First in my affections

by riga789

Charlotte and Sidney are now engaged. But as Sanditon's fate hangs in the balance, so does theirs. Or, what happens after the events of "A midsummer night's proposal".

13. Chapter 13

Apologies for the delay in updating this story. The website kept giving me an error and refusing to upload the chapter. But I finally managed to post it.

As always, a big thank you to all the readers who have read, favourited, followed, and commented on the story. Including the guest reviewers - LB, Lizzy, and the 3 guests - whose comments I cannot respond to directly. So glad you all are still enjoying this fanfic! I am definitely going to write the entire story, and not a spoiler to tell you that there will be an HEA :)

Now on to the story. This is probably the longest chapter in the story so far, about 17,000 words. I've been a bit nervous about posting it because a lot of things happen. I've tried my best to convey it all as clearly as possible, so hope this works!

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Lord Babington's house on Park Lane was among the first aristocratic manor houses built there in the late 18th century. While not as big nor as grand as Lady Worcester's, it was much older and nevertheless spoke of great wealth, or at least of the wealth the family had once possessed before the current earl's father profligately squandered away their coffers.

The Parkers and Charlotte disembarked from the carriages in the porte-cochère. Above them, the sunny blue summer sky of the past few days had given way to soft grey clouds portending rain. This combined with the slight chill in the air made a sombre atmosphere that seemed to reflect the seriousness of the day's business.

Once inside the spacious entrance hall, they were directed by the butler to a large, comfortable drawing room. Sidney led the way, Charlotte on his arm, with Mary, Diana, and Arthur following and Tom bringing up the rear. Lord Babington strode forward to greet them. Charlotte curtseyed to him and he bowed to her, before turning to welcome Sidney's siblings. He didn't seem surprised to see them, which led her to conclude that Sidney had sent him a note informing him of their arrival in town this morning.

Behind Lord Babington, Charlotte could see Susan seated on a powder blue sofa, looking poised and regal as ever. But her attention was captured by the young lady who had approached them with Sidney's friend.

She seemed to be about Alison's age, a couple of years younger than Charlotte's own two and twenty years. She had grey eyes, and light brown hair that was done up in a low bun, with some wisps curling around her sweet face. She wore a simple yet elegant morning gown. Even before Lord Babington introduced her, Charlotte guessed she was his sister. She could see the resemblance between them, and they had the same twinkle in their eyes and the same jovial demeanour.

Lord Babington made the introductions. "May I introduce my sister Augusta? Augusta, this is Miss Charlotte Heywood."

The two young ladies curtseyed to each other.

"And this is Mrs. Mary Parker, Miss Diana Parker, Mr. Arthur Parker, and Mr. Tom Parker. And, of course, you know Sidney."

"Of course."

"Augs," Sidney smirked.

"Sid," she returned.

Charlotte looked between them, amused. They looked like they were going to stick their tongues out at each other any moment. They reminded her very much of her brother Harry and her sister Sophia.

"My mother could not be here to meet you all today," Lord Babington explained. "She had a prior appointment with a relative in Richmond."

As the others moved further into the room, Lady Augusta approached her.

Charlotte's experience of the London beau monde came from attending Mrs. Maudsley's rout and meeting the people who had come to Sanditon for the regatta. On both instances, especially at the ball, the women had looked perfect and pretty, exquisitely dressed, making Charlotte feel very out of place indeed. When they had looked at her, she could just see them making mental evaluations, trying to fit her into a box depending upon her wealth, connections and status, which they tried to judge from her dress and mannerisms. How serious of a competitor was she for the other eligible bachelors? Especially when she was in the company of Lord George Babington, Mr. Crowe and Mr. Sidney Parker?

Compared to them, Lady Augusta Babington was a welcome change, like a breath of fresh air. They curtseyed to each other before Lady Augusta clasped Charlotte's hands in hers in the friendliest greeting she had ever received from a new acquaintance.

"My lady."

"Augusta, please, Miss Heywood. I have heard so much about you from George and I have been most keen to meet you."

"Then you must call me Charlotte." Charlotte squeezed the young woman's hands in return. "I am to thank you, Augusta, for allowing me to borrow your beautiful gown for Mrs. Maudsley's ball."

"Think nothing of it!" Augusta waved her hand. "I am most glad you got to wear it, for I would never have had the chance. I'm not very fond of attending balls nor of London society and was glad to be able to spend some time back at our country home. Besides," she leaned closer and whispered with a conspiratorial grin, "I heard it had quite an impact on a certain Mr. Grouchy Parker."

Charlotte's cheeks went a little pink and although that evening had ended as a disappointment, she could not help but laugh now. "Grouchy" Parker was a very appropriate description, indeed. "Do you know Mr. Sidney well?" she asked.

"He and Francis visited us in Hampshire every summer for a couple of weeks when they were at school with my brother. I was barely five years old and insisted on tagging along with them everywhere I could! And they even let me — sometimes!"

It took Charlotte a moment to realise "Francis" was Mr. Crowe. She tried to imagine Sidney as a boy in his early teens — and failed. But she filed it away in her mind as one of the many things she didn't know yet about her betrothed and his past, and wanted to learn.

"So every summer, for a little time, I had not one but three brothers to pester," Augusta continued. "They were not the most patient of older brothers, but Sidney was the kindest and sweetest, perhaps because he had a younger sibling himself. I think he realised very early that if they let me play with them for a little while, I'd quickly get tired of them and want to return to my dolls!"

Augusta began to lead Charlotte towards where the other women had gathered. "George says you are well acquainted with Ms. Esther Denham?"

"A little," Charlotte replied. She and Esther had never really spoken much beyond their strange conversation during their first walk in Sanditon and some pleasantries exchanged during Lady Denham's pineapple luncheon. This had, of course, not stopped her from offering support to the distraught redhead when sir Edward had caused that despicable and humiliating scene on the night of the midsummer ball.

"Later, you must tell me more about her," Augusta said eagerly. "I do so wish to get to know my new sister and welcome her into the family." Her voice became serious. "George has shared with me some of what has transpired with Sidney's brother, Mr. Tom. I do hope you are able to resolve the matter soon," she said sincerely.

The Abbotts were yet to arrive. Susan had greeted Mary and Diana, and begun a conversation with them. Both women seemed quite overwhelmed that a famous and important personage such as her remembered them from her visit to Sanditon for the regatta. The five ladies sat down, leaving Sidney, Lord Babington, Arthur, and Tom to take up various spots around the room.

Sidney joined Babington by the fireplace, the two men easily falling into idle conversation about trivial gossip — the latest frivolous bet placed at the club, a prize stallion recently auctioned at Tattersall's, Bertram Chudleigh's antics at Lady Wortley's country house party. Babington knew his friend was tense about the meeting, and was aware of the confrontation he had with his brother before arriving here. Talking about unrelated trifles kept Sidney from brooding.

Arthur hovered near them, only partly paying attention to their talk. He was preoccupied with his own thoughts. He had much to mull over given the incidents of the past few days, starting with the fire and the news of Tom's debt, and culminating in the hitherto unimaginable clash between his brothers earlier this morning.

So far, he had led a life of leisure, not caring for much beyond his chief concerns, which were food, drink, his various ailments and their cures. But circumstances had given him a rude awakening where he realised how dire were his family's straits, how much Tom had neglected his duties and responsibilities towards his family, and how many of those Sidney had taken on. And the extent of Tom's unfair expectations from Sidney.

Arthur had realised that he could not in all good conscience let Sidney shoulder the entire responsibility for this by himself; he would have to step up. Remembering Sidney's words from this morning, the way he had fought Tom's unbelievable demands, fought for himself and Miss Heywood, Arthur felt compelled to do his bit. He did not know yet how he could contribute, but he had offered and surely Sidney would tell him.

Tom drifted to one side. After this morning's fight with Sidney, he had enough sense to know he should not test his brother's patience. In fact, for the first time, he was afraid of his younger brother.

Thus far, he had always managed to bend Sidney to his will, to get him to do his bidding. Sidney would resist and protest, but Tom knew just how to persuade and coax and guilt him, and his brother would invariably give in. Some part of him told him he had gone too far this time, but he ignored that voice in his head. He was the head of the family, and as the eldest Parker, it was his right — nay, duty! — to ensure his siblings made advantageous matches for the family. To protect and further the family's legacy, which, to his mind, was Sanditon and Sanditon alone. And was it not Sidney's duty as a second son to support his brother in every way?

Just as it was a wife's duty to support her husband. If Tom was angry with Sidney, he was equally displeased and upset with Mary.

She had stood by his side all these years, a pillar of support and love. His strength and his inspiration. He had hidden the state of their financial situation from her because he did not want her to worry nor think he was a failure. He admitted he could understand why she was upset about it. But to show her displeasure by criticising her husband, defying him, and siding with his younger brother — who clearly refused to acknowledge Tom's position as the family patriarch — it had been deeply painful and humiliating for Tom.

Now, he could feel the anger and hostility towards him emanating from everyone in the room, save perhaps from Arthur and Diana, and he could not deny that he was a little afraid. All his plans seem to be going awry.

He had been disinclined to believe when he learnt that Eliza Campion had threatened Charlotte's family. Why would she do that? She had no reason to do so. But despite Sidney and Mary being at odds with him, he did not think they would go so far as to fabricate such a big lie.

If Eliza really had threatened Charlotte's family, what had she been thinking? She had gained nothing, and worse, she had jeopardised her and Tom's carefully made plans. Was it because she was threatened by Sidney's perceived partiality towards Charlotte at the regatta? Tom had assured Eliza himself that she had nothing to fear regarding Sidney's constancy.

But after the events of this morning, he could not be so sure. His younger brother would not toy with an innocent young lady's feelings by openly declaring his affection for her. And Sidney had been vehement that his heart now lay with Charlotte.

But it all seemed so impossible, Tom thought, frustrated as his mind circled back to what he perceived was the incontrovertible truth. Sidney had loved Eliza for a decade, and Tom felt sure he still did. Such a love did not just die out. He was sure Sidney would have easily agreed to marry Eliza had she not stooped to such foolish tactics. Sidney may love her, but Tom knew he would not abide by such malicious tricks and behaviour. It was why one had to be so careful in managing him.

