NOTES: I hope no one is too upset with the passing of Lady Denham. It's all about the bigger picture here. Her legacy will live on.
~Charlotte~
Alison and I sat in the drawing room entirely stunned at the news. Neither of us could move or even remember to breathe at times. Tears were dried to our cheeks as neither of us had the strength to wipe them away. Servants rushed around the house while someone fetched the doctor to confirm Lady Denham's death. Edward Denham showed up in what seemed like minutes after the news, almost as if he was anticipating this happening. For the briefest of moments, the thought of him causing her death crossed my mind. I thought it entirely possible. He had spent a good amount of time in the house lately.
Lord and Lady Babington showed up later in the day. Esther ran towards me and we embraced in a sorrowful hug. Lady Denham and Esther didn't always get along, much like my relationship with Lady Denham, but Esther truly did care about her aunt and she was genuinely devastated. Unlike Edward who put on a show of hysterics. I rolled my eyes as he joined all of us in the drawing room pretending to wipe away fake tears. Mr. Crowe came into the room moments later, returning from London and more than likely hearing the news from in town. Alison burst into tears when she saw him. He rushed to her and held her tightly in his arms while she cried.
"What should we do now?" Esther asked. "Did she have any arrangements planned?"
"I suppose after her last brush with death, we should have thought about it further and made some sort of plan," Lord Babington said.
"She has a plan," Alison spoke, her head still buried in Mr. Crowe's chest. "She shared it with me weeks ago. I can get it." Alison released herself from Mr. Crowe's hold and walked slowly out of the room. I became all too aware of the time of day, coming to the realization I had missed the morning coach. I couldn't leave now that Lady Denham had died. How disrespectful I would be to do such a thing? I had to stay even if it meant I'd lose Sidney.
Mary and Tom were ushered into the room where they both hugged me then Alison when she walked back into the room.
"Why is everyone acting as if the Miss Heywoods just lost a loved one?" Edward asked hotly. "She's not related to either of them."
"Edward, stop being so insensitive!" Esther scolded.
Mary glared at Edward while sitting down next to me and holding my hands in hers for comfort.
"Do you know anything? Was she ill? How was she last night?" Tom asked. "Such a tragic discovery."
"The doctor is with her now," Lord Babington explained.
I took in a sharp breath remembering our conversation before she went to bed. I hadn't been kind, arguing yet again about Sidney. I was the last person who spoke to her. What if, in my haste to tell her what I discovered, I had inadvertently caused her death? New tears streamed down my face and I couldn't hold in the sobs any longer. Mary placed her arm around my shoulders to try and comfort me.
"Give it here!" Edward demanded of Alison. He ripped the papers from her hands and read what it said to himself. He hummed and shook his head then scoffed. Whatever it was Lady Denham wished for in a burial he was not happy about it. More than likely because now his fortune would have to be spent on giving his aunt a proper service. "This won't do. She wants far too much on her deathbed. I will not grant any of this."
"Who says it's your choice to make?" Esther asked.
"I'm the beneficiary of her estate. I get to make the final decisions. She's delusional, even in death, if she thinks I'm going to grant her requests."
Esther broke into more tears and buried her face in her hands. Lord Babington rubbed her shoulders to comfort her. "Whatever she wished for we will take care of, Lord Babington offered. "We wouldn't want you to spend any of your precious inheritance on someone you supposedly love dearly."
Edward glared at Lord Babington. "I do love my aunt dearly. But she's dead. Nothing I do is going to bring her back. She doesn't need all this extravagance in death. There's really no point in it."
There was a commotion from another room, catching all our attention. Clara Brereton, looking disheveled and clearly upset, stepped into the room while servants tried to stop her. It appeared she just heard the news and came to join our mourning.
"Let her be!" Edward yelled. She glanced at him, then looked around the room. Her eyes settled on me and with a jolt of fresh anger across her face, she rushed across the room.
"Charlotte Heywood, how could you?"
My wide, terrified eyes stared up at her with pains of guilt hitting me hard. I felt as if Lady Denham's death was my fault, but here Clara was actually accusing me in front of everyone.
"Miss Brereton, what is the matter with you?" Mary asked.
"Were you always in cahoots with Isaac Moreland?" she questioned.
"I… I don't know what you're talking about," I mumbled.
"You and Mr. Moreland worked together to ruin my future."
