The workmen at Heyrick Park were progressing nicely on the small round greenhouse – the palm tree had been removed from its pot and placed in the rich soil near the pond, and the structure had been built around it with the tree exactly in the middle and at the highest point. For the summer, the natural heat contained within the glass and wood structure would be sufficient to allow the palm to thrive, and in the winter, a small wood stove would be added for warmth. Nearly all of the glass had been placed while they waited for a final shipment from London, so the roof was open still to the sky.

The sun flickered through the trees above and onto the packed dirt floor, and today Alexander had chosen this place to think. It seemed symbolic to him somehow that he had spent the last decade hidden away at Heyrick House looking out of windows at the world outside. Now he was looking out of windows, but he was a part of the world outside. This was the transformative effect that Charlotte Heywood and her love had worked upon him.

Even before learning of his close connection to Georgiana Lambe, Alexander had requested that benches be placed evenly around the inside walls of the greenhouse at the four compass points, so that the exotic tree might be viewed from all angles. He wanted to be certain that Miss Lambe always felt welcome to visit, to sit and remember her love for the islands. In the current circumstances, that desire took on new and deeper meaning, and Alexander wondered if some part of his mind and heart had felt a premonition of what was to come.

He could now acknowledge the immediate felicity he had felt for Georgiana at her birthday party, and the easy manner in which they had become friends. Alexander was warming to life in general under Charlotte's loving influence, but it was highly uncharacteristic of him to offer the grounds of Heyrick Park to a person who was, for all intents and purposes, a stranger to him. It had surprised him when he'd done it, and now it felt simply like a natural progression toward a predetermined end.

A sister. Only a boy growing up in a household of men could understand what that meant to Alexander. He also acknowledged that the only kindness he had known as a child had come from the women of color in his household and in the slave quarters, which gave him an extraordinary disposition of magnetism toward Georgiana as a sister. He felt terrible remorse at the way Sarah Kingsley had been abused by his father, but another part of his heart felt great joy that his blood also ran in Georgiana's veins.

He had a sister. And he felt immediately protective of her.

She would never want for anything – Alexander had already determined that. Even if everything went to the worst degree and she lost every shilling, she would have a home at Heyrick Park and would live as he and Samuel did, with all the rights he could possibly give her. Thanks to Charlotte, Alexander was not unfamiliar with the strength and determination of an independent woman, and he had no illusions that Georgiana would simply transition from heiress to sister without a battle – but it would at least allow her a soft landing if all went wrong.

Today there was a light wind blowing through the grounds from the sea and it had put a slight May chill in the air, but as Alexander sat inside the greenhouse at the north-facing bench, it was comfortably warm and still. He was waiting for Charlotte to arrive, and he was collecting his thoughts as he did it. He would write a long letter to Samuel later explaining everything and inviting him to the wedding, but Charlotte was now always the first person he wanted to tell about any of the important events of his life. She would help him to decide how to share this news with Georgiana.

He had let the workmen go for the rest for the day, as their construction of the building had been nearly finished while the family had been visiting the Heywoods. All that remained was closing in the roof, the addition of flower beds around the perimeter, and some minor clean-up of the area. The added benefit of the placement of the palm tree was that it was adjacent to the pond where they would be married in a month's time, and the lovely aspect of the glass structure would be visible behind them by their guests as they said their vows.

Alexander smiled and shook his head lightly. How much easier life was when he simply flowed with circumstances, knowing that all things worked together for good – rather than railing at them and trying to control what he did not understand. He had heard once that a river seen by us may have twists and turns that feel sharp and jarring, but that same river seen by God is simply moving from one point to another. You can flow with it or you can fight it, but you will still arrive at the same destination.

"Hello the house!" he heard outside the greenhouse door, and the cheery sound made his heart expand in his chest. Again, Alexander was astonished at how his body reacted when even hearing Charlotte's voice. A joy infused him, as if the sun had suddenly come from behind clouds, and all he wanted was to take her in his arms and hold her, to feel her life connect with his in that peaceful symmetry that was always present between them.

For a fleeting moment, Alexander could understand his father's agony at losing his mother. This must have been what he felt, Alexander thought, and for the first time in his entire life, he felt a sense of sympathy for the pain Jonathan Colbourne must have lived with every day for over two decades.

Charlotte opened the door and the wonder in her eyes brought a broad smile to his face.