Now with everything he worked so hard for at risk, Tom felt a deep sense of trepidation about this meeting.

Over where the women sat, Susan leaned over to Charlotte. "I understand you met Mrs. Campion yesterday after you left Worcester House." Her eyes radiated sympathy.

Charlotte nodded and grimaced, but did not say anything. Diana, who did not know the full contents of her confrontation with Mrs. Campion, looked curious, but Mary looked uncomfortable and Charlotte did not want her friend to blame herself because of her husband's actions any more than she was already doing.

"I have not yet had the 'pleasure' of meeting Mrs. Campion," Augusta scrunched her nose on the word "pleasure". "Did she not spend most of the last ten years with her husband on the continent? In Paris and in Italy?"

"I believe she did," Susan replied.

"Miss Althea Fowler, who was in Sanditon for the regatta last week, told me Mrs. Campion was most rude to Miss Alice Donwell," Augusta confided. "Brought her to tears for wearing a pelisse in the exact same design as hers. Except, Miss Donwell's pelisse was a lovely shade of red while Mrs. Campion apparently wore one that was supposed to be cream or gold but looked like neither, just washed out. And," Augusta paused theatrically, "Her buttons were all crooked!"

Charlotte tried her best to keep her expression neutral as she glanced at the other ladies. Diana looked like she did not know how to react and Mary, like Charlotte, seemed to be gauging the others' reactions before responding. But Susan's serene smile had turned mischievous and Augusta was openly grinning, which rendered Charlotte unable to suppress a giggle.

"I do not wish to ridicule Mrs. Campion," she said, "But she was quite unkind that day. And yesterday as well. I would not have paid any heed to her words if it were not for the threats she made against my family." This was not entirely truthful, but Sidney had rested all those other fears during their previous night's conversation.

"How shocking!" exclaimed Augusta.

"Mr. Crowe has gone to Willingden to warn my parents," Charlotte explained. "I hope to receive word today that he reached safely, and that my family is secure as well."

Augusta patted Charlotte's hand. "I'm sure you will hear from him soon. I know Francis can give the impression of being… completely indifferent to everything happening around him. But he is extremely loyal to Sidney and George, and there is nothing he wouldn't do for them. And by extension, for those who are important to them."

Charlotte had already come to trust Crowe. But such a glowing recommendation from the young woman, who undoubtedly knew him very well, reassured her immensely. Mary looked relieved too; her worry for the Heywoods' safety, possibly at risk due to her husband's actions, was one of the burdens she could now set down.

But Charlotte was also amused by Augusta's words. "I don't think Mr. Crowe would approve of you telling people he is a responsible person. I believe he would see it as you maligning his reputation."

Augusta snorted. "No one will believe me anyway! Francis and his awful reputation have made sure of that."

"Well, I do hope Miss Donwell recovered enough from Mrs. Campion's put-downs to find some enjoyment at the regatta for it was a beautiful day," remarked Susan. "The regatta was Charlotte's idea," she added to Augusta, "And I must say she planned it most wonderfully."

Tom, standing not far away, heard everything and turned away, his ears burning. He still could not understand Lady Worcester's fascination with Charlotte any more than he had on the day of the regatta. This remark of hers, made in his vicinity, made him think it was deliberate. She was making sure he heard, she was taunting him. He could not deny Charlotte had helped with much of the regatta planning, but Lady Worcester did not seem to think he deserved any credit at all! Despite that it was his vision that had brought the idea to life!

The women had moved on from talking about the regatta. Charlotte enquired how Susan knew Lord Babington's family so well.

"I met Lady Celia Babington at a ball soon after I first came out in society," said Susan. "Much like you, I came from a village in the country, although I suspect Rosedale is not as remote as I understand Willingden to be. Still, I was nearly as befuddled as you when you first visited London, although not for the same reasons," she said, her tone teasing but kind, making Charlotte redden a little. "Lady Babington helped me find my feet in London society, supported and guided me through the choppy waters. I could not have survived those first few weeks without her counsel."

"And now Susan does the same for other young ladies," Augusta said, her eyes twinkling. "Although Mamma and George were with me on my debut, I was still relieved to have Susan by my side."

Just then, the butler announced the arrival of the Abbots. When they entered the parlour, only Babington, Susan, and Augusta were unsurprised to see a young lady walk in, followed by a young man.

The new arrivals halted just inside the entrance and regarded the occupants of the drawing room, who just as curiously surveyed them back.

They were both soberly dressed as befitted a business meeting, their clothes of fine quality and cut. Neither of them would be considered remarkable by London society standards when it came to their looks. But to Charlotte, there was something quite compelling about them, especially the lady, who exuded a bold, confident energy.

Lord Babington swiftly made the introductions. Mr. Matthew Abbott seemed to be about Sidney's age, with his sister, Miss Penelope Abbott, a year or two younger, a few years older than Charlotte herself. They were both financial advisors and worked together at their firm, where they advised people and businesses on how to manage their money, including investments.

Charlotte made no trouble to hide her fascination. She understood now what Susan meant when she had said Charlotte would like the Abbotts. She had heard of young ladies handling money matters for their own families on behalf of a younger brother or to help their fathers, much like she herself did. But she had never heard of one who managed other people's wealth, let alone advice them on how to increase it. Finance was very much a man's domain, even in her own home with a man as forward thinking as her father. (Although, he of course sought her mother's advice on most matters, including their finances.)

Miss Abbott looked around at the surprise on the faces of everyone present. "I can see that you were not expecting a young woman to be present here today." Her tone indicated mild amusement; clearly she had experienced such situations in the past.

"Babington has mentioned the Abbotts before," responded Sidney. "But he never said one of them was a Miss Abbott."

The lady in question tilted her head. "Will that be a problem?"

"Not at all. I have learnt young ladies can be every bit as accomplished as any man or even more." Sidney shot an amused glance at Charlotte, whose lips twitched as she tried to hide a smile. But her lively eyes danced with mischief and laughter.

"My sister's role in our firm is not common knowledge, at least not among investors from the upper echelons of society," admitted Mr. Abbott, "Although she is far more skilled with figures than I am. There are few who know the ins and outs of finance better than her."

He smiled proudly at his sister; clearly he had no problem being outshone by her.

"It seems a shame to have to hide your talent, your abilities," Charlotte remarked.

"We don't seek to actively conceal the fact," Miss Abbott countered. "But as frustrating as it is, Miss Heywood, the truth is no one would take us seriously if word got out that a young lady dared to dispense financial advice to wealthy investors. We are a small but upcoming practice, and we are good. But I'm afraid it will still be some time before such a fact is widely accepted by polite society."

"But Susan and Lord Babington do not hold such prejudices. Sure there are others of similar mind?"

"There certainly are," Miss Abbott agreed. "Especially among the smaller but prosperous merchants and entrepreneurs, who form a substantial part of our clientele. But the beau monde, for all their wealth and finery, holds some exceedingly old-fashioned notions when it comes to the role of women. The men, in particular, do not believe a woman is capable of applying her mind to serious matters such as finance."

She rolled her eyes, which made Susan, Augusta and Charlotte smile in commiseration.

Sidney was not surprised that Charlotte instantly liked and was fascinated by Miss Abbott. Here was a woman, a young lady, who had succeeded in flouting social conventions, gaining a degree of independence, and still keeping her place in society.

"Besides," Miss Abbott continued, "I am content for Matthew to be the face of the firm and deal with our clients, while I deal with their money. He is much better with people than I am."

This was very true. Matthew Abbott had a cheerful disposition and reassuring demeanour that made clients instinctively trust him. Money was a serious matter, and often made people nervous. Many of their clients had come to them because they needed help with their financial affairs, a subject they did not know how to deal with fully by themselves. Matthew had a way of putting people at ease and assuring them that he and Penelope would find a solution to their financial problems.

Realising the ladies could well continue the conversation in this vein for quite some time — for Augusta looked like she wanted to jump in with about a hundred different things to say, and both Miss Heywood and Miss Abbott looked like they were just warming up to the subject — Babington cleared his throat.

"Why don't we adjourn to my study?" he suggested.

While he was never against advocating for less traditional pursuits for women or giving them a means to become independent, now was not the time.

He turned to Augusta, who grimaced but understood why her brother had interrupted the conversation. She rose from her seat. "Since Mamma is not here, I must be available in case there are any callers."

She squeezed Charlotte's hands and whispered "Good luck!" before she headed off and Charlotte turned to follow Mary and the others out of the drawing room to Lord Babington's study.

At the back of the group, Lady Worcester fell in step with Sidney. He immediately gave her his arm, which she took with a nod of appreciation.

"I am impressed, Mr. Parker, to see that you are taking Charlotte into consideration in this matter," she said to him in her usual forthright manner. "Any other man would have taken the easier, secure path, married a woman like Mrs. Campion, who is a prize in anyone's eyes. Not just for her wealth but also for her beauty and elegance. A gentleman farmer's daughter from the countryside who prefers books to the ton's frivolous pursuits would never match up in society's eyes."

Beside her, Sidney stiffened. From her tone, she might have been discussing the weather, and he wondered if she was mocking him. He did not blame her for thinking him undeserving of Charlotte. But surely she did not think he was entirely without any principles at all?

"I love Charlotte," he responded, voice hard. "She is the most admirable and accomplished woman I know. I do not care what society says; if they're blind to her true worth, it is their loss. But I cannot complain because otherwise, men would be flocking to ask for her hand and she could have anyone she wished. She wouldn't have looked twice at me."

He paused to catch his breath. They had both stopped walking and stood facing each other in the corridor, the others having proceeded ahead of them. Lady Worcester was tall, just a couple of inches shorter than him, and her sharp, penetrating gaze was rather unnerving. But he stood his ground.

"But somehow, this extraordinary woman has deigned to return my affections, to trust me with her heart. I'll be damned if I let my feckless brother's decisions ruin her happiness."