Realization finally hit me. Andrew Moreland had probably discovered she was with child and broke off their engagement.
"I apologize, Clara," I said quietly. "We didn't mean to overhear your conversation with Edward. But there's more pressing matters at the moment. Lady Denham is gone."
She stepped back and looked around the room again, taking in the morose looks on everyone's faces. "What do you mean?"
Edward stepped towards her and placed his arms against her shoulders. "She's dead. Discovered this morning by the staff," Edward said sounding less and less like he had sympathy for her passing. She turned and buried her head in Edward's shoulder. What I knew of her current situation, I questioned whether her tears were because of grief or happiness. She could easily marry Edward now that he'd have Lady Denham's fortune and Eliza was long gone after Sidney.
Silence filled the room as we all dealt with our own grief in our own way. It seemed like hours before Dr. Fuchs emerged. He walked slowly and his eyes settled on the floor rather than making eye contact with anyone.
"Well?" Edward demanded harshly.
"I'm afraid she is indeed gone," he announced. "Mr. Hankins is with her now."
I watched as Edward took a deep breath and the corner of his mouth twitched as if he was trying not to smile. He was a disgustingly greedy man and I hated he was enjoying all of this.
Lord Babington picked up the paper with the burial requests and folded it neatly. "We will begin making the arrangements for her to be buried," he announced, taking Esther's hand and helping her to her feet.
"I will call on the solicitor to come read the Will tomorrow as well," Edward said. "All of you should be present."
"You can't even wait until she's buried?" Esther shouted through tears. "Our aunt just died and all you can think about is her Will. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."
"It's already been worked out. She has left everything to me and my betrothed, Eliza Campion," Edward explained. "This is just a formality to have witnesses."
"You are an impossibly revolting man," Esther said.
"You didn't think that way at one time, dear sister," Edward chided.
I could see Lord Babington getting angry and stepping between the two of them. He got right in Edward's face as if he was ready to attack. Edward just smirked at him. Thankfully Mr. Crowe and Tom stepped in to stop a fight from breaking out.
"Perhaps we should all leave," Mary suggested. "Looks as if emotions are running high today."
"With pleasure," Lord Babington said, leading Esther out of the house and away from Edward.
As everyone started to leave the house, Edward lingered behind with Clara.
Clara walked over to Mr. Crowe who still stood close to Alison. "Mr. Crowe, how nice to see you here," Clara said with a syrupy sweet voice. "I miss our time together on the dance floor."
"Yes, well those days are far over. There's only one I wish to dance with now. He took Alison's hand and motioned for her to stand. "I don't believe you've met Alison Heywood, Charlotte's sister. We will be married in just a few weeks time."
Alison curtsied towards Clara shyly who had a smirk on her face. "Interesting, indeed," Clara said. "I wouldn't know you to be the marrying type."
"I wasn't, until I found the one I wish to marry," Mr. Crowe said, pulling Alison to his side with a look of amazement that she was his. She smiled back at him, causing Clara to frown and walk away back over by Edward. Mr. Crowe kissed Alison on the forehead for a sweet gesture of love. He stayed for quite some time comforting Alison, before he left at Alison's insistence to go home and get his belongings settled in after his long trip back to Sanditon. I longed to have Sidney here with me for comfort, but that wouldn't be possible any longer.
Edward approached Alison and I, looking at us with a sly grin on his face. "I suggest packing your belongings. Tonight, will be the last night you spend in this house." Clara smiled before taking his arm and walking out.
Alison and I burst into tears once we were alone. We embraced in a hug and didn't let go of each other all afternoon. Servants came to us and through their own grief asked if we needed anything. We asked all of them to take some time to themselves to process what had happened, reassuring them that we were more than capable of caring for ourselves.
"Why did she show you her funeral request?" I asked, wondering why Alison knew where to find Lady Denham's burial wishes. Had she known she was going to die? Did she confide in Alison?
"I was with her one day and a man came to go over her wishes for burial. It seemed rather odd. When he left, I asked her why she was planning her funeral and she explained to me that after her brush with death months back she didn't want to take any chances. She'd rather have everything planned out so there were no mistakes when the time came. I saw her write everything down and then put it in her desk drawer. I never thought much of it after that."
"I'm still trying to process what's happened. I feel entirely responsible," I said.
"Why would you be responsible?" Alison asked.
