A/N: This was written shortly after the season 1 finale but I was not brave enough to post it. However, after the news recently received about the future of Sanditon I felt I owed it to the fans of Charlotte and Sidney to post. I hope you enjoy this piece.
"Charlotte!" Her sister called to her. "Charlotte there is a very handsome man calling for you at the door."
Charlotte's heart skipped a beat and then took off racing. There was only one man who it could possibly be. No other handsome men knew to call upon her.
The man who occupied her thoughts and dreams since she had left Sanditon, as much as she tried to push him out, there he remained with his dark, intense eyes, his smooth voice and the rare but dazzling smile he seemed to only have for her.
She wasn't certain she even wanted to see him. That was her first though fueled by her broken heart and petty stubbornness but part of her ached to see him again.
What could he possibly want? Why would he call upon her here when he was meant to be in London planning his wedding?
Her stomach twisted at the thought and she fought back tears.
But Charlotte Heywood was not one to hide from her troubles.
If her heart was to be broken, then it would and she would face Sidney Parker and whatever business brought him to her home.
As much as she had tried to tell herself she would not let him affect her there was no preparing herself for seeing him again.
The moment he came into her view her breath was stolen from her chest. He was just as handsome as she remembered him to be.
Then her stomach twisted again, with the reminder that he had been almost hers, but was not.
He had not spotted her yet, he stood beside her father at the door, his face pulled in faint apprehension.
She allowed herself a moment, just a small, quick moment to watch him and admire him from afar, and then she steeled her jaw, lifted her head confidently and came round the house.
His head moved as she came into his view and she faltered for a moment in her stride as his dark eyes fell upon her but she never broke eye contact with him.
His eyes widened slightly at the sight of her and the corners of his mouth twitched up in a small, hesitant smile.
Her heart soared and then crashed hard as her lips pulled into a scowl. What right did he have being happy to see her when he was marrying someone else?
He turned his body towards her and she let out a hard breath as she stopped a few feet from him, never wavering in eye contact with him.
"Charlotte…" he whispered and she saw out of the corner of her eye, her father raise his brow at the informal greeting.
Sidney quickly corrected himself and straightened up. "Miss Heywood."
"Mr. Parker." She greeted almost coldly and she hated to see the flicker of surprise, pain and regret that crossed his eyes. At the same time, she thought he very much deserved it.
"What brings you to Willingden?"
Sidney glanced sideways to her father and then cleared his throat as he looked back to her. "You do, in fact, Miss Heywood. I have matters to discuss with you."
Her eyes narrowed inquisitively. "Matters that could have not been handled by letter?"
There was that look again and he took a half a step closer to her. "No." He answered simply, his voice deepening and her breath caught again. "Miss Heywood, what I have to say must be said face to face."
Her heart was racing again but she refused to let herself hope. He must have been there with news about Sanditon. Otherwise, it was highly unusual that a betrothed man show up alone to a maiden's home.
"Then say it, Mr. Parker."
Sidney's gaze once again flickered to her father and she let out a small breath before turning to her father. "Papa, would you mind giving us a minute to speak alone?"
Her father gave her a dubious look but nodded. "I shall just be inside, dear."
Charlotte nodded with a half smile and her father then disappeared into the house.
She let out a hard breath through her nose and looked back at Sidney. "What is it? Is it Sanditon?"
She gasped quietly as Sidney took a larger step closer to her. "It is not regarding Sanditon, Charlotte."
She couldn't help but notice how he instantly returned to using her first name once her father was away. Oh how she adored the sound of her name on his lips but she wished he wouldn't because it felt all too personal and loving. Love her, perhaps he did, but act on it he could not and it only broke her heart again.
She swallowed over the sudden lump in her throat. "Then why are you here?" She asked quietly so her voice did not waver.
"I told you, I am here for you."
