This left only Tom, Mary, Sidney and Charlotte in the Trafalgar House. Tom and Mary promptly excused themselves in order to check up on the children. This left only Charlotte and Sidney by themselves after a long weary day being surrounded by other people.

Sidney looked at his Charlotte who wordlessly took his hand and led him to the sitting room where she ushered him in and soundlessly closed the door behind her. She then took him by the hand again, sat him down on the settee, sat on his lap and hugged him closely.

No words needed to be exchanged between them at this stage. Charlotte was relishing having him close and smelling his heady pine perfume and Sidney closed his eyes in relief just having her in his arms again. They stayed like this for good five minutes before Charlotte took the initiative and kissed him senseless. Sidney simply let her as he was delighted by her attentions.

As Charlotte deepened the kiss further, Sidney thought that he had died and had gone to heaven. Their tongues explored their mouths with an urgency of long separated lovers despite them only having some time together in the morning.

She then stopped kissing him without warning leaving him breathless with unfocussed pupils on his glassy eyes and turned her brown expressive eyes to caress his face for a second before tracing his face and full lips with her index finger as if to commit his features to her memory. He could only look back at her and wonder what she was thinking or what she was about to say to him.

He kept silent and waited her out. 'I could see that you were jealous of Frederick earlier this evening. I could clearly see from the corner of my eye that you were ready to push him out of the room and beat him up with no mercy just because of the reaction he provoked in us ladies.

Needless to say, you were not the only one who was having those thoughts. Every grown man in the room, apart from Mr Thompson, who by the way found imminent amusement in both the reaction of the ladies and their men, wanted to do the exact same thing. Even my own father despite his trust in my mother.

I am not sure whether you have noticed this, but Frederick is head over heels in love with Miss Elliot. Had put your jealousy aside for a moment and looked at their faces, you would notice that he worships the ground that she walks on. The whole story that he narrated was truly for her benefit as his eyes were solely trained on her. They cannot live without each other. I dare say that they are as besotted with each other as we are. Even more so though because they have had such a difficult time getting together after being apart for nine years due to her family interference.

Yes, Frederick is extremely handsome. I have always found him so until I met you. You have eclipsed him in that in my eyes. He will bring out my blushes with his charm, but remember, you jealous man, that he will never have a claim on my heart. That has been your property for a very long time now. If you play your cards right, it will remain yours for eternity.

Therefore, I would ask you to stop glaring at him, my jealous darling, and make friends with him instead. You have both travelled. He delights in it and so do you. You would be great friends if you only gave him half a chance and put your jealousy aside. He is a very interesting man to talk to. He knows of all manner of things. He has even been to Antigua. You like interesting conversation as otherwise you get bored. Why else would you love my unpredictable ways?

I love you and only you. Why else would I kiss you like I did earlier? There is no need to be jealous of every man who looks at me. I know you may not be able to help yourself at times as I am not sure I could if another woman looked at you like that. However, you must try. You must trust me otherwise this relationship, our relationship, will not work out despite what we feel for each other. We would end up arguing even more that we currently do. Do you understand what I am saying to you, Sidney?'

Sidney was struck mute on how well she read his mind. How well she understood his murderous mood towards her cousin. He had the grace to blush, nod mutely and pull her in his embrace. She released a sigh of relief and melted in his embrace.

They hugged each other until Sidney's arms brought her closer to him and his arms started wandering from top to bottom of Charlotte's well-formed body. Her hands also itched to touch him, so Sidney's neckcloth was swiftly removed. The moment Charlotte's dainty hand caressed his neck, he growled aloud, his pupils darkened even more than normal, and he brought her body even closer to his leaving no gap between them. He then fused his mouth with hers in a heady kiss which was an equal mixture of an apology and promise to comply with her request.

He had all the best intentions in the world when he spoke to Charlotte's father thanking him for the chance to spend all this time with her alone. However, now that he had her in his arms kissing her, his resolve was not so strong. He was only a man after all, and he was kissing the love of his life.

He got up unexpectedly and lifted Charlotte with him without breaking the kiss. In fact, he deepened it so much more that Charlotte moaned loudly in approval. It was the least he could after his jealous display earlier today. She needed to be shown how important she was to him.

He gently placed her on the sofa and covered his body with hers. The frantic kissing did not end. They explored each other's bodies through their clothes and loud moans were emanating from them both. They did not realise this to start with, but Sidney felt that his control was slipping very fast.

All too soon, he broke the kiss to place butterfly kisses down her white delicate throat, neck and exposed breasts making her squirm under him. Charlotte knew that she wanted more whatever that was. She knew that she could not bring herself to stop kissing him. She heard him whisper to her, 'Mine, all mine, my Charlotte. Nobody else's.' He then kissed her with a possessiveness that made her see stars. All she could do was cling to him and return the kiss.