"I was the last one to speak to her. I burst into her room and woke her up when she was sleeping. What if I caused her heart to beat too fast and it couldn't recover?"
"Charlotte, you must not think like that. She would have been furious if you hadn't told her," Alison said.
"Yes, but she already knew. Nothing I said came as any great surprise. She spoke of changing the Will at a later time but now there is no later time. Edward and Eliza are going to inherit everything." I sighed and my eyes welled up with tears again. "Meaning Sidney now owes the debt he has promised to Lady Denham to both of them. If we thought Lady Denham's terms were strict, I can't imagine what there's are going to look like. I'm sure Eliza already has her grips on Sidney. If I remember correctly from his letters, he leaves first thing in the morning."
"We will think of something. Perhaps after the funeral, you can board the next ship sailing to Antigua and surprise him," she suggested.
"Yes, it's a possibility," I answered knowing deep down it more than likely wouldn't happen.
The rest of the day was a blur. People came in and out to prepare and clean and some just to observe or pay their respects. Alison and I packed our things, so they were ready to be moved. The entire day was a daunting experience. Alison and I stayed close and at the end of the day crawled into bed together with Heraclitus between us. Neither of us slept much, still reliving the day, still feeling the pain of losing someone, still feeling responsible. The emotions were overwhelming.
The next day, Alison and I dressed for the day, still feeling entirely incapable of going forward without Lady Denham.
"Can we get either of you anything?" Sarah, a servant asked of us when we came downstairs.
"I wish everyone would take some time to grieve. Alison and I can manage," I said.
"Begging your pardon, miss, but most of us find staying busy is the best way to cope. It helps take our minds of what's happened; of what's to come."
I nodded my head in understanding.
"Perhaps just some tea, then," Alison suggested.
We sat in the drawing room, waiting and expecting more people to arrive to pay their respects. Edward Denham was one of the first to arrive yet again. He walked into the drawing room just as Sarah had placed some tea on a table for us.
"Would you mind setting up some food and drinks in case guests who come to pay their respects would like something to eat?" I asked, thinking it might help keep the serving staff busy.
"It'll be my pleasure," Sarah said with a smile.
"Taking over the house already, Miss Heywood?" he questioned.
I rolled my eyes and sighed. "It's only refreshments. The serving staff is grieving just as much as everyone else. They wish to stay busy, so I gave them a task."
"From now on, I'll be making the requests from the staff," he said directly.
"Of course. We will be out of the house by the end of the day," I assured.
The day dragged on rather slowly. As word spread, more and more people came in to pay their respects. Some of them I knew, some I had never met, but it seemed everyone in the town knew Lady Denham.
"Lord Moreland and his five sons arrived in the late afternoon. Lord Moreland seemed rather upset by the news while his sons seemed indifferent. Edward did not seem pleased to see them in the least.
Isaac Moreland stood to the side of the room, staring out the window and looking lost in thought. I decided to approach him and be sure he was alright. Knowing what I did about his father's thoughts on his own death being imminent, I'm sure Lady Denham's death had him worrying about his own father.
"Your father seems rather upset by the news of Lady Denham's passing," I said, trying to start a conversation.
He turned and acknowledged me for only a moment before turning back to the window. "I fear this may just send him over the edge. He was rather fond of Lady Denham. Even though he expects his own death soon, I think Lady Denham made him feel young again."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" I asked.
He turned towards me and smiled, softening his expression. "No. Thank you though."
We were silent for a moment, both staring out the window observing the dark, gloomy clouds that covered the sky. I thought it rather fitting for such a dreadful day.
"How is your brother Andrew doing? Clara was here yesterday very upset about what we discovered. I assume she was confronted."
"Yes. Father was not too thrilled to hear the news. He insisted they break the engagement off immediately."
"I had a feeling that's what happened the way she came barging in here."
"Were you able to tell Lady Denham about Edward's plans before her passing?" he asked.
"I did. She didn't seem surprised, though I daresay it's too late. Edward Denham and Eliza Campion will inherit everything. I wouldn't be surprised if Edward marries Clara now that Mrs. Campion is out of the way."
"Were you able to get word to Mr. Parker before Mrs. Campion followed him?"
Fresh tears fell from my eyes as I shook my head. "I was planning to leave on the coach yesterday morning. If Lady Denham hadn't died, I would have made it."
