London

~~Sidney~~

I downed another drink and watched with resentment from afar how my betrothed worked the room with such ease. This was my life now; balls, social gatherings, luncheon and dinner parties. I could easily pretend to be part of this world, but I never truly belonged. I was an outlier like Charlotte said. I was always going to be an outlier. Mrs. Campion had become a stranger and held my future in her hands. I had no choice but to engage myself to her after the threats of ruining not only my reputation, but that of Charlotte and Georgiana's as well. I wouldn't let that happen. My reputation was one thing, but she was not going to touch Charlotte. I wouldn't allow it.

I thought back to when I was forced to engage myself to her. I called on every connection I had to find the money to help my brother. I promised one thing after another in hopes someone would be willing to invest. Not one person was able to make that large of an investment though.

On the ride to London from Sanditon, I knew it may come to me asking Eliza for help. The way things were ended after the regatta, I truly didn't want to go to her. We did have a past and maybe she did feel bad for the way she betrayed me all those years ago. Perhaps she'd be willing to give me a loan for a time being. I went to her home filled with hope. Unfortunately, she didn't have any interest in helping out of kindness. She had an agenda. Turns out her reputation was at risk; how so, I do not know. People were beginning to talk. She needed to connect herself to someone fast to stop the rumors being spread. She threatened to not only ruin Sanditon, but also ruin the reputation of Georgiana and Charlotte from when Georgiana was kidnapped. Poor Charlotte was just trying to help. Being seen alone with me in a carriage rushing off towards Scotland after leaving the brothel would definitely ruin her good name. If I didn't agree to marry Eliza this is what hung over my head. I had no choice.

I took another drink from a tray and downed it in one gulp.

"Easy, man," Babington said patting me on the back. "How many have you had now?"

I grunted and placed the glass back on the tray and grabbed another. "I must admit, Sidney," Babington began. "I was quite surprised when I got your wedding announcement. I expected to see Charlotte's name, not Eliza's. I admit I've been a little out of touch as of late with my own marriage. May I ask what happened? Did Charlotte turn you down?"

"It's not important," I assured downing another drink and spilling a little on my jacket.

"Sidney, I beg you not to go through with this," Babington said. "You'll be making the biggest mistake of your life. Look how many times it took me to win over Esther. Don't give up on Charlotte after one rejection."

"What choice do I have?" I spit. "My brother will be in ruin as will his wife and children if I don't marry her."

"There's got to be something," he said. "You look miserable and you haven't even married her yet. You are going to kill yourself at this rate."

"At least I'll be out of my misery," I said patting him on the back. "Excuse me."

"Sidney Parker," Crowe shouted from across the room. I rolled my eyes and tried to walk in the other direction. "Sidney! I have someone I'd like you to meet."

I clenched my jaw and walked towards him with a fake smile on my face.

"This is Lord Grasmere. He visited Sanditon during the regatta and wanted to meet you," Crowe introduced.

I sighed heavily and faked another smile. "Pleasure to meet you, Lord Grasmere," I said politely.

"Sidney Parker. Are you in any relation to Diana and Arthur Parker?" he asked.

"Indeed, they are my younger siblings," I said.

"I have met them at the doctor's office quite a few times. Your brother Arthur is quite a character. And your sister Diana seems so caring and nurturing. I do admire her abilities."

"That's wonderful," I said distractedly. "Excuse me." In the corner of my eye I saw Edward Denham walk into the room. I wondered what he was up to as I knew Esther was in the room with Babington.

I stopped Edward and pulled him aside. "What are you doing here, Edward?" I asked.

He laughed. "Don't worry, Sidney. I'm not planning any declaration to get me kicked out. I'll stay far away from Esther and Babington. I'm just here to make some new connections."

"Sidney," Eliza's shrill voice said from behind me. I sighed in detest before turning around to face her. "You have been gone for quite some time. Who have you been talking to?"

I clenched my teeth and turned towards her. "Am I not allowed to speak to friends?"

She laughed dryly. "Don't be silly, Sidney. I'm just curious who you've been spending your time with away from me."

"You must be Mrs. Eliza Campion." Edward said from behind me. Leave it to Edward to be forward instead of having a proper introduction. I stepped to her side so as if to formally introduce the two. "I've heard a lot about you."

