Charlotte did not tell George her news that day. Not because she had made any active decision against doing so; it was merely the result of being rather overwhelmed by her encounter with Sidney Parker on her way home and her thoughts being all but consumed by it.
She had arrived home in such a state of tempered distress that her husband had been certain she must have been waylaid by pickpockets or gypsies on her walk. It was only when she had calmed herself enough to recount the incident to him that he allowed himself to also be calmed as she assured him that she had suffered nothing worse than an unpleasant and emotionally difficult conversation.
Had they not already resolved to enjoy the afternoon and evening privately between themselves, George would have been quite set on convincing her that they should cancel any plans they may have had to do exactly that. As it was, Charlotte would not have fought him on the matter and was quite grateful that they had nothing more interesting to do than spend that night than be in each other's company doing whatever pleased them. And it pleased Charlotte to express her love for him in a most intimate fashion.
What remained of their afternoon was spend lazing on the lawn together sharing a book and their evening meal was taken by candlelight on the garden terrace. They did not remain out of doors or even in the drawing room or library for very much longer after that, eschewing those domains for the privacy of their bedchamber. It was there, should one be determined to know the full extent of the delight they took in each other's company, that they could be found in the congress of lovers.
Their night was spent peacefully. The same could not be said for Sidney Parker. While Eliza may have slept well-enough if not for her husband's unquenchable restlessness, he found his mind plagued by his every regrettable action and fantasies that he wished might intrude upon reality. Sidney's thoughts were consumed by the things that had been said between himself and the woman he loved.
He could not reconcile his presence of feeling with the absence of hers. It was no matter that she was anything but unfeeling; Sidney could not comprehend that Charlotte could have left behind what they shared with such ease. He unconsciously denied that the healing of her heart could have been a very long and difficult journey. His heart and head would not allow him to acknowledge that he had been the cause of her pain and his.
As the sun rose in the east and began to travel its path across the sky, Sidney Parker exhaustedly stumbled from his bed yet clothed in the previous day's garments even while, in another part of the town, Charlotte and George slowly eased into a state of wakefulness by the growing light and the sound of birdsong.
By mid-morning the crowds were venturing into the forest for the activities that had been planned for the day. Each party had brought with them a dish to contribute a picnic luncheon and fishing supplies had been provided by fisherman who the sea along their little stretch of coastline so that dinner might be cooked on a large open fire in the evening and formed from the spoils of the endeavours of those who wished to raid the river.
All but the youngest of the children, upon arriving to the large clearing where the picnic and fire were being set up, dashed away in one direction or another in search of forest creatures and fun and games away from the sight and hearing of their parents.
The Parker children had brought a set of iron bowls with them and had ventured off to hunt for a grassy patch within the trees to play their games while the adults settled on blankets and cushions and at little tables and chairs for more sedate pursuits. Many of the men tried their hands at fishing throughout the day with some little success and a great many lost chances.
As the sun rose higher in the sky, Charlotte could be seen speaking animatedly with the Ladies and her friends while their menfolk, those that were present at least, were off by the river. Mary and Eliza, whose husbands had gone to observe the fishing, made their way to the merry party and arrived to catch the tail end of Charlotte asking her mother-in-law how one might go about informing one's husband of their impending fatherhood.
The two women had smiled cheerfully at overhearing this, if for very different reasons, and were quick to offer their congratulations to the Viscountess who thanked them and invited them to sit and join the larger group. Those women amongst them who had already experienced the delights of parenthood shared some very beautiful and also some quite shocking tales of their own husbands' reactions to that very news.
Lady Howard made sure to make Charlotte aware that, as far as her son was concerned, she would have to be very clear with her words when she did tell him. Though George had been a clever child and proved to be an equally intelligent and sensible adult, he could also be exasperatingly obtuse about the fairer sex and would not, in this case, understand her meaning if she tried to be subtle about it.
While Charlotte's cheeks burned with mortification at such a topic being discussed quite so openly, she had not expected to hear of things in such a level of detail as was shared when she had asked her mother-in-law for advice, Eliza sat in uncomfortable silence.
The other women had shared tales that, though they may have occasionally sounded ridiculous, spoke of a great deal of mutual happiness in their marriages. Eliza was not sure that she could claim the same for hers; though she knew Sidney loved their little Thomas very much and would, if only he could, move the very earth itself to keep him safe and happy, their marriage had not been an easy one and her pregnancy had only added another source of contention to her relationship with her husband. She had known, even then, that she was not the mother he had wanted for his children.