"I'm so sorry, Miss Heywood. If there was anything I could do…"
I smiled and shook my head trying to brush the pain away. "It's nothing to concern yourself with. I have to trust Sidney won't be fooled by her again."
"I'm not sure how he could, knowing he'd have you to come home to," he said with a sincere expression on his face.
I smiled at him, acknowledging the compliment before leaving his side and joining Alison who was speaking with Mary and Tom. They had just arrived and were waiting for the solicitor to arrive.
"We were requested to be present for the reading of the Will. Edward is fairly insistent we all attend," Tom informed. I was certain his main purpose for having us there was to gloat about how he manipulated his aunt into giving him everything even though months ago she had disowned him and had him removed from Sanditon.
"After the reading the of the Will, Alison and I will need to leave Sanditon House. I know it's a lot to ask, but would you, perhaps, have enough space to take in Alison as well? It'll only be a short while. We will travel back to Willingden in a week or two to finalize wedding plans for Alison."
Mary wrapped her arm around mine. "You and Alison are always welcome at Trafalgar House. We already have your room made up. If you don't mind sharing, at least for a while."
"We can share," I assured. "We share back home and most of the time even here at Sanditon House. I suppose it's a comfort to have each other close."
Mary smiled and nodded her head in understanding.
"It's a shame Sidney already left. I'm sure he could have worked out a better arrangement with Edward if he was still here," Mary said.
Tears I had been holding back for hours, even days, were betraying me. I had begun to crack under the pressure of everything going on. I felt as if I was suffocating.
"Everything alright, Charlotte?" Mary asked.
"I think I just need a moment to get some air. I'll be back soon."
"Do you want me to come with?" Alison asked.
"I'll be alright on my own. Thank you."
There was only one place I wanted to be. I ran across the field and straight towards the beach letting my tears stream down my face uncontrollably. I made it to the cove and fell to the sand in a hump while I continued to sob uncontrollably.
I heard a commotion on the clifftops and turned my head to see a carriage stop. I quickly wiped my tears, trying my best to hold in the sobs and stood to my feet. I watched as a gentleman stepped out of the carriage and walked towards me. He stopped a distance away and smiled politely.
"Good afternoon, miss. My name is Mr. Fulton. Might I presume you are a Miss Charlotte Heywood?" he asked.
I stared curiously at him. "I am."
"Wonderful. She said you would more than likely be here when this day came." He stepped forward and took a letter out of his pocket. "This is for you."
"From who?" I asked taking the letter from his hands cautiously.
"Lady Denham. I am her solicitor. She has letters for just about everyone in town. She instructed me to deliver yours first and how I would find you here."
I stared at the letter in my hands with disbelief. I wasn't sure I even wanted to read it. "Thank you," I said.
"I am on my way now to Sanditon House to deliver the rest of the letters and read Lady Denham's last Will and Testament. Would you like an escort back there?"
I shook my head. "I think I'd rather stay here. To read the letter in private," I said.
He bowed with a smile. "Good day, miss."
I watched as his carriage pulled away, heading back towards Sanditon House before my attention fell back on the letter. My heart raced with fear of what the letter might say. I took a few deep breaths before opening it up to read her last words to me. A part of me was intrigued but another part of me was terrified.
My Dear Charlotte,
There is an old proverb stating, 'He that deceives me once, it's his fault; but twice, it's my fault.' You didn't truly think I was going to let Edward fool me into handing over my fortune to him, did you? I like to tease. It was quite amusing to watch Edward stand enthusiastically over me while I falsely made him my benefactor. Oh, how I wish to see him now looking all kinds of sorrowful as if he is crushed over my death, all while he secretly boasts that he's about to inherit my fortune. If it's the last thing I do on this earth, I will make that ungrateful nephew of mine squirm for all the wrongs he's done. He will not see a penny of my inheritance. What I wouldn't give to see his face when my solicitor reads the real Will.
I have known for a while my time on this earth was coming to an end. After my last brush with death, I never fully recovered and knew it was only a matter of time. I have kept it to myself, not wanting to burden anyone or have all of you hover around my deathbed waiting for me to die. We did that once before. I wasn't about to do it again. I wanted to go on my own terms, my own way.
My only concern when coming to this realization was what will happen to Sanditon. I had every intention of leaving my fortune to the town of Sanditon for its development, but who would oversee it? Tom was the sensible choice until I discovered he wasn't trustworthy. I could leave it to Esther, but she has little interest in Sanditon, and she is well taken care of by Lord Babington. No. I needed to find someone who cared about Sanditon just as much as I did. Someone who can see beyond the small town and see its greatness for what it could be. Someone like you.
