Just a reminder that I have made and will be making references in this fic to the prequel story (A midsummer night's proposal). So if there's a reference to a past incident that you don't recognise, it's probably from there.

Also, a huge thank you to everyone who's reading and commenting, including all the guest reviewers who I can't reply to individually. I really appreciate you all, and I'm so happy you're enjoying the story!


Sidney and Charlotte turned to Lord George Babington as he sauntered up the path, having come up from town on his way to Sanditon House.

"Babbers."

"Sidney, Miss Heywood." Babington bowed to her. "Well met!"

His eyes moved from Sidney to the young woman who had so thoroughly captured his friend's attention this summer. He noted their flushed cheeks, how close they stood next to each other, with her arm wound through his, and the way Sidney's eyes kept darting to Miss Heywood, as if he could not bear to look away from her for long. And drew the obvious conclusion. "I take it you received a favourable answer after all, old friend?"

Sidney could not help the broad grin that spread across his face. "I did," he said, his eyes going to Charlotte again, whose smile rivalled his. "Though not at the ball. We were interrupted–"

He cut himself off abruptly, remembering Sir Edward Denham's scandalous outburst in the Assembly Rooms the previous evening, and what the raving man had said about his own stepsister in front of all the ball-goers. The very same stepsister Sidney's friend was smitten with.

But Babington let out a celebratory whoop. "Congratulations!" he said, clapping Sidney hard on the shoulder a few times. "And to you too, Miss Heywood. I am very happy for the both of you!"

"Thank you, Lord Babington."

Sidney regarded his friend, whose demeanour seemed all too jolly even for Babington, especially given the events that transpired at the Midsummer ball. "What news of Miss Denham?" he asked carefully.

"Ah." Babbington's grin widened, if that were possible. "Miss Denham finally accepted my proposal. At the ball, after–" he grimaced, "After everything." His briefly grim countenance swiftly changed back to his jubilant self. "I too am engaged!"

Sidney let out a shout of laughter and the two men embraced in a manly hug with much backslapping as Charlotte watched in happy astonishment. She'd never seen Sidney so light and carefree, he and Lord Babington looked like two little boys celebrating after having successfully gotten away with some mischief.

"Congratulations, Lord Babington," she said once they had calmed a bit. "And to Miss Denham as well, when you see her. I wish you both every happiness together."

Charlotte remembered how devastated Esther had been to be humiliated by her stepbrother in such a public fashion. She'd run after Esther to see that she was alright, but hadn't said anything when she found her, not wanting to give empty platitudes and not sure how to respond after Sir Edward's depraved accusations. Instead, she had just silently sat with the other woman, held her hands, and let her know her she wasn't alone.

Charlotte was glad that Esther had decided to take a chance with Lord Babington. She remembered that it had not seemed that their relationship had a chance after Lord Babington had confessed to her at Mrs. Maudsley's ball in London that he appeared to be mistaken about her affections towards him.

"Thank you, Miss Heywood." Babington looked positively giddy now that he had shared his news, almost as if he would float away from the joy of it. He sighed, seemingly lost for a moment in his own happiness, then refocused on his friends once again. "I hope, Miss Heywood, when Parker proposed, he was other than his usual broody self?"

The memory of their conversations, of all the things Sidney had said to her made Charlotte blush rosily. I'm my best self, my truest self when I'm with you. I've never wanted to put myself under anyone else's power before. I want a life with you. Be my wife, Charlotte. Please. She understood exactly how Lord Babington felt; indeed, her giddiness must put his to shame. "Mr. Parker can be very sweet when he puts his mind to it."

"Sweet? Sidney? Are you sure this is him, and not some imposter?" Babington elbowed Sidney in the ribs.

But Sidney, still euphoric with joy and relief that Charlotte hadn't withdrawn from their engagement, let his friend's feeble jest slide and, in fact, countered it with one of his own. "Pray, tell no one. I have a reputation to uphold."

Charlotte rolled her eyes but she was smiling. "Your secret is safe with me."

"I hope you know, Miss Heywood, that you are far too good for the likes of this reprobate!"

"Well, he is much improved since we first met, or I don't think we'd be here today," she quipped, making both men laugh.

"How is Tom coping after the fire?" Lord Babington asked. He had arrived at the terrace site some time after the blaze broke out, having already left the Assembly Rooms to take Esther back to Sanditon House when those attending the ball learnt of the fire.

The light, happy mood instantly plummeted. Sidney and Charlotte blanched, all humour leaching out of their faces. They exchanged tense glances, and she nodded. There were very few people Sidney could trust, but Babington had always been one of