"Out of the question!" my father spat hitting his fist against the table.

"Papa, you don't tell Lady Denham no," I said. "I must go. And Alison will go too." I reached for Alison's hand in support. She gave me a slight smile which told me she worried father would say no despite the firm request from Lady Denham.

"How can I send my daughter back to a place that has brought her so much pain?" he asked.

I sat down next to him and placed my hand on his clenched fist. "Papa, Sanditon didn't bring me pain. In fact, Sanditon brings me much joy. Being away from Sanditon is what gives me pain. I long to be back there," I explained knowing deep down it wasn't quite the truth. I did enjoy Sanditon, but it was the pain my memories may bring me that made me dread going back. At least this time Alison would be there to comfort me, if father approved.

"I'll take care of her father," Alison added sitting down on the other side of him. "If I suspect Charlotte isn't happy in Sanditon I'll bring her right back home."

He sighed heavily looking between the both of us. "If this is what you both want." Alison squealed with excitement and hugged father tightly. I tried to smile to show my own happiness, but I couldn't be as excited as Alison. I truly hoped Alison would have a better outcome on this adventure than I did.

"What about the Willingden Ball coming up?" mother reminded. I must admit, the thought of a Willingden Ball held little value to me after attending the grand balls in Sanditon and London. Willingden Balls were small, rather common, and oftentimes mundane.

The words Mrs. Campion spoke at the Regatta crept up in my thoughts. There must be a boy in your village who has caught your eye. Indeed, there was no one. The thought of even considering someone from my village had me amused. Most of the boys around here I grew up with and I saw as a brother figure. It made me realize yet again just how much Mrs. Campion saw me as a child; expressing how there must be a "boy" rather than a "man" in my village. She found every way possible to belittle me. I wondered if Sidney was feeling that same dismissal from her as I was. The last words I spoke to Sidney were for him to make her happy. But what about Sidney's happiness? Would she ever make him happy? Was Diana right? Was Sidney in a marital prison?

"Perhaps we could leave after the Ball," Alison suggested breaking me from my thoughts. "Charlotte what do you think?"

"That sounds fine to me."

Alison looked back at father and mother waiting hopelessly for their approval.

"I suppose your brother George could accompany you there," father added looking across the room to George.

"Yes father," he agreed with a sound of contempt in his voice. I imagined he didn't want to take us to Sanditon because it would take him away from Jane. He didn't speak much of his love life, but we all knew there was a special attachment to Miss Jane Sawyer who lived in our village. I imagined there would be an announcement of an engagement after the ball. Perhaps that's why mother didn't want us to leave until after the ball.

~0~

I let Alison wear my blue dress for the ball. I couldn't bear to put it on again after knowing what almost happened while on the balcony with Sidney. I helped her fix her hair and even let her wear my blue shoes. She was giddy with excitement at the upcoming event. She was sure she had the most beautiful dress in all of Wilingden and all eyes would be on her. I couldn't have been happier for her, but thought about how she would handle Sanditon Balls that were much grander.

I wore my white dress that I wore for the first ball I attended in Sanditon. The dress I wore the first time I danced with Sidney. Everything came back to him. I was not looking forward to attending the ball since all balls for me seemed to end in heartache anymore. I used to love balls and have so much excitement getting ready for them, much like Alison now. I reminded myself to be cordial and to dance with anyone who asked, but it wouldn't hold the same joy as they once did.

Father, Mother, George, Alison and I walked into the small ballroom of Willingden and looked around. Mother and Alison were aflutter with excitement. Father detested balls and would rather not go if it wasn't for mother who dragged him along for the sake of community. As an influential man in Willingden he was expected to be at any social event. Unfortunately for me, the air in the small ballroom made it hard to breathe. I was beginning to detest balls just like my father did.

As Alison predicted, all eyes were on her and many of the boys we had grown up with were already getting their courage up to ask her to dance. Alison was smiling and giggling with delight as she was twirled around the dance floor from one man to the next.

Father asked me to dance first, which I so appreciated. At least I wasn't "plucked", as Mr. Hankins would say, by one of the many men looking for wives at the ball.

During our dance father questioned me more about the upcoming trip to Sanditon. I think father knew me best and could sense my hesitation.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked. "I fear both my girls may come back with broken hearts."

"I don't..." I started, but father cut me off before I could try to lie about my feelings.

"You can't fool me, my dear," he continued. "I know a broken heart when I see one. Who it is who broke your heart, I do not know. I sense it was a very powerful man whom you were quite fond of. Perhaps even in love with. I fear you may be going back to Sanditon in hopes of rekindling this relationship only to have your heart broken again."