I had decided you would be the best person for the job the minute you stepped foot into that building site and took charge of the men. You gave a good account of yourself from day one. You were never boastful, never wanting, never prideful or deceitful. You were just you. An amusing, strong, intelligent, creative, passionate and opinionated young lady who will do a wonderful job overseeing Sanditon for years to come. I only hope these last few months that I have taught you how to be a strong pillar in this community so people will learn to respect you. It's an odd time for a woman. When I was a young girl, things were much different than they are now. Women were not to be heard nor seen. Women were merely playthings for the men to do with what they want. Now I see more and more women taking charge of their own fates and paving their own paths. The more women we have in the world with strong opinions and desires, the more chances we will have to better our opportunities for future generations of young girls. You can be at the forefront of change in our Sanditon community.
As for Mr. Parker, I am not proud to admit this, but I am quite jealous of your relationship. Like you, I also was a small-town farm girl with nothing to offer a man as far as fortune goes. Yet, I had a man I was overwhelmingly in love with. I would have followed him to the ends of the earth. But he passed me over for someone with a fortune, leaving me hopeless and devastated. I would have given anything to have him come for me like Mr. Parker did for you. To give up everything he had just to have you. No man in their right mind would ever do such a thing just for a woman. The man I loved didn't pass me over to save his family like Mr. Parker did. He purely chose money for the sake of money. I asked myself, what made you so special? Why would Sidney Parker risk everything, including his family and reputation, just to have a farm girl? I still haven't figured it out. I see it'll remain a mystery.
Despite my jealousy of yours and Mr. Parker's relationship, I want you to think long and hard at what you will be doing if you marry him. As a woman, everything you have will now become your husbands. My fortune that I am entrusting to you, will now be the Parker family fortune. Sidney Parker will do what he pleases with it, even if that means handing it over to his ridiculous brother to flit away in bad investments and poor business deals once again. Choose a man who wants to be your partner in life, not rule you. Choose a man who wants your opinion, not to silence you. Choose a man who will allow you to grow in your endeavors, not demean you. Choose a man who will support your decisions, not make them for you. If that truly is Sidney Parker, then so be it. I have my doubts, but I am entrusting you with this decision. If I may, one last time, ask you to consider Isaac Moreland. He is a progressive man with many ambitions and someone who I know, from talking with his father, would fit these traits. He values the female community and wants them to have more advantages. He would treat you well and allow you to make your own decisions. He will inherit his own fortune, leaving you to do what you please with mine. Just give him a passing thought, if nothing else. I have faith you will make the right decision.
The entirety of my fortune, including my home, is now yours. Everything Sidney Parker offered as partial payment, including his London family home, his business in London, and the entirety of his own fortune, now also belongs to you. Do with these things as you please. My only request is to take care of Sanditon. Of course, it's entirely up to you what you do from here on out. But I have faith you know what's best.
You have been like a daughter to me when I wasn't able to have one of my own. Do not lose that fight, that drive, that spirit I have come to admire and depend on. Sanditon rests in your hands now.
With love,
Lady Denham
I wanted to scream. I had never been so angry and frustrated. How could she do this? I was not the best person for what she asked. I couldn't oversee Sanditon for a lifetime. And then to tell me to make a choice between Sidney and Isaac. There was no choice to be made. I would choose Sidney, despite what her warnings were. I had never felt so betrayed. Why hadn't she told me this was her plan before she died? At least then I could have prepared for it. Now I'd have to walk into a house all alone full of people whom I was sure would accuse me of forcing Lady Denham's hand. Who would judge me differently for this one choice Lady Denham made? Why now after Sidney was gone with Mrs. Campion following after him?
After shoving the letter into my pocket, I stepped to the shoreline, letting the frigid water wash over my feet and hem of my skirt while I stared out at the water twisting and turning in front of me. I felt even more like I was suffocating under an impossible situation. The overwhelming frustration, anger, and sadness was too much to handle. I let out a loud scream into the ocean air, feeling better almost instantly. I screamed again and again while tears streamed down my face. Raindrops began to fall from the sky, hitting my face and soaking my clothing. I didn't care, though. I wished to be swallowed by the water surrounding me.
