After all the greetings, the group finally reached the cove where they all sat down on blankets that the gentlemen were carrying. Charlotte was especially grateful to sit down as her legs were tired by the time they reached the cove. She did not want to show her weakness, but both her mother and Sidney noticed her flagging steps and insisted that she sit down for a little while. She did not have enough strength to resist their demands so she complied sheepishly.

Sidney and Georgiana sat next to her along with Mrs Heywood and Lady Susan. The rest of the group was playing 'tag' with the children. The participants of the game were the three children, Mr Stringer, Alison, Tom, Mary, Diana and Arthur. It was a most amusing sight to see all of them running around laughing heartily.

However, all that adult attention was not enough for young Henry. He made it known in the strongest possible terms that he needed his uncle Sidney's and Georgiana's additional moral support. Therefore, he came to get them to play as well. Sidney refused at first as he wanted to keep Charlotte company, but Henry's mock pouting face was too much for the doting uncle that he was. Georgiana mercilessly teased her guardian on what a softie he was and she got up with him to join the game with alacrity.

Charlotte sighed happily at the sight of her carefree sweetheart running around as if he did not have a care in the world. He really was like a young boy when he was like this- she wondered whether their children would inherit his abundant energy and charm. She wished he would always be so! Her pleasant thoughts of Sidney were interrupted by Lady Susan's question, 'How are you feeling, Charlotte?'

She looked at her friend, gave her a radiant smile and exclaimed happily, 'I am a bit tired from the walk, but exceedingly happy to be out with all of you. I have missed the sound of the sea and the chance to breathe the sea breeze. Staying cooped up in a room for a long time makes me a very difficult patient. Mama, is that not so?'

Mrs Heywood winked at her daughter and responded to Lady Susan, 'Yes, she can be the most difficult patient in the world if she does not get out of the sick room. It was a good thing that she was never really ill when she was younger! Otherwise, we would have had a million tantrums if she did not get her way!'

Lady Susan laughed aloud at that comment, 'I do not blame you there at all- I am no different- I abhor being unwell. Being confined at home can be restricting especially if you prefer being outdoors. Yet, having Mr Sidney Parker around makes that bearable, does it not?'

Charlotte cheeks went as red as a beetroot, 'Susan... Well... yes, it does help. It made me want to get better sooner. I had lost hope before he came back and mama read me his letter. Talking about the letter, mama, where is it?'

Mrs Heywood took it out of her pelisse and passed it on to her daughter without saying a word. She expected Charlotte would want to read it herself once the initial tiredness went away. Charlotte took it from her mother's hand and started reading it. Both her mother and Lady Susan talked to each other in order to give her the space to absorb its contents with her own eyes instead of just being read the letter aloud by someone else. They both felt that Charlotte reading that fateful letter would open new possibilities for a very promising future!

Charlotte was in her own private world whilst she was reading Sidney's letter. She did not remember any specific words from when her mother read it to her- she only remembered the overwhelming feeling of wanting to strive to wake up from her long slumber. Now that she was actually reading the words for herself, she felt both incredibly happy and sad. She was happy that he took the time to tell her of his innermost feelings and sad that he was upset begging her to wake up. The last thing she ever wanted was to give him pain!

She knew he loved her and that she loved him. That was as certain as the fact that the sun is to rise in the morning and set at night. Neither she or Sidney doubted their love for each other. It was a living breathing being between them almost up to a spiritual level. Each of them could feel each other's presence before one of them even entered the room. It was an uncanny and unbreakable connection.

Yet, they still needed to talk- they needed to clear the air between them. She needed to tell him what made her go into the coma. He had guessed most of her feelings and thoughts- they were in black and white in his letter. Yet she needed to communicate hers. He needed to share his pain and not keep it inside him.

She was sniffling and happy tears were running down her cheeks as she finished reading the letter. This did not go unnoticed by her attendants. Both Mrs Heywood and Lady Susan had the constant fear of her relapsing at the back of their mind so they fussed over her until she was back to her normal self.

