Saving Sanditon means Saving Sidney
Charlotte have been thinking through the various ways the Sanditon project could be saved. She knew that it was an impossible task and worried that the money Sidney would get from his marriage wouldn't help for the long term. She couldn't bear knowing that he had scarified himself and still witness the ruin of his family. She had a good idea about Tom accounts from being his book keeper for a period of time while she was at Sanditon. Sadly she now could see that Tom Parker was not a good manager of money. He had made some wild speculations that had not been successful. Sidney had been right in being cautious in helping his brother... she had at times openly criticised him and realised she had been blinded by the enthusiasm of Tom.
She herself read the business section of the papers and often helped her father in his investments. He never would have invested in the Sanditon project as Bath and Brighton were better options. She pondered the two main problem of Tom Parker. He had too many investors and debts. The destruction of the terraces was a major investment loss and future income which would be used to service debts. She had to find ways to increase his cash flow and reduce debts. Mary had told her about a matter regarding their debt that alarmed her, and she needed to ask Thomas for his help. She knew that only the Prince Regent would have that sort of money to get Tom out of trouble. Her solutions to the problem was to sell off some assets from the resort or offer Sanditon assets to investors. Tom also needed to look at engaging in other business activities to supplement his income.
She could try and make some money now!
For the last couple of days she had formed an investment plan. She went to speak with Susan and Thomas and presented her investment plan to them. Charlotte had written down everything with expected gains from her suggested investments. Both Susan and Thomas were impressed and were considering joining the venture. The next morning, they spoke with Charlotte and agreed with her plans. It needed be formalised and Thomas agreed to go to his solicitors. Charlotte only had one stipulation and after great discussion Thomas and Susan agreed.
Charlotte also suggested some creative ways to help generate funds for the investment company and pay off some of Tom Parker's debts. She had suggested she ask her brothers who were good fighters to join the gentleman's fighting ring. They would have to be sponsored by Thomas or Brandon. They decided not to tell Susan and thought they would wait until the boys arrived. Thomas organised for James and John to come and entered them in the next competition. The boys arrived two day later and were happy to help their sister. Thomas was glad to have some other men in the house and took them out the tailor to deck them out as gentleman. James and John Heywood were twins and only a year older than their sister. Charlotte loved the fact that they were staying for a couple weeks, she laughed as she saw them dressed as fine gentleman compared to their normal country attire. It was slow at the farm and they were in interested in coming to London.
Sightseeing was the activity of the morning and after visiting a number of places the group found themselves in one of the tearooms excitedly chattering about the coming weeks. Poor Sidney on the other hand had been forced to go with Eliza to a morning event and follow the expected social etiquette. He found the people attending tiresome. He did notice that Charlotte's friend Sophia was present with her husband and he hopefully looked for Charlotte. He was disappointed and was forced to make small talk with strangers and purposely avoided Sophia, so she wouldn't tell Charlotte about his attendance.
Now he knew Charlotte was in London... he kept looking for her, hoping to see her. He yearned for her and it was driving him crazy.
Eliza had been happy with their performance at the morning event and suggested they visit her favourite teashop. She did give Sidney a dressing down for not putting himself forward and not using his friendship with Lord B to their advantage. Their party entered the tearoom and Eliza was surprised it was full of people, she was disappointed her favourite table was occupied but was happy they could be seated. The women and men of his party prattled on about useless topics and he was not really listening but was thinking about his time with Charlotte. Eliza would never had considered spending time with children and playing with them. Social standing was her most important priority and nothing got in that way of this agenda. He realised that she always been like this, but he had been blinded by her beauty and never saw her shallow nature. She only read social magazines and never indulged in any intellectual readings. All she wanted to talk about was tea parties, balls and fashion. He was starved of stimulating conversations and he was dying a slow death.
He was wondering what Charlotte was doing at the moment and if the Prince of Norway or Duncan were trying their luck. He was brought out of his musing when he hears her voice. He glances around the tearoom and instantly sees her amongst a group of men and women…. including Lord Thomas!
He also notices his ward Miss lamb present and she appeared to be engaged in an animated conversation. Charlotte was seated between two men who were clearly twins. They were large and looked like guards whom you wouldn't want to fight. He noticed that Charlotte was talking nonstop and focused on their responses. Her hair was loosely gathered and dressed in a casual dress. The exercise she had this morning had given her a fresh complexion. Charlotte always had the ability to attract people around her and was content with her life. She knew who she was and was happy to live her life that way. She also seemed to have gained confidence and it was evident in how she held herself. As he watched her wondered if she was thinking about him today?
Their group was clearly having a good time together compared to his party who had to be polite and civilised. He was jealous as he watched their familiar interactions and wished he was over with them. Sidney decided he should go over to see Miss Lamb as he hadn't seen her for a couple of days. Eliza informing him that that their group couldn't wait and needed to go. Thankfully he was not going with them and once they left he walked over to Charlotte's table. They talking about cricket and Sidney could see cricket bats leaning against the table legs.
The group stopped talking when he approached and Georgina introduced her guardian to the Heywood brother. The boys had noticed that their sister had gotten quiet and they looked at Sidney suspiciously.
"Sir, are you related to a Mr Tom Parker whom our sister stayed with at a place called Sanditon?" John Heywood asks
"Yes, Miss Heywood and I are acquainted from Sanditon."
James narrowing his eyes as he had heard his sister Sarah talk about a man called Sidney whom had been causing trouble for his sister. Charlotte understood her brother and quickly started telling Sidney about the places they had been visiting. Sidney with his eyes thanking her for helping him get out of an uncomfortable situation. She replied in kind and it hit him how in tune they were with each other.
