Author's Note: Thank you for reading and reviewing! I hope you will indulge me this longer chapter. There is much to cover, and I did not want to break it into two chapters.

Chapter Six: The Birthday Ball

Georgiana's birthday ball was planned for two weeks after Alison and Declan's wedding. The original plan had been for Arthur to come for Charlotte and escort her back to Sanditon, but Mr. Heywood would not allow it. If Charlotte was to attend the ball, then she had to attend it with Ralph. Alison and Declan would be going as well, so the four could travel together.

Charlotte was nervous about going back to Sanditon, especially with Ralph. She would stay at the Parker's, but the Frasers and Ralph would spend the night at the hotel. Neither Ralph nor Declan could be away from Willingden long, so it was decided that they would arrive the day of the ball and leave the following morning Charlotte would remain in Sanditon a few weeks longer as the Parker's guest, and Arthur Parker would escort her home.

Charlotte felt her stomach muscles clench as they got closer to Sanditon. She was not over Alexander Colbourne, not by any measure, and she hoped that he would not be attending the ball.

She looked over at Ralph, and she did think him handsome. He did not invoke feelings of excitement in her as Sidney and Mr. Colbourne had done, but he was a good man. She had to stop comparing him to anyone else. It was not fair to him, nor did it help them grow closer.

Charlotte remembered her last conversation with Sidney. He had told her that he did not love Mrs. Campion, but she had told him that he had to be a good husband to her, and to fulfill his side of the bargain. Charlotte knew that she needed to do the same and was determined to give her relationship with Ralph a chance to flourish.

When they arrived in Sanditon, Ralph helped her from the carriage at the Trafalgar House, and then left for the hotel with the Frasers.

They would all meet at the Parker's that evening before going to the ball. Charlotte would arrive on Ralph's arm, and their engagement would be public news in Sanditon.

Mary came into Charlotte's room while she was dressing and helped her finish her hair. "Charlotte, my dear, are you excited to attend the ball tonight?"

"Of course, Mary, and I am glad for Georgiana to finally have her independence. Tonight will be wonderful, I am sure of it."

"Charlotte, I do not think I have ever seen you look more beautiful." Mary fastened a pearl necklace around Charlotte's neck, and said, " My dear, Mr. Colbourne and his niece have been invited to the ball tonight. I do not know if they will attend or not, but I did not want you to be taken by surprise should they attend."

Charlotte closed her eyes to hide her pain. "Thank you for telling me, Mary. I would have been caught off-guard had you not told me."

Mary laid her hand on Charlotte's shoulder for a moment, and said, "I will see you downstairs. I hear our other guests have arrived."

Charlotte made her way downstairs only a few minutes later, and Ralph stepped forward to take her hands in his. "Charlotte," and he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. "My lovely Charlotte."

Charlotte thanked him and took in his appearance as well. He had new clothes made for the occasion, and he looked resplendent in his formal wear. She was glad that Alison and Declan were attending the ball tonight. She needed her sister for moral support if Mr. Colbourne and Augusta should attend.

The party made their way to the ball.

Georgiana was thrilled to see her friends again.

"Happy Birthday, Georgiana!" Charlotte embraced her best friend, Then, Charlotte saw Lady Susan was standing next to Georgiana and the two ladies hugged.

"I am so happy to see you, Lady Susan, and it is a most welcomed surprise. Allow me to introduce my fiancé, Ralph Starling, and my sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Fraser."

Lady Susan had received a letter along with the invitation from Georgiana to attend the ball. The letter contained the news of Charlotte's engagement. Over the past few days, Lady Susan had learned a great deal that had alarmed her, and she was going to be a careful observer of her young friend tonight.

The musicians began to play, and Ralph held out his hand to Charlotte for a dance. She accepted. They had danced together many times over the years, but it was different now that they were engaged. Ralph held her a bit closer than he really should, and Charlotte felt stiffer in his arms than she ought to be given that she was soon to marry this man.

She would not compare being in his arms to how it had felt to dance with Sidney or Mr. Colbourne. Instead, she smiled at him and tried to relax. Ralph must have felt her body soften, because he gave her one of his brilliant smiles in response.

Unbeknownst to her, Mr. Colbourne and his niece had arrived, and he was watching her. It hurt to see her in another man's arms, but he could not tear his eyes away. She was utterly beautiful, and he drank in the sight of her. It had been over two months since he had seen her last, and he had missed her every minute of every day.

