The family was destroyed by the fire

Sidney grabbed his cane, hat and coat from the butler and stormed to his carriage. He was angry and realised he was angry with his brother. It was his brother who had caused their family problems. Sidney yelled to the driver to take him to his brother's house. He found that Tom was out and decided to stay until he returned.

Sidney went to the study and sorted through a pile of unopened mail. He found 3 letters written by Mary and he set them aside for his brother to read. He looked at the post dates and saw that they were written over a series of weeks. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply... She and the children had walked out of the Parker London House and his brother never noticed.

He had sat down at the desk and opened a bottle of whiskey and started to drink. He knew he had acted out of anger and his behaviour was shameful. It was not only witnessed by Mary but Lady Susan, John and Grace Heywood. He had acted like a petulant child and showed no sensitivity in the situation. He sat down and wrote a letter to Mary via her solicitor apologising for his outburst and asked if he could see the children. He wrote one letter of apology to Lady Susan and then John and Grace Heywood.

After completing this tasks he sat back and thought how he was going to break the news about Mary to his brother. He got up and walked through the house ... no life. He went to the children's room and felt its emptiness... looking in the cupboards and found them bare.

Mary had truly gone and wouldn't be back unless things changed. He thought about his brother Tom and feared she may never come back.

Sidney was walking down the stairs and observed his brother had just returned.

"Sidney! good... you are here... we need to talk about our next project and how we are going to get more people to visit Sanditon." babbled Tom

"Tom... Tom... how long since you have seen Mary and the children?" Sidney sternly questioned his brother

"I don't know... I have been so busy and Mary understands the importance of Sanditon" Tom excitedly talking

"Tom... you need to read these letters... they are from Mary" Sidney placing the letters in his brother's hand

He watched as his brother sat down and opened each letter and slowly read the content. He looked up confused...

"Sidney... what does this mean?"

"Mary... has left you... taken the children" Sidney answered

"Left me... taken the children"

"Yes... the only way to contact her is via her solicitor"

"I don't have time for this... there is so much to do at Sanditon!" Tom spoke harshly

"Good God Tom... the reason your wife has left you is because you put Sanditon before your family" yelled Sidney... finally getting his brother's attention

"Sanditon's success will ensure the family's future is safe!" Tom frowning

'No... it has been the destruction of this family" a harsh edge appearing in Sidney's voice

"The fire was a set back but we will see success at Sanditon" Tom argued

"No the family was destroyed by that fire and any hope of happiness went up in flames... Georgina always called Sanditon a prison and I now understand what she meant by it... you Tom chained us to your foolish dream... Mary had broken free and we are now paying for your mistakes" Sidney's raising his voice.

Sidney passed some official papers that were signed by the Prince Regent himself... Tom Parker and any members of the Parker family were not allowed to approach Mary Parker and her four children. If any attempt was made to claim the children the Crown would call in all debts of the Parker family. He knew they all would be bankrupted and face debtor's prison. They also didn't have the money to go to court to dispute this order.

"I can't see my children?" It was finally dawning on Tom

"Yes... at the moment... but I imagine you could attempt to write but you are not allowed any physical contact" commented Sidney

"I will just work harder and show Mary that I can make it a success... then she will come back to me!" Tom exclaimed and started writing his letters. All Sidney could do was watch he brother and observed what Mary saw.

Sanditon had consumed Tom and he had no room for anything else...

Sidney sighed and left his brother to his writing. He closed his eyes and knew he had failed his nieces and nephews. He hoped that Mary would let him visit them and that he would be able to make amends for the past.