The next morning Sidney went to the site of the fire and found Mr. Stringer and the rest of the workers in the middle of the cleanup process. He almost couldn't believe that they were all still working especially after what happened at the cricket match. He believed that Tom acknowledged his mistakes but it still boggled his mind that others were left to literally and figuratively clean up Tom's mess.
Upon returning to the Crown hotel the previous evening he had been able to speak with Lord Babington and Mr. Crowe. They agreed to be ready if more funds were needed for the rebuilding process. Lord Babington was in the midst of preparing for his wedding to Miss Denham. He was lucky to have received her assent to marry him the night of the Midsummer ball. At first glance they might seem like an odd couple but it is clear that they are very much in love. Perhaps they both tamed one another.
The death of Old Stringer seemed to cast a cloud over all of the workers, not just James, but Sidney could tell that they all were motivated.
As Sidney got within earshot of the men, he spoke. "Good morning, gentlemen. I wonder if I might have a word? I promise not to take up too much of your time."
The men stopped what they were doing and walked over towards where Sidney was standing.
"Firstly, I want to thank you for doing the clean up work. I will acknowledge that my brother certainly does not deserve your generosity after what has transpired in recent weeks. Secondly, I know you all must be wondering what will happen now. I have come to say that from here on out I will be in charge of overseeing the rebuilding process. If you have any questions or concerns you will come to me. The investors I've found will arrive in Sanditon within the next week to assess everything. One of them offered to bring his own workers to assist you all. I will be in charge of handing you your wages and he will do the same with his own workers. I have here the amounts that each of you has earned thus far since before the cricket match."
Sidney handed each man his payment.
"Once again I apologize for the distress and frustration my brother has caused you. I hope that his actions haven't made you wish you were working elsewhere. I am here today to ask you myself to stay and see the rebuilding process through to the end."
The workers exchanged looks amongst themselves. Then James spoke.
"Very well, Mr. Parker. We have worked too hard not to see this through. You have our word that we will stay."
"Thank you. When the investors arrive we will start discussing the plans further."
They all nodded and Sidney let them get back to work. He walked back to Trafalgar house to fetch Charlotte for their walk. He found himself just as nervous as he was the morning of the Midsummer ball.
When he was let into the house Tom and Mary came up to greet him.
"I have spoken to the workers and they have all agreed to partake in the rebuilding process. I have paid them and informed them that once the investors arrive we will discuss the design plans and whatever else is necessary."
Tom nodded. Just then Sidney heard light footsteps approaching and turned to see Charlotte entering the foyer.
"Good morning Charlotte, are you ready for our walk?"
"Good morning, Sidney. Yes, I am."
They bid Tom and Mary goodbye and head out. No surprise that their walk took them back to the clifftops just like the morning of the Midsummer ball.
"Did you sleep well, Sidney. Have you recovered from your journey?"
"Yes. It was nice to finally get a good night's sleep after being preoccupied this entire week. It is a relief to know that everything is settled."
"Clearly I misjudged you. You aren't so reluctant to help your brother after all."
"I appreciate the compliment, but as I said, I would never go as far as giving up my life and my happiness."
"And you're right. I don't think you should. That should not be asked of anyone even if it is family. You deserve to find happiness."
"I have already found it, Charlotte. I have found it with you."
Charlotte gasped. "You are certain? Even though you thought I was the new maid when we met? Even when I've been nowhere and learnt nothing? Even when I always popped up when least expected?"
Sidney smiled. "Yes, Charlotte. Yes to everything. The truth is I think you captivated me the moment we met but given my history with Mrs. Campion, I was afraid. I was afraid to let my guard down and open my heart again. Even if you HAD been the new maid, I knew that I wouldn't be able to stay away from you or to stop thinking about you. I hope I have proven that I do listen and care for what you have to say. You are truly a practical and capable woman, Charlotte. If it weren't for you I may have not been able to rescue Georgiana in time before she was taken to Scotland, if it weren't for you we wouldn't have had the regatta in Sanditon, if it weren't for you the Prince Regent wouldn't be coming to Sanditon in a few weeks time. You are truly invaluable. You are everything I have dreamed of in a woman. You are absolutely perfect for me."
Sidney reached out and took Charlotte's hands in his.
