Now that Georgina was staying at Lady Susan Sidney felt justified in going to visit the house. If he was honest with himself he couldn't stay away from Charlotte. He was ushered into the study area and welcomed by a person reading the business paper with their legs up on the table. The butler announces Sidney and the paper lowers, and it is Charlotte with a long pencil in her mouth. There was also two great Danes sleeping below her. He must've had a quizzical look on his face as she laughs aloud and quickly gets up to greet him "Good morning, Mr Parker how are you today? I hope you have recovered from last night?". Sidney struggling to think of something to say came up with "What are you doing in here?" With a mischievous look on her face replied" I wanted to see what it is like; you gentlemen seem to do it a lot. Does it help you when you're making business decisions?" He noted a teasing tone and decided to bite "well sometimes but it depends on the location of the legs on the desk" making sure he matched her teasing tone. "quite, she replies.
The two dogs getting up to greet him. "but let's be serious tell me what do you think about the Stockton company?" he frowns thoughtfully "yes, I've heard about the company" and they spent time discussing the advantages and disadvantages of investing in the company. "I'm positive that it will triple in value" Charlotte says, "I've read information from a source and it looks like they may have invented something new" At this point Thomas walks in and the gentleman greet each other. He invites Sidney to sit down and Charlotte goes back the desk. Zeus sitting next to Sidney and Hercules with Charlotte. Thomas noticing this arrangement but thought he leave that thought for the moment.
"Charlotte, what do you know about the Donaldson Company? "quizzed Thomas. Sidney was startled at the business knowledge of Charlotte and couldn't believe he didn't know this. So what do you believe our course of action should be?" Thomas asks. Charlotte goes quiet and is writing a few things down and Sidney could hear her repeat some numbers. She finally looks up with a smile "I would recommend we buy 30% share of the business and offer £5000. I have calculated we will get a return of 20% if that invention is produced. I will need you to check the figures and also get our solicitor to confirm the deal". Thomas smile " I will go and make the arrangements and once again I think we are going to make more money".
Thomas looks at Sidney "our Charlotte has an aptitude of finding gold mines in the business world" Charlotte blushes "she certainly will to be an asset to whoever is fortunate to marry her" comments Thomas with a grin. "Don't listen to him Mr Parker" as she gives a warning stare at Thomas who pretended not to have noticed. Sidney was already thinking that he had again underestimated Charlotte.
Also, we have been watching the various auction houses and your brother has been selling your family heirlooms and we bought them back them for the children. Charlotte bringing out a box that was full of jewellery pieces and Sidney recognised his father's watch. He hung his head in shame as he was seeing the depths of his brother's problems. He looks up but all he could see in Charlotte's eyes was love and compassion.
To try and break the mood Charlotte spoke "Sidney I do have some bad news… you know your portrait that is at Sanditon?" He nodded and realised he hadn't seen it when he was last there. "I was beaten by a lady who told her friend she was going to put it in her hallway and tell her acquaintances you were her son Albert who died in the war. I got the address and I think we should pay her a visit and scare her, and you can pretend you have come back from the dead". Thomas throwing another pencil at her… "Charlotte this is not the time to make jokes". He scolded. But it broke the tension and Sidney burst out laughing for the first time in a long time.
"A butler entered with a tray holding a number of calling cards. Thomas taking them and looking at them "well, well my dear it looks like Lord Phyllis and Lord Krista are paying you a visit. Charlotte looks up from the desk and gives him an annoyed look. Thomas looks at Sidney "one is the son of the Duke of Briscoe and the other the Duke of Dumbbells" "Have I meet them?" questions Charlotte "Yes, we attended the dinner party last week at the Duke of Kent's apartment at Kensington Place." Sidney the whole time was looking at Charlotte to judge if she was interested in seeing these gentlemen. Thomas gives the plate to the butler who comes over to give them to Charlotte. She looks at them with a puzzled look and the with a teasing tone "there are some cards for you Lord Thomas!". "I told you I am not interested in them" and Charlotte laughs and then apologies as it was a private joke between them. "You see, Thomas is quite popular with the ladies, he's the oldest son of a Duke, every mother wants their daughter to marry him" She gives him a look and Thomas takes a pencil and throws it at our which she catches "Thanks, I needed that and started using it to write. She glanced up seeing that her comments had caused Sidney some pain. "Mr Parker, please forgive me for not being sensitive about the matter. I say we suggest that we that already have a friend visiting us and we are not receiving anyone today" Thomas looks at Sidney "have you got any other engagements today?" he shakes his head and receive a bright smile from Charlotte. Charlotte getting up to find Georgina.