The music ended, and he watched as Charlotte took the man's arm and was led from the dance floor. Augusta spotted Charlotte and before he could stop his niece, she called out, "Miss Heywood!"

Charlotte turned and saw Miss Markham making her way toward her and Ralph. "Miss Markham, it is good to see you. May I introduce you to my fiancé, Ralph Starling?"

Augusta was stunned. For a moment she was speechless. Fiance? You are engaged to be married, Miss Heywood?"

"Yes, I am. I should think you would be glad that I shall not end up a spinster after all, Miss Markam." Charlotte was trying to interject some levity into the conversation, but Augusta was too upset to catch that.

"It is nice to meet you, Mr. Starling. If you two will excuse me, I need to find Uncle."

"Of course, Miss Markham."

Augusta made her way back to him. Alexander could see that his niece was clearly upset, so he led her outdoors to the gardens to speak to her privately.

"Did you know, Uncle, that she was engaged?"

"Yes, I learned of it recently while we were still in London. We are to be happy for her, Augusta. She deserves our good wishes."

"But Uncle, you love her, and I could have sworn she loves you! Why did you not offer for her yourself?"

"There are things you do not understand, and I am not inclined to enlighten you. It doesn't matter now, Augusta, she has moved on."

Augusta was not ready to concede her point just yet, "She is engaged, not yet married. You would do well to persuade her to reconsider her choice. Uncle, Aunt Markham told me that marriage is the most important choice we make in life, and Charlotte cannot love that man so soon after she had given her heart to you. I refuse to believe she loves him."

Alexander suddenly wished they could go home immediately to Heyrick Park. He did not know how he was going to endure this evening, but for Augusta's sake, he must. He was not ready to give up on Charlotte, but he did not know how any man of honor could do anything about it this evening.

They returned to the party.

A young man asked Augusta to dance, and Alexander saw Charlotte standing with Lady Susan.

At that very moment, their eyes met. His were full of love and longing, and hers were full of hurt. For a moment, it was as if time stood still. After what seemed like several moments, Charlotte lowered her eyes, and he made his way over to her.

Lady Susan missed nothing of the exchange.

"Miss Heywood, it is good to see you back in Sanditon."

"Thank you, Mr. Colbourne. I would not have missed Georgiana's birthday ball for anything in the world. Have you met Lady Susan, Mr. Colbourne?"

Mr. Colbourne nodded to Lady Susan, "I believe we met in London many years ago."

Susan never forgot a face, and she had also recognized him. ``Yes, we did, and not long ago, I believe I saw you in London at the ball given by the Watsons."

"Yes, I was there. My niece was introduced to society in London, and we attended many social affairs."

Alexander turned to Charlotte, "May I have this dance, Miss Heywood?"

Charlotte did not know what to do. She was still angry at him, but it would be rude to refuse. She looked at Lady Susan, and she said, "Go on, Charlotte."

Alexander led her to the dance floor and took her in his arms. He was flooded with emotion, but he did his best to conceal his feelings. He wondered if Charlotte could hear his heart thumping against his chest.

"How long are you here in Sanditon, Miss Heywood?"

"I will be here for a few weeks, yet. My sister and her husband will be returning to Willingden tomorrow, along with my fiancé, Ralph Starling."

Even though he knew she was engaged, to hear her speak the words took his breath away.

"Your fiancé, Miss Heywood?"

"Yes, just before Alison and Declan's wedding, he asked for my hand. My parents are well-pleased."

"What about you, Miss Heywood, are you well-pleased to be engaged?"

Charlotte felt anger well up inside her. "Why wouldn't I be, Mr. Colbourne? Ralph is a good man who loves me, what more could I want?"

The music ended and she asked him to excuse her.

He watched her walk back to Lady Susan and her family.

Frustrated, he looked around for Augusta. She was standing with Georgiana and Arthur Parker engaged in conversation.

He walked outside to regain his composure. He had not been in her presence for more than five minutes, and he had already upset her. He thought back on what she had told him. Her fiancé would be returning home tomorrow, but she would remain for a few more weeks. He had to make good use of that time, and he needed a chance to talk to her alone.

When he turned to walk back in, the man he had seen Charlotte dancing with was walking toward him.

Ralph extended his hand, "I do not believe we have been introduced. I am Ralph Starling, Charlotte's fiancé."

Alexander shook his hand and said, "Alexander Colbourne."