As much as she wanted to avert her eyes from his piercing stare, she could not look away. "You are engaged, Mr. Parker, I don't think it appropriate…"
"I am not engaged." He cut her off shortly and she stopped breathing for a moment as she tried to process if what she heard was indeed real.
His eyes implored her desperately and his mouth twitched again in that small smile.
"Charlotte, I am not engaged," He repeated, taking yet another step closer, and then added, "nor am I married." Somehow he seemed to know precisely where her thoughts were leading her to.
"But Miss Campion..." She protested feebly, shaking her head in mild confusion.
He shook his head. "I called off the engagement."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Pardon?"
Hope once again bloomed within her chest as warmth.
"She and I both agreed that the marriage was iIl fated and admittedly, it should never have been an option."
"But yet it was." She countered, her tone souring again as her memories drifted to that awful day he returned home as someone else's fiance.
Regret passed his eyes again and he bowed his head. "Yes, Charlotte...but you must understand..."
"I understand." She cut him off roughly and took a step back. She allowed herself one moment to look away from him to catch her breath and her composure and then she looked up at him with steely eyes. "I understand that Sanditon needed money and your first thought was to go to her!"
His brow furrowed and a frown deepened on his lips. "That is rather unfair and not at all the truth."
She scoffed and despite herself angry tears pricked at the back of her eyes. She felt ever inferior to the beautiful and rich Miss Campion, the woman who Sidney was always meant to marry according to everyone.
"You go to London for a week and come back engaged to your ex-fiance who seemed very keen on marrying you."
"I went to London to search out my options for funding Sanditon." He defended, his voice now raising. "While I was there I came to the forlorn conclusion that marrying someone with the money to cover the expenses my brother owes was my only option at the time."
"Funny that." She all but sneered.
He paused for a moment, his lips pressing together tightly as they held a heated gaze not unlike one of their many arguments in Sanditon. His lips parted and he quickly averted his gaze, shaking his head to himself. Then with a furrowed brow, he looked back at her, his eyes still heated but now more sad. "Do you truly believe that I wanted to marry her?"
Charlotte clenched her jaw to keep it from trembling. "I don't know what you want Mr. Parker."
His eyes ablaze with a heat that set a warmth equal to it within her, he once again stepped forward so there was little space between them. She could feel the warmth radiating off of him and she instinctively leaned in towards it, seeking it out against the crisp air. "Then let me make myself abundantly clear. I want you, Charlotte Heywood." His face and voice softened then as he reached out to take her hand and she held back a gasp at the gentle, burning touch.
"There is no other. Only you."
He moved his other hand to take hers and she found herself trembling as his warmth surrounded her.
"Charlotte," Only Sidney Parker could make her name sound so pleasing and she watched with rapt attention as he brought one hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles, and then doing the same to the other.
"I must beg your most humble forgiveness. My decision to propose to Miss Campion was out of haste and necessity only. My brother's panic and debt wore heavy on my heart and I was pressed to make a decision that I did not like nor wanted. After some deep consideration, on both of our parts, I realized I could not marry her while my heart belonged to you."
Her breath hitched as he dropped her hand and instead brought his hand to the side of her face and her heart quickened at the bold, intimate action.
"You own my heart." He told her. "Wholly."
She let out a shuddering breath and subconsciously leaned into the warmth of his hand. For a moment she just let herself be. Be content, be there with the man she loved professing his love to her.
Then she remembered the last time he had said similar words and tears pricked at her eyes in anger and sorrow.
"You left." She whispered. "You left and came back engaged and my heart…" she paused to swallow over the tightness in her throat. "My heart was broken."
His brow pressed together, his eyes reflecting the sorrow she felt. "You must know Charlotte, there is no other but you who I wish to marry. I know my actions were harmful to you but I have come to make amends and to make a vow, only to you."
A tear rolled down her cheek, despite telling herself she would not cry in front of him, but his thumb was there to gently, lovingly wiped it away and it broke her last resolve.
"You mean that, truly?"