Susan watched him silently, impassively and Sidney was suddenly aware that, in his anger, he had just laid his heart bare to her. Not that any of what he said was untrue, but it was unlike him to be so open about his feelings to anyone, let alone a stranger, which Lady Susan was. She might be Charlotte's friend but he had barely exchanged a handful of words with her before today.

Susan blinked and then her face eased into an enigmatic smile. "I am glad to hear it, Mr. Parker. I always knew you were a man of good sense." She patted his hand. "Mostly."

Sidney eyed her doubtfully. He could not tell if her smile was one of approval or amusement. He decided not to ask what she meant; he did not want to give her more fodder to criticise him. "My Lady, you must know, Charlotte will always come first for me."

It was a vast understatement, but he spoke with complete sincerity, and his words and tone of voice together were enough to convey the full extent of his true feelings to someone as perceptive as Lady Worcester.

"That is reassuring to know, indeed." She motioned for him to continue walking so they could catch up with the others, who were well up ahead by now. "In a very short span of time, Charlotte has become very dear to me. I want nothing more for her than the happiest future. We cannot choose who we fall in love with. But you may be sure I would have steered her away from you if I did not think you could cherish her the way she deserves to be."

Sidney forbore from telling her that she could try all she liked if she wished to separate Charlotte from him. But her opinion wouldn't matter a whit as long as Charlotte herself chose to be with him.

They had arrived at their destination by then, entering behind Arthur and Matthew Abbott. Charlotte noticed them come in and raised her brows, for it was clear they had deliberately lagged behind to have a conversation they did not want anyone else to hear. Sidney discreetly shook his head to reassure her that it was nothing important, while Susan just smiled. Both things did nothing to ease her curiosity.

Lord Babington's study, like Sidney's at Bedford Place, was also located in a quieter part of the house where he would not be disturbed by the comings and goings in the front. It was a large and airy room, and seemed to reflect his welcoming personality. Larger than Sidney's, which was more functional, this room was also proof of the Babington wealth of the generations past with its antique furniture and décor — the large Louis XIV desk, Queen Anne style chairs, silk upholstered wing chairs, and rugs from Persia and the Far East.

The gentlemen waited for the ladies to take their seats, until only Miss Abbott was left standing, having a quick, low-voiced discussion with her brother. She waved to the men to sit down when she saw them still stood. She would be the one leading this meeting, which she preferred to do while standing. Pacing always made her think better.

Once everyone save Miss Abbott was seated — extra chairs had been added to accommodate the big group of people — the Abbotts got down straight to business.

"Now, Mr. Sidney," Miss Abbott began from her position in front of the large desk, "From the information Lady Susan and Lord Babington have shared with us, we understand you are in urgent need of funds to the tune of eighty thousand pounds."

Sidney nodded tightly.

"And this requirement is the result of the absence of insurance on the building that burnt down?"

Again, Sidney nodded. But Tom, after his fight with Sidney earlier this morning, not to mention Lady Worcester's remarks in the drawing room, felt attacked from all sides. He mistakenly assumed Miss Abbott was mocking him — berating him in the presence of Lord Babington and Lady Worcester — and responded hotly. "The insurance was not left un-purchased out of negligence! The premiums were exorbitant and I had many demands on my capital and–"

"Tom!" Mary's stern voice and quelling look silenced him and he sank back into his seat.

"Regardless of the circumstances that led to this situation, the fact remains that you are eighty thousand pounds in debt, Mr. Parker." Miss Abbott was not cowed; she had not achieved her current position by allowing priggish men with fragile egos to browbeat her into silence. "And it requires urgent resolution. Your principal financer has given you a week to return her money, a week that is almost over. The banks that lent you funds have sent in their loan foreclosure notices. You might be facing the prospect of debtors' prison and your family will be forced to pay off the debt or be relegated to the poorhouse. You require investors with deep pockets — and quickly."

Shame and anger washed over Tom at having his missteps so publicly aired. "A most generous offer was made to save Sanditon," he blurted, "Only my brother saw it fit to dismiss it and turned it down without–"

"Tom!" Mary very nearly shouted. She flushed in horror and mortification at the expression of awkward disbelief on Lord Babington's face, at the hurt that crossed Charlotte's features, at the anger once again mounting in Sidney's eyes. Arthur and Diana too looked extremely uncomfortable and even Lady Worcester's usual implacable serenity was replaced by a slight furrow between her brows, revealing her distaste.

Susan, who was seated next to Mary, put her arm around her shoulder, wordlessly offering comfort as Mary pressed her lips together tightly. She was trembling, her nerves completely shredded after the many days of constant worry. Unlike Sidney and Charlotte, who had turned to each other for support, Mary had braved the past few days mostly alone.

His wife's plainly distressed state made Tom subside once again. He looked chastened but also resentful, almost as if he were the victim in this situation and not the cause of it. He absently touched his split lip and winced; though not very obviously swollen, it throbbed with a dull ache.

Miss Abbott eyed the family. Lady Worcester had warned her and Matthew that this meeting with the Parkers might become uncomfortable and bring up personal family matters. Even so, she had not expected the undercurrents to be so fraught. For a moment, she observed the Parker family interactions objectively but at the same time with sympathy. Then, back to business.

"Might I enquire as to the nature of this generous offer?" she asked Sidney, intrigued. "A potential investor, perhaps?"

"The very opposite." Sidney's voice was clipped, impatient. He abhorred having to disclose details about his personal life that should by all rights be private. But he had prepared himself, albeit reluctantly, knowing such questions might arise during this meeting and tried to answer as impassively as possible without giving away his deeper emotions.

"It was an offer of marriage from a very wealthy woman with whom I was once closely acquainted. But she would not have lifted a finger otherwise to aid Sanditon or my family if she did not have a vested interest. She could have offered to invest without insisting on a marriage, but she did not. But most importantly, Miss Heywood and I are waiting to officially announce our engagement, which we shall do once we speak to her parents." He looked at Charlotte, seated on the sofa adjacent to his chair, and his eyes softened, his temper abating. "I have neither a wish nor any intention of breaking our betrothal."

Miss Abbott's eyes flicked between the two. "Still, it would solve all your problems in one stroke if you were to gain access to a vast fortune," she persisted. "Many an understanding has been set aside for far less significant reasons and many a young lady has been passed over for a fortune."

"It would solve my brother's problems, not mine," said Sidney heatedly,

He did not even once look at his brother, but Tom felt the waves of derision coming from him.

"And my engagement with Charlotte is not up for negotiation."

First Lady Worcester and now this Miss Abbott, who did not even know him — the gall, Sidney thought, clenching his jaw in anger. He had given them no reason to see him as a cad who philandered and trifled with a young lady's feelings. Even his grim reputation came from being a taciturn and reserved man rather than a rake who dallied with unmarried misses. He had never paid much heed to young women of marrying age who had set their caps for him.

Miss Abbott smiled a genuine smile. "I did not mean to insult you, Mr. Sidney. I merely wished to ascertain your true feelings in this matter. My brother and I take care not to have our work used as a means of hurting someone innocent simply for the sake of gaining more money. There have been a few people who have attempted to take advantage of us before, particularly assuming they can get away with it because I am a woman."

She continued to pace up and down, thinking, musing out loud. "There are very few women in England with a fortune that can easily cover an eighty thousand pound debt. In fact, the only one who is best capable of doing so is your own ward, Miss Georgiana Lambe."

"It was not Miss Lambe who made the offer of marriage." Sidney did not know whether he wanted to laugh or to lose his temper at Miss Abbott's absurd line of thinking. "Miss Lambe is my ward, and views me as her jailor who keeps her locked up in her lodgings like a criminal. She would rather push me off the cliffs of Sanditon than offer to marry me to rescue my family from debt. Besides, I would not touch a penny of her money. Her father entrusted me to keep her and her wealth safe from fortune hunters, and that is another promise I have no intention of breaking."

He let his impatience seep into his voice. He had enough of discussing these useless matters and wanted to get on with the real reason they were all here today.

Susan took pity on Sidney. "It was Mrs. Campion who made him the offer of marriage," she informed the Abbotts, knowing well that they would not be making these enquiries without reason.

"Mrs. Campion? Mrs. Eliza Campion?"

"Yes, the wealthiest widow in England," replied Tom, voice dripping with bitterness. He had clearly still not forgiven Sidney for refusing to marry her.

Miss Abbott turned to exchange a significant look with her brother. He held her gaze, and after a moment, nodded.

"It is not common knowledge yet," Miss Abbott said, turning back to the others, "And I must insist that you do not reveal this piece of information to anyone outside this room. But I believe you should know Mrs. Campion did not inherit her husband's fortune."

Everyone stared.

Tom was the first one to find his voice. "You must be mistaken–"

"I assure you we are not." said Matthew Abbott firmly, with an edge to his voice. He had little patience for the likes of Mr. Tom Parker. He and Penelope had come across many such people in the course of their work who felt no compunction in forcing their family members to bear the burden of their poor choices and decisions while they themselves disclaimed any responsibility.

"It is our job to find and know such information, Mr. Parker." Miss Abbott's tone was calmer but cooler than her brother's. "Edmund Campion left his wife a tidy sum but she did not inherit all his money. His nephew — his sister's son, Robert White — was his heir until he suddenly died in October last year. Just a couple of months, in fact, before Mr. Campion's own death, which occurred sometime before last Christmas. After Mr. White's demise, Mr. Campion changed his will and now the son of Mrs. Isabella Huxley — his niece, Mr. White's sister — has inherited his wealth. The boy is barely six or seven years old, I believe. His father Mr. Richard Huxley is now the president of Campion Industries. He will run the company and act as guardian, advised by Mr. Campion's lawyers, until the boy comes of age."

There was a shocked silence.

"So the entire beau monde just assumed Mrs. Campion had inherited her husband's money?" Arthur ventured. "And she has let them believe it?"

Miss Abbott nodded. "That would appear to be the case."

"Why would she lie about something so important?" demanded Tom. "She would not conceal such a truth from you, Sidney, nor from any of the Parkers. She is a very dear friend of the family."