He was really losing control now. He had to make himself stop otherwise the meeting with her father tomorrow afternoon would be catastrophic. He slowed his kisses down, which made Charlotte grunt with disapproval and made him silently chuckle at her disgruntlement.

He continued kissing her long neck and whispered in her ear, 'I was mad with jealousy today when you blushed during your cousin's story telling. All I could think of was how I wanted to take you to a room and devour you exactly as I am doing now. I am sorry I reacted like that earlier. I will temper my jealousy for your sake. Tell me, would it be so very bad, my love, if we just wed now that your whole family is here?

I am reaching my limits, darling. If we continue kissing like this every time, we will pre-empt our wedding vows in no time at all. I can tell that you feel the same from the way that you react when I kiss you. You have no idea what I want to do to you. Please, won't you think about it? Won't you make me the happiest man on the planet and allow me to marry you?'

He punctuated his request by another earth-shattering kiss which made Charlotte's love-addled brain wonder why on earth she was delaying the inevitable fate of being joined with him as his wife. That was all she wanted. She was still recovering from his kiss when he picked her up as if she was as light as a feather, sat her on his lap just as they were before. He then fumbled in his jacket pocket for two items under Charlotte's glassy yet curious gaze.

She saw him pull out a small square box and a rectangular official-looking paper. He gave her the wide, happy smile that he only kept for her alone, kissed her anew and opened the box. He then said again, 'My darling Charlotte, you are the air that I breathe. You are everything to me. I love you as you are and I wouldn't change anything about you. I am here to stay. I will never leave you again. Please marry me, darling. You are the anchor to my boat. Help me moor onto a safe port and let us be happy.'

Charlotte looked wide-eyed between the beautiful ring in the box and Sidney. She was stunned. His beautiful words secretly addressed all her fears in accepting him. She had one foot out of the door just in case he left her again. It felt as if his words magically addressed those doubts and they vanished as if they never existed.

Sidney could tell that she was processing what he had asked her. He pressed his case anew. 'I bought this ring for you when I was in London. I also secured a special license for us to marry whenever and wherever we want along with the fabrics for your trousseau and your wedding dress. Your mother knows all about this. I could ask your parents for your hand tomorrow. Please, darling, say yes.'

He looked at her pleadingly with his best puppy dog look, hugged her close and started playing with the brown curls that had escaped her hairdo nuzzling her neck at the same time. Another kiss confused Charlotte even more. She could not think when he was kissing her so deeply. She could not but return it.

He broke the kiss and looked at her with his dark eyes,' We have learned the hard way that waiting has only caused us grief. Please, my love, say yes. I know you love me, but I will not feel secure that you are mine and mine alone until we are wed.'

Charlotte looked at him carefully, gave him a beaming smile, kissed his nose and said, 'Yes, I will marry you, my prince. I love you so very much. You may ask papa for my hand tomorrow.'

Sidney could not believe his ears. She had said yes! He gave her a blinding smile. 'You have just made me so very happy, my love. I love you too, darling.' He then took the ring, put it in her ring finger and kissed her finger gently. It fitted her perfectly as if she was born to wear it. She glowed from her delight in wearing it and caressed it lovingly with her fingers.

'How did you know what colour to choose for my ring? I have always loved blue.', she asked him in wondrous amazement.

'I knew that you loved the sea. It was a natural conclusion out of knowing your habits. It also helped and most of your spencers are blue, my love.' he said in response winking at her.

She gave him a cheeky grin, squatted his arm playfully and leaned against his broad chest. 'Sidney, can we really get married anytime and anywhere we like? Do you really have the fabric and my trousseau materials ready at hand?'

Sidney's loud laugh sounded like a pleasant rumble on his chest as she was laying on it. She delighted at the sensation. She loved making him laugh.

'Yes, my inquisitive darling, just name the place and the time. As soon as your dress and trousseau are ready and providing your father gives his permission, we can marry either here in Sanditon or in Willingden. Just say the word.'

She looked up, looked at him and asked him again 'Really? And mama knows of all this? She never breathed a word.'

He laughed further at her excited face, 'Yes, my love, really. Yes, your mother knows all about it. I had to confide in her in order for her to read my letter to you.'

She then suddenly got visibly nervous at the mention of his letter and started fumbling with her ring. Sidney noticed, but he waited. She looked up at him and shyly asked, 'You really won't leave me again?'

That small question turned a jovial Sidney to a sober one. He lifted her head with his finger and replied in all seriousness, 'Do you know how I reacted in London when Mary sent me the message with the news that your health got worse, my love?'