"Have you?" she said intrigued.

"Mrs. Campion, this is Sir Edward Denham," I said.

"All good things, I assure you," he said taking her hand in his and gently kissing her gloved knuckles. I rolled my eyes at the forwardness of Edward.

Mrs. Campion giggled and looked at him amusingly. "You are relations of Lady Denham? I met her briefly at the Babington wedding."

"Excuse me," I said with a long sigh on contempt. I grabbed a couple more drinks from a passing tray and headed towards Babington. I quickly informed him of what had transpired with Edward. Babbers jumped into action steering his wife out of the room.

I saw my brother Tom talking up Sanditon with a group of men and couldn't help but feel irritation for him. His bad investments, his dreams, his poor choices had put me in the impossible situation I was in. I know he helped me out years before, but this was much bigger and much more dire.

I downed the last drink in my hand and suddenly felt the need for some air. I quickly pushed past people in the room and rushed toward an open doorway. I took in a few long breaths of the cool air, steadying myself.

"I do believe I met a young woman in this same spot not long ago," a voice said from behind me.

I rolled my eyes, straightened my jaw and turned around to see Lady Susan Worcester sitting on a chair with a book in her hands. I smiled politely and bowed in greeting.

"A girl you are well acquainted with, I believe," she continued smiling sweetly. "You seem to have the same befuddled look on your face as she did."

"I apologize if I've interrupted you," I said.

"Not at all. I'm actually intrigued to hear why I received a wedding announcement from you and Mrs. Campion. I was not expecting that in the least."

I tightened my jaw and rose my chin. "I don't have much choice. My brother Tom is in dire need of funds after the fire in Sanditon. If I marry her, I take control of her fortune and can save my brother."

She smiled and looked at me with a sideways glance as if she had a secret. "You haven't heard, have you?" she asked.

"Heard what?" I tried hard not to roll my eyes in contempt.

"Mrs. Campion does not have the fortune you seem to believe she does. She definitely doesn't have the reputation she so desires after what her late husband was involved in."

"What was he involved in?" I asked taking a step closer to her. I began to have a sickening taste in my mouth.

"Seems to me Mrs. Campion has attached herself to you to save herself the humility of what she's taken part in with the late Mr. Campion. I suppose it would make sense since you are the guardian of a negress."

"You aren't giving me the answers I desperately need," I seethed. "What is this you speak of."

She stood and smiled as if she had a secret. She took a step closer closing the gap between us and glanced around her to see if anyone was nearby. "Mr. Campion was involved in the slave trade in the Americas."

My chest filled with fear. This couldn't be true. I couldn't be connected to this. "You're certain?" I asked with repulsive thoughts running through my head.

"I know everything, Sidney," she said with that same secret keeping smile. She walked away leaving me with a nauseating feeling of regret.

What have I done?

~~Miss Lambe~~

I dreamed of being back in London; being part of society and shopping in the finest shops. Most of all I wanted to be closer to my Otis. Now being here, I longed to be back in Sanditon. To be away from Sidney and the horrible woman, Mrs. Campion.

"There you are, Georgiana," Mrs. Campion said. I was sitting all alone away from the silly party I was dragged to by Sidney and Mrs. Campion. Another dreary London party for everyone to gawk and whisper about the heiress negress. I had no interest in being paraded around.

"Miss Lambe, if you don't mind," I sneered and rolled my eyes before glaring up at her.

"Don't be silly, child," she giggled.

"I only allow my true friends and family to call me Georgiana. You are neither."

She tried to smile and pretend like it didn't bother her. I loved watching her squirm.

"Well, in due time I will be family. Once Sidney and I are married…"

"Sidney may be marrying you for your money, but he does not control me. You will not be family," I said interrupting her.

"I assure you; Sidney is not marrying me for my money, silly girl."

I smiled and narrowed my eyes. "If Sidney could do as he pleased, he'd already be married to Charlotte. He loves Charlotte more than anyone and she loves him. You took that happiness away from both of them. All Sidney is trying to do is save Sanditon." Admittedly, I wasn't entirely sure about Sidney's feelings for Charlotte. He never did tell me anything. However, he was a different man now than he was right before Charlotte left. I had to believe Charlotte was the reason why. Despite whether it was entirely true or not, I loved watching Mrs. Campion squirm at the mention of Charlotte.