He just confirmed what Ralph had been thinking. This was the man Charlotte had worked for, and if he correctly read their interaction on the dance floor, he was the man who Charlotte had given her heart to.

"My fiancé has spoken of you and your girls. She came to care for your niece and your daughter a great deal."

"Yes, she did, and they miss her terribly."

Ralph looked him directly in the eye, "Colbourne, Charlotte came home from Sanditon with a broken heart. She has been honest with me, and I will do all in my power to protect her from ever knowing that kind of pain again."

"Do I make myself clear?"

Alexander had to admire Starling's resolve to protect Charlotte. "Yes, I believe you have made your feelings quite clear."

Ralph said, "I am glad we understand each other. I want your word that you will do or say nothing to upset my Charlotte while she remains in Sanditon."

Alexander said, "It has never been my intent to upset Charlotte in any way, Starling."

"Yet, you did, Colbourne."

"Regrettably so, Starling."

Ralph turned around to go find Charlotte. He was unsettled by his conversation with Colbourne. He had a feeling the man was going to try to win Charlotte's heart from him. He wished he felt more confidence in her affections for him.

Because Georgiana was leading the sugar boycott in town, the traditional birthday cake was not served, but instead, glasses of champagne were passed around. Arthur offered a birthday toast, and everyone drank to Georgiana on her twenty-first birthday.

Lady Susan asked Charlotte to come for tea the next afternoon. They agreed upon a time and then, the party from Willingden took their leave.

Ralph asked Charlotte if they could walk home. To his relief, she agreed and suggested a walk along the beach. He desperately needed some time alone with her to make her understand how much he loved her. He was not naïve enough to believe that there were no feelings between her and Colbourne.

Charlotte was a woman of honor, and would never betray him, but he wanted more than that. He wanted her to give her heart to him and for her heart to be his and his alone.

They talked about the ball and how much they both enjoyed dancing. He asked if she preferred the grandeur of the fashionable ball they had just attended to the simpler affairs in their community.

'No, I don't actually. I do love dressing up and the excitement of it all, but those events are really for people to have a chance to come together, especially unmarried people. As we are engaged now, they no longer serve that same purpose for me."

Ralph was relieved to hear her say so, and he turned to her. "Charlotte, I want us to set a date to be married soon. I hate that I have to leave you tomorrow. Please say you will give it some thought. I am not pressuring you, but I would be lying if I did not tell you that I want to marry you soon."

Charlotte knew that it was the right thing to do to agree, so she did. When they arrived back at Trafalgar House, he longed for privacy to kiss her. He had to settle for kissing her hand instead, but he bent in close to her and said, "You are my heart, Charlotte Heywood."

Later that night, Charlotte thought about the evening. It had been unsettling to see Alexander Colbourne again. She was still in love with him, but she had to forget him. Tonight, Ralph asked her to set a date for their wedding, and she knew he was anxious to begin their life together as a married couple. Yet, how could she when she still loved someone else?

She felt confused. She honestly did not know what to do. Maybe, talking things over with Susan tomorrow would help her see her path forward with more clarity.

At Heyrick Park, Alexander Colbourne stood before the fire in his study. It hurt like hell to see Charlotte in the arms of the Starling. He had to admire the man for fighting for Charlotte. He could not blame him, but Alexander was not going to concede to the man, fiancé or not, without a fight. He knew Charlotte felt something for him still, and God knows he loved her, so he would have to make her see that he was the better man for her.

He sat down on his desk to write in his journal. He stared at the page for a long time before he picked up his quill to write.

I love her more than ever. There is still something between us, but she is hurt and angry with me. Her beautiful brown eyes conveyed so much to me. Will I hurt her more by trying to win her back? How can I not try when I believe she still loves me, too? How will I ever live without her if I do not succeed in making her forgive me?

He closed his journal, and got ready for bed.

Alexander had hurt her, and if he had not, they would not be in the situation they were in now. He had not possessed the self-confidence to ask for her the day after the ball. He cursed himself for letting Lennox get to him. He should have offered for Charlotte the minute he got home from the army encampment.

Now, how he had to figure out how to win her back, and it was going to be complicated. There were hurdles that all the love in the world for her might be too difficult to overcome.

Charlotte had made him want to be worthy of her love. She had made him want to stop existing and to really live again. Tom Parker had asked him if he had the courage to go after what he wanted, and he had said that he did.

Now, the time had come to make good on his words.

He closed his eyes and said, "Until tomorrow, my dear Charlotte. I love you."