My dearest Sidney

I dearly love you and dream of the day when we will become husband and wife. You are the only man whom I have loved and want to spend my life with. I love your passion and drive which attracted me to you like moth to the flame. Every time I am with you, you inspire a fire within me and all I want you to do is hold me. I have not had much experience in love but know that I desire you above anything else. I promise that I will never leave you and will be your biggest supporter.

All my love

Charlotte

The letter brining a huge smile to his face and he fell asleep thinking of her.

He was up early and arrived at Lady Susan's for the investment meeting. He was surprised to meet Mary who was giving her coat to the maid. She must be having morning tea with Lady Susan he thought.

"Good morning, Sidney" says Mary "You are looking a little pale, are you ok?". He couldn't find the words and Mary just pats his arm.. don't worry it will be ok, come in with me". They were meet by Lady Susan who directs them into the dining room and welcomes them to seat down in particular places. They sat down and was served morning tea and Charlotte come bustling into the room. She has a pile of folders in her arms and places them at every place on the table. "Sidney, I am so happy you are here" giving him a knowing smile.

Thomas enters and offers a chair for Georgina to sit down. They continue to have a quiet conversation, and this confused Sidney further. Charlotte places another folder in front of Sidney which was different to the others. Lady Susan starts the meeting but first asks if the other members were coming. Thomas looks at his watch and informs her they were expected in 15 minutes. It was agreed that they would spend their time reading the information before the others arrived.

A group of ladies and gentlemen arrived and sat down in their allocated seats and were served drinks. Thomas formally started the meeting of the SIC Investment group. " For our potential investor Miss Lamb and her guardian I would like to acknowledge the presence of HRH Duke and Duchess of York, HRH Princess Caroline, Duke Bunbury and his son Lord Brandon, Lord and Lady South and Lord and Lady Melbourne, the Duke and Duchess of Eastwood pass on their apologies. Sidney suddenly feeling nervous as he was in the presence of royalty. He's been in many business meetings before but not with people in this select circle. "I must stress Mr Parker, we are a private investment group which will remain private!" "I understand" Sidney replies.

Susan turns to Charlotte I'd like to ask Charlotte to provide the latest report on two companies we were interested in purchasing. Charlotte giving an extensive report on the companies referring to statistics, profit margins, risk factors and suggested a course of action. Thomas moderated a discussion where each member asked questions and debated the information. Sidney was impressed with the ladies in the room and wonder why he never asked Mary any business questions before. The group voted on the proposal and agreed on the investment amount. Sidney estimated that the value of the investment group was extremely high. Once the meeting was finished lunch was served. Charlotte taking charge of Sidney and making sure he felt included in all conversations. She was very comfortable speaking with the other investors and wasn't worried they were royal. She purposely introduced topics he was confident with and was thankful she never left him alone. He did notice Thomas giving Georgina most of his attention and appeared it was welcomed by his ward.

"I'm happy for Georgina to invest and will arrange for the money to be transferred into the account. Why don't you and Thomas finalise the agreement for Miss Lamb" suggests Susan. After his meeting with Thomas he goes out to find Charlotte reading in the garden. She looks up "everything arranged?" he nodes "Mary?" "I have been waiting for you to ask about Mary, but I suggest you go and ask her as I promised I wouldn't tell her secret. She is waiting in the other room. All I can say it is my way of helping Tom and Mary". Looking at her intensely "I will be back". She nods "I will be waiting".

"Sidney finding Mary in the morning room. Without him asking she directs him to sit down. "Sidney, you know that Tom has made some terrible business choices. You have sacrificed yourself and I have to do my part to help the family. In fact, it was Charlotte who came up with this plan and is helping me to increase our family income. Thomas and Charlotte invited me to join their investment group." Tears coming to her eyes "Charlotte covered my investment share, I told her I would pay her back, but she said it was her gift to the family. She told me that I will never have to pay her back and I have attended all meetings of the investment group. I am so blessed to have her in my life she is helping me help Tom for the long-term. Paying his debts will not solve his problems and Charlotte was able to help me create a long-term solution". Sidney is stunned but not really surprised. After seeing Mary out and he returned to his dearest Charlotte. Without thought he takes hold of her and without any doubt shows the depth of his love for her. Giving each other a change to catch their breaths he demands she tells him everything.

She lays out all the various pieces of the plan to him and he was amazed at her intelligence and business abilities.