"I apologize if I hurt you by leaving you on the dance floor in London. I apologize for not defending you in front of Mrs. Campion. You asked me after that what I wanted from you. When I told you that I believed that I was my best and truest self when I was with you, I meant it. What I want from you is for you to be your best and truest self when you are with me as well. Do you remember our conversation on the boat?"
Charlotte nodded, realization hitting her.
"I was at a crossroads of who I was and who I wanted to be. I was presented with the choice of living in my past or looking forward to my future. You are my present and my future, Charlotte. Eliza is the river I do not want to step into twice. She believes that I am the same man she left behind, but I want to be, as you said, a much improved man for you."
"You are a good man, Sidney and it is clear that you always have been. You dealt with something that no one should have to go through but you do care about your family and about others."
"There is something I must confess to you though."
Charlotte frowned. "What is it?"
"It is rather silly, but please don't say anything and let me explain because if I don't I may go mad. My fears are once again trying to take over and I need your comfort and understanding."
Charlotte became worried and gently squeezed Sidney's and he squeezed back.
"What is it, Sidney?" She repeated.
Sidney exhaled deeply. "When I left for London I had endless thoughts running through my mind of what would happen when I arrived. During my previous visits, I had no luck in speaking to the banks to have Tom's credit line extended. If I couldn't even do that, how was I going to figure out a solution to cover the debt? I pulled some of my own savings to cover the worker's wages but I did not have a plan for how to acquire the £80000. There are very few people I am acquainted with who would possess that amount and even if they did, what if they were not interested in investing in some seaside town that has nowhere near the reputation of Brighton? It was difficult enough trying to raise interest in the regatta. It was Tom who insisted that I invite Mrs. Campion. I realize that staying in London with her and leaving you and Georgiana to return to Sanditon with Tom was irresponsible and selfish. That week I spent way too much time figuring out my feelings. So what I'm trying to say is that in the back of my mind I knew that there was a possibility that I might have had to seek her out and I was terrified because if she believed that we could've picked up where we left off, she may have forced me into marriage in exchange for the funds to save Sanditon and Tom. I don't know how but she found out that I was in London and offered her help. Luckily I had already found the investors but if I hadn't I may have returned to Sanditon engaged to her. I wouldn't have been able to bear the thought of losing you, Charlotte. I hope you aren't disappointed with me for telling you this."
Charlotte saw how affected Sidney was and let go of one of his hands to bring hers to his cheek. He leaned into her touch.
"I am not disappointed in you, Sidney. Your fear is not unwarranted, but in the end it did not come to that. You found investors. Sanditon is saved. And best of all, you are here with me now. Perhaps I won't be too bold when I say that I was right. You truly are the sensible brother."
Sidney chuckled. "You know, when you expressed your observations about my brothers, I didn't want to let on that you were correct, especially about Tom. I appreciated what you said about me but, I had a reputation to uphold."
It was Charlotte's turn to chuckle as she recalled the conversation they had before the regatta after they both visited Georgiana. Sidney continued speaking.
"The truth is that it was because of you that I realized that I couldn't abandon my family to a terrible fate. I was angry at Tom for depending on me to solve his problems but I knew I could not allow Mary and my nieces and nephews to suffer. That day before we walked on the beach together, I watched you play with Alicia and I knew at that moment that not only did my family's well-being depend on my help but also that you cared for my nieces and nephews as if they were your own. You will be an amazing mother one day and I hope that I will be able to share that with you. I have never felt this way before but I can say with absolute confidence that I love you, Charlotte Heywood."
Tears fell from Charlotte's eyes as she replied, "I love you too, Sidney Parker."
They both leaned in and their lips connected in a soft kiss. When they broke the kiss, Sidney touched his forehead to hers and rested his hands on her waist while hers were around his neck. Sidney sighed contentedly and stepped out of the embrace before falling to one knee. Charlotte gasped and covered her mouth with her hands as more tears fell.
"Charlotte Heywood, would you do me the greatest honor of marrying me?"
"Yes, Sidney! A thousand times yes!"
Sidney stood up and pulled her in his arms again for another sweet kiss.
"I have yet another confession to make, but it's a good one. I left London earlier than I originally planned and made a stop to meet your family."
"You did?"