"Why, this is charming!" she said in delight, twirling around to view the entire circle of glass around her. "What a very sweet thing you have done for Georgiana! And when we marry, all of the guests will be able to see it sparkling in the sun behind us!"

"I was just thinking that as well," he said, drawing her into his arms. Her face was upturned and her eyes closed, anticipating his kiss, but for a moment he simply gazed at her. Her cheeks were rosy from the walk in the wind, her lips full and in a slight pout, her breath calming after her exertions from the house. Alexander had never seen a woman more beautiful.

Charlotte opened her eyes and frowned slightly. "Alexander, you are making me wait, and I've been thinking of this all the way here." She smiled at him and raised an eyebrow. "You are teasing me," she said softly. Reaching up, she put her hand into the curls at the nape of his neck and pulled, gently. "Kiss me," she whispered.

He did not need to be asked twice. He bent his lips to hers and closed his eyes, kissing her at first tenderly, and then, again, losing his reason as she parted her lips slightly and tugged at his bottom lip. The privacy of the greenhouse, while still feeling like they were out of doors, added to the seduction of their closeness, and he let a low sigh escape from deep inside him as he pulled her closer, nearly lifting her off of her feet.

After what seemed like a very long time, Charlotte moved her lips from his and rested on his cheek, her breath coming faster than it had even on her walk.

"That's better," she sighed. "I thought perhaps you'd had enough of me…"

"Never," he whispered, moving his lips down to her neck and holding them there, taking in the light scent of roses that always seemed to envelop her.

They pulled away and looked into each other's eyes for a moment, and then both spoke at once.

"I have something I need to tell you," Alexander said.

"I have news," Charlotte said.

Both laughed as Alexander led her over to a bench.

"You first," he said, sitting down and putting his arm lightly around her shoulders.

"It seems that Georgiana and Arthur called on you yesterday while we were traveling. Did Eva not tell you?" Charlotte asked.

Alexander nodded. "She did."

Charlotte turned and looked at him. "And did Eva explain to you what their inquiries were?"

Exhaling, Alexander said softly, "She did."

Frowning, Charlotte said, "Well, you are being very mysterious indeed. Am I to understand that what you have to tell me concerns Georgiana? Because she said that you may have some knowledge of her mother."

"I do," Alexander said simply.

Charlotte sat up and turned so that she was facing him on the bench. "Alexander Colbourne. Will you kindly answer me with more than one word at a time?"

Alexander put his hand on her cheek and spoke tenderly. "My love, I have a story to tell you and it is a long one. I had to endure waiting for the ending from Eva last night, but I can spare you the suspense by giving you the crux of it first and then filling in. Please tell me how you would like to receive it."

Charlotte's frown deepened. "The ending first," she said.

"Georgiana Lambe is my half-sister," Alexander said softly.

For a long moment, Charlotte's eyes widened and darted back and forth, staring at him. He was fascinated watching her attempt at processing this news and wanting to understand how it could be true.

Charlotte began speaking, slowly. "So, your father and her mother? Georgiana is mulatto, so a slave? But what of Lawrence Lambe?" Then, quickly, "Did Sidney know this?"

Alexander smiled, again in awe of her acuity and powers of reasoning. "Lawrence Lambe kept my father's accounts. Georgiana's mother's name is Sarah Kingsley, and she lived here, at Heyrick Park." Alexander looked down at his hands and Charlotte could see the color come into his cheeks. "My father… forced himself on her. Lawrence Lambe was in love with Sarah and when he found she was with child, he had my father sign over the Antigua property and he took her there, where Georgiana was born."

Looking up and into Charlotte's eyes, Alexander said, "And yes, Sidney Parker knew the whole story. It is why he brought Georgiana here to Sanditon. So that if for some reason she lost her fortune, she would at least have family."

Charlotte narrowed her eyes, "Why would she lose her fortune?" Then the realization dawned on her. "Charles Lockhart, of course. He would bear a closer relationship to Lawrence Lambe than Georgiana." Charlotte turned on the bench and sat staring at the palm tree for a moment. Alexander kept his silence, allowing her to think it all through.

"We must help her," Charlotte said.

"We will. I need your counsel, Charlotte, to know how to convey this news to her. My brother Samuel is a barrister, and I will write to him today to apprise him in full about this matter. I want to determine if we can somehow negate the transfer of the Antigua plantation to Lawrence Lambe – perhaps on the basis of my father's inebriation at the time that he signed it – so that the fortune earned there will come to Samuel and me instead. Then we can allocate the full amount to Georgiana and she will be completely secure."

