Chapter Three: Mr. James Stringer
Charlotte and Georgiana were having tea with Mary this morning, and talking about the ball on Saturday night. Georgiana would finally be turning twenty-one and become an independent woman. Much to her consternation, she could not live in the sea-side apartment she had purchased because Mary kept telling her that it Simply. Was. Not. Done.
Mary pleaded with Georgiana, "You must let go of the silly notion that you can live on your own, Georgiana. No decent woman would ever consider such a thing! It would be scandalous, and it would be dangerous. You are a wealthy young woman and could be a target for kidnapping, or worse!"
"Tom and I simply cannot allow it. You are our family now, and as such, you will remain at Trafalgar House with us. We have plenty of room, and we love you."
Then Mary turned to Charlotte, "My dear, while we are on the subject of honorary Parkers, you know that we consider you as family, too. You would have been Sidney's wife if the fire had not happened. I am sure of it."
Charlotte was deeply touched by Mary's declaration, "Thank you, Mary. I feel like you are a sister, just as I feel Georgiana is."
Georgiana said, "Then break off your engagement with Mr. Starling and stay in Sanditon with us. We can all live here together, at least until we find the right men to marry."
Charlotte replied, "But I would need to earn an income, and I do not have a way of doing that now that Mr. Colbourne has dismissed me as his governess."
Tom walked into the room, and he had heard what Charlotte had said, "My dear girl, I am in desperate need of a bookkeeper. You kept your father's books for his estate, and you kept me organized at one time. If that is what you need to stay in Sanditon with us, and to not marry Mr. Starling, then consider it done."
Charlotte said, "Mr. Parker if I broke my engagement, it would disappoint my parents. My father expects me to marry Mr. Starling."
Tom said, 'I believe he would forgive you, Charlotte, as sure as eggs are eggs. All fathers want their daughters to be happy, my dear."
"Anyway, it is something for you to consider. We can see that you do not care for Mr. Starling in the way a woman should when she is about to marry. Please do not settle, my dear Charlotte. We want you to marry for all the right reasons, not out of duty or fear of disappointing your family."
Changing the subject, Tom said, "I got a letter this morning from Mr. James Stringer. He is coming this afternoon to go over the site specifications for the Sanditon Theater. When we have the funds, we will hire the firm he works for to draw the plans for it.
Charlotte smiled, and said, "It will be lovely to see him."
Georgiana noticed her friend's smile, and said, "We will convince him to stay in Sanditon long enough to attend my birthday ball."
Charlotte commented, "I am sure he would like that."
James Stringer rode his horse into Sanditon, and it felt bittersweet to be back. He had left months ago for London to become an architect. There were many memories for him here in Sanditon. Mostly memories of his father and of Miss Charlotte Heywood.
He stabled his horse, and checked into the hotel. He had a few hours before his meeting with Mr. Tom Parker and Mr. Arthur Parker.
Stringer made his way through town, and saw many familiar faces. He made plans to see Fred Robinson the following day, and then he made his way to the cemetery. He missed his father, and hoped he would be proud of the man he had become. James was alone in the world now with both parents gone and no siblings. He needed to marry and have a family of his own, and soon, he would have the financial means to do so.
He took a short stroll on the beach, and then made his way to Trafalgar House.
The Parker brothers were glad to see him, and to James's surprise, Miss Heywood was in Sanditon and staying with the Parkers.
When the men went to the proposed location for the theater, Tom asked Charlotte to go along. She had always appreciated his vision for the town.
Mr. Stringer loved hearing her ideas as they discussed the plans for the theater. It was Arthur's pet project, and he was quite enthusiastic to begin the build.
Tom, sobered by the devastation of the fire to both the town and to his family, reminded Arthur that they needed to secure additional funds before they could begin the build.
James was invited to stay for dinner, so he left the Parkers to go to the hotel to change.
Over dinner, Mr. Stringer learned that Charlotte was engaged to a gentleman farmer from her village in Willingden. He could see that she was resigned to it, and it was clear it was not what she wanted.
After dinner, Arthur and Georgiana and James and Charlotte took a walk along the beach. Arthur and Georgiana walked a distance behind Charlotte and James, and gave them privacy for a substantial conversation.
"Miss Heywood, we have not had a chance to talk about you and your life back in Willingden."
Charlotte smiled and said, "We all know nothing ever happens in Willingden, Mr. Stringer."
"Well, that might have been true at one time, but now it seems to have changed. After all, you are engaged to Mr. Starling now."
"Yes, I am." Charlotte replied.
"Yet, you do not seem happy about it, Miss Heywood."
Charlotte was growing tired of defending herself to everyone, and she said, "Mr. Stringer, as a man, you do not have to conform to society's expectations. You are allowed to do as you wish with your life, but as a woman, I am not afforded such freedom."
"I am a burden to my family at three and twenty. I must marry in order to live. Ralph is a good man, and he loves me, Mr. Stringer."
"Besides, if I break my engagement, I may be giving up the chance to be a wife and mother."
"You are far too lovely to be a spinster, Miss Heywood."
"Thank you, Mr. Stringer, but I must face my truth. I do not want to marry Mr. Starling, you are right, but I have given my word. He asked for my hand unexpectedly, and I was so heart-broken at that time that I said yes. It made my parents very happy because they greatly approve of Mr. Starling."
James could see that Charlotte was on the verge of tears. He offered her his arm, and she took it. They walked for a few moments in silence, both lost in their thoughts.
Mr. Stringer said, "One of the things I have always admired about you, is your independent spirit. You have a sense of adventure that is rare in a woman."
"Might I make a suggestion, Miss Heywood?"
"Of course, Mr. Stringer, you may."
"Give yourself some time to know what it is you want for your life. You may decide that marriage is the right path for you to follow, and then again, you might decide to live your life as an independent woman. Mr. Tom Parker told me that he wants you to keep his books for him, and to live with them, so you do have options."
Charlotte said, "Mr. Stringer, that is what I would like to do."
James spoke to her from his heart, "I know about disappointing a father. You know that my father and I quarreled the night of the fire, and he died without me ever having a chance to tell him that I loved him more than anyone in my life."
"Miss Heywood, do you remember how my father did not want me to go to London to better my life when he was alive?"
Charlotte said, "Yes, I remember."
"Up until his death, I gave up my dreams to please him. It was not until after he died that I was free from my fear of disappointing him to follow my own dreams. I understood that he did not want me to leave, but I should have done what I needed for my life anyway. He would have forgiven me for making a choice he did not approve of, just as I know your father will forgive you."
"Miss Heywood, don't let your fear of disappointing your father keep you from living the life you want."
Charlotte smiled at her good friend, and she said, "I have missed your friendship, Mr. Stringer."
James smiled at her, and said, "I am glad to hear it, Miss Heywood."
They turned around to walk back to town with Georgiana and Arthur.
Later, lying in bed, Charlotte made up her mind what her next step was. She would sleep on it, but she felt sure that she was making the right choice for her life.