That was stretching it, even for Tom's prodigious ability to exaggerate facts and distort the truth to suit his own needs. He seemed adamant on defending Eliza Campion, although Sidney could not fathom why.

"She absolutely would do everything to conceal this knowledge from everyone," Sidney countered. "Claiming to be the richest widow in England affords her unparalleled status and influence in the beau monde. She would do anything to ensure such a detail remains unknown to society."

"No, you must have your facts wrong," Tom insisted to the Abbotts, as if repeating it forcefully over again and again would make it the truth.

"Our information is accurate, I assure you. Mr. Campion left his wife no more than a sum of ten thousand pounds."

"Ten thousand pounds is not a small fortune," Mary observed.

"No. But it is a pittance compared to the vast scope of her husband's wealth." Miss Abbott leaned back against the edge of Lord Babington's desk. "No one really knows the full extent of Mr. Campion's fortune, but its value is rumoured to be at least five hundred thousand pounds."

Everyone gasped.

"To a woman used to such riches, ten thousand pounds might well be ten pounds."

There was silence as everyone's minds worked to absorb this.

"You must be mistaken," Tom finally spoke, his voice weak. "That cannot be true. Eliza would not deceive us so…"

Tom sounded extremely upset, almost as if he was deeply hurt. But Sidney could not tell if it was because Eliza Campion was not as rich as she portrayed herself to be or because Tom was sorry he had missed an opportunity to approach Mr. Campion himself as an investor for Sanditon.

"If she has only ten thousand pounds — which is apparently a trivial sum by her standards, not mine," Sidney clarified his use of the word "only", "Then why is she so insistent on marrying me and promising to rescue Sanditon? She is aware of the Parkers' debt and the deadline to repay it. Surely she knows that her only worth to this family would be her money? Money it appears she does not possess?"

---

Unbeknownst to the gathering in Lord Babington's study, the very lady they were discussing had just arrived at the house.

"Inform Lord Babington and Mr. Sidney Parker that I am here to see them," Mrs. Campion imperiously commanded Welham, the butler, as she stepped past him into the grand entrance hall.

Usually the most personable of butlers, the woman's high-handedness made Welham look down his nose at her from his considerable height as he waited for her to give him her name. He knew who she was, of course. But as she had never visited any of Lord Babington's properties, he could claim ignorance.

"Mrs. Campion," the lady added frostily as she handed him her card, realising why he was looking at her expectantly. He must be witless if he did not recognise her on sight.

"I'm afraid Lord Babington is away at present," he informed her with an imperturbability that was typical of his profession. "But I can ch–"

"You will find that he is available and that he will receive me!" She glared at him. "He invited myself and Mr. Parker here himself to discuss an urgent matter." The effrontery of the man! Never had she been forced to explain herself to a mere servant!

Augusta came out of one of the ground floor parlours, where she had been replying to letters in a bid to tackle her correspondence. She had heard the raised voices and wondered who was calling who could incite such a reaction in Welham. Only someone who knew the butler well could tell that he was positively quivering with anger and indignation.

Augusta saw a slim blonde woman in the entrance hall, her hair done up impeccably and wearing a lilac gown of the latest fashion. With her blonde hair and pale colouring, she was very pretty, if one subscribed to the standards of beauty favoured by London society. Her looks, however, were marred by an expression of anger and petulance that made her look like a spoilt, sulky child.

Mrs. Campion glanced disinterestedly at the girl who entered the front hall. With her simple morning gown and casually arranged hair, Augusta did not look anything like Eliza's idea of what a young lady from a prestigious family would be expected to look, and certainly not an earl's sister at that.

"Lady Augusta. I was just explaining to Mrs. Campion that Lord Babington is out at present."

It took some effort for Augusta to control her reaction and not give away her surprise at discovering the woman's identity. What on earth was the elegant widow doing here? There were no signs of any crooked buttons on her dress this time!

"Welham is right, I'm afraid, Mrs. Campion. My brother left earlier this morning and is not expected back anytime soon. If you wish, you could leave a message that I could convey to him?"

On hearing the butler address the young lady by her title, the other woman's expression had immediately altered, the scowl disappearing and a smile replacing it instead. No doubt she imagined it was a polite, friendly smile but it came across as patently false and condescending.

"Lord Babington might be out for other callers, but I can assure you he is available to meet me, my lady," she said, her tone patronising, as if she was explaining something to a small child.

Augusta bit the inside of her lip, trying not to retort at the woman's entitled manner. "I'm afraid my brother truly isn't at home."

"My lady, I am aware that Mr. Sidney Parker arrived here a little while ago."

Augusta wondered how she knew that.

"Lord Babington invited him and I to deal with an extremely pressing matter." Mrs. Campion continued. "I hope you will not keep them, and me, waiting." It was a command barely couched in the tones of a polite request.

Augusta steeled herself, seeing that Mrs. Campion would not be put off. "It is true that Mr. Parker arrived here some time ago."

Mrs. Campion looked at her in triumph.

"But he and my brother left soon after."

Mrs. Campion's expression fell. "That is not possible!" she exclaimed irately.

Augusta had patience drilled into her by her childhood governess. But she had none to spare at the moment for someone like Eliza Campion. "Are you insinuating that I am lying?" she asked, adopting her mother's offended-highborn-lady voice. Her mother rarely had cause to use it, and at any rate detested lording her station over other people. But it did have its uses.

"Of course not, my lady," Mrs. Campion ground out, forcing herself to be polite. For all that her dead husband had been one of the richest men in the country, she was very conscious that he did not have a title, and consequently neither did she. "But he might not have apprised you of the importance of this meeting and the imperativeness of my presence."

"I assure you, my brother would not have forgotten to inform me had he planned any such important meeting at home today, nor of who would be attending."

"Perhaps," Mrs. Campion said a tad desperately. "Perhaps they have changed the venue and forgotten to inform me. If you could tell me where Lord Babington and Mr. Parker went, my lady–"

"I doubt it." Augusta shrugged. "But even if that were the case, I'm afraid I would not be able to give you their direction. My brother did not share that information with me."

"Lady Augusta, I cannot overstate the importance and urgency of my business with your brother and Mr. Parker–"

"So you have said." Augusta waited a beat for the other lady to see that her insistence was futile. "I am sorry, Mrs. Campion. I cannot help you there."

The elegant widow looked like she was going to explode from anger and agitation, but could not do anything about it.

Augusta and Welham watched in amazement as she stamped her foot, then turned on her heel and stalked out of the front door like a petulant child denied their latest whim, without so much as a thank you or a goodbye.

"An express came for Mr. Parker just before Mrs. Campion arrived." Welham said as they watched the woman stomp down the short driveway and climb into her carriage. "The courier who brought it said he had come from Willingden."

"Willingden! That's where Miss Heywood's family lives." She took the sealed envelope he handed her as they closed the front door behind them, having ensured that Mrs. Campion's carriage was rolling away from the house. "I better go give it to them."

---

Eliza Campion flung herself into her carriage and let out a snarl of frustration. Damn that Scroggs! Her footman had learnt and informed her of Lord Babington's return to town, but had said nothing about Lady Augusta being here too. She had arrived at Babington House expecting to easily bully the servants into letting her meet Sidney and Babington and disrupt whatever they were plotting.

That they were plotting, she had no doubt. She knew Sidney was still searching for a way to cover his stupid brother's enormous debt. Her informants had kept her updated of his movements and from her own correspondence with Tom Parker himself, she was aware that the rest of the Parker siblings had arrived in London this morning. Tom must have shown him her letter by now, with her offer of marriage.

She knew she had deviated from the plan by accosting Miss Heywood the previous day. But she could not let go of such a magnificent opportunity to remind that upstart of her true station in society. What a brilliant masterstroke that had been! Or so she had thought.

She had fully expected Sidney to come running to see her after she conveyed her message via that insignificant country chit. She had looked forward to making him squirm — no, grovel! — for the dismissive way in which he had sent her away from Sanditon after that provincial regatta. For telling her he was a changed man and did not think them compatible anymore. Eliza had never heard such drivel in her life!

Instead, she had been left waiting for hours without Sidney bothering to make an appearance. She even had to cancel her plans to attend Lady Hammond's dinner party and ball last night, which she had fully expected to attend on his arm and reinforce the rumours she had been spreading about their prospective engagement. And now, she was forced to take these steps to seek him out. How humiliating and undignified for her — Mrs. Campion, the most sought after window in England — to have to chase after him like some common miss on the marriage mart intent on entrapping an unsuspecting victim.

Eliza seethed at being treated in this manner, where people did not jump to obey her and act as she expected them to. It had never been a problem when Mr. Campion was alive. Everyone had then been at her beck and call; she had merely to raise a finger, and sometimes not even that, before a dozen people jumped to fulfil her every wish and whim. But with Mr. Campion dead, she was increasingly finding that she could not command people — servants and society members alike — as she had done before. Surely news of her circumstances had not got out? No, it couldn't have. She had made sure it would not.

---

Meanwhile, in the study, Lady Susan had managed to steer the proceedings back to the important, actual business of the day.

Miss Abbott had begun outlining the course of action. The first and most immediate order of business was, of course, to procure funds from investors to pay back Lady Denham and the banks. They would then chart a plan of how to continue the development of Sanditon.

"You need capital to finance further construction works and undertake other projects," Miss Abbott explained. "We can find more investors to contribute to a fund for this purpose for future long-term investing. You could even tie up with merchants who could open a branch of their enterprise in Sanditon."

"That way, they get to expand their businesses and Sanditon will have more to offer to visitors," Charlotte said, understanding. "But not at the expense of the local shopkeepers and merchants of course!"

It earned her a wide grin of approval from the other young lady.

"Precisely. But first," Miss Abbott turned to address Tom. "Is there anyone else you owe other than the banks and Lady Denham?"

Tom shook his head no.

"Are you sure?" Miss Abbott clearly understood by now that anything Tom said must be verified twice over.

"Of course I'm sure!" he responded indignantly.

"What about the money you owe Sidney?"

Everyone's heads swivelled from Tom to Mary.

"What are you talking about, my dear?" Tom shifted nervously.