Though if anyone picked up on her silence or her sadness, they did not comment on it. Eliza was grateful for that. And grateful that no one had pressed her to share her own story; she could not have spoken on it happily. It was fortunate, too, that the gentlemen chose to return from the banks of the river then, bringing with them two large carp and a roach strung on string which were delivered to the servants from the local inns who had volunteered to prepare the fish for cooking.
The gentlemen collected a few of the picnic baskets as they walked across the large clearing with the intent of breaking for refreshment in the cool shade of the treeline where the ladies had deposited themselves. Little Thomas, who had spent the morning toddling after his father and exclaiming over all the pretty fish and squealing at their sliminess, stumbled rather more hastily towards them as he spied his mother resting amongst a pile of cushions and threw himself into her arms as he babbled excitedly about his adventures.
Lunch was an uncomfortable affair for some. Sidney studiously avoided looking at Charlotte and her husband while Eliza could on occasion be seen shifting her gaze between them and frowning at the tension that had suddenly appeared between them. George was largely ignorant to anything but his own concern for his wife being pushed into company with the unpleasant cad and confusion at the Ladies' hostility towards the pair. Charlotte was admittedly a little unsettled following their recent conversation but her attention was claimed by managing the Viscount's vengeful looks toward the man.
Esther and Lord Babington were sat near with Mr Crowe, Charity and Georgiana, the latter of whom had moved away from Charlotte to join them in a bid the circumvent the Ladies' attempts to govern her. The former of those three individuals was as inebriated as he ever was and poor Charity found herself pulled between the two in their attempts to claim her attention. To say that the Babingtons found the situation amusing was on par with claiming that the sun was a little bright or that rain was only a little wet.
It was a relief to all when luncheon had passed and the two parties could politely part company with each other for a few hours at least. Little Thomas had been permitted to go and play with his older cousins at the tree line while his parents remained in the shade with Eliza fussing over Sidney after what had been, to her mind, a morning of exerting activity. Georgiana pulled Charlotte away for a walk; the Ladies continued to conspire against her while George, Babington and Crowe discussed politics as Esther, Charity and Mary played a game of cards. Though Lady Howard also sent frequent secretive glances and smiles at her son only to brush him off when her questioned her about it.
It was while this was happening that the Parker children had wondered further into the forest to help little Thomas search for bugs only come rushing back a few hours later screaming that they had lost him.
Eliza and Sidney froze at hearing this before Eliza began to panic about her baby boy being lost and alone and confused while her husband tried futilely to calm her. Though he was worried too, he knew that panicking the way she was could not be very helpful. Sidney took his wife by the shoulders and shook her firmly, frustratedly glaring at her as he told her she was being insensible and that they needed to find him instead of sitting around turning into a teary mess.
Mary gently pried Sidney away from his wife, suggesting they break into groups to find him just as Charlotte and Georgiana rejoined the group from their walk and agreed that this seemed a sensible suggestion.
It was determined that the Babingtons and Lady Denham would remain in the clearing in case the little boy found his way back and because Esther was in no condition to go for a long traipse through wooded footpaths. Eliza and Sidney went together in the direction that they had last seen their son with his cousins while Tom and Mary went with Mr Crowe and Charity to search by the river where he might have been distracted with wanting to see more fish. The Ladies, Diana and Arthur and George and Charlotte with Georgiana also ventured into different parts of the forest.
They had been walking and calling out the child's name when Georgiana heard the little boy crying for help. The small group rushed forward as they followed his voice to a little stretch of the river than ran deeper into the forest and was bordered on both sides by steep, sloping banks.
Thomas appeared to have fallen part way down one of the slopes, if the muddy, tatters of his clothes and his being trapped on a small rocky ledge a few meters below them were any indication. Charlotte called down to the little boy and asking him if he was hurt.
Thomas looked up at the lady who was talking to him as tears tracked down his face leaving clean trails in the grime that had stuck there during his fall. "I want mummy. It hurts. Where's mummy?" he cried, his little mind unable to understand why his parents weren't there to make it better. They were always there to make it better when he was hurting or scared.
Charlotte settled on her knees and leant a little way over the edge of the bank and tried to reassure the little boy that everything was going to be alright but he would hear none of it. She sighed and turned to George. "Maybe you should go back and tell Lord Babington that we've found him. Perhaps he can find someone to help? We need a way to get him up from there before he falls again and injured himself more seriously." She said.