"Charlotte!" Sidney's familiar voice called out. I turned around with a jolt seeing him ride up on a horse. I stared at him with disbelief trying to decide if I was hallucinating. He watched me with great concern while he hopped off the horse and came rushing over to me. He looked me up and down and rubbed my arms with his warm hands. "Are you alright? I heard screaming."
Believing he was, in fact real, I gasped for air and broke down crying. My arms wrapped around him and sobs came out of me uncontrollably. "I thought you were gone," I cried.
He held me close to him, enveloping me in the warmth of his body. "I came as soon as I heard. Is she really…"
"Yes," I said through sobs. "I'm so glad you're here. I thought… I thought I was going to lose you again."
"Why would you think such a thing?" he asked with great concern to his tone.
"Mrs. Campion. She followed you, didn't she?"
He leaned away from me and tilted my face to look at him. Heavy raindrops hit my face and trickled down my cheeks. "Mrs. Campion can follow me wherever she wishes to. She can threaten me with the worst possible news. But she is not going to sway my feelings for you. Don't you know how much I love you? I just jumped off a ship to come see you."
"You what?" I asked. The thought of something so dangerous terrified me.
He smiled and tilted his head to one side. "Mrs. Campion boarded the ship to follow me. As soon as she told me about Lady Denham, I knew I needed to see you. I needed to be sure you were alright. I'm sure it's all rather shocking and stressful. Tell me. Are you truly alright?"
I smiled and leaned up to kiss him quickly. "I am now."
He smiled in returned and leaned in to kiss me fuller, deeper, all encompassing. I had missed his touch, his tenderness, but mostly his kisses. Being in his arms again was like being home. There was a peace that washed over me, knowing we would never be parted again. His forehead rested against mine as rain poured down on us. Neither of us seemed to care about being soaking wet in the freezing sea air blowing around us. Being in his arms was all the warmth I needed.
"We have new obstacles to face with Lady Denham's passing, but we will face them together. With Mrs. Campion now on her way to Antigua alone, I have hope I can work out a new deal with Edward for the debt. If not, I have a plan so even if we aren't able to marry, we can still be together wherever we need to go."
I swallowed thickly against the lump in my throat. Lady Denham's warning came back to me. As much as I didn't want to care, it weighed heavily on me. "Can I ask you something?" I began, looking up at him. He looked at me intently waiting for my question. "When we are married, if I wish to continue to build or oversee projects here in Sanditon, what would you say?"
He gave me a curious look as if he didn't quite understand the question. "I wouldn't say anything. I'd stand by your side and help you do great things for Sanditon like I hope I've already done."
"What if I was to become an architect and make money for the work I did? Would you expect me to hand over that money to you to do with how you please?"
He smirked. "I have no interest in taking anything from you. I want to us to be a partnership. I want us to make decisions together. I can't imagine you would let me make a decision without sharing your opinion."
"What if five years from now, I decide I don't want to build? What if I want to write a book?" I asked, giving him a hypothetical possibility.
He tilted his head again and looked deep in my eyes. "Then I'll help you become a writer."
What if I want to do something outlandish like becoming a doctor?" I wondered with a giggle.
He chuckled to match mine. "I suppose I'll be helping to pave the path for you to become a doctor. I think it's quite possible considering how much you have already proven with your knowledge of what to do in an emergency situation."
Fresh tears of happiness streamed down my face with every answer. He was who Lady Denham wished me to be with, even if she could never see it. If she would have looked past that jealousy, she would have seen the man he truly is. The man I always knew he was. She would have seen how wonderful he is and how together we will do amazing things in Sanditon.
I looked up at him and took a deep breath. "And what if all I want in life is to be a mother?"
He grinned and looked at me with so much pride in his eyes. His chest filled while he leaned closer to me, our lips brushing. "Then I'll make you a mother," he whispered against my lips before consuming my mouth with his once again in a powerful and emotional kiss. If I didn't know what love was before, I knew it well in this moment. I loved Sidney Parker and I always would. He was the only future I knew for certain. He wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me off the ground, holding me so close to him while we kissed and had a perfect moment together even if we were soaked from the rain. I wished to be married to him as soon as possible so I could love him as only a wife could.
I pulled away with a start, remembering what was happening back at Sanditon House. I wanted to tell him. I wanted him to know all the obstacles and heartache we had been through for the sake of writing our own future was finally over. "We need to get to Sanditon House. The solicitor is there reading Lady Denham's Will."
