Where is Mary?

Tom Parker had been so busy trying to achieve his Sanditon dream he had lost track of his family. He had been pouring over building plans... attending business meetings... dinners ... he hadn't noticed Mary or the children were no longer in the house!

Lady Denham called him a fool and he was a 'fool'... he had chosen Sanditon over his family!

Sidney was spending the day at Tom's home as he needed a break from his own family life. Eliza was needing him to attend a dinner party and hoped he could hide at his brother's house. He had been doing it regularly and as he read the newspaper in the study something struck him. The house was very quiet... in fact he had not seen Mary or the children the various times he had visited.

He went to find his brother and observed Tom gazing over a model of Sanditon. Tom was lost in his own thoughts...

"Tom... do you know where Mary and the children are?" Sidney questioned his brother. He had been concerned about Mary but hadn't had the emotional energy to check on her. He was now adding Mary to the list of his regrets.

"I have been too busy with Sanditon... maybe she went back home... you know it is the best place in the world..." an unconcerned Tom commented.

Their sister Diana had arrived and wanted to tell them about her latest illness concerns.

"Diana, do you know where Mary and the children are?" Sidney asking as his brother had lost interest and was fixated on the Sanditon model.

Diana thinking for a moment... realising she had forgotten to pass on the message from Mary.

"Yes, Mary told me she was going to take the children to visit friends in the country" she answered sheepishly

"When was this Diana?" Sidney looked concerned... Mary always let him know where she was... he was getting worried.

"Well... let me see... it was the day I had to go to the lung specialist as you know I have so many troubles..." babbled Diana who was now focused on her own concerns.

"Diana!" Sidney snapped

"It would be two weeks ago... yes... two weeks" Diana answered.

"Two weeks!...Tom have you not noticed your house had been empty" Sidney accused his brother. Sidney himself had also not noticed so he was equally as guilty.

"I am sorry Tom... Sidney... Mary told me to tell you ... I have been so concerned about my own health I forgot" apologised Diana. Sidney's frown deepened... Diana was never a reliable messenger and he felt Mary purposely told his sister. 'What was she hiding?' he thought

"Where did she go?"persisted Sidney

"I can't remember... maybe she went back to Sanditon?" answered a hopeful Diana

"We don't know... you need to think... Diana?" Sidney pressed his sister

"Mary will be fine, brother...we need to think about our coming project... Stringer has sent me the updated plans" Tom forgetting about his absent family and back to his life's passion.

Sidney was frustrated with his siblings and ended up going home. He couldn't get out of the dinner party and was a reluctant dinner guest. All he wanted to do was read a book and enjoy some time alone. These parties were full of gossip, no stimulating conversation and they seemed to go on for hours. He checked his watch and breathed deeply to see that it would be a number of hours before he got home.

Later that evening Sidney found himself speaking with a group of gentlemen. It proved to be an enlightening conversation as one of the gentlemen was Lord Castle recounting his recent trip to York.

"I certainly had an interesting time in Yorkshire..." laughed Lord Castle

"Why?"Lord Rosling asked

"I was expecting to enjoy a couple weeks with my old school friends but ended up in a house full of feisty women. They were extremely intelligent, quick witted and could not be flattered... I spent the majority of my time ducking. I came out unscathed but Lord South didn't... I haven't seen him since I returned.

"Who is the family?"

"I thought the estate was entailed to my friend Lord South but it is owned by his oldest cousin Mr Henry Crowe" replied Lord Castle

That certainly got Sidney's attention...

"The most frustrating thing was I was surrounded by some of the most beautiful women I had ever seen... their eyes were mesmerising and they would have nothing to do with us!" Lord Castle laughed but they could see he respected these women

"They are not your usual women... they shoot, fish and play cricket better than any man... even in Mrs Crowe's current expectant condition she displayed excellent batting form." Lord Castle's voice had taken on a tone of admiration. Sidney focused on his cigarette.

"I have to admit Lord Babbington, Henry Crowe and Edward South have attached themselves to some unique women. They were very protective of them... particularly Henry Crowe ... he could knock anyone out". Sidney was not surprised as he would have been the same if he had married Charlotte.

Now Sidney knew why he had not seen Babbington at the club... the Babbington and Crowe families were spending more time together out of town. He was brought out of his own mussing by the retelling of the incident about Sebastian South.

"He was punched by one lady and knocked out by the other with a cricket bat?" Lord Hanley asked in amazement.

"Those ladies know how to defend themselves and I have already told you they are not your usual London lady... I am considering visiting the Crowe's in Willingdon... I hear there are still a number of unmarried Heywood daughters..." Castle dragged on his cigarette in thought.

"Though... I am going to have to do more reading... they spent more time discussing literature than London gossip... I never spent so much time reading in the library so I could contribute to the conversations" laughed Castle.

In fact, Stanley Castle had benefited from his visit to York ... he had learned how to fear and treat a worthy woman with respect. He also had enjoyed stretching his intellect and now knew the type of woman he wanted to marry. He had witnessed strong/loving relationships and had admitted he wanted something similar when he ever decided to marry.

Sidney himself couldn't remember the last time he had spoken with other people about literature... it was an individual pursuit in his household. As he smoked he tried to clamped down his regret.

Lord Castle turning to Sidney...

"I did meet your sister-in-law Mary and her children. I believe they are still staying with the Crowe's. Your sister-in-law certainly moves in the high circles and has received favour from some of the most influential women in current society. Lady Worchester and Lady Eastings were also visiting... my mother and her friends have also socialised with Mrs Mary Parker." commented Castle

Lord Castle was not thinking about Mary Parker but his ideal future wife... Stanley Castle was going to have to change his ways to attract the type of woman he now sought.

Sidney on the other hand was concerned for the Parker family. Mary had become secretive and withdrawn.

Sidney had many questions for Mary... if she decided to return home?