George seemed reluctant to leave her there but, with some convincing and the assurance that she would be alone as Georgiana would stay with here, he agreed to go back and get more help. George made his way back to the clearing as quickly as he could and rushed to get Lord Babington to help him find further assistance in town.
In a different part of the forest, where Mary, Tom, Charity and Mr Crowe had begun searching after no sign of little Thomas by the river where the fishing was happening, the group had split. Tom had become distracted by some interesting thing or another and Charity and Mr Crowe had continued onward, not realising that Mary was not following them after her attention had been switched to refocusing her husband's.
It was some minutes until Charity realised that they were alone and had travelled far enough that the two pairs would easily relocate each other. "Mr Crowe! Stop!" she called out as she chased after the man who was trudging along the path ahead of her.
Charity almost crashed into him as he stopped and turned suddenly. She realised, a little belatedly as he grinned down at her, that perhaps she was a little too close to him. Granted there was no one else around to see them and comment on the impropriety of it. She stepped backwards as continued to leer at her only to find her back pressed against a tree as he stepped forwards with every backward movement she made. She was cornered.
Mr Crowe began to laugh as she stared at him incredulously. "What are you laughing at!" she demanded as he stepped back from her.
"Miss Entworth, had you seen your own expression you would understand my amusement." He told her as she moved away from the tree and darted a few steps away from him. "Perhaps you would like to share why you were screaming for me to stop?"
Charity looked at him warily, unsure whether to trust that he would not impose himself on her. Mr Crowe sighed. "Stop looking at me as though you think I am going to eat you, girl. I may be a rogue and a little too fond of my drink but I hardly make it a habit of going around ruining good girls like you. It would hardly turn out in my favour would it?"
There was silence for a moment longer before Charity heaved a sigh and gathered her composure around her once more. "We seem to have found ourselves separated from Mr and Mrs Parker. It might be wiser to return than continue further lest we find ourselves equally lost as young Thomas." She suggested.
Mr Crowe furrowed his brows and looked around him as if just realising that Tom and Mary were indeed nowhere to be seen. He turned back around to Mis Entworth and gesturing for her to lead the way, nodding in agreement. But as Charity turned to walk back the way they had come, a few rocks slid under her foot and she stumbled, turning her ankle and landing harshly on ground that was damp from overnight showers with a cry of pain.
The two lords had had the good fortune to run into some sailors as they returned to town in search of help. The sailors, who proved and cheerful pair were all too willing to volunteer their services and, upon learning the nature of the little boy's plight, suggested they return to their vessel to fetch some ropes that might be used to pull the little boy back up the bank. The group of two became a group of four and in short time they were making their way back to the clearing.
Sidney and Eliza had had no luck in finding their son amongst the trees where they had last seen him and had resolved to return to where the Babingtons and Lady Denham waited in the hopes that he had found his own way back. They were somewhat surprised when they returned to find Lord Babington absent. Their confusion was quickly resolved, however, when he reappeared with Lord Morpeth and some other men carrying a thick length of rope.
Sidney, who had sat down on the ground and helped himself to a glass of cool lemonade as he caught his breathe and grimaced at the pain in his ribs from the time spent calling out for Thomas, caught Lord Babington's attention and asked after the sailors with the rope.
It was the Viscount who answered his question. "We found your son, Mr Parker. But he seems to have slipped down a rather steep riverbank and isn't able to get back up to the path." George explained. "My wife and Miss Lambe remained with him while Babington and I went to see about getting more help from town."
Eliza and Sidney both heaved great sighs of relief at hearing their son had been found but the knowledge did little to settle Eliza's worry. It was one thing to have found him but another entirely for him to be unharmed. "Oh! Oh, thank goodness! Where is he? Was he hurt? You must take us to him immediately."
"I do not think he has suffered any serious injury, Ma'am. The boy seemed to have perhaps a few bruises and scratches but he appeared more afraid than in pain." George tried to reassure the worried woman though his words seemed to have little effect on her. "We are going back that way now, if you would follow us?"
She nodded frantically and turned to her husband who had allowed the tenseness to fade from his bearing as he processed that their son was safe. The ache in his chest had eased a little and the lemonade quenched his thirst so he began to pull himself back up again. Eliza frowned once more at the sight. "Sidney, now that we know Thomas will be alright, perhaps you should stay here while we fetch him and bring him back. Doctor Fuchs did instruct you to rest. Would not this afternoon's excitement have served the opposite purpose?"
Sidney scowled at the suggestion and ignored it. "He is my son too Eliza. I am not going to just sit here and do nothing." He grunted as he rose to his feet and grit his teeth against a sharp twinge set off by the movement.