"I am aware Sidney has lent you money on more than one occasion since he returned from Antigua." Mary held her husband's gaze, an unspoken challenge in her eyes. Clearly, she saw no more reason for discretion within this small circle of people in Lord Babington's study. "How much is the amount, and when and how do you intend to repay him?"

Tom stayed silent, face slowly reddening in anger and embarrassment.

Sidney shifted in his seat. "Mary–"

His sister-in-law silenced him with a look before turning back to her husband. "Well?"

Tom looked away. He did not know how much money Sidney had given him in the last two years; he had never bothered to keep track. But surely it was a trifling sum? How did it matter how much Sidney had given him, anyway? Privately, subconsciously, he had never expected to have to pay his brother back.

Tom looked around and realised everyone was looking at him expectantly. "Surely that can be settled between us later?" he stammered out. "We are family after all."

"How much do you owe him, Tom?"

It was Arthur who voiced the question this time. The youngest Parker sibling had not the confidence or the ability of his older brothers. But if there was one thing he had learnt from the past few days, watching the interactions between them, it was that in staying quiet, the rest of the family had all enabled Tom's megalomania and allowed his preoccupation with Sanditon to get out of control. Their eldest brother could not be trusted with the power and responsibility that came with being the head of the family because he did not seem to care who he harmed in the pursuit of his own selfish goals.

Arthur blushed faintly when he felt the room's eyes on him, but felt bolstered by the nod of approval he received from Matthew Abbott.

Mary's eyes shifted to Sidney, expecting an answer, her expression brooking no argument.

Sidney sighed. "About seven thousand pounds."

Tom's jaw dropped. "Surely it cannot be that high a figure!"

"It is all documented in my accounts, brother. Of that amount, three thousand is what you required a fortnight ago to pay the labourers as well as the bills for the building material. Which you still have not done, have you?"

Tom did not respond.

Mary felt faint. "And this does not include what you paid for the houses."

"I bought the houses from him. They're mine." Sidney would not budge on this point. He would not give up Bedford Place and the old Parker House back to Tom for any amount of money. Tom would only try to sell them off again, this time to some buyer outside the family who would not even pay him enough.

Mary had to leave it at that. But she turned to the Abbotts. "As you have just heard, my husband owes not eighty thousand, but closer to ninety thousand pounds."

"If Mr. Sidney is willing to wait a little longer, provisions can be made to have this money returned to him separately, after we secure the rest of the debt."

"That would be fine," Sidney said to Matthew Abbott before anyone else could speak.

"As to covering the debt, I can put up ten thousand pounds."

Charlotte's eyes widened. "But Susan–"

"Hush, my dear." Susan smiled at Charlotte, who was staring at her, stunned. "Not to worry. I only regret I cannot do more."

"I can put up ten thousand as well," said Babington. "And Crowe can add five thousand." He noticed Sidney's look of surprise. "You didn't think we wouldn't want to help out, did you? Crowe has authorised me to promise this amount on his behalf."

Sidney swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded to his friend, silently thanking him for both his and Crowe's support. His friends had stood by him through thick and thin since the time they had been together in school and he could not be more grateful for them.

He cleared his throat. "I can add in five thousand of my own." He had recently converted some of his business holdings as well as his own investments into cash for exactly such a reason.

"You can count on my inheritance too," Arthur added.

"Unless it is a substantial inheritance, I would advise against that, Mr. Arthur," Miss Abbott interjected. "Unlike Mr. Sidney, you have no other means of income."

Arthur's shoulders dropped. He felt disappointed and slightly hurt. He wanted so badly to contribute and help out his brothers, but no one seemed to take him seriously.

"You have to be able to live, Mr. Arthur," Matthew Abbott explained kindly, trying to soften his sister's matter-of-fact tones. "And you might be required to support some of your family members as well. I am sure there are other ways in which your help would be far more valuable."

Arthur squared his shoulders and nodded, wordlessly thanking Mr. Abbott. He really was a very kind man, and he could see what the siblings had meant when they said the brother was far better at handling people than the sister.

Miss Abbott smiled at Arthur too, which assured him she had not meant her words in any disparaging manner.

She turned back to the rest of the room. "That still leaves us with fifty thousand pounds."

"I approached a number of people in the past three days," said Sidney. "But not a single one was willing to invest."

"Matthew and I conducted our own investigations when we heard rumours that someone was advising people against investing in Sanditon. It was Mrs. Campion."

"What?!"

"I also made some enquiries," Susan added. "But I am yet to learn of anything conclusive. It did appear to me, with most of the people I spoke to, that they were reluctant to invest in Sanditon because they had been… persuaded otherwise by someone. I presume this someone is Mrs. Campion and that these people might owe her some sort of favour."

Charlotte was astonished to hear this, but felt that she should not be. It did not surprise her that the beau monde worked in this way, with people jockeying for favours and support, power and influence.

"It seemed to me," Susan continued, "That offering her fortune via marriage to you, Mr. Sidney, in order to save your brother, was Mrs. Campion's way of securing you. But with the latest information revealed by Mr. and Miss Abbott, I cannot understand why she does not want anyone else to help you when she cannot do so herself. Other than her viewing it as some sort of competition with Charlotte."

None of the others could think of any suitable reason either.

"Is it possible Mrs. Campion has influenced the banks as well?" Charlotte asked.

"That is highly unlikely. Banks are extremely powerful in their own right and have their own agenda," Miss Abbott explained. "Someone of Mr. Campion's calibre might have held some degree of sway over them. But his wife does not have such clout, no matter what she portrays. She could most certainly exert social pressure on members of the beau monde. But not the banks. They would refuse any further investment in Sanditon purely based on the funds they have already loaned Mr. Tom, without any sign of returns."

The door to the study opened just then, admitting Augusta. "I hate to interrupt, but you must know Mrs Campion just paid us a visit."

Everybody sat up, alarmed.

"I sent her away," Augusta waved her hand to calm everyone's worries. "She claimed you invited her here today along with Sidney, George, to discuss 'a most important and urgent matter'. I told her you both had already left and I did not know where you had gone."

"But how did she know we are here?" asked Diana, perplexed.

"Charlotte suspects she might have someone spying on us," Sidney replied grimly. "And Crowe and I think she is right, though we are yet to uncover any evidence of it. The staff at Bedford Place are keeping a lookout for anyone suspicious and making enquiries."

"Best instruct the footmen to keep watch on all the entrances and exits here too."

Babington rose from his seat, but Augusta gestured for him to sit back down. "I've already done that. Welham and Hughes are seeing to it as we speak. Oh, and there was a courier from Willingden!"

"Willingden!" Charlotte leapt up from her chair and almost plucked the note from Augusta's hand before she realised Augusta had extended it towards Sidney. She ducked her head sheepishly, cheeks burning, but he smiled in understanding and held the note out to her.

She took it from him gratefully and Sidney thought — a rather inappropriate and very distracting thought in the middle of such a serious meeting — that he would move mountains just to have her look at him like that again.

Charlotte ripped open the note and quickly scanned it. "Mr. Crowe arrived safely at my parents' home last night," she reported. "He has conveyed our message and Alison says everyone is safe and sound and not to worry. Papa has instructed all my siblings not to step out beyond the back garden or the front yard. And Mr. Crowe intends to recruit the older ones among my brothers and sisters to keep a close watch for any strangers they might spot near the estate."

She closed the note, overwhelmed with relief and gratitude. She would never doubt Mr. Crowe again.

Sidney was extremely relieved too, as were the other Parkers. He would never have forgiven himself if something had happened to the Heywoods. And not just because they were soon to be his family; he was furious at the thought that Eliza would not hesitate to hurt someone innocent simply for the sake of her own machinations. He was also doubly indebted to Crowe.

But there was more that Sidney needed to know.

"Alison had to tell Mamma and Papa about our betrothal," Charlotte confessed. "Papa is rather… vexed. He insists I come home as soon as matters here in London are sorted. And he expects you to visit him soon, too, Sidney."

Whatever nerves Sidney had about meeting Charlotte's family, he had so far managed to push to the background; he had other, more immediate matters to deal with before he could even think about that. But now, her words brought them to the fore in full force.

"Er…" he floundered, completely at a loss for words.

Lady Worcester came to his rescue. "If you are to return to Willingden soon, then we must ensure our business here is concluded first, must we not?" she said to Charlotte. "Come, my dear. We can discuss those matters later."

"Of course." Charlotte shook her head at herself and resumed her seat.

Sidney shot Lady Worcester a look of gratitude.

The Abbott siblings looked both intrigued and bemused at the family drama unfolding before them. None of their clients had ever been embroiled in anything even half as extraordinary.

"Please, let us continue," Susan instructed them.

No one noticed Augusta quietly easing herself into a chair next to Diana Parker, who had spent the entire meeting sitting quietly to one side. Augusta was certainly not going to leave when she was dying to know what was happening. She had always liked Sidney and she already felt a firm sense of friendship towards Charlotte. She had never seen two people more clearly and deeply in love and was firmly in their corner, rooting for them to get their happily-ever-after.

Diana flashed Lady Augusta an uncertain, absent smile when she sat down next to her. The past few days had been very bewildering for the Parker sister, the events from this morning particularly so. She had been so absorbed with her own health issues that she had no idea of the struggles and conflict going on between her two oldest brothers. Even Arthur seemed to be better informed than her. It was too much to absorb and she had resigned herself to listening for now, a little intimidated by the confident Miss Abbott, the very capable Miss Heywood, and even dear Mary, who seemed to have developed nerves of steel. She would speak to Sidney and Mary later, and find a way to offer her help. She shook herself and paid attention to what Miss Abbott was saying.

"Well, there remains the matter of finding investors for the remaining fifty thousand pounds," Miss Abbott reminded the room. "Have any of you any suggestions?"

"I was going to suggest approaching some of our fellow members at the club," Babington began. "I made some enquiries and shortlisted some serious investors. But Mother suggested we should first speak to a cousin of mine, Lord Melrose. He's a distant relation and has lived abroad most of his life, so I did not know he returned to the country a short time ago. He's rich as Croesus and Mother says he might be inclined to help. He seems a reasonable man and if he agrees to invest, his contribution will be significant."

