too. She seems eager to talk," he took her hand and brought her to standing. "I'll be by tomorrow to arrange the exchange," he escorted her to the door. "Good day, Ms Campion," he bowed.
"It's that Heywood girl, isn't it?" she hissed.
"No. It is a loveless marriage that I cannot abide, Eliza. I suppose we are more alike than I realized. But that should make for a terrible match," and out the door she went.
He was free! He laughed, rubbing his face. Good god he was free.
And he thought that he could have demanded more, but why, when he and his own siblings could manage the rest. If nothing else, surely Georgiana could pick up some of the pieces. Perhaps Babington would like a ten thousand pound investment. That sum he could live with asking for from his friend.
Tomorrow morning he would see Eliza, and then he would leave once more for Sanditon.
Charlotte was sitting out in the garden. It was after supper, and she desperately missed John. They would often come out here and look at the sunset, talking about life. Their day. Nothing of consequence.
But she was alone, and Allison, who was her second choice in the house for a companion, had taken to her room. She was much too depressed. Too overwrought. She had a time just managing dinner. She felt just awful for her.
She sighed, thinking about the days ahead. The John-less days. How would she live without him? She knew that Georgiana meant to return to Antigua. She could only hope that he would manage to convince her to split their time.
For now, not only was she without John, she was irrevocably without Sidney.
And she felt both losses acutely.