Charlotte looked at him and felt tears spring to her eyes. "You would do that?" she said, her voice filled with emotion.

Alexander moved a wayward curl from her temple. "She is my sister, Charlotte."

Throwing her arms around his neck, Charlotte held him tightly. "I love you. So very much," she said softly.

Charles Lockhart could not understand it. He had been an irredeemable reprobate for as long as he could remember, and had assumed that it was so completely in his nature that he could not be touched by sentimentality. Although he had adopted the persona of an artist who was overly sensitive and felt things too much, in reality he had often wondered if he had been created without the normal allotment of human feelings. The number of women he had bedded had become an unknown to him long ago – he supposed it was in the hundreds but would not honestly have been surprised by any number at this point – and his recollection of them had blended into various eyes, mouths, hair, and other forgettable features until they were essentially one amorphous being.

But Georgiana Lambe – ah, that woman – had stayed in his memory as if part of the palette of one of his paintings; bright, full-bodied, distinct, unique. And he had never even gone past a kiss with her.

Charles had done everything he could to deny it, had fought it every way he could, but he had fallen in love with her while he painted her. He had seen into her soul, and for the first time, he felt regret and remorse at his actions, disappointment in himself for his shallowness – feelings he had never experienced before – confusing, bewildering feelings.

Yes, he had tried to gain his uncle's fortune through the courts, and when that failed, he had attempted to obtain Miss Lambe's riches through his usual avenues of charm and deceit, but at a certain point in the transaction, he had lost his way. While he watched her and painted her eyes, her lips, her exquisite natural hair, he found he was also painting her intelligence, her strength of will, her self-respect – so as he captured her, he not only found her soul, but his own.

Charles looked out at the Paris landscape he was supposed to be painting, and he laughed to himself. He had become one of those fools in love that he had always ridiculed, one of those preposterous people, a man being led around behind a woman by his lower instincts, his need for affection, his desire for… relationship.

Because right now, on the Rue Saint Honoré, surrounded by thousands of willing women in the City of Love, Charles Lockhart could only think of one woman, one set of eyes, one pair of lips. Georgiana Lambe had ruined him for all others.

So when he had received the intriguing letter from Edward Denham telling him there might still be hope that he could acquire Georgiana's fortune, with, of course, a percentage of what he would gain to be paid to Denham, Charles had not been tempted by the fortune, but by the opportunity to see Miss Lambe again. And the possibility had not escaped his thoughts that perhaps his disclosure to her that Denham was conspiring against her would go a long way toward reforming him in her eyes.

Charles was inclined to write back to Mr. Denham with his agreement, but he wanted to be certain to word it in such a way that should Georgiana see it, she would know that he was working toward her good and not his own. He had to find a way to redeem himself.

Because although the workings of his heart were entirely confusing of late, Charles knew one thing: he did not want to live his life without Georgiana Lambe.

Georgiana sat blinking, staring at the palm tree with her mind working furiously. In the intense emotions that had been brought on by the news just told to her by Alexander and Charlotte, she had unconsciously reached out and taken each of their hands in her own, so that the three sat linked, physically as well as in their thoughts.

Suddenly, she raised her eyebrows and looked to Alexander on her left. Then her eyes brightened and she laughed. "I have a brother," she said with joy in her voice.

Alexander smiled back at her. "You have two brothers," he said, squeezing her hand.

"Riches!" Georgiana said, and she threw her arms around him impulsively and hugged him. Charlotte could see his face over her friend's shoulder, and the look he gave her was one of pure happiness.

"You will always have a home here," he said softly to Georgiana. "And all of the rights of a Colbourne. Samuel will see to that."

Georgiana leaned back against the bench, looking again at her palm tree. "I have never really cared about the money, you know, apart from the freedom and position it gives me – the security of knowing that I cannot be owned by anyone but myself. How many fancy dresses can one woman possess, and how many houses and carriages? I do not think I could spend it all in my lifetime, because it continues to grow with my investments. In truth, I have been considering the donation of a large portion of my money to supporting the sugar boycott, and as gifts to women in need. There are so many."

She turned to Alexander and smiled. "I have been searching for a barrister that I could trust to assist me in that endeavor. Now it appears I will have a brother to fill that position."