Thomas taking his opportunity alone with Sidney "Sir, I have to say you are one of the luckiest men in England who has such a woman fighting for you. If you don't see how much she loves you, you don't deserve her. These dogs have clearly chosen you as well… Zeus prefers you and Hercules Charlotte. Marriage will be the only way you can have Charlotte, understand?" Sidney nodes in agreement. He had been raking his brain on how he could be freed and still offer something to Charlotte. He had already been to his solicitor to look at ways of raising capital to get him out of the contract with Mrs Campion "Mr, Parker, I have always been on your side so if you need help in gathering evidence in regard to the inappropriate behaviour of Mrs Campion just let me know". Sidney in fact took up his offer and Thomas was pleased to hand over an envelope which was full of evidence. He would go straight to his solicitor to start proceedings to dissolve the marriage contract. "Thank you, I haven't given you the respect and apologise for that". Thomas laughed "Understandable in the circumstances, I feel we are going to be good friends and I would like you to call me Thomas? could I call you Sidney?". Sidney nodded in acknowledgement and was surprised when Thomas started asking him about his ward Miss Lamb. The two men stood when the women arrived and were too busy with their own thoughts to think of the other.
The group headed to the winter garden. Charlotte letting Thomas and Georgina walked on ahead. Charlotte was wanting to encourage the interactions between the two. "It was good of you to let her come to London, it has given her a distraction. I understand why you went to the West Indies many years ago. Lady Susan is helping me keep busy and is working hard to marry me off. I'm still not sure why she has taken a liking to me? I wouldn't bring much to a marriage?" Charlotte shares with Sidney "You would bring many things to a marriage" was what Sidney wanted to tell her but remained quiet. There was an awkward silence and Sidney introduces a new topic "what parts of London have you visited?" Without any thought she talked no stop about the various sites she had visited, and Sidney could imagine her excitement. "I guess it is different to last time you visited commented Sidney. "yes, I got the nightlife of London, but I would say keeping away from gentleman at events is not fun either" Sidney grimaced as he been one of those. He asks what she and Thomas were doing in the study. "Thomas and I discovered we share a common interest in business. We spent quite a bit of time reading papers, it started as a game but decided to see if we can make some money. Georgina would like to join us, but she needs your permission." Sidney nodes and suggest they set up a meeting tomorrow morning.
Sidney needed to leave to put his plans into place. He wanted to tell Charlotte what he was doing but didn't want get her hopes up and disappoint her again but couldn't hold on. When Thomas and Georgina had walked into the morning room Sidney asked to speak with Charlotte. He looked at her intensely and his love clearly reflected in his eyes. Charlotte was overcome by this but her eyes were reflecting the same thing.
He gathered her in his arms placing his forehead against hers. "Charlotte I love you. I want to tell you how much I am grateful for you helping Mary and Tom. You didn't have to, but you have shown more love and kindness towards my family than any person I have ever known. I can't go on…I love you and driven by jealousy when other men surround you"
Charlotte whispers "I love you, but you are still engaged. You can only have me if you marry me" whispers Charlotte as tears started falling down her checks.
"Sidney, you are breaking my heart".
He touches his lips to her forehead and promises he would be back.
After he had left Charlotte shakes her head as this is what happened when he had gone to London and came back engaged to Mrs Campion...