Thomas invites Sidney to join them and encourages Charlotte and her brothers to continue with their story.
"We were playing cricket in the main hall… John and I were batting, and James was bowling." Charlotte continues
"I had been working on my fingering and wanted to see if I could get Charlotte out. I told her I didn't think she would be able to hit my balls, let alone hit the big ugly vase in far corner of the hall." dramatically recalls James….
John continued "And that is when he made his first mistake…Charlotte never backs down from a challenge… I could see the glint appear in her eyes and knew that vase in the corner was going to be broken". Charlotte giving the group a mischievous grin. The Heywood's had a way of telling stories and everyone was leaning forward… hanging on every word. "I was not going to let my brother get the best of me" She was in the moment and without thinking stood up with the bat and goes into her batting stance. Sidney couldn't take his eyes away from her and waited with baited breath to see what would happen next. John jumping in and describes his sister squarely hitting the ball (Charlotte demonstrating her winning hit) which sailed over James's head and breaks one of our mother's large vases. The retelling of the story was so real they couldn't help but turn their heads in the same direction as the story tellers. They turned back and waited while Charlotte and her brother sat down. They leaned forward and the others couldn't help doing the same… "Everyone in the hall scattered but our father was standing at the door and we couldn't escape" Charlotte looking at her brother "James steps forwards and takes the blame but I couldn't help myself as I was so proud of hitting that cricket ball!" The whole group bursts into laughter as they could image Charlotte standing before her father. James jumping in "Our father looked at us all and pauses…. We all thought we were going to be cleaning out the cow sheds for the next month but then he says "well, I didn't really like that vase so let's see if we can get rid of the other one".
"Really" Georgina asked? "Yes, in the end he managed the break the other vase himself and blamed it on a mysterious stranger. The whole group roared with laughter and at that point the morning tea had arrived.
Lady Sophia and Lord James walked through the door. Not worrying about anyone around them Charlotte calls out "Sophia, James we are over here… guess who has arrived!"
"James, John you have arrived!" James exclaims. "Finally, some real men" which scored him a laugh from the group. Sophia and James both embracing the Heywood men, and it was evident these men had a close connection to them. Sophia giving both Charlotte and Georgina a kiss and embrace. She settled herself between the ladies and James sitting with the boys. James couldn't wipe the smile off his face as his childhood friends were here, and he felt the season was not lost. Sophia telling the group they had just attended a stuffy morning tea and found the people tiresome. "Never mind about those stuffy people"… cries Sophia "we are cancelling all our afternoon engagements and spending it with you. What are we going to do?" She had such an excited look on her face and James sighed contently and thought she was so beautiful. He was knocked out of his thinking when James Heywood punched him in the arm. "I see you are still starry eyed over Sophia!". The whole group laughed as James nodded and was rewarded with a private smile from his wife. "It is so nice to see you but what are you doing here?"
Sidney was required to step out and deal with a matter but promised he would return. Thomas quickly explaining the main reason the boys were in town and that they were entering the boxing competition rounds. Lord James smiled and knew how good James and John Heywood were. He had witnessed the last set of matches but knew these boys could beat anyone. He suggested they head to their home and use their gym to warm up and talk strategy. John reminding James that it was his sister who was the best strategist of the game and would be their coach as they competed. Charlotte explain she would wear a mask and be a mysterious woman so that no one would recognise her. Sophia laughing and suggested all ladies attending do the same. Sophia had some costumes from a number of parties they could use and the ladies talked non-stop about their outfits. "I hear the event might be rough as there is a monetary prize… Lord Campbell is the organiser" Thomas comments with a concerned tone. A stern look appears on Charlotte face and tells her brothers about the problems she has had with that gentleman and his cronies. "I will bring medical supplies as I expect he will not have organised a doctor.
Sidney returned and enjoyed stimulating conversation with the group. James suggesting, they head to their home for a game of cricket? Everyone agreed and moved to leave. Charlotte brother's each placing their arms around their sister who looks at them affectionately. "I am so happy you are here"… tears formed in her eyes and her brothers both took on a concerned look. Their sister was always happy, and this was a new thing for them. John looking at her intently…"Papa told us that we needed to come and support you, we are happy to be here so don't worry we will protect you.." She was overwhelmed that she placed her hand on her heart and placed her arms on theirs as they left the tearoom. Sidney couldn't take his attention away from Charlotte's beautiful face but was confronted by two tall men standing on each side of her. They were taller and musclier than him and he felt intimated... carrying cricket bats also added to their menacing presence.
The cricket game was intense and the fitness of the players was evident. Even the ladies held their own and were not given any breaks from the gentleman. Charlotte's fearlessness facing her brothers' bowling actions was incredible. Sidney was thankful he was the wicket keeper and only had to catch the ball. It gave him a close view of Charlotte as she played which was pleasing to the eye. Sidney had a boxing tournament tonight and didn't want to wear himself out. He didn't realise that this was one of the main ways the Heywood boys warmed up for boxing tournaments. Charlotte could see that her brothers were fit and ready for the night. Once the game concluded the Heywood boys wanted to go for a run and outrun all the men who joined them. Sidney was feeling tired and had to leave as he had to rest before his match. He thanked his host for the afternoon. He had liked this group of people and wished he was always socialising with them. Charlotte walking him out to the front hall and hoped he would recover. She could see he was tired, and she knew he would be competing tonight.
"I hope I will see you later" Charlotte commented with a sparkle in her eye and left him confused as he walked out of the house.