Charlotte whispered a small 'no' but kept looking at him. His eyes kept her captive and she would not look away for the world. He continued with his narrative, 'Esther and Babington were with me. I went into shock just from the hypothetical situation of ever losing you. They could not do a thing for me. The only person who knew how to deal with me was our housekeeper in London who has known me ever since I was a child. She was the only one who could snap me out of my trance. It even took her at least two hours to get me back to my normal self. She had to ply me with strong tea and chocolate cookies to even get me in the right state of mind for the Babingtons to get me back to Sanditon. Do you really think that I would leave you out of my own accord? You are too important to me.'

She nodded, kissed him lightly on the lips and rested in his embrace with a happy sigh. She wanted to break the solemn atmosphere and cheekily asked, 'So, the great Sidney Parker has a sweet tooth. Who would have thought?'

Sidney caressed her soft hair, smiled softly and reminisced aloud in a soft voice, 'I take after my mother on that count. She loved anything sweet. We used to share a chocolate cookie after dinner until the day she left us. Now you know my secret, my love. If you want to bribe me to do anything, chocolate cookies would do the trick!'

Charlotte giggled aloud at that last comment, which prompted him to laugh along with her. She liked that side of him. It was soft and cosy and hers alone. They stayed silent for a long moment enjoying each other's presence.

Sidney then broke the silence and told her about his conversation with Dr Levinson and Lady Susan concerning the new apartments and Diana's courtship. She told him in return the discussion her and her mother had with Alison concerning Mr Stringer. He promised to prompt Mr Stringer to join them at the picnic for Alison's sake.

Charlotte asked carefully, 'Are you worried about your meeting with Tom tomorrow, Sidney?'

He looked at her with soft eyes brimming with emotion, 'How is it that you know my fears before I even voice them, Charlotte? Yes, I must admit that I am. I am nervous how he is going to react. Therefore, I have asked Mr Thompson to be present just in case we need any legal advice.'

She smiled at him, 'I think that you have done everything you can to cover every eventuality. As for knowing your fears, your face says it all. You wrinkle your forehead when you fret about something. Your pulse was also faster.'

He kissed her forehead affectionately and exclaimed, 'My clever Charlotte!'

She was not at all modest about this achievement. She said with pride, 'I am, aren't I? I had a good teacher in mama. She does the same with papa. That is how he played along in the rouse for the picnic earlier this evening. You are entering into a very observant family, Mr Parker. We shall find out all your secrets!'

He laughed aloud delightedly, 'I can't wait, my darling. I have nothing to hide. Well, apart from our honeymoon destination. That will be a surprise. Where would you like to live, Charlotte? In London or in Sanditon? Or somewhere else?'

She pondered for a moment and said 'In Sanditon. Somewhere with a view of the sea and some space for a garden. I don't think I could live in London. It is too busy a place for my liking. Now that you have told me that Susan is to have a house here, the prospect sounds even more appealing.'

He smiled at her and said, 'The apartment at the end of the terrace has a direct view to the sea and a large back garden. How about we start getting that fixed up for us?'

Charlotte beamed at the suggestion, 'That just sounds ideal! How soon can it be made ready?'

Sidney took a moment to remind himself of Mr Stringer's plan and responded, 'A month at the earliest. This doesn't take in account any potential delays. I would say maximum two months.'

She nodded eagerly, 'Perfect! A month is Just enough time for the banns to be read and for the wedding preparations for a simple ceremony. How about the wedding date, Sidney?'

He grimaced in consternation, 'A month, Charlotte? How am I supposed to manage a whole month? I am struggling as it is!'

Charlotte giggled as she swatted his arm, 'The same way that you have managed so far, my love. With small rewards and encouragement. Anyway, knowing mama and my sisters, neither of us have a choice in the matter. My parents would expect us to wait at least one month before we tie the knot.'

He released a mock heavy sigh, but smiled mischievously at her, 'How about the beginning of September, darling? This would give Mr Stringer's men time to finish up our house and we could then go for a honeymoon trip somewhere warm.'

All Charlotte could do is agree, 'Wonderful idea! I cannot wait!' They spent the remaining time they had, sealing the deal with the customary kiss or kisses in their case. They knew that once the engagement was announced, they would always be chaperoned. Thus, this quality time together was extra special.

Sidney knew what he needed to do for them to put all the hurt and upset completely behind them. He took Charlotte's hand and took her at the same place in the room where she first collapsed upon his announcement to her of his engagement with Eliza. He took his time to rewrite the horrible memory in their mind by kissing her as thoroughly as propriety would allow him. Charlotte understood his intent and joined in enthusiastically.

Just sorting out those final details of their future life and replacing unpleasant memories with pleasant ones, brought peace to their souls. All the past hurt has healed which opened the doors of a bright future for them. Their love was strong, and their souls were finally one.

Eventually, they started feeling tired. Charlotte went to her bedroom for a well-earned rest and Sidney made his way to the hotel. They both grinned like fools from happiness, but they could not care less who saw them. Their time for happiness has finally arrived and they would let the whole world know about it. Needless to say, they both had extremely pleasant dreams that night.