"The SIC Investment Company was formed to take advantage of our booming economy. I wanted to find a way to generate money for your family, but I have to confess my main motivation was to find a way so that you could be free from Eliza. I couldn't stand the way she treated you and before my very eyes the man I loved was disappearing." Sidney pulling Charlotte into his arms and couldn't speak as he was so overwhelmed by his emotions. "I have been helping my father manage his investment choices and knew I could be successful but needed capital. I proposed the investment company to Thomas and Susan who agreed to form the company with me. As you could tell by the last meeting we have been able to attract serious investors which has presented more business opportunities. From recent accounts we are growing rapidly and looking forward to a healthy return for our investors. We were able to purchase 30% of Tom's debts from his creditors at a discounted rate and have taken ownership of some of the assets at Sanditon. Tom's repayments have reduced significantly, and he is being mentored by Thomas. 5% of the business profit goes towards reducing the debt of Tom and we project that he will be out of debt in 5 years. When we formed the company there were four owners, each owner holding an equal share. Sidney looked at her and she continued… Susan, Thomas, me and ... you are the fourth owner." Sidney couldn't speak as his brain was trying to process this information. "What is the company presently worth?" he asks, "From our latest figures $200 000 pounds!" Charlotte giving him a large smile and looked very proud of her efforts but waiting to see his true feelings. "You made me an owner even when you thought I was going to marry Eliza?" She nods… I loved you with all of my heart and that was the only way I thought I could save you. He leans down and gives her a passionate kiss. "Oh, my dearest Charlotte, your love is priceless" and thankful we will be married soon.

"She firmly informs him he now has an equal stake in what was happening and at this point happily hands it over to him. "I got my goal from all of this! I got you!". He just gathered her in his arms and tells her how precious she was to him.

At this point Sidney felt the need to share more of his heart with this wonderful women. He knew he had to be open and honest but was fearful about telling her about his dark past. He was concerned that she would look at him differently but knew he had to tell her. "Charlotte, I need to tell you about my history with Mrs Campion" Charlotte looked at him and held his hands firmly "I'm listening". He didn't know how long it took but he told her everything and the subsequent destructive behaviour that led to him leaving England. He told her about Mr Lamb, how the older man had saved him, helped him build a new life, but the damage had been done. Sidney believed he was not deserving of love. He acknowledged when he first met Charlotte he was not in a good mind. "Your openness and youth were difficult to cope with my damaged heart." But your determination, joy, intellect and love of my family was hard to ignore".

Charlotte laughing and reminds him about the time they meet accidentally at the beach. "You had been the only woman to stand up to me and challenge my thinking. It was hard I admit, and I wanted to keep away but we just kept bumping into each other. Even when you saw me at my worst you didn't give up on me. I came to believe in my heart that you were a unique, beautiful and faithful woman and that never changed even when I was forced to become engaged to another." "Charlotte" said Sidney noticing the tears in her eyes "I am so sorry I didn't fight harder for us, I should have thought about other ways to help Tom. I wasn't thinking and ended up making matters worse...please forgive me? When I kept seeing you in London I decided I can't live without you and would sell everything to be free to marry you. I knew you loved me but you are much better than me in so many ways". Charlotte wiping tears from her face looks up into his dear face "Sidney, you know I forgave you and you need to remember I fell in love with the man you are now and not who you were 10 years ago. You have to remember you also changed me. You have been the only man besides my father to ever be able to control my personality and temper. All that matters now is we have each other and I will not be going anywhere" comments a determined Charlotte leaving no doubt in the world that she loved him. Sidney felt the burden of his past lifting from his shoulders.

Sidney also told her how he was able to get out of the marriage contract and how Thomas helped him with the information about Eliza. "It is a relief that you don't have to pay back the money and confess I am not sorry for Eliza. There is another thing I have to tell you" Charlotte drew in a nervous breath and Sidney's face turns serious. "I was so upset when you left me" lowering her eyes " I didn't think I was going to be able to go on" She spoke honestly. "Charlotte" Sidney placing his forehead against hers. "I had gone to bed and wouldn't get up". Susan come to me and shared with me information that was intended to bring me hope. I always wondered why Susan had taken a personal interest in me and made every effort to introduce me to her social circle. Well, it appears that my family is not a farming family. My father and mother are member of two royal families who chose 20 years ago to live a quiet and private life in Willingdon.

My Father's is the Duke of Eastwood and his mother was HRH Princess Johanna and grandfather King George III. Being the oldest daughter, I was named Lady Charlotte Susan Sophia of Eastwood. My mother is HRH Princess Katerina and the current King of Belgium is my grandfather. Thomas was going to find you, but I decided I wanted to see if you would choose me and not my status or money". She lowered her head and was ashamed at what she just said

"Charlotte, dearest I am the one who placed that doubt in your mind and I am sorry for causing you so much pain" Sidney's voice shaking.

"Do you still want to marry me? a worried Charlotte asks"

"More than every… you are proving to be a treasure and I feel blessed to have found you" Sidney reassures her. " But you know me… you are so much better than me?" doubt creeping into Sidney's voice. Charlotte speaking straight away "You are all I need and you make me a better person… these last months have been torture for me… now I have you I am never going to let you go, understand?" Sidney broke into a tender smile and gave her a soft kiss "when can we get married?" he hopefully asks "I would marry you today, but I am not sure if Susan would approve laughs Charlotte, when would be the soonest time?". "Three weeks?" a hopeful Sidney suggests "Yes, that will be perfect" Charlotte agrees. "but remember I come with two dogs!" He laughs for the first time in a real time and just takes her in his arms… ok course… we can't forget our two boys.

He wanted to stay but he had to visit his solicitor and holt some of the sales of his assets. She informed him that she had promised to go shopping with Georgina and she will see him later at the ball.

"You are going to take me into the ball, so I will expect to see you at the entrance". He nodes and gives her a farewell kiss and was out the door.