"Why is that any of our concern?" he asked still holding me off the ground and leaning in to kiss me again.
"It's of great concern. We need to know where our fate resides." A part of me still questioned if the letter was true. Perhaps it was all one of Lady Denham's tricks to amuse herself even in death. I needed to get back to the house to know if what she wrote in the letter was real and what did everyone else's letters have to say.
Sidney placed me back on the ground and released me from his grip. Chills ran up my body when our connection was lost. I took Sidney's hand as he led me towards his horse. He picked me up and hoisted me up on top of the horse. A moment later, he whipped his leg around the saddle and adjusted me, so I was now sitting almost entirely in his lap. "This is highly improper," I teased, as I settled in comfortably against him.
He chuckled and held me close against him with one hand while he held the reins with the other. "Yes, but necessary," he whispered against my ear.
"I suppose so," I agreed. We rode towards Sanditon House, feeling more connected than ever, letting our bodies collide and brush against each other. The warmth I felt being so close to him was intense and something I'd never experienced before. I wanted this moment to never end.
Alas, we rode up in front of Sanditon House. A servant came rushing out of the house and helped me off the horse before Sidney hopped off and handed the reins to him. He bowed and took the horse away. Sidney took my hand before breathing in a sharp breath. We walked into the house and towards the drawing room hand in hand, still soaking wet and dreadfully disheveled. We were quite the sight, indeed. As we walked into the room, all eyes were fixated on me with wide eyes and gaping mouths. The Moreland men stood around their father as he wept over a letter of his own, Mary and Tom held a letter but seemed entirely too shocked to read it as it was still sealed shut. Alison held a letter also, while Mr. Crowe stood beside her for support. Edward and Clara looked angry and shot daggers at me with their eyes. Esther and Lord Babington were the only ones with smiles on their faces. I wondered if they knew about Lady Denham's plans. The looks on everyone's faces told me exactly what I needed to know. The letter from Lady Denham was entirely truthful. I had just inherited her entire estate for the sake of Sanditon.
"Ah, there you are Miss Heywood. I was beginning to think you were swept out into the sea," Mr. Fulton said. "All letters have been delivered to who is here and the Will has been read in its entirety. I'm still looking for a Mr. Sidney Parker and Mrs. Eliza Campion.
"I'm Sidney Parker," he said.
"Wonderful," Mr. Fulton said handing a folded up letter to Sidney. "Would any of you know how to reach an Eliza Campion?"
"She uh..." Sidney began looking down at the floor and trying hard not to grin. "She's on her way to Antigua. I can't imagine she will return for quite some time."
"That is unfortunate. I suppose I'll have to track her down myself." He turned his attention to me. "I wish you the best of luck. Please contact me if you and your husband wish to write up a Will of your own."
"There has to be some mistake!" Edward shouted. "I sat right next to my aunt when she wrote up the new Will. I held it in my hands."
"As you can see from your letter, she was thoroughly amused by your delusion that you thought she had actually left her fortune to you. I believe she thanked you for that last bit of enjoyment before her death," Mr. Fulton said. I heard a few people in the room snicker at his comments.
Edward came charging towards me with fire in his eyes. Sidney went to step in front of me, but I pulled him back to face Edward head on. "What did you do to our aunt? Did you poison her while she sleeps? How did you manipulate her into giving everything to you? What are you to her anyway?"
"I did nothing to her. I had no idea this was her plan. I never asked for it and quite frankly I'm not sure I even want the task," I shouted back.
Edward looked between me and Sidney and focused in on our connected hands. "Mrs. Campion was right. You are nothing but a Trollip." My heart raced with anger as his face lit up with a satisfying grin. My fist clenched and on instinct, my arm raised and flew towards his face, hitting him right across the cheek with a sharp snap. He stumbled backwards and let out a whiney cry of pain before falling to his knees.
I heard Sidney chuckle beside me. "That's my girl," he whispered close to my ear.
Everyone else in the room gasped with astonishment. "Charlotte, what have you done?" Mary asked, surprised by my actions. I too was a little surprised.
"She was rather brilliant, wasn't she?" Esther added.
"Yes, she is," Isaac Moreland agreed with a prideful grin on his face.
"You can get out of my house now, Edward Denham. You are no longer welcome here," I said.
