That next week passed much as the previous had, with calls on friends, neighbours and acquaintances, evening amusements and attendance at dinners and card parties. Observing the young Viscount escort his lady around the streets and parks of Town soon became an expected sight among the members of the Ton and it was unusual that a day would pass when they were not in each other's company in some manner or other.
The couple could often be seen strolling through Hyde Park, her hand resting in the crook of his elbow, or parading through Mayfair and Belgravia in his phaeton or curricle and always accompanied by Alyona or one or other of their relatives. And when they were not visible to the eyes of onlookers they were equally agreeably engaged in the drawing rooms of their mutual friends and respective families.
Charlotte had spent the Saturday evening once more in company with the large family that the Viscount claimed as his as she had been escorted to join them at the Royal Opera House to see Mozart's The Magic Flute in what would be the first of 3 rare performances since its initial success a little over thirty years before.
Lady Susan and Lord Worcester, who had collected her from her home and returned her there at the end of the evening, guided her through the clamour to the Howards' private box where they left her in the watchful care of the Ladies Howard and Granville.
The ladies were quick to introduce Charlotte to the members of their party whom she had not met already and delighted gaily in depriving Lord Morpeth of the only person whose company he desired that evening. His discontented expression and uncharacteristic pouting scowl, which he made a valiant but ill-fated effort to subdue, would be a source of humour to his mother and aunt and sisters for several days.
The younger ladies among the group did eventually take pity on their brother and cousin and contrived to distract the elder ladies' attentions. The Viscount was quick to step into the vacated space around the lovely Miss Heywood and eagerly asked after her wellbeing and happiness and that of her family even as he beckoned over his sister Harriet to join them.
The Viscount, who had taken pains to ensure Charlotte would be able to enjoy the wonders of Mozart's talents to their fullest, had conspired with his favourite sister to obtain for her a pair of ladies' opera glasses. Of course, he could not present these to her himself for the giving of gifts was not a done thing when courting respectable females. Instead he had begged of Harriet that she might seek something suitable and give it to Charlotte under the guise of a gift from a generous acquaintance as an offer of deeper friendship.
Lady Harriet, who had found her brothers intended a refreshing change from the small-minded girls who were wont to crowd her brothers and cousins in the hopes of gaining their favour, had agreed to humour her brother. She had procured a simple but finely crafted pair of silver glasses that were engraved with little flowers and a plain velvet-lined leather case in which to keep them and it was this she held in her hands as she approached her brother and Miss Heywood.
"We are delighted you were able to join us this evening Miss Heywood, one cannot claim to have sampled to pleasures of Town without attending the opera. My brother tells us you appreciated the use of my own opera glasses during your evening at Astley's and I thought perhaps you might enjoy a pair entirely your own?" Lady Harriet declared as she pressed the gift into Charlotte's hands and leant in to kiss her cheeks as close friends were like to do. "I do hope you like them, though it is my brother who truly deserves your thanks for his observations." The lady murmured in Miss Heywood's ear before drawing back.
"I… Th-thank you my lady," Charlotte stammered as she looked down at the case in her hands, surprised at so thoughtful a gesture from so new an acquaintance. Charlotte opened the case with trembling fingers and released an appreciative breath at the prettiness of the glasses held within. "They are beautiful, but I do not think I can accept such a generous gift." She exclaimed, looking up to meet the eyes of her hosts.
Lady Harriet simply brushed aside Charlotte's protestations and was quick to assure her the expense was nothing and that she dearly wished them to become great friends. Charlotte was prevented from further argument by the curtain call as the rest of the theatres bustled to take their seats. Charlotte found herself settled beside Lord Morpeth in a seat to the left of the box looking almost directly upon the stage, though the box's position meant that every seat granted excellent views of the stage.
The Viscount leant in close to her as the curtains lifted to reveal the stage set for the first scene and enquired if Charlotte liked her gift.
"Oh, yes, I think they're lovely! Your sister is very kind though she claims it is you I really ought to be thanking, Sir." Charlotte enthused.
The Viscount smiled. "I'm pleased you approve of them. Though I did wish you to always find the greatest enjoyment in the talents of our playwrights and composers and though it was my desire to provide you with that which you seemed to so appreciate when last we enjoyed the delights of the theatre, the credit for the getting of them can only be laid in my sister's hands."
Charlotte merely smiled at him and, as she laid a hand upon his arm, only said, "Regardless, I thank you all the same for your consideration, my lord." She removed her hand quickly before anyone saw and thought to comment on her forwardness. Both their attention had then been drawn to the stage as the performance began.
The rest of the evening has passed pleasurably indeed and Charlotte had been delighted when Esther and Lord Babington had appeared at the entrance to the Howards' box with Lord and Lady Worcester during an interval between acts. Before Charlotte could even process the conversation, Esther had skilfully extracted a promise to call on her for tea the following afternoon and was on her way even as her friend floundered in perplexity.
The skies were dark and the streets were, if not silent, then certainly quiet as Charlotte was delivered home at the end of the evening by Lord and Lady Worcester. As she entered her brother's house which was dark with all but one of its residents retired to bed some time ago, she slipped in to bid Justin goodnight who was addressing some urgent business in his study before slipping up to her own bedchamber as quietly as her feet would carry her.
