"Sidney! Sidney! Charlotte screams and felt time had stopped. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath...
Thankfully he was breathing but there was so much blood... she had to think quickly...
Charlotte realised she must be the rational person in the situation to save Sidney. With help from Thomas she was able to move him to take a better look at his wound and think about the best course of action. It was a deep wound and his was losing too much blood. Tom who walked in demanded Charlotte leave the room but turns to him and firmly says "Don't you dare tell me to leave him". Mary had arrived and promised to stay while Charlotte started ripping her petticoats to use for bandages. She didn't care what people saw... all she cared about was saving her Sidney.
"Lady Susan's house is closer, Tom you need to go for the surgeon now!" urgently commands Charlotte. While saying this she was placing a great amount of pressure on the wound to control the bleeding. He had already lost a good amount of blood and petticoat was turning quickly red before her eyes. Thankfully the blood flow was easing, and she was able to wrap a temporary bandage around his shoulder to protect it during the carriage ride.
They were able to get him quickly into house where Charlotte direct Sidney to be placed in the main guest bedroom. The bleeding had started again, and Charlotte had to place more pressure on the wound, she was hurting him but his life was in the balance. Sidney had regained consciousness for a few moments and all he saw was Charlotte covered in blood. He lost consciousness and Charlotte asked someone to check his breathing as she was using all her strength to stop the blood flow. He was looking so white and she feared for his life.
The wound was deep, and Charlotte was worried about infection. The surgeon arrived, and she assisted him while he stitched the wound. He gave her strict instructions about the care of the wound and giving her some medicine to help with the pain. Promising Charlotte he would return in the morning. Once he had gone she attended the cuts on his face and hands. She prayed that he would recover. Mary trying to get her to change but she didn't care if she was covered in blood because needed to watch over him.
Tears streamed down her face as she gazed on his pale/pained face. "My love, you are a fighter, you are not a quitter " He stirs, and she gives him a drink. Throughout the night she confessed her mistakes towards him and her devotion to him. She told him all of his strengths and how she fell in love with him. She wanted him to hear her voice and hoped it would encourage him to fight. Mary often came in and sat with Charlotte her own heart heavy and praying. They had received some hopeful news from the doctor but it all depended on Sidney and his will to live. Like Charlotte Zeus and Hercules never left his side and spent the majority of their time lying on his bed.
"Sidney you are a wonderful man who loves your family deeply and tonight showed me how much you love me." Without thinking she pressed her lips against his head and remained. When she moved tears were streaming down her face as she watched his dear face. "I love you and don't worry we will work together to help your brother. I don't care how we live as long as I am with you. I need you to get better so we can have our happy life together." Charlotte was so focused on Sidney she didn't know that Tom and Mary had been at the door.
Mary taking Tom to another room and explained what had occurred over the last couple of months. "Sidney fell in love with Charlotte who loves him. You know Eliza she is an ill match for him and was making him extremely unhappy. Your brother is prepared to become a poor man to save you… you who put our family into debt." an angry Mary chastised her husband. Tom shook his head and took a deep breath "Mary I have made many mistakes". "You need ask for forgiveness from Sidney and Charlotte for. You have to start owning your own decisions and stop putting pressure on your poor brother who has had to carry many burdens. Don't you want him to find real happiness?. All you have cared about is Sanditon and didn't consider the needs of your family. I love you Tom, but you have let us all down. You have an opportunity now to make it right and be the man I know you can be". Tom taking his wife in his arms and they held each other in silence.
With Charlotte's help Mary explained to her husband what Charlotte, Susan and Thomas had been doing for their family. Tom felt humbled and grateful to Charlotte who had saved his family. She warns him that there is a long way for him, but it was looking better than before. They cautioned him to continue to improve his business dealing and money management. But he would not have to worry about debtors' prison. Charlotte choosing not to mention the debts that had been paid or the guardianship agreement for the children. All Tom wanted to do was see his brother Sidney wake up so he could tell him how much he valued him as a brother.
Sidney's mind was in a fog and he felt like he had been run over by a whole team of horses. "Why couldn't I open my eyes?" he felt something soft and warm resting again his arm. A lady's hand was entwined within his own. He finally succeeded in opening his eyes and the person he saw was Charlotte. Charlotte sitting up and smiles "My love, I am so relieved you have woken up!" brushing away her own tears she takes a damp cloth and places it on his forehead and gives him a drink of water. "I thought we were going to lose you" more tears came to her eyes "But the Lord answered my prayers and you are still with me"
Leaning over him she softly kisses his lips. He felt at a disadvantage as he couldn't move his arms, but a huge smile appeared on his face as he looked into her beautiful face. "You were stabbed by those horrible men at the ball, the surgeon was able to take care of the wound, but it will take time for it to heal…. So no more fighting. You lost a lot of blood and as a result you have been sleeping for the past 3 days." Charlotte informs him. "Charlotte were you there the whole time?" he asks "Yes, I couldn't let you die, and you know that I am not afraid of a little blood but confess there was a lot of it this time." her face taking on a worried look as her mind went back to that night.
"But you are still with us and I am not letting you go... now let me address something you told me just before you went unconscious... Sidney, you are the only man I have ever wanted to marry and only one whom I have kissed. Now stop talking about me marrying someone else… I am marrying you remember? Or did something happened to your head as well" She enjoyed just seeing his face beam as he realised he had won the prize he had been dreaming of for so long. Sidney relaxes and feels tired. He hears Charlotte say to him "rest my Mighty Warrior, you need to get your strength back". He also received two very sloppy licks from the dogs who gently rest their heads on his chest.
He closes his eyes but not before taking hold of her hand...