"But you're clearly in pain, Si-"
"No, Eliza, we are both going." She looked at him with concern but relented. His decision was made and he would not be swayed from it. Eliza's shoulders sagged as she nodded and slipped her arm into his, to offer what support and steadiness she could as they walked back into the forest once more.
The bank little Thomas has slipped down was perhaps a ten-minute walk from the clearing and they found it again in good time. They arrived to find Charlotte and Georgiana crouched at the edge of the bank speaking calmly to the little boy, reassuring him that help was coming and that he would be back with his parents shortly. Thomas was still crying, overwhelmed by fear and confusion, as any young child would be in the situation he had found himself in, but this stopped when he saw that his mother and father had come to stand on the bank behind the two women.
"Thomas! Thomas, it is alright! We're here. Everything is going to be alright." Eliza called down to her son as one of the sailors began to carefully make his way down the slope, taking one end of the rope with him.
"These nice men are going to bring you back up to us. Just do what they say and try not be afraid." Sidney added.
Thomas looked up at his father and then to the man who was coming towards him. "Big boy? Big boy like papa?"
"Yes Thomas! A big brave boy like papa!" Eliza said to him, smiling at how much her son idolised his father.
Charlotte had stood and moved out of the way as the group arrived and the sailors worked to get the little boy away from the river and it transpired that only a very little effort needed expending to reunite the child with his parents once he had been found. In a matter of moments, he was wrapped in his mother's arms as she cried over him with his father ruffling his hair and promising him he was safe now.
When Eliza finally found the strength to let him go she looked up from where she was knelt on the ground and turned to face the group who had found him. "Thank you, Lord Morpeth, Lady Morpeth, for helping us find him. You can't imagine how worried we were." She said as she stood. She paused for just a moment and then pulled the pair of them into a brief hug as she repeated her thanks tearfully.
George did not quite know what to make of this intrusion upon his person while Charlotte only reached out to grip her hands and assure Eliza that they would not have sat idly by while a child was lost and that a walk through the woods presented only a very little disruption to their day.
Eliza smiled weakly at the younger woman. Perhaps Charlotte Heywood was not so terrible. She would never like the Viscountess but how could she continue to hate someone who had helped to rescue the one person in the world that she loved more than any other?
The group made their way back to the clearing once more, encountering Tom and Mary on their way. They expressed their delight at learning their nephew was safe and sound and offered to go in search of the other groups who were likely still searching.
One of those groups included Arthur and Diana Parker who had been rambling through the trees without any real direction and in a most disorganised fashion. It was the brother and sister who stumbled upon a rather unsettling scene between Mr Crowe and Miss Entworth. To think the pair had found themselves alone. But it was unthinkable. Surely, they thought, the girl had more sense than to be caught in such a situation with a man of Mr Crowe's calibre?
Miss Entworth's dress had suffered a very unfortunate tear in a most upsetting region of the skirts. And Mr Crowe, who not entirely insensible to the damage and the problems that might arise from it, had shed his coat and draped it over her shoulders to cover the offending bit of fabric. It was this scene, with Mr Crowe stood in his breeches and shirtsleeves and Miss Entworth quite mussed and distressed and wearing his garment, that Arthur and Diana witnessed.
"Well Miss Entworth, this is most improper. Whatever has happened to you? Oh, Arthur, what are we to do. Miss Entworth must need our assistance. But what are we to say to people?" Diana prattled on as Charity stared at the pair in horror as the full weight of how the situation must look dawned on her.
"Well there is nothing to be done for it, sister, we must escort them back and seek our brothers' advice on the matter. Tom and Sidney will know what is best done with this." Arthur assured his sister.
"No!" Charity burst out and the two looked at her in shock. "That is to say… I do not think anything need be said at all."
"But my dear, your dress. It is quite destroyed. It cannot be hidden you know." Diana said. Miss Entworth had to be made to see reason.
"No. No, I suppose it cannot be hidden. But that is not to say it must be seen. I'm sure I can slip away to change my dress and no one will be any the wiser." She begged.
"But child, these things must be managed properly." Arthur insisted as he began to herd the girl back towards the gathered crowds. Diana followed along behind them continuing to mumble about the terrible shock of it all.
Charity turned back to look at Mr Crowe even as Arthur continued to guide her way. Though she said nothing aloud, she begged him with her eyes and desperate expression to do something, anything. But it was no use. Mr Crowe stood there, pale and frozen like a deer in the light of a carriage lamp.
This could not end well.