He hastily and clumsily stood to his feet and tried to face me again. This time Sidney did step in front of me and stared him down until Edward rushed out of the house. Clara went to chase after him.
"Clara," I called out. She stopped and turned back towards me. I stepped away from Sidney and walked Clara to the door so we could have a moment to speak. "I understand the position you are in. I know you have been fighting for a better life far too long. I want you to stop fighting and feel secure in yourself rather than trying to find someone else to take care of you."
"What are you saying?" she asked.
"We are going to be opening a library in Sanditon with all of Lady Denham's books. We will need someone to oversee the care and upkeep of this library. I will pay you well and give you living accommodations if you accept the position."
"What about my child?" she asked through tears. "I'd be looked at as what Edward just claimed you of being. My child would have the same type of life I grew up in. I don't want that."
"If this is Edward's child, he should be marrying you. I think he truly wishes to. I don't think you see how strong his attachment is. Give him a chance to redeem himself in all our eyes by doing the right thing. I will make sure you are both well taken care of if you choose to accept. And if you choose not to marry him, I will do everything in my power to assure not only your protection but that of your child as well."
"I suppose I don't have much of a choice. I will accept," she agreed.
"Lady Denham wants strong women to pave the way for future generations. You can be one of them. You are one of the strongest and most resilient women I've ever met. You will be a great asset for Sanditon."
She smiled as if she was surprised I was showing her so much kindness. I truly wanted that to be what Sanditon was about; kindness. I wanted people to come to Sanditon and feel welcome and accepted no matter their position or path in life. Everyone deserved a chance to change their future if they found it disagreeable.
Clara left, following behind Edward. Sidney stepped into the front room and took my hands in his with a grin on his face. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. "You inherited Lady Denham's fortune?"
"I wasn't entirely sure if it was true. I received a letter from her while at the cove. She somehow knew I'd be there. Once I stepped in the house and saw how everyone stared at me, I knew then it had to be true. Can you forgive me for not telling you right away?"
He grinned. "How could I not?"
Heraclitus came running from the other room, tripping over his floppy ears and skidding across the slick marble floors. I scooped him up and introduced Sidney to him. "I guess you could say he's our first child."
"I'd say it's fairly accurate," Sidney agreed with a chuckle while petting his head.
The Moreland men walked into the front room and said their goodbyes. Isaac Moreland lingered behind a moment. "I'm not sure congratulations are in order, but I do wish you the best. I don't think there's a better person to be overseeing Sanditon's future development than you."
"Thank you, Mr. Moreland," I said appreciatively.
He turned his attention towards Sidney who had somehow snuck his arm around my waist almost as if he was claiming me as his. "You are a lucky man, Mr. Parker. Although, I believe you already know that."
"I'm well aware," he said with a tone of pride but also a little contempt. I'd have to reassure him later that he never had anything to worry about, nor will he ever.
Mr. Moreland bowed towards us with a grin and walked out the front door to join his family.
Sidney turned to face me again and rubbed my shoulders with his large, strong hands and looked me deep in the eyes. "What did your letter say?" I asked, noticing he had opened it.
"It was a rather simple message," he said with a chuckle. "She just told me to take care of you."
"That's all?" I wondered.
"Might be it's all she cared about," he said, taking a step closer to me. "I suppose I understand all your questions from earlier. I hope you know, whatever Lady Denham left you, I won't touch it if you wish me not to. If she requested you not marry me for that very reason, I will leave it in your name for you to do with what you wish."
"No. Whoever's name it's in doesn't matter. What matters is we make the decisions together, like you said. For the sake of Sanditon."
He smiled and nodded his head in agreement. "For the sake of Sanditon."
NOTES: So this technically could be the end of the series, but I do plan to write a chapter for Charlotte and Sidney's wedding and wedding night/honeymoon as well as a chapter for Alison and Crowe's wedding. I'll also include a chapter or two of them in Sanditon and doing great things to develop it further and a few more chapters in the future of their marriage. We all want to see them with children, right? Some of these new chapters will have sexual content. If you don't wish to read it, I have a plan to put a symbol in the story at the beginning and ending so you know to skip past that part but still be able to enjoy the rest of the story. I will be sure to add a warning in the notes also. I will be changing the rating of the story to reflect this aspect of the story.
I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter.
Love you all and please keep fighting for more Sanditon on Twitter. I have to keep believing we are close to a second season.