'I am sorry, mama and Susan, I did not mean to cry and worry you. It is just such a beautiful letter and my first love letter from him- who knew he could write so well! My very own Lord Byron! This letter made me wake up- it gave me the will to live again. Yet, I do not quite believe that Sidney claims to love me that much. It does not seem real in many ways. There are so many more deserving ladies he could love.' Charlotte exclaimed in a slightly watery voice.

Lady Susan exclaimed in surprise, 'Claims to love you? Charlotte, the man worships the ground you walk on. He absolutely adores you! He was frantic with worry when you were in the coma. I can vouch that the messenger service between London and Sanditon was thriving when he was in London. We heard from him nearly every day.

As for your doubts about being a deserving lady for Mr Parker's love, you need not worry. You are by far more deserving than all the of the most beautiful ladies in the Ton due to your kind heart, my dear Charlotte.

Of course, this does not make your sweetheart a saint- nobody is perfect. He is your match in every way, though, Charlotte. A discussion where you would iron out any misunderstandings between you is long overdue. There is, however, no doubt that he loves you. Wouldn't you agree, Mrs Heywood?'

Mrs Heywood said excitedly, 'He is besotted with you, my child! He would give you the moon and the stars if only you asked it of him. I am prodigiously proud of him as my potential son-in-law. He will take good care of you and you will want for nothing. He is a very proactive person which also bodes very well for your future. He will treat you like a queen and any children you may have like the princes and princesses they would be! I have written to your papa about him, you know. I am expecting a response from him very soon.

Mr Parker has already told you that he wishes to court you and eventually marry you. Just giving you that beautiful locket screams his care for you to the world. It was most thoughtful of him. He was honest with me as well concerning his intentions towards you- he is truly not being insincere or trying to give you the wrong impression. The moment you are ready to accept him, then there is every chance that your papa will be amenable to the idea.

In fact, I was hoping to convince your papa and siblings to come to Sanditon for the day. How do you like the idea?'

Charlotte beamed at that statement, 'Will papa like Sidney, mama? What do you think? I hope he will. Sidney and papa will get on like a house on fire. I think the idea of a papa and my siblings coming here is a great one.'

Mrs Heywood responded earnestly, 'Eventually he will. Your Mr Parker is a good and loving soul- your papa is bound to see that. Yet, do expect your papa to give him a little bit of a hard time to start with just to satisfy his own whims. Your sweetheart can take it nicely- it will not be a hardship for him! Your papa coming down to Sanditon would simply mean that the grilling would happen sooner than later.'

Charlotte sighed at that, 'Yes, I know what papa will do. I have no doubt that Sidney will get a full-on grilling and come out of that conversation completely terrified. I do not wish it for him but as you said mama, papa needs to satisfy his whims on the matter. On another note, did you notice that Alison and Mr Stringer are getting quite cosy together? They cannot take their eyes off each other!'

Lady Susan laughed wholeheartedly at that and Mrs Heywood nodded her head in agreement, 'That is well noticed, Charlotte. It seems to be the case, doesn't it? Mr Stringer is a good and hard-working man. Your sister could do much worse. He is a talented budding architect as well, who with the right training and connections, should do well for himself. I will be recommending him to the Regent's favourite architect, Mr Thomas Nash, in the hopes of some extra training for this young man.'

Charlotte gushed at her friend, 'Oh, Susan, you are so good to us! I can think of no-one more deserving for some further career development- he has been through so much after his father's death. His sketches- at least the ones that I have already seen- are so well done! Ask him to show you some of them. You will really be impressed with his drawing skills and attention to detail.'

Lady Susan thought for a moment, 'I might just do that and send some of them to the Regent. You never know what might come out of it.' The ladies continued their pleasant discussion whilst both the children and the adults continued their energetic game.