~~Charlotte~~
Georgiana had become quite infatuated with my younger siblings. They had her running through the fields and playing games with them leading up to the day we were to leave. Georgiana had never smiled and laughed so much playing with them. I was happy to see her spirits returned.
Alison and I were in the house with mother and father finishing up our packing while Georgiana had one last frolic through the grass with my younger siblings.
"Are you sure?" my father asked again.
I smiled. "Yes, father. It's where I belong." He nodded his head in understanding and continued to help me pack up the last few things. Mother was in the kitchen preparing lunch for us to take along on the trip.
I walked around my childhood home and looked at everything. I had a feeling this would be the last time I'd be here. Despite whether I was married off or Lady Denham kept me locked away in her dungeon for life, this home, this village, did nothing for me anymore. I didn't belong here any longer. My place was in Sanditon.
There was a jolting knock at the door startling all of us and breaking me from my thoughts.
"Who could that be?" my mother questioned. My father walked to the door while Alison and I watched from afar to see who was at the door.
"Forgive my intrusion, sir," the familiar voice at the door began. I took a couple steps towards to the door, wanting so badly to run, but stopped myself just within eye shot of Sidney. "I'm looking for…"
Our eyes met and Sidney Parker bolted past my father and rushed towards me. He stopped just a step away from me and took my hands in his. I was stricken with shock to see him standing before me that I couldn't even focus on the improper way he touched me and spoke to me in front of my parents. "Charlotte, please tell me she's here."
I couldn't speak to him at first. I almost thought he was a dream that I hadn't woken up from. "Mr. Parker," I said in no more than a whisper.
"Miss Heywood," he said letting go of my hands and addressing me more formally. I watched as he fisted his own hands turning his knuckles white. His senses must have come back to him. He dropped his head, maybe in embarrassment. "Forgive me. I'm looking Georgiana. Please tell me she has contacted you. I've learned Otis Molyneux joined the Navy. I don't believe she would follow after him. I'm not sure she's even still in contact with him. I fear the worst. She has not been in a good place as of late, nor have I. I regret I've neglected her needs, but to run away again for no apparent reason…"
"Mr. Parker," I said stopping his babbling. "Georgiana is not happy and fearful for her own safety around Mrs. Campion. Of course, she ran away. You have done nothing to protect her. Instead you have turned into a drunkard gambler, which is exactly what you were trying to protect her from with Otis. Now you say she has no reason to run away from you?"
I watched as his jawline tightened and his eyes narrowed. "Making assumptions again, Miss Heywood?"
I glared at him with steady fierceness. "It's not assumptions when multiple people speak the same truth." I glared at him a moment more, but felt guilty doing so as he looked entirely hurt by my statement. I didn't care that my family was witnessing our exchange. Staring up at him caused so much conflict in my heart. A part of me still loved him and wanted desperately to touch my lips to his, but another part of me felt the pain of rejection and betrayal. The biggest part of me detested him for what he had done or allowed to happen to Georgiana.
"What are you doing here?" Georgiana spat out from the doorway. Our trance broke and Sidney Parker turned towards Georgiana. I saw him let out a sigh of relief to see her standing in my home.
"Georgiana, thank goodness," he said. "I didn't know where else to look."
"You shouldn't have come looking at all," Georgiana said walking towards him with anger in her voice. "I don't want to be around you or your horrible fiancé ever again."
"Georgiana," he started condescendingly.
"No, Sidney! I want you to leave. Let me be." Georgiana walked across the floor and took my arm. "I'm going back to Sanditon with Charlotte. That is where I will stay until I'm able to collect my fortune. I have no use for you anymore."
Sidney glanced between Georgiana and I for a moment before bowing his head. "Forgive me. It looks as if you are in good hands. No harm done." With that he walked out the door and mounted his horse, riding away.
I took a steadying breath and wrapped Georgiana in my arms. "Are you all right?" I asked.
"Of course, I'm all right," she assured. "Are you?"
I didn't answer. I wasn't sure if I was or not.
"Charlotte, what was that all about?" my father asked. Georgiana and I broke our embrace so I could answer my father.
"That was Sidney Parker. Georgiana's guardian I was telling you about. He has not been kind to her as of late, nor has his fiancé. This is why Georgiana seeked me out; for protection."
"This Sidney Parker is a dangerous man?" my father questioned.
"No more so than the next," Georgiana said. "He finds pleasure in making others around him as miserable as he is. Look at what he's done to poor Charlotte."
"Georgiana!" I warned.
"What has he done to you, Charlotte?" my father asked looking angrier by the minute.
"Nothing, father," I assured. "We don't get along. That is all."
I could feel all eyes on me as if everyone in the room could tell I was lying. I had to get out of the suffocating room. "Should we get going?" I said trying to change the subject. I collected my hat and coat and walked outside taking a deep cleansing breath of the cool air. I looked out towards the direction Sidney rode away and could see him in the distance looking back towards me. So much of me wanted to run after him and apologize for my behavior. But I knew I could never do such a thing. Sidney was gone for good. I brushed a single tear that I had been holding in since the moment my eyes met his.
I heard Alison and Georgiana come up behind me and silently steady me. I felt a relief to have both of them with me.
After goodbyes and hugs to all my siblings and mother and father, the three of us boarded the carriage while my brother drove the team of horses forward towards Sanditon.
"I'm sorry, Charlotte," Georgiana said as soon as we were off in the carriage.
"I'm fine, Georgiana. I truly am," I assured.
"You don't have to lie to me, you know," she said. "I, more than anyone, know what it's like to have a broken heart; to be separated from the one you love." She took my hands in hers and gave me an encouraging smile. "Why you love him, I'm still trying to understand. But who am I to judge who one falls in love with."
It's an affliction as Lady Susan said. I had no control over how I felt about Sidney. No more than Georgiana felt for Otis.
"We will get through our heartache together," Georgiana said patting my hands.
"Yes," I said with a smile. Somehow, I didn't think it possible, but I had to be encouraging for Georgiana.
"Let's hope Alison doesn't end up with a broken heart also," I said attempting to change the subject.
Georgiana smiled at Alison and they took each other's hands. "I'm so glad we have had these last few days to get to know each other, Alison. It'll be nice to have someone else to spend my time with other than the Beaufort sisters." Alison giggled at the face Georgiana made when she spoke of the Beaufort sisters.
"I hope we can become as good of friends as you and Charlotte have become," Alison said.
"Are you looking forward to seeing Sanditon?" Georgiana asked.
"I am," Alison answered. "Charlotte has told me so much about it through her letters. I'm excited to experience everything she has."
Georgiana rolled her eyes. "You won't experience much with that Denham Lady controlling your every move. Just don't cross her. She's already banned her relations, Sir Edward Denham and Clara Brereton. What a scene that was."
"What happened?" Alison inquired. Georgiana gossiped about how they double crossed Lady Denham and how Lady Denham almost died but then somehow pulled through and disowned both of them. How Sir Edward barged into the Midsummer Ball and tried to claim he was in love with his stepsister, Esther Denham. She also shared how Clara left Sanditon in Mr. Crowe's carriage headed towards London. It was quite the scandal apparently.
I only half paid attention to their gossip as my thoughts betrayed me with visions of Sidney in my family home. Why couldn't I stop loving him no matter how much I tried?