Author's Notes: Thank you for reading and I appreciate the reviews. It encourages me to keep writing! We are about half way through this story so far.

Chapter Seven: The Ladies

The morning after the ball, Georgiana called on Lady Susan. Mary and Charlotte were coming for tea in the afternoon, and there was much to discuss beforehand.

Lady Susan was anxious to have Georgiana fill in some details for her. She took note of many things last night at the ball but wanted to make sure she clearly understood everything she saw.

"Georgiana, was your birthday ball all you wanted it to be last night?"

Georgiana smiled at her beautiful friend, "With the exception of Sidney's absence, it was. I miss him very much, and I have come to appreciate all he did for me. We did not get along most of the time, but now I understand that Sidney was not trying to control me but protect me."

Lady Susan replied, "Yes, it is very sad that Mr. Parker has departed this world, and so tragically."

'Has his widow showed her face yet in Sanditon? I know she is heavily invested here."

Georgiana wrinkled her nose at the thought of Eliza Campion Parker setting foot in Sanditon. "No, and I hope she does not, especially if Charlotte is in town. I do not know how much more Charlotte can take. She has been hurt by all that has happened, and she does not need to see the woman that became Mrs. Sidney Parker ever again."

Lady Susan agreed, and said, "Speaking of Charlotte and all that has happened, let's talk about last night."

Georgiana settled back in her chair, teacup in hand and said, "Where do we begin?"

Lady Susan said, "Let's start with Charlotte and her Mr. Starling. What did you gather about Charlotte's affections for him, and how do you think he feels about our dear girl?"

Georgiana had watched her friend and her fiancé throughout the night and had made some determinations.

"I think she respects him, but I do not think she loves him. She is resigned that he is her future. Mr. Starling is besotted with her, and he could barely take his eyes off her. He was so proud to have her on his arm last night, and I must say, he is handsome."

Lady Susan agreed with Georgiana's assessment of the situation, so she turned the conversation to Alexander Colbourne.

"I wonder, Georgiana, what you think about Mr. Colbourne?"

Georgiana said, "I have seen Charlotte and Mr. Colbourne together at Lady Denham's garden party and the Sanditon ball, in addition to my birthday ball last night. My assessment is Mr. Colbourne is very much in love with Charlotte, and I know she loves him, too. She told me so."

Georgiana continued, "At Lady Denham's garden party, he seemed shy and nervous around her. When he first spotted her at the party, his eyes lit up, and I knew then that he cared for her. There is a boyish charm about him that I think very much appeals to Charlotte."

"He is reserved, but I think still waters run deep, so to speak."

"Miss Markham, Mr. Colbourne's niece, fainted at the party, and both Lennox and Colbourne rushed to help her. Something was said between the two men, and it was clear there is animosity between them. I do not think it is just that they both care for Charlotte."

"It would seem there is some history between Mr. Colbourne and Colonel Lennox. Interestingly enough, both men have warned Charlotte about the other, but without explaining themselves in any detail."

This was new information for Lady Susan. "Colonel Frances Lennox was interested in our Charlotte, Georgiana?"

"Yes, and in fact, he asked for her hand the night of Sanditon Ball. When she refused him, he insulted Charlotte. She would never accept him because she finds him lacking in integrity. Living in the Parker House as she does, she learned some unflattering things about Colonel Lennox."

"Hmmm….interesting. Perhaps I should explain some things you may not be aware of."

Georgiana encouraged her friend, "Go on, Lady Susan."

"Many years ago, I met Mr. Colbourne's wife, Lucy. Miss Markham strongly resembles her aunt and her own mother. I remember those lovely twin girls when they made their debut into society. Jane, Lucy's sister, married after her first season, but Lucy was out for several seasons before she met and married Alexander Colbourne."

"It seemed a good match, from what I remember. He was the handsome older son from a wealthy family, and she was a beautiful young woman from a society family in London."