Alexander nodded. "And he will do it gladly," he said. "I will write to him today and give him all of the particulars, and I suspect he will very soon make the trip to Sanditon to meet you and to become familiar with all parts of the story."

Georgiana shook her head lightly in wonder. "What is so hard for me to comprehend is that I have known my mother all along. Sarah Kingsley was a prominent part of our household in Antigua, and she ran it as Eva does Heyrick Park. I naturally assumed all through my childhood that she was either a slave or an employee, but now that I look back in memory, she was particularly loving toward me, and there was some affection shown between her and my fa…. Lawrence Lambe," Georgiana said, catching herself.

As her face grew serious, Alexander took her hand again. "There was true love between them, according to Eva. He was your father in every sense apart from blood. I hope you are able to remember him that way always. And if Sarah was to you as Eva was to Samuel and me, you most certainly had a mother."

"When do you last remember her there, Georgiana?" Charlotte asked.

"I believe I was fourteen or fifteen years of age," Georgiana said, her forehead creasing into a frown. "My father had always told me that my mother died in childbirth, and I remember asking Sarah about it, if she had known my mother. She told me that she was sure my mother loved me very much…" Georgiana's voice caught and both Charlotte and Alexander instinctively put their arms around her shoulders.

"And she did. She was right there with you as you grew," Charlotte said, softly.

"But why did she leave? Did they quarrel? Perhaps someone found out about their relationship? She was still considered a slave in Antigua, but that sort of communion between the Master and a female house slave was certainly not unheard of. It would not have been considered a scandal," Georgiana said.

"We will work toward finding all of the answers, Georgiana," Alexander said. "First things first, we must deal with Edward Denham. How did he leave it with you?"

"I have given him the first 5000 for his leading me to you. He said that the second part of the riddle will cost another 5000, and I had assumed that he would then tell me where my mother is now."

Alexander nodded. "So to be certain, we should follow through, just in case he does have information about her location. But if his knowledge has come only through Lennox, who in turn received it from my father, then I would doubt he knows where she is. If Sidney was unable to find her, Denham certainly could not."

Georgiana frowned. "And why would Sidney not tell me my mother's name? He's clearly known this for some time."

Pausing, Alexander said, "It is my belief that he kept that information from you to protect you. Anyone who knows the full story would put your fortune in jeopardy, including yourself, and so Sidney may have decided to leave Sarah to her anonymity until he was certain you would be cared for. Likely he found himself close to death from the fever, and he sent the necklace because he wished to at least give you some part of her." Alexander looked across at Charlotte to determine how she was faring with this difficult conversation, and she smiled back at him and nodded her understanding and gratitude.

Alexander continued. "In truth, Georgiana, it is exactly what I would have done under the same circumstances. It is unfortunate that two large pieces of this puzzle, Lambe and Sidney, are no longer living and cannot give us answers to these questions, but I have great faith in my brother and his abilities, so we shall wait to see what he has to say."

Georgiana shook her head and turned to Charlotte. "How could I have been so wrong about Colonel Lennox? What a horrible person he has turned out to be. And to think I was considering him a good match for you!" She turned to Alexander. "You are a thousand times the man he is, and I thought you haughty and unapproachable. I am so sorry… brother." She smiled as she shyly said the word, feeling the full meaning of it spread through her.

Alexander smiled as well, at the sound of the endearment. "No apology is necessary. You were correct in thinking I was defined by those qualities. Charlotte's love has rendered me a changed man." Alexander exhaled sharply and his jaw clenched. "Lennox has the power of persuasion to be sure. He seems to continue to torment me and cause pain to those I love, but I am feeling his influence is coming to an end."

Looking down at her hands, Georgiana said softly, "And what of Charles Lockhart?"

Charlotte leaned toward her, "That is only supposition on our parts, Georgiana. No one has mentioned him yet in any of this affair. He may not be involved at all."

Georgiana sighed deeply. "Oh, he will be, I'm certain of it. What a fool I was! To believe his lies, to think that he truly cared for me…"

Alexander looked over her head to Charlotte and for a moment they gazed at each other. He was communicating clearly what he was thinking.

Georgiana is still in love with Charles Lockhart.

7th May 1821

Paris France

Mr. Denham,

I am in receipt of your recent letter, and I will admit that I am intrigued.