Alyona helped her undress and settled Charlotte's gown over a chair by the window ready to be laundered the next day while her mistress sat to unpin her hair from the pile it was in on her head. Charlotte bid Alyona a pleasant sleep once the sheets on the bed had been turned back and her pelisse hung in the dressing room with the rest of the wardrobe. She sat at the dressing table for a few moments longer, her fingers resting on the case containing her new opera glasses and she realised there had been very few moments in her life as happy as these past weeks she had spent in Lord Morpeth's company.
Charlotte smiled and revelled in these feelings that she was rapidly coming to know as love even as she blew out the candles lighting the room and climbed into bed, dropping into a slumber that was deeper and more restful than she had known in more than three years.
Charlotte woke the next morning to sunlight streaming through the drapes covering her windows through which drifted the muted sounds of birdsong and the scent of freshly brewed tea from the tray resting on the low table by the chaise and chair at the end of her bed. Alyona bustled around, quietly setting out Charlotte's garments for the day and taking care not to wake the younger woman.
The maid paused in her preparations as she noticed Charlotte had awoken and greeted her with a smile, offering to pour a cup of tea that Miss Heywood might enjoy while Alyona finished gathering what was needed to dress her mistress and make her ready to greet the morning.
"That would be lovely, Alyona, thank you. If you would pass me my robe, perhaps you might also pour some for yourself, as I know my brother's cook always send up an extra cup." Charlotte suggested with a sleepy sort of contentment as she sat up, throwing aside her bedsheets and swinging her legs to the floor to stand. Alyona set to collecting her dressing robe and helping Charlotte slip her arms into it before setting to the task of pouring the promised tea for them both.
Charlotte breathed in the spiced fragrance of her favourite Assam blend served without milk and sweetened slightly with a single cube of sugar as it was handed to her before taking a sip of the scalding liquid, avoiding burning her tongue on it heat only by years of exposure the temperature. She sighed happily and leant into the cushioned back of the chair in which she sat, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the sweetened bitterness of the beverage.
Alyona, ever mindful of the difference in their stations, though Charlotte was an exceptionally generous mistress and she knew she was very fortunate to come into her service, finished her own cup swiftly that she might return to her duties sooner. Charlotte only smiled exasperatedly at her friend's, for she did consider the older woman to be a friend, one whose guidance and experience she valued, need to observe and maintain the constant distinction between the help which she was and equals which she did not consider herself to be.
Charlotte sighed as she drank the last of her own tea, gazing into the dregs and stray tealeaves before setting her teacup on its saucer and making her way over to the dressing table where Alyona waited patiently to set to taming the unruly tangled locks she was plagued with each morning when she rose.
Charlotte eventually made her way downstairs to join her family in the morning parlour for breakfast dressed in a simple cream day dress with tiny printed clusters of leaves and flowers. She greeted her brother, sister and niece fondly and smiled at her niece's governess who was newly employed and had arrived only the previous day as she joined them to sit at the table which was spread with an assortment of breads, fruits and pastries.
Her sister enquired after her plans for the day and Charlotte shared her promise to visit Esther at her home in Grosvenor Square and happily extended the invitation to accompany her to her Madelaine who eagerly accepted, determined to enjoy some time in her sister's company out of their own home now that the upset in her belly seemed to have passed. The sisters spent much of the rest of the morning meal discussing their experiences of the previous evening, straying only from this conversation to accept the morning post and enquire as to Mrs Gerding's plans for young Reignette that day.
It was early afternoon when the two ladies ventured beyond the confines of their own drawing room, swapping it for the extravagance of the Babington's town house. Esther, who had been entertaining her young son, greeted her guests with offers of tea and biscuits and bid them make themselves comfortable. She was eager to share all her plans for the ball she was hosting at the end of the week and to share some happy news with one of the few people she considered a true friend.
Esther would be returning to Abbey Grange, her and Lord Babington's country house in Lincolnshire, at the end of May when her recently discovered pregnancy would begin to show. Lord Babington would join her once his business with the House of Lords had concluded.
The group of ladies spent some time discussing the upcoming ball and congratulating Lady Babington on her growing family. Eventually the conversation turned to the events of the previous weeks and the tales they had heard from their friends and acquaintances, mutual or otherwise. It was then that Esther confided in Charlotte that she had seen Sidney Parker on the day he had collected his wife and ward from Town after that unfortunate business at Charlotte's own home and had been much surprised at the state of him. Charlotte, though she did not truly care to hear of it, politely asked after Esther's meaning.
"Though I confess I have had very little contact the Parker's since leaving Sanditon after our wedding, he and my husband have maintained their friendship as much as the distance between them these days will allow. But he was so unkempt, Charlotte! His overcoat rumpled and I am certain he had forgotten to shave for several days for there was a shockingly ill-groomed growth on his jaw. And the way he behaved with his wife; it was so cold!" Esther disclosed.
Had things been different, it might have been her that had become his wife; but things were what they were and she had healed from the pain his choice to tie himself to a woman who clearly made him unhappy had caused her. And she knew she had the Viscount to thank for returning the final damaged pieces of her heart and reminded her what it was to know love again. Though it saddened Charlotte to hear that Mr Parker has sunk so low, she could only find it within herself to pity his present circumstances for he no longer held any hold over her.
It was with this conversation that Charlotte truly allowed herself to acknowledge that she had moved on from the past; moved on from Sanditon and the people and feelings that had, for so long, prevented her from allowing herself to experience the happiness she did now. She finally felt free to give her heart, her love and every ounce of her affection to the man she loved today and knew he would accept it, treasure it and keep it safely.