"I would also suggest approaching Lord and Lady Grasmere," said Susan. "Lady Grasmere is my late husband's aunt. Lord Grasmere attended the regatta and was quite impressed by everything he saw."

She smiled at Charlotte, who remembered being introduced to the silver-haired man she spoke of.

"Good idea," said Matthew. "If Lord Melrose, and Lord and Lady Grasmere invest, it will encourage others also to do as well, and attract more investors. They are both considered to be quite canny with their financial affairs. Mrs. Campion's influence can easily be overturned."

"Matthew and I will also put together a list from our own clients who would not be averse to high-risk investments," said Miss Abbott. "Several smaller investors together would cover a substantial portion of the debt. And if their capital is not immediately required, they can be directed towards the fund set up for future works under the venture."

She made a note in her notebook.

"There are other issues that must be considered. You need to prepare a plan, even a rough one at first, of how the Sanditon development will progress. Of what attractions and amenities you intend to provide to visitors."

"We have the sea air!" said Tom. "Better than any medicine or tonic! And there, there is the sea itself. We have the most wondrous sandy beaches and modern facilities for sea-bathing. We have Dr. Fuchs, and his specialist hydropathy treatments and remedies. Most inventive! We have sailing and fishing. We will have the midsummer ball as well as the regatta in the summer. We have the cliff walk and we will soon be building a pagoda. We are a first-class bathing resort, or we soon will be. What more can visitors need?" he asked, sounding remarkably like Lady Denham. After the events of the day and finding no support from his family, the man who was usually so full of ideas was, for once, at a loss for new ones.

"That might not be enough, Mr. Parker," Matthew Abbott said seriously. "You might be able to attract the beau monde to Sanditon a few times through the year with some select events. You might even be able to tempt some of the lords and ladies to rent houses and stay for a few weeks during the summer. But Sanditon will never be able to compete with Brighton, which has not only many frivolous and gaudy entertainments but also the patronage of the Prince Regent. And correct me if I'm wrong, Lady Worcester, but the Prince Regent will never favour Sanditon over Brighton even if he were to visit."

"Unfortunately, you are right," said Susan.

"Sanditon has to be different, have different attractions," Miss Abbott took up from her brother. "If people just wanted to take hydropathy treatments, they would rather go to Bath to take the waters."

She let this sink in, then moved on to the next pertinent point. "There is one other aspect that must be addressed. The venture must have someone in charge, someone to manage it and oversee its daily progress."

Tom opened his mouth but Susan spoke over him.

"As an investor in this venture, I agree with Penelope. Given the previous mismanagement of the town's development, I — and I'm sure I speak for all the other investors as well, current and prospective — that we would like to be assured our money is in safe hands. Not just for our own financial security, but also for that of the project as well as all the people who will be working under it. I want you, Sidney, to be in charge."

Tom's head immediately whipped around in alarm.

Sidney had foreseen this. How could he not, when everyone in the room was aware of Tom's utter ineptitude, which had landed them in this position in the first place? But that did not ease the weight of his increasing responsibilities. He had his own business to manage, and it was even more crucial now that it flourish and bring in a good income for the Parkers. Despite Arthur's offer of his inheritance, Sidney knew it would be he who would be finally responsible for ensuring Mary and her children could lead comfortable, financially secure lives. And rightly so.

Babington cleared his throat. Unlike Susan, he glanced at Tom, uncomfortable at the implications of this line of conversation. But it had to be said. "I concur with Susan. I know this adds to the considerable responsibilities you already handle with your businesses and other matters, Sidney. But I — and the others — would rest easy knowing you were at the helm of things."

Matthew Abbott nodded. "I'm afraid all investors would insist on this condition."

Sidney rose from his seat and went to stand at the windows, staring out at the view though he saw none of it. His mind was buzzing with a thousand thoughts at once. After a moment, he took a deep breath and he turned back around. His eyes met Charlotte's — she smiled at him gently, and he knew she understood his reservations. But he could read her eyes; she was also wordlessly assuring him he could do it, that he had her full support.

He held her gaze for a long moment as his brain worked furiously on the idea that had just occurred to him. Would Charlotte agree? His eyes flicked to Susan and Mary, seated beside each other, and he could immediately tell that they both knew exactly what he was thinking. And they both approved.

He crossed over to Charlotte and knelt on the floor before her, and her eyes widened in utter and complete astonishment. She glanced around at the room, a little flustered, to find everyone staring agog at her and Sidney. Augusta's face was positively alight with glee, as if she expected him to make a grand declaration of love.

In another corner, Matthew Abbott turned to Arthur, his eyes comically wide and questioning. Arthur looked back, equally wide-eyed, and shrugged, conveying he had no idea of what Sidney was doing. All he knew was that falling in love with Miss Heywood had brought about a sea change in his brother, which he welcomed wholeheartedly.

"Charlotte," Sidney said gently, his brown eyes earnest, "I am sorry to spring this on you in such a sudden fashion. But if you are willing, I would like for you to handle the daily management of the Sanditon project."

Out of his line of sight, Susan and Mary beamed at him. Tom looked shocked.

Charlotte's mouth fell open. "Me? But– but… I know nothing of handling such a venture. I have never– I–" She fumbled uncharacteristically, not knowing what to say. She had never imagined Sidney would ever propose something like this.

"There is no one else I can think of more capable," he said, speaking with his eyes and his heart as well as his words. "Nor who would truly consider the welfare of the town and its people. The regatta was your idea, and you planned and organised the events practically all by yourself. And you help your father manage his estate and his tenants. I know you have the skills."

"That is hardly the same thing," she protested. But her mind was already whirling with thoughts and ideas that she had had over the past few weeks, when she had entertained herself by idly wondering what she would do if she ever had the opportunity to contribute to the development of a whole town. She could not deny that it sounded like a wonderful challenge. But equally, she could not deny that it frightened her.

As she stared into Sidney's eyes, it struck her that his gesture was indeed very much a grand declaration of love. It showed his faith and trust in her and her abilities, which he was not afraid to demonstrate before their circle of family and friends. She was beyond touched.

"I do not expect you to do it all alone," Sidney assured her. "I am not stepping back from it by asking you to take charge. I will be with you every step of the way, I will oversee every aspect, and all the final decisions will be mine. But the management of my own business affairs requires considerable attention. I do not want to neglect either enterprise in trying to handle both all by myself. Besides, you are the only right person for this job, Charlotte."

He reached up and grasped her hand. "Partners, remember?" he murmured, this time for her ears only.

Charlotte held his gaze and saw nothing but absolute sincerity. She recalled her own words to him back in Sanditon, what she had said to him when he'd tried to break their engagement to save her reputation: You have to let me help you. You're not alone anymore, Sidney, you don't have to deal with everything by yourself.

And during their conversation in the carriage on the way to Susan's house: I want to help. I want us to be partners, Sidney.

Had that just been yesterday morning? It felt like so much longer. She relived the way he had eased her nerves, praised her accomplishments, and kissed her most ardently. And now, he was providing them a way to truly be partners in every sense of the word, not just in their marriage but in their work as well.

Charlotte held his gaze, a lump in her throat, her eyes a little misty with tears that thankfully did not fall. She turned to look at Susan and Mary and Arthur and Diana, and even Lord Babington and Augusta. They all beamed back at her, nodding in encouragement, showing no hesitation at Sidney's proposition. They all believed she could do it, she realised. They all wanted her to do it.

Everyone except–

"No!" Tom finally found his voice. "No! Sanditon is my project! My dream! My vision! You cannot just take it away from me! I refuse to allow this!" His face was tight with rage and disbelief.

"I'm afraid we must insist, Tom," said Babington, all traces of his previous discomfort gone. "We need to be sure our investment is in safe hands."

"Are you insinuating I would not be careful with your money?" Tom demanded, pushing to his feet.

"No, Tom, I am stating it outright." Babington leaned back in his chair. He had fully donned his "lord" persona, his natural leadership and decisiveness coming to the fore. Tom's irresponsible behaviour had to be curtailed and clearly this was the only way to rein him in.

"This is our condition of investment. Lady Susan, Crowe and I will only invest if Sidney is in charge of the project. And I approve of Miss Heywood handling the management. It did not occur to me before but it is an eminently sensible suggestion. Sidney is right; there is no one else more capable of managing the venture who would also keep in mind the interests of the town and its people."

"I refuse!" Tom howled. "I will not allow it! I will not allow Sidney and Charlotte to usurp my position! To steal my dream!"

"Sidney is only doing this to help you," responded Babington ruthlessly. "To save your family. He could easily have left you to the mercy of your creditors. He would wash his hands off this whole thing if he could."

"Sidney would never do that! He is my brother!"

"And you are not treating him like one," said Mary. "You have not treated him like your brother for many months now. You expect him to do your bidding as if he is an employee or a servant. This is out of your hands, Tom. I support Sidney's decision."

"As do I," added Arthur. "We said we would take whatever course of action that suits everyone's best interests. This is it."

Tom whirled on Sidney, his eyes bulging with anger. "None of this would be happening if you had just agreed to marry Mrs. Campion!"

"For God's sake, Tom, have you completely lost your mind? Forget everything else, you just learnt she does not have the money!"

Tom stared at his brother and the people gathered before him. His eyes were wild, and his hair was standing on end from the number of times he had run his hand through it. He was coming to the sinking realisation that everything he had worked for, his entire purpose, was being snatched away from him and there was nothing he could do about it. His wife was against him, his siblings were against him. This entire room was against him. He felt swamped with anger and despair.

The fraught silence was broken by a knock on the door. It was Welham.

"Lord Ashbourne is here to see you, my lord."

"I asked not to be disturbed, Welham." Babington reminded the butler, a note of impatience creeping into his voice.

"He insisted, my lord. He claims it is a matter of extreme urgency. He arrived at the servants' entrance, and is accompanied by a Mr. Martin Blake and a Miss Cassandra Reynolds."

"Martin!" Mary exclaimed. "Whatever can this mean?"

"They said they were directed here from Bedford Place by a Mr. Morgan." Welham reported.