"Much like Sidney Parker, Mr. Colbourne seemed to dislike London society a great deal. I saw his wife with her sister and husband at many events, but rarely Mr. Colbourne. If the gossip was correct at the time, he left his wife in London to run his estate. Until very recently, he had not been seen out in London society since then."

"I met Miss Markham at tea recently in London, and she told me her uncle had brought her to town for her debut into London society. I did see him at one ball, and besides dancing once with his niece, he watched from the sidelines. He is handsome and wealthy, but there is some scandal attached to the Colbourne name."

Susan continued, "Lucy Colbourne, it was said, had an affair with a Captain Lennox. He must have earned his commission as a Colonel after he left London. Mrs. Colbourne's husband must have wondered why his wife had remained in town, so he returned to London to fetch his wife home."

"When he arrived, he found his wife was several months pregnant. Of course, the speculation was that he was not the father of her child. They left for Sanditon immediately, and from what I have heard, his wife died shortly after giving birth to the child."

Georgiana was stunned with all Lady Susan had told her. "Charlotte has gotten herself involved with a man with a complicated past."

"Lady Susan, I never liked Colonel Lennox, and I had a bad feeling about him, but Charlotte's younger sister encouraged the match. I can well understand how Colbourne could not stand to be in Colonel Lennox's presence. Do you think that Lucy had Colonel Lennox's child?"

"I do not know, but it is a possibility, I would think."

"The army has now left Sanditon for India, so thankfully, we will never have to see that scoundrel again. I am very glad he showed Charlotte his true colors. I wonder now if the colonel's interest in her was genuine."

"We will never know, and thankfully, it does not matter now."

Lady Susan breathed a sigh of relief and poured another cup of tea for the two of them.

"Georgiana, I understand why Charlotte went to work as a governess given her disappointment in love, but what happened to end her employment with Mr. Colbourne? Do you know what happened to change the nature of the relationship between Charlotte and Mr. Colbourne?

"At the Sanditon Ball, Mr. Colbourne danced with Charlotte. It was clear to everyone watching that the two of them were in love."

"Later that evening, I saw her in conversation with Mr. Colbourne right after all that happened. Shortly afterwards, she left with him and Miss Markham."

"They went to Heyrick Park, and Charlotte told me that he spoke to her of his marriage, and how his wife had an affair with Colonel Lennox. In fact, Charlotte told me his daughter, Miss Colbourne, is actually the spitting image of Colonel Lennox."

"Lady Susan, he has kissed our Charlotte, and she had every right to expect a proposal the next day, but none was forthcoming. In fact, a few days later, he terminated her position with him, and broke her heart."

Lady Susan was angry with Colbourne, and she felt badly for Charlotte. "Our poor dear girl. So, she goes home to Willingden, and the gentleman farmer Ralph offers for her. Charlotte decided to accept him because he does not have the power to hurt her as both Mr. Parker and Mr. Colbourne did. One can hardly blame her."

Georgiana agreed, but said, "While I agree with you that we cannot blame her for doing so, as her friends, we must help her see that she is cheating herself of the life she could have with a man she loves. Ralph Starling may be a safer choice, but Charlotte needs so much more to be happy. Based on how he looks at her, I would say a marriage between Mr. Colbourne and Charlotte would be a passionate one."

Lady Susan concurred and said, "I think our next step is to see what Charlotte wants. I am afraid that she will do what she believes to be right, regardless of what she wants if we do not help her see that she is making a mistake."

"She is coming for tea with Mary, so we will see what unfolds this afternoon."

The two ladies agreed to meet back at Lady Susan's apartment at 2:00 in the afternoon.

Susan went to her desk to write an invitation. After she spoke to Charlotte, she would know better how to guide her, but she needed the other side of the story as well from the man himself.

She sent the invitation to Mr. Colbourne to take tea with her in the morning.

Mary and Charlotte arrived at the appointed time, and after talking about the ball last night, Lady Susan deftly moved the conversation to Charlotte's engagement to Ralph Starling.