She took another shuddering breath as he leaned forward to press his forehead softly to hers. "Truly, dear Charlotte. I am yours." He himself took a breath and let himself linger there and then lifted his head to once again look into her eyes.
"If you will have me."
Her chest was rising and falling sharply as she weighed over everything in her mind. There Sidney Parker stood before her practically asking for her hand like out of a dream.
He had broken her heart and she wondered, only briefly if she could trust him. Then she thought of the Sidney she had come to know and though she had her doubts, he always seemed to come back to her.
She also did believe him when he said he did what he did to devotion to Sanditon only.
Her eyes suddenly widened. "What of Sanditon? If you truly are not to marry Miss Campion then how will your brother's debt be paid?"
He sighed quietly and gave a small shake of his head and his lips twitched in the half smirk she once loathed but now adored.
"One would hope that eventually my brother would stop making decisions to put himself into debt. However as to who will be paying it off? Well, I happened to run into a very dear and gracious friend of yours while in London."
Her brow twitched. A friend of hers? That could afford to pay all of Sanditon's debt? Who in the world could that have been?
Her eyes widened and she spoke the revelation as soon as Sidney confirmed it. "Lady Susan."
He chuckled softly and nodded. "Indeed, Lady Worcester agreed to invest in Sanditon, and pay off the debt."
Charlotte adored the woman but honestly could not hide her surprise. "Why would she do such a thing? For nothing in return?"
"For you, Charlotte." He answered and her eyes widened. "For your happiness. For ours." He lowered his hand to take hers once again tightly.
She gaped at him in awe. She could hardly believe she had such a friend who held her in such high regard.
"Besides the matter she does claim to have much enjoyed her stay in Sanditon and has made her plans known to return and tell her very reputable friends."
"I don't believe it." She whispered.
"I promise every word is true. You may ask Lady Worcester yourself though she already expressed her intent to write to you. I suppose you will see the words from her hand directly."
Her hand moved from his only to cover her mouth to stifle a cry of disbelief and then relief.
"Sanditon is saved." She said once she lowered her hand and he nodded slowly and she lifted her eyes to him.
"And you do not have to…"
He shook his head as he once more stepped forward to her. "I do not have to marry anyone I do not wish to and the only one I wish to marry is you."
She let out a shuddering breath as a wave of relief washed over her and she leaned forward until she fell against his chest.
Sidney reacted in surprise,this arma stiffening at his aides but then quickly moving to surrounded her and pull her gently against him.
"I promise you, dear Charlotte," he whispered against her head, "I will not allow this to happen again. No matter the circumstance, I will only always be yours. Money be damned."
"Oh Sidney." She whispered against his chest and he kissed the top of her head.
"Does this mean I am forgiven?" He asked with a sly smile as she pulled out of his arms a minute later, looking only somewhat embarrassed, her cheeks tinted pink.
She narrowed her eyes at him but her lips curved upwards. "I suppose so Mr. Parker."
His eyes lit up in bemusement and her smile widened. "You suppose so?" He started to lean in closer. "Perhaps I can convince you…."
She felt his warm breath against her lips when she pressed her hand on his chest to stop him. "Although we may appear to be alone, Mr. Parker I have no doubt my family is watching our every move as we speak."
"Ah." He exhaled again and her face inclined towards his, desperate to feel his lips upon hers once more.
Then he pulled away slowly and dropped her hands as he looked towards her house.
His brow suddenly set in determination and his lips curved. "Then I know precisely what I must do."
He flashed her a quick grin and she raised her brow inquisitively.
He cleared his throat and walked with purpose towards the door, and knocked.
Charlotte bit down on her lip softly as she suspected, her sister's giggles could be heard from within and soon her father was opening the door.
"Mr. Heywood, may I speak with you privately?"
Charlotte's heart jumped and her hand flew to her chest to cover her now racing heart. Her father looked around Sidney to her and raised an inquisitive brow.
Her father has of course witnessed her return from Sanditon no doubt appearing as heart broken as she felt.
He had no doubt gathered when he appeared that Sidney was the cause.
She smiled at him, beaming, and nodded her head with pleading eyes.
Her father sighed quietly and then waved Sidney inside. Charlotte followed them in anticipation and watched as they disappeared into a room to be alone.
Sidney cast one last smile over his shoulder before he disappeared and she returned it.
"Charlotte!" She was ambushed by curious faces and giggles and she started to laugh herself.
"That is your Mr. Parker is it not?"
"It is." Charlotte confirmed. "What occurred in Sanditon…" she trailed off and tilted her head. "It was a wretched mistake on his part but he has come to beg my forgiveness."
"And you have given it to him?"
"Yes." She smiled softly. "It may not be so easy to forget all that transpired but I love him."
"He is incredibly handsome."
Charlotte flushed, could feel the warmth all the way down to her core. Sidney was indeed very handsome, even just in face alone, but she could never forget how she had seen him that day in the cove.
"He is going to ask for your hand isn't he?"
"Yes, he has already proposed his intentions."
"And you will say yes?"
Charlotte laughed quietly. "Of course." She said simply, now grinning from ear to ear and then shook her head as the girls once again giggled in excitement.
She waited in anticipation for the men to emerge and finally they did, Sidney with a satisfied smile and a knowing look in his eyes as he met her gaze across the room, the knowledge that she would truly be marrying him finally hit her.
"Charlotte," her father walked out behind Sidney and summoned her to them. She hurried over to them with a smile. He gave her one last questioning look and she gave one last subtle nod. He nodded in return and then his face softened. "Mr. Parker has announced his intent to marry you…"
Charlotte quickly looked to where Sidney stood beside her and his lips twitched up as he reached for her hand. She eagerly accepted and intoned their fingers together.
"You have my blessing."
A grin blossomed across her face. "Thank you, Papa."
Then she turned eagerly to Sidney and only saw his growing smile before she propelled herself forward, wrapping her arms around his neck.
His laugh was rich and hearty against her ear and she could feel the reverberations in his chest. His arms surrounded her waist and he held her to him.
She pulled away, still beaming and he looked down at her, his eyes shining in love.
"I would like to do this properly." He told her and her brow furrowed but she smiled as he took her hand again and then excused them from her family's presence and led her back outside.
She blinked against the sun which had peeked out the clouds to cast a glow about the land. It reminded her so much of Sanditon, the only thing missing was the smell of the sea.
"What are we doing out here Sidney?"
He shot her a quick smirk. "I wish we could be upon the seaside now, as I know how much you adore it, but this day and this moment and this place will have to do. After all, it matters not the place, but just you and I…"
She thought she just may explode in joy as Sidney Parker suddenly lowered himself to one knee before her, cradling her hand with tender love.
"Miss Charlotte Heywood…" he began, his blazing eyes setting a heat upon her, "will you do me the greatest honor and joy in becoming my wife?"
To his apparent surprise she dropped to her knees to meet his eye level instead of pulling him back to his feet, her eyes shining in delight.
"Why yes, Mr. Sidney Parker, I would love nothing more."
She let out a small squeak of delight as he smiled and then in a very smooth and swift motion, leaned forward to wrap his arms around her, pull them both to their feet and plant his mouth upon hers.
She melted with a sigh into his arms and his lips moved eagerly against hers and she responded in kind, taking in every bit of him, with the new found knowledge he would be her husband.
She was engaged! Her inner thoughts thrilled. To Sidney! Insufferable, intense but oh so kind and loving, Sidney Parker.
Her arms wound around his neck at the thought pulling them impossibly closer.
"My God, I love you." He muttered against her mouth, so low she barely heard it but heard it she did.
She pulled her head back, her smile dazzling and he smiled at her, nuzzling his nose to hers as he fished for more.
"I love you, Sidney." She whispered back to him before leaning into his kiss once more.