"Martin is Mary's brother, and Morgan would never have given away our location if it wasn't urgent," said Sidney to his friend. "Let them in, Babbers."

"But why would they come to the servants' entrance?" asked Babington, bewildered.

"Clearly they did not want to be seen coming here!" remarked Augusta, causing her brother to frown when he realised she had not left his study after delivering her message.

Moments later, Welham was directing the three new arrivals into the study. They came to a halt, rather taken aback by the unexpectedly large group of people gathered in the room.

"Ashbourne." Lord Babington strode forward to shake the man's hand. "Why all the secrecy?"

"Mrs. Eliza Campion's carriage is parked two houses down, Babington," Lord Ashbourne quietly informed him. "It appears she is having your house watched. We could not risk entering from the front and having her spot Miss Reynolds."

Babington glanced curiously at the primly-dressed blonde-haired woman, who seemed to be about Mary Parker's age, accompanying Lord Ashbourne and the man he presumed was Mr. Martin Blake.

Lord Ashbourne glanced around the room. "We were hoping to speak to the Parkers alone on a confidential and rather sensitive matter."

Martin Blake meanwhile was hugging Mary Parker, who had rushed to his side. "My lord," he said, his arm still around his sister's shoulders. Both lords turned to face him. "Everybody here — well, almost everyone here — is a family connection and they are probably gathered to discuss matters related to the one we wish to speak with them about. I think we can converse freely?" he asked Mary, who nodded.

"Mr. Blake is right." Sidney stepped forward. He did not know why, but Martin's presence here with a man who ranked high in social and government circles had put his every sense on full alert.

For the third time that morning, introductions were swiftly made between the various people who did not know each other and the gathering rearranged itself to accommodate the new arrivals.

"Lord Ashbourne works at Whitehall," Babington explained to the others. "He investigates sensitive financial matters for the Crown."

This knowledge did nothing to calm Sidney's worries.

But the most surprising introduction was that of Miss Cassandra Reynolds. Everyone was amazed to learn that she was a governess in the household of Mrs. Isabella Huxley, who was Mr. Campion's niece. The same Mrs. Huxley whose small son had apparently inherited his great-uncle's vast fortune.

"Now, what did you want to speak to us about?"

"Before we begin, you must know that we might have to share some extremely confidential and sensitive information with you," said Lord Ashbourne to the room. "If that is the case, I must insist that you will never repeat what you hear today to anyone outside of this room."

"Of course," Babington promised on everyone's behalf. "You have my word."

He glanced around the room to ensure everyone understood the gravity of his promise. If any of them revealed anything, it would be his reputation that would be tarnished, which would have grave consequences indeed, considering he was a peer of the realm.

It was Martin Blake who took the lead.

"Tom," he addressed his brother-in-law, bluntly coming to the point. "Have you given Mrs. Eliza Campion any money to invest on your behalf in one of Mr. Campion's speculative schemes?"

There was a sharp intake of breath from all the Parkers.

Tom's mouth fell open. His eyes darted guiltily towards Sidney, then Mary. "I– ehm– er…"

Martin grimaced and huffed out a breath. "I feared as much. How much did you give her?"

Tom could see there was no use pretending he had not done it. "Five thousand pounds," he almost whispered.

Sidney, who had moved to the seat next to Charlotte, closed his eyes for a moment, willing himself to remain calm. Charlotte slid her fingers into his and he caught her hand in an iron grip.

"That's where the money from the children's accounts went," he said, his jaw clenching tightly, easing his hold so as not to crush her fingers. But her hand was the only thing holding him back from punching his brother again. "There were three thousand pounds in those accounts, Tom. Mr. Wetherby told me this morning he could not find a corresponding receipt as to where it was spent. He is visiting the bank as we speak, to obtain the withdrawal authorization document. Did you think we would not find out about this?"

He took a deep breath. "Where did you get the remaining two thousand?" But he had a strong feeling he knew the answer to that question.

Tom hesitated. "From the money you loaned me to pay the workers," he whispered, confirming Sidney's worst suspicions.

An ominous feeling of doom overcame Tom, similar to the one he had experienced while revealing to his family that he had no insurance and that he owed an enormous debt. He could not look his wife or his siblings in the eye but he rushed to explain.

"Eliza said her husband ran a number of successful investment schemes with high returns. She said the money would double in three months! I could not turn down such an opportunity, surely you can see that! Think of the how much money it would bring in, the works we could undertake for Sanditon!"

"No investment scheme doubles your money so quickly, Tom!" Babington could not believe the man's sheer stupidity. "You had to have known that! Everybody knows that!"

"It won't bring in any money at all, Tom," Martin told him, voice heavy. "It is a fraudulent scheme. Mrs. Campion has duped you. Just like her husband did to many others during his lifetime."

There was an appalled silence that was broken only by Diana's horrified gasp of "Oh no!"

Sidney let out a dark, cynical bark of laughter, startling everyone. "Of course it is a fraudulent scheme! What else could it be?"

He slumped back in his seat, a dark yet bleak expression on his face. His hand was still in Charlotte's and his fingers flexed around hers. Her heart went out to him. She could not even tell him not to be disheartened; how could one not be when faced with such folly? When would Tom's foolishness — and more importantly, the way it affected Sidney and the other Parkers — end?

Mary was trembling with fury as she rose to her feet. If looks could kill, her livid eyes would have decimated her husband a dozen times over.

"You did not have the money to buy insurance." Her voice shook, dangerously low, "Yet you had no qualms about stealing from our children and from Sidney and risking the sum on such a foolish gamble?"

The entire room held its breath, because Mary looked like she was — justifiably — on the verge of committing violence.

"And it was stealing," she hissed. "You have stolen our children's security, their futures. And Sidney's hard-earned money. All on the unreliable word of a manipulative woman whose nonexistent riches blinded you so much, you were just as ready to sell your brother to her."

She turned and walked to the window, and Martin immediately got up and joined her. He could feel his sister trembling, though she seemed unaware of it. She leant against him when he held her, but she was stiff as a board.

Tom could not raise his eyes from the expensive carpet in Lord Babington's study. All he could feel was the hot sting of the unfairness of his circumstances. It felt as if the entire world had collectively turned against him. His brother refused to act as he was supposed to, his wife did not support him anymore. His brother and his houseguest were trying to steal his vision, aided by their powerful friends. And now his only ally had thrown him under the carriage. His mind reeled.

"How have you come by this information, Mr. Blake?" Susan finally asked.

"Lord Ashbourne and I have been investigating Mr. Campion and his company for illegal business dealings and malpractices," Martin explained. "Miss Reynolds has been assisting us. Yesterday evening, she came across a ledger in the study of Mr. Richard Huxley — Mrs. Isabella Huxley's husband — with the details of these spurious investment schemes, including the names of those they have swindled. Tom's name is mentioned, along with the amount he gave Mrs. Campion."

"I also overheard Mrs. Campion speaking with Mr. Huxley last night." Miss Reynolds spoke up for the first time. Her voice was soft yet firm and clear, just as a governess's should be. "She seemed to be… amused by how easy it was to get Mr. Parker to give her the money because he thought it would help generate more funds for Sanditon."

She cast an uneasy glance at Tom, whose face was awash with humiliation. He could feel the disgust of every single person in the room coming at him in waves.

Miss Reynolds described the rest of the conversation. "When Mr. Huxley pointed out that Mr. Tom would soon learn the investment had not paid off and he had lost his money, Mrs. Campion laughed it off. Such schemes failed all the time, she said. And she was only trying to help her soon-to-be brother-in-law. If her late husband's so-far dependable scheme failed on this particular instance, how was it her fault? Besides, she claimed she would be married to Mr. Sidney by then, who would forgive her anything and not allow his brother to harass her about the money."

Sidney's face was rigid with anger. "Does Mrs. Campion think I'm a witless fool? Or does she imagine I was so enamoured by her that even a decade later, I would blindly obey and fulfil her every whim? That she can control me as if I was a puppet?"

"I think it is a bit of both, Mr. Sidney," replied Susan. "Mrs. Campion has been spreading rumours about your impending engagement. Perhaps she believes the fairytale she invented herself — that you and she are star-crossed lovers who were separated by misfortune, but have been given a second chance. It is certainly the story she has been telling everyone — how much you love her, how you could not fathom marrying anyone else and waited for her for a decade, and how she always knew you both would be reunited again."

Sidney looked nauseated by the very thought, which lifted Charlotte's heart even as she felt sorry for him. He was a private man and she knew he must be excruciatingly embarrassed to have his emotions and his past aired and discussed by a whole roomful of people.

Miss Reynolds spoke again: "Mrs. Campion also claimed she was acquiring these funds as a precaution, because once she married Mr. Sidney, she would no longer have to worry about money. But she would never allow herself to be caught off guard ever again."

"Because Mr. Campion only left her ten thousand pounds in his will?" asked Miss Abbott.

"No, it's because he left with nothing at all," said Miss Reynolds, causing a rustle of surprise to spread through the room. "Mr. Campion disinherited her in his last will, where he named Mrs. Huxley's son as his heir. But Mrs. Campion was already embezzling from her own husband for some months before his death."

This was too much information once again, and those gathered were genuinely flummoxed. What was going on with Mrs. Campion and her family?

"Disinherited? You mean, removed entirely?"

Miss Reynolds nodded. "He did not leave her even a single penny."

Susan had more questions but Charlotte spoke first.

"But Sidney does not have the kind of wealth she is looking for. And she is aware of his family's debt. Why is she still so determined to marry him?" She hoped she did not sound as vexed as she felt, because Mrs. Campion's persistence was extremely worrying.

Miss Reynolds shook her head. "I do not know why, Miss Heywood. Only that Mrs. Campion expects to be very rich once she marries him."

Silence.

"Although, while speaking with Mr. Huxley, she did mention Mr. Sidney's ward, Miss Lambe," Miss Reynolds mused. "I believe she is an heiress?"

Sidney, Charlotte, Susan, Arthur, and Babington all came to full alert.