"Your young man is quite handsome, Charlotte."

Charlotte smiled, "Yes, he is, and he had a wonderful time last night."

Georgiana asked, "Did you have a wonderful time, as well, Charlotte?"

"Yes, of course I did. I was happy to celebrate your birthday with you, but sad that Sidney was not there with us."

Mary took Charlotte's hand and squeezed it. Sidney would always be missed.

Lady Susan said, "I saw you dance with Mr. Colbourne, Charlotte. Wasn't he the man you went to work for as a governess?"

A cloud passed over Charlotte's face, "Yes, he is the one. I would prefer that we did not speak of him, if you do not mind."

Mary took her hand in hers, and said with compassion, "My dear, I know he has hurt you, but we must speak of him."

"Charlotte try not to be angry when I tell you this, but Tom went to London to speak to Mr. Colbourne about you."

Charlotte was confused, and she asked Mary, "Why did Tom have to go to London to speak to him, and more importantly, why did he feel he needed to speak to Mr. Colbourne?

Mary said, "Mr. Colbourne had gone to London for several weeks, and my husband wanted to speak to him immediately. Tom will never get over his part in how things ended between you and Sidney, Charlotte. He needs to do all he can to make things right for you. Tom knew that after Mr. Colbourne left Trafalgar House the day he terminated you as his governess, that you were quite hurt."

"He also had seen, as everyone else did, that Mr. Colbourne cares for you, Charlotte. The night Mr. Colbourne held you in his arms when you danced at the Sanditon Ball, it was as if nobody else existed. You might as well have been the only two in the room. Charlotte, a man does not look at you the way he did unless his feelings run deep."

"Then, when you left with him and Miss Markham, both Tom and I expected that he would have proposed to you that night."

"Tom wanted to get to the bottom of why he did not ask for her hand, so he went to speak to him about it. You know, dear Charlotte, when you are with us in Sanditon, you are under Tom's care. It is his responsibility to look after you."

"Tom told me Mr. Colbourne admitted that he did care for you, and he explained that he did not ask for your hand because he feels that he could not be a good husband to you."

Mary continued, "Now, Mr. Colbourne regrets his decision, but things are complicated because you are engaged to Ralph Starling."

It was clear that this revelation was upsetting to Charlotte.

Lady Susan said, "My darling, I am going to ask you something quite indelicate."

Charlotte nodded her head, "Yes, Lady Susan?"

"If you had to choose which man you want to hold you in his arms, which would it be, Mr. Starling or Mr. Colbourne?"

Charlotte stood up and started pacing the room.

"It doesn't even matter. I have made a choice. Honor and duty to my family demand that I follow through. It is not only my reputation at stake, but my entire family's reputation would be damaged as well. My father expects me to marry Ralph, and I have accepted his hand, so I must."

Lady Susan went to her friend, "That is simply not true, my darling girl. It will be tricky to navigate through it all, but you have us to help you. You only have to say if given the choice, you prefer Mr. Colbourne."

Charlotte said, "It is not that simple, he did not offer for me. In fact, he reminded me that he was my employer. I am nothing to him. He explained that he had taken advantage of me, and he apologized for doing so."

Mary said, "What do you mean he took advantage of you, Charlotte?"

Charlotte looked at her friends with tears in her eyes and told them, "He kissed me, not once but twice."

Lady Susan was aware of one kiss and that was bad enough, but two was inexcusable!

Georgiana stood up and took Charlotte in her arms. "Shame on him to hurt you so!"

Lady Susan was more determined than ever that she needed Mr. Colbourne's side of the story.

Mary decided that she and Charlotte needed to return to Trafalgar House. Charlotte was clearly emotionally drained from the conversation. The two ladies walked on the beach for a short while before returning back to the house. Charlotte put her arm through Mary's and leaned on her friend's shoulder.

Mary ached for her friend. Love had been so unkind to her, but she hoped that very soon, Charlotte would find her happiness.