She stared at me with fire in her eyes for a moment. She almost scared me, but I wasn't about to give her the satisfaction.

"Careful, Georgiana," she said. "I'd hate to see you end up shipped off to the Americas once Sidney and I are married. I have lots of connections you know, and I'm sure they'd be happy to have such a strong negress among them."

My teeth clenched and all I could think about was punching Mrs. Campion in the face, much like I'd seen Sidney do a time or two in his boxing matches. I thought better of it and knew I could hurt her much worse. "You'll never be half the woman Charlotte is." My comment made her angrier than I'd ever seen her before. We hadn't gotten along since Sidney announced he was marrying her. Sidney did nothing to prevent her awful behavior towards me. Instead he reprimanded me and made everything my fault like he normally did.

She brushed the back of her glove as if she was dusting off invisible dirt, then straightened herself. "You don't scare me, child. I have Sidney and he will do as I ask him to in spite of what you may say."

"But a country girl who reads books scares you," I added smiling at her and getting close to her face. "Sidney will always want Charlotte more than you. When he's lying in bed next to you, he will be dreaming of Charlotte."

I watched as she took a deep breath in and her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

"Ah, I was just looking for you, Miss Lambe." I turned to see Lady Susan walking towards us. Suddenly that anger in Mrs. Campion's face softened at the sight of Lady Susan.

"What a pleasure to see you, Lady Worcester," Mrs. Campion said cheerfully. "Perhaps we could catch up. We haven't spoken since the regatta in Sanditon."

Lady Susan nodded her half-hearted acknowledgement toward Mrs. Campion and took my arm in hers steering me away from her. "I was hoping you could tell me news of our dear friend Charlotte. I miss her so. I've been thinking of asking her to come visit me." I was sure Mrs. Campion could hear Lady Susan which made me even more pleased. I'm quite sure it was intentional on Lady Susan's part.

"Thank you for rescuing me," I said as soon as we were far enough away.

"Yes, well. Looked as if things were getting a little tense between the two of you."

"I hate her," I said knowing I shouldn't be saying it.

"I'm not too fond of her myself," she admitted. In her subtle way giving me permission to have an opinion.

We walked a distance away until she stopped and turned me towards her. "Now, do tell. What is the story with Mrs. Campion and Mr. Parker? Surely, he isn't marrying her for love as I know he truly has feelings for Charlotte. That was clear at the regatta."

"It's all Tom Parker's fault," I explained. "There was a fire in Sanditon. Nearly burned the entire town down."

"Gracious!"

"It was awful. So many people were affected. Poor Old Stringer lost his life," I continued.

"How dreadful."

"Tom Parker didn't have insurance on the building projects. Now he's facing the debtor's prison as he lost Lady Denham's investment and she has decided not to invest anymore."

"Lady Denham is alive then?"

"She is, unfortunately," I said. "And she's not happy with what Tom has done. No one else is willing to save Sanditon. Sidney had no choice but to marry someone with a fortune to save his family and Sanditon."

"That's where Mrs. C comes in, I presume?"

"Precisely!" I agreed. "He wouldn't be marrying her if he had a choice. That woman hurt him once before and now she's going to drive him to an early grave. Although, I imagine that's what she wants. I wouldn't be surprised if that's what happened to her late husband."

"Well," she began. "Between you and me, I have a feeling a wedding will not be happening."

"How can that be?" I asked. "Sidney won't break off the engagement and Mrs. Campion is too stubborn to do it herself. Plus, what would happen to Sanditon then?"

"I have my ways, dear," Lady Susan assured. "Charlotte will get her happy ending if I have anything to say about it. I will need your help, though."

"Anything," I agreed feeling excited about being in cahoots will Lady Susan of all people. Especially if it meant Charlotte would be happy.

"My carriage is outside. I want you to take it to Willingden. Find Charlotte and bring her home to Sanditon. Use any means possible to convince her. I'll take care of the rest. I've already planted a seed in Sidney Parker's mind."

I smiled deviously as did Lady Susan. "Good luck, Miss Lambe. I hope we both have great success in our endeavors."

What is Lady Susan up to? So this is why Georgiana took off to Willingden. What will Sidney do with this new development?