"Sidney," said Arthur slowly, "In the event of Miss Lambe's…"

He trailed off, unable to articulate out loud the horrible thought that had occurred to him.

"Demise," Babington completed for him matter-of-factly. "In the event of Miss Lambe's demise while she is still unmarried, what happens to her fortune?"

Sidney looked at them, his eyes wide with fear. "It would come to me," he whispered

"Mrs. Campion would harm Georgiana?" Charlotte's voice was several pitches higher than usual.

"If Georgiana's life is in danger–" Sidney croaked, "She is alone in Sanditon. Mrs. Campion has already threatened Charlotte's family. But it never occurred to me that she would pose any kind of threat to Georgiana–"

He was overwhelmed. Too much was happening, too much to deal with. He could barely process it all. His mind felt bludgeoned with having to juggle so many things at a time. But one thing was for sure:

"I must go to Sanditon," he said, rising unsteadily to his feet.

"Yes. But not yet." Babington's voice was calm in response to Sidney's increased agitation. "Mrs. Campion has not done anything yet. If she intends to harm Miss Lambe, she will not risk doing so until she secures you first. Which we know will never happen. So, Georgiana is still safe for now, Sidney. And we can ensure this remains the case until you can go to Sanditon yourself. But you have other matters to tackle first," he reminded him.

Sidney was torn.

"Trust me," Babington said as he rang the bell. A footman immediately materialised in response to the summons. Within moments, Babington had given him precise instructions and despatched him along with another footman to Sanditon directly to ensure Miss Georgiana Lambe's safety until Sidney could personally make more permanent arrangements.

"You can trust them, Sidney, you know that," he reminded his best friend once the footmen had left the study. To the others, he added: "The footmen in my household staff are trained in hand-to-hand combat, self-defence, and shooting. They have to be capable of protecting Mother and Augusta, who often travel without me."

Sidney nodded, but his unease was evident as he sat down again in his seat next to Charlotte.

"Now, Lord Ashbourne," Susan said, "I think it is time you explained what you know of Mrs. Campion's actions, and how. And why Miss Reynolds is part of this."

"Yes, of course, my lady." Lord Ashbourne recognised the no-nonsense tone in the grande dame's order. "To understand Mrs. Campion's actions, you must first be made aware of some of the developments that have occurred in the Campion family over the past year or so. As well as the truth behind Mr. Campion's fortune. Miss Reynolds, would you please begin? After all, you have witnessed many of the events firsthand or received reliable information about them."

"Please bear with the long explanation," Martin added to everyone in the room. "For it truly is a convoluted state of affairs."

So, Miss Reynolds began narrating the tale.

It was common knowledge that Edmund Campion had always intended for his nephew, Mr. Robert White, to take over his company after his death. But about a year ago, Eliza Campion had discovered that Mr. White was also the heir to the bulk of Mr. Campion's entire fortune — her husband would leave her only ten thousand pounds upon his death. She was outraged and distressed to know this, even more so when she learnt that Mr. Campion had made this decision many years ago. He had never intended to leave her his wealth.

Not long afterwards, Eliza also discovered that Mr. Richard Huxley — who worked for Campion Industries and was the husband of Mr. Campion's niece — had been embezzling funds from his uncle-in-law for many years. He had been doing it very carefully, skimming only small amounts from various places in the vast array of business holdings to avoid being detected. But somehow, Mrs. Campion had become aware of his theft.

Now knowing she would not possess as much wealth after her husband's death as she had imagined, Eliza had blackmailed Richard Huxley into embezzling on her behalf as well. She ensured his silence and cooperation by threatening to expose his crime to her husband if he did not do as she ordered.

Then, Robert White had suddenly died in an accident in October. Shocked, angry and grieving, Edmund Campion had changed his will, named a new heir, and left Eliza with nothing when he himself died a couple of months later, just before Christmas.

"But he stipulated that she be allowed to stay in the Campion/Huxley house in London for a year after his death so she could make arrangements for her future," Miss Reynolds explained. "After one year, she would be forced to leave regardless of her situation."

Mr. and Mrs. Huxley had never been part of the London social scene and did not want the news of their child's inheritance to become public, fearing for his safety. This had allowed Mrs. Campion to successfully suppress the news that she had been cut out of her husband's will.

Mr. Huxley had carried on with the fraudulent activities for Campion Industries even after Mr. Campion's death, as well as the embezzlement under his new employer (who happened to be his own small son), and continued to give Mrs. Campion her share to ensure her silence. "Mrs. Campion must have some other information to blackmail him with, for him to continue pilfering the money," Miss Reynolds surmised.

Additionally, Mrs. Campion had managed to dupe a few people, including Tom Parker, using her husband's spurious investment scheme. From these two sources, she was slowly but surely amassing a tidy sum, stealing from her husband after his death to make up for what he had not given her in his will.

There was a pause as those listening tried to process this information.

Throughout this narration, Susan's penetrating gaze had not left Miss Reynolds. "Gaining your position as a governess in Mrs. Huxley's household was no accident, was it, Miss Reynolds?" she asked shrewdly.

"No, my lady." Miss Reynolds responded without hesitation. "Edmund Campion cheated my father out of all his business holdings fifteen years ago. My father killed himself and my family was left with no money. I have been looking for answers ever since I was old enough to leave home and take up an occupation to support my family. My father was a good businessman; he would not have been negligent and allowed such a catastrophe to befall his family or his work. I've always known Mr. Campion was somehow responsible for my father's misfortune."

Over the past decade, Miss Reynolds explained, she had found other families who had been cheated by Mr. Campion in different ways. But, like her, none of them had enough conclusive proof to accuse him of any crime nor were they powerful enough to call him out. She had come to London and worked as a governess to earn an income while she conducted discreet enquiries. It had been a stroke of sheer luck that Mrs. Huxley was looking for a governess for her daughter. Miss Reynolds' previous employments had provided her with enough genuine references to secure the position in the household in Knightsbridge.

This house was owned by Mr. Campion and it was where he stayed on his visits to London from the continent. Mr. Richard Huxley, the man now in charge of Campion Industries, operated from here and it was also where much of the paperwork related to Mr. Campion's business activities were kept.

"Miss Reynolds has been painstakingly going through his papers, looking for evidence of wrongdoing wherever she can find any," said Martin, pride evident in his voice as he sent an unmistakeably enamoured glance in the lady's direction. "She either copies out ledger pages or smuggles out entire documents for Lord Ashbourne and I."

"It has not been easy," Miss Reynolds confessed. "Like Mr. Campion, Mr. Huxley is a very organized man. He doesn't just leave incriminating papers lying around — there are concealed locations in the room where these documents are hidden. Besides, I have no reason to be in his office in the first place. But there are times when he is away every day and the room is left unguarded, and I have been sneaking in to gather evidence. Mr. Huxley believes no one in the household understands the entries in his ledgers. But I used to help my father, I know what manipulated sums and figures look like."

A few days ago, she had finally unearthed a huge cache of carefully maintained secret records of all the fraudulent activities Mr. Campion's company had undertaken in the past twenty years. The previous evening, while going through a ledger containing the details of the 'victims' of the fraudulent investment schemes, she had spotted Tom Parker's name with the word "Sanditon" and a sum of money marked next to it. Remembering that Martin had mentioned the Sanditon and Parker connection through his sister, she had immediately brought it to his notice. Martin had then revealed to her and Lord Ashbourne the state of Tom's affairs and his debt, after which they had rushed here to warn him.

"And for how long have you been investigating Mr. Campion?"

"For the past two years," Martin replied. "The fraudulent investment schemes were only one of several malpractices he used to cheat innocent people of their hard-earned money. He built a large part of his business empire and fortune by swindling people or cheating small entrepreneurs and taking over their entire business holdings."

"But Campion was a wily man, slippery as an eel, and covered his tracks extremely well," Lord Ashbourne took up the explanation. "As soon he got whiff of our investigation into his business dealings, it was as if an impenetrable curtain fell upon his activities. We were completely in the dark about his dealings on the continent and had no luck in uncovering any of his offences until about a year ago, when Miss Reynolds joined his niece's household and began passing information to us."

Charlotte's head was spinning. "So, did Mr. Campion disinherit Mrs. Campion because he found out she was embezzling money from him?"

"No, that cannot be the reason. Mrs. Campion would have immediately blamed Mr. Huxley and Mr. Campion never did anything to him," said Miss Reynolds. "I don't know what happened, but something did, around the time of Mr Robert White's death. And whatever it was, it happened at Mr. Campion's country estate deep in rural Suffolk. That's where they were at the time."

Augusta had a question too. "Mr. Campion is dead. What happens to the investigation now?"

"He might be dead, but he was not the only one who had knowledge of these activities and carried them out," explained Lord Ashbourne. "Mr. Huxley and several other employees in senior positions at Campion Industries are complicit. Eliza Campion might be complicit too. And the Crown takes crimes of this magnitude seriously. The entire enterprise must be brought down and justice must be done to those they have wronged."

Babington nodded. "Thank you, Ashbourne, for bringing us this valuable information. We now know Eliza Campion is out to ensnare Sidney for her own reasons, most likely to acquire Georgiana's wealth through him. It will not work, but we will remain watchful to see if she makes any further moves against the Parkers."

"We could not let Martin's family remain ignorant of Mrs. Campion's actions," said Lord Ashbourne. "Especially in light of their current…"

"Predicament," Martin finished bluntly. "Have you made any progress on that front?" he asked Sidney.

"Thanks to Charlotte, Lady Worcester, Lord Babington, and the Abbotts, yes we have." Sidney smiled wanly — but it was a smile. His mind was still preoccupied with all the various responsibilities he had to tackle.

"And we have work to do yet," Susan reminded them all. "Charlotte and I must be on our way, as must Lord Babington and Mr. Sidney. We have some investors to meet."

"I do hope Lord Grasmere is disposed to help," said Charlotte, somewhat nervously.

"He might be," said Susan. "But it is Lady Grasmere you will have to convince."

Charlotte and Sidney barely had time to exchange glances, trying to hide their own anxiety and convey their reassurance and support to the other, before they were being swept out with the rest of the group to their respective destinations.

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