I have thought often of Miss Lambe since my departure from Sanditon, and have wondered how she fares, though I fear her welcome to me would be an understandably cold one were I to return to that salubrious seaside town.

If you do indeed have information that pertains to her connection to my uncle, I should be interested to hear it. Pray let me know how you would like to proceed.

Yours,

Charles Lockhart

The sound of Leonora's voice outside the greenhouse brought its three occupants out of their contemplation of more sober thoughts of the past, and happily into the present. Charlotte smiled and stood first, moving toward the door and opening it.

Mrs. Wheatley sat on the bench next to the pond, while Leonora lay on the bank with a small wooden sailboat, trying unsuccessfully to launch it into the wind. Each time she tried, it turned sideways into the pond and the paper sail became more soaked, until it finally fell to pieces and disappeared in the water.

Augusta sat next to her on a blanket. "I wish I could help you, cousin, but I am afraid that sail making was not a part of my schooling in London."

"I shall never make it sail," Leonora said, crestfallen.

"Of course you shall," Charlotte said. She had brought her bag with her because she had the book of French poetry inside it to show Leonora the dried cornflowers. She bent down and pulled out a sheet of paper and began to fold it.

"Your sail needs to be flatter. Yours was too curved to catch the wind correctly," Charlotte said, poking the mast through the paper at two points and flattening it out. "What makes the boat sail across the water is the force of the wind on the sail, but also the sideways force of the water on the boat. That causes it to move forward, but you must sail it into the wind, like this." Charlotte turned the boat toward the wind and pushed lightly, and it sailed neatly across the pond directly to where Alexander was now standing.

Leonora was beside herself with excitement as she watched it cut through the water in the wind. "Miss Heywood! You made it sail! Look, Father, my boat is sailing!"

Alexander laughed. "Yes, Leo, I can see that. I wonder if there is anything that Miss Heywood cannot do." He gazed at Charlotte and took a deep breath. "Will you ever stop surprising me?" he said, shaking his head.

"Please remember I have five brothers, and there is a pond at the farm. It is not such a mystery," she said, smiling back at him.

While all of this was happening, Georgiana had walked over to the bench and sat down next to Eva. They exchanged a long look, and then Georgiana said simply, "You knew my mother."

Eva nodded and put her arm around the younger woman. "I knew her well. She was as kind, and as smart and as lovely as you are."

"That is how I remember her as well. But I do wish I had known," Georgiana said, leaning her head on Eva's shoulder.

"You are a part of this family now, and I can tell you these boys will not rest until you have all of your answers, be they good or bad," Eva said, pulling her closer.

"Mrs. Wheatley, look! It is sailing!"

Eva smiled. "It is a very seaworthy vessel, Miss Leonora." Then she looked over at Alexander. "I have a wedding to plan, as you know, and I am currently functioning as housekeeper and governess. We will need to secure another governess for the girls as soon as possible if I am to have the house ready for the celebrations."

Charlotte jumped up. "Please let me," she said, walking around the pond to Alexander. "I love these girls so dearly, and should like nothing better than to teach them again. It would mean I could come to Heyrick Park every day with purpose. And I will not be your employee because I will not be paid in anything but meals and the love of this household. I shall soon be your wife and will be their teacher in any case, so why not start now?" She threaded her arm through Alexander's and watched as Leonora ran around the pond to retrieve her boat again and again.

Alexander paused for a moment and then looked at her and raised his chin. "Seven fifteens?" he asked, softly.

Charlotte laughed. "One hundred and five," she said, looking up into his eyes. "And the capital of Argentina is Buenos Aires, and you are already well familiar with how poorly I play the pianoforte."

"Me promettras-tu de m'aimer pour toujours?"

Gazing up at him, she said, "Yes, I promise to love you forever."

"In French, please, Miss Heywood," Alexander said, affecting his best haughty look as Master of the estate.

"Oui, monsieur, je promets de t'aimer pour toujours," she said softly.

"Very well," he said, kissing her on the top of her head. "You are hired. And I will not pay you a shilling, and you will never be my employee again. I believe we have determined that that way lies madness."

Charlotte smiled and leaned against him. "You have a bargain, my love."

Georgiana sat with Eva, watching as the boat sailed with the wind across the pond, listening to Leonora and Augusta's laughter and watching the love flow between Alexander and Charlotte.

"I believe I will like being a part of this family very much indeed," Georgiana said.