"Yes. I knew that if I was going to make you a proposal of marriage, I wanted to have your father's blessing. Your family sends you their love and hopefully we can travel to see them before the wedding. That's assuming you want to have the wedding here in Sanditon or would you rather have it in Willingden? Know that I will be happy with whatever you decide."
"I think I would very much like to have the wedding here. This is where we fell in love after all. Maybe later we can plan to do something in Willingden."
"I think that'll be perfect. Now we need to go and see Georgiana. She will surely want to know that we are engaged and I also thought that maybe once we are married and living together we can ask her to stay with us."
"That would be wonderful. She has become my best friend here and I'm sure she will be relieved about no longer having to stay with Mrs. Griffiths."
"Yes, she told me in no uncertain terms that I was treating her like a prisoner. I was only trying to protect her but perhaps I went about it the wrong way. I did not trust Mr. Molyneux and I feel guilty about everything that transpired."
"While there is no hope for Georgiana and Otis to be together there may be hope that he learns his lesson on his own. I'm confident that one day Georgiana will find happiness just as I have. I will not say that I think Georgiana is still too young because I am not much older than her but we each have our own path in life and she could easily find someone after she comes of age or perhaps even before. However I think she will have learnt her lesson in time as well and choose someone who is truly worthy of her."
Sidney smiled and extended his arm so that Charlotte could place her hand on the crook of his elbow as they headed back to town. Upon arriving at Mrs. Griffiths Sidney released Charlotte's hand and kissed the back of it quickly and discreetly before knocking on the door. They were led inside to the sitting room.
"Good morning Mr. Parker, Ms. Heywood." Mrs. Griffiths greeted them.
"Good morning, Mrs. Griffiths. We would like to speak to Georgiana and also ask that you are present. I have some important things to discuss with her that I also want you informed of."
Mrs. Griffiths nodded before she went to Georgiana's room to fetch her. She came back moments later with Georgiana following. After exchanging greetings, Georgiana sat down next to Charlotte.
"How was your trip to London, Sidney?" Georgiana asked, to Sidney's surprise.
"It was successful. Soon the rebuilding process will begin."
"Is that what you came for? To notify me of your return?"
"No. There is something that I wish to discuss with you and it involves Miss Heywood as well."
Georgiana looked at Sidney expectantly. Charlotte gave him a small nod.
"Georgiana, I have proposed marriage to Miss Heywood and she has accepted. When we are wed we will be living in my family's home here in Sanditon that is currently unoccupied and we both would like you to live with us if you think that's agreeable. I will have to be traveling back and forth to London as I am temporarily taking my brother's place overseeing the management of Sanditon, but Charlotte wishes to live here permanently once we are wed."
Georgiana looked surprised. "Are you sure? You truly want me to live with you?"
"Of course. If you'd like, that is. At least until you turn 21 then after that you can decide what you want to do and where you want to live but Charlotte and I both would love to have you stay with us. As I've said before I realize that I have fallen short as your guardian and I truly do wish to make amends. I hope you can forgive me for treating you like a child when you are becoming a grown woman. I apologize if I have failed you and your father."
Georgiana sighed. "I will recognize my own fault in this as well as I have certainly given you reason to treat me like a child. I did not want to believe that Otis would betray me in such a way."
"Perhaps I tried to protect you too much because of my experience with Mrs. Campion. I just did not want to see anyone take advantage of you and your wealth. But know that it is not my wish to take your father's place. If anything, once I am no longer your guardian I would hope that maybe we can regard one another as friends."
"I am beginning to understand that and this time I do truly promise to strive to do better. And I would like to come to see you as a friend as well. So I will be glad to live with you and Charlotte and I hope you will make her happy."
"I will make it my utmost priority. Thank you, Georgiana. We do not have a date for the wedding yet but when we do, myself and Mrs. Griffiths will make the proper arrangements for your installation into the Parker home once Charlotte and I return from our honeymoon."
"Very good, Mr. Parker." Mrs. Griffiths said.
Afterwards the conversation turned to more lighthearted topics. Georgiana insisted on helping Charlotte plan the wedding and Charlotte asked her to stand with her as a witness. Sidney was planning on asking Babington to do the same for him. Soon after Sidney walked Charlotte back to Trafalgar house. They decided that they would formally announce their engagement after Babington's wedding but Sidney would escort Charlotte to the wedding.