My eyes welled up and I had to look down so as not to show father how upset I truly was. "It doesn't matter, papa," I assured. "I'm not going to Sanditon to see any man. I'm going to Sanditon to be a companion to Lady Denham. She's an old woman without a husband or any relations to spend time with. She just wants my company. I believe she's also interested in my abilities and may use them to help the town of Sanditon. Perhaps I'll be an architect like Young Stringer someday."

"Young Stringer?" father questioned. I could tell at the curious look on his face he wanted to know more about who Mr. Stringer was.

"Perhaps I haven't spoken much of the people I became acquainted with in Sanditon. Mr. Stringer is the foreman of the building projects Mr. Parker has going on in Sanditon. He's a very talented man. I suppose you could say we became friends. But nothing more, father. He's a good listener and always kind to me. He's on his way to London to take an apprenticeship for architecture," I explained. My father continued to look at me quizzically. I got the sense he didn't believe me.

I could hear a commotion happening in the ballroom. The dancers all stopped to see what was happening. I couldn't see anything from where I stood on the crowded dance floor but heard more and more people gasping as if they had seen a ghost. It reminded me of when Georgiana first walked into the ballroom in Sanditon. People started to clear from the floor as they continued to gasp and look around. As the floor in front of me cleared, I could see what all the commotion was about. Georgiana stood in the middle of the floor looking quite disheveled and fearful. Our eyes met and she ran towards me. I met her in the middle and embraced her with so much joy.

"What are you doing here?" I asked excitedly.

"Charlotte, it's dreadful. That woman is the worst possible person in the world. I can't take one more minute in her presence," she spat out. People around us stared and whispered about what was happening. I felt quite uncomfortable and very worried about my dear friend Georgiana.

"Come. Let's go sit down and talk." I steered Georgiana through the crowd until I found a spot for us to sit down with a little privacy. I could tell Georgiana had been crying and looked dreadfully tired. "Tell me what's going on. Is it Mrs. Griffiths again? Has she done something?"

"Worse," Georgiana shouted. "It's that awful woman, Mrs. Campion who Sidney plans to marry." My heart clenched. What had she done to Georgiana? "I hate them both. Both of them find comfort in ruining other's lives."

"What did she do that was so terrible?" I asked.

"I've been in London at Sidney's request for his upcoming wedding. I despise Sidney for what he did to you, but more so her for what she did to both of you. If I even mention your name she threatens to send me away to the America's where slavery is still a huge part of their culture. She wishes to see me rot away as a slave. And Sidney just sits there and lets her say these things without one word. It's as if he has given up who he is all together. He's nothing when he's with her. I can't bear being near either one of them again." Georgiana began to cry but my heart raced with anger. How dare she say such horrible things to Georgiana, and how dare Sidney allow such things.

"Charlotte," my father said cutting me from my thoughts. "Perhaps we should get your friend home." I realized everyone was still eyeing us from afar and I was sure spreading gossip.

"Yes. Let's get out of here." I helped Georgiana to her feet and walked her out to our waiting carriage. Once inside, Georgiana leaned against me and closed her eyes. Her small face was still smeared with tears.

Father didn't say anything as we rode in the carriage home. I appreciated the silence as I wasn't quite sure how to explain Georgiana's presence just yet.

Once in our home, I walked Georgiana back to the room I shared with my sisters and helped her get under the covers on the bed. She was fast asleep almost instantly.

"Who is this girl?" my father asked as I left the room to allow Georgiana some peace. He didn't seem happy to have a guest in our home he didn't know.

"Her name is Miss Georgiana Lambe. She's Sidney Parker's ward and a good friend of mine."

"Sidney Parker?" he questioned.

"Yes, Tom Parker's brother. They have another younger brother, Arthur Parker and a sister named Diana Parker. Mr. Sidney Parker was in the West Indies for a time and Georgiana lost her parents. She's an heiress to a fortune and Mr. Sidney Parker was made her guardian to keep her safe until she comes of age," I explained.

"Why is she here?" he asked.

"I'm not sure. I believe she is upset and needs a friend. Considering who she is, or rather what she looks like, she doesn't have many friends."

He hummed and nodded his head in understanding. "Well, she does seem like a troubled girl. I can only imagine what she's had to go through to get here."

I smiled knowing my father understood and accepted her. "Perhaps you should try to get some sleep also. I'm going to take the carriage back to the ball and gather your mother and sister," he said standing up and walking out of the house.

I tried to sleep, but my thoughts were wild with feelings of anger and frustration. How could Sidney allow Mrs. Campion to treat Miss Lambe so terribly? My love for Sidney was now turning into detest for him.

Next chapter will be Sidney's and Georgiana's point of view that led up to her running off to find Charlotte. It'll be kind of backtracking, but it made more sense to me to have Georgiana's appearance in this chapter a surprise rather than know why she did it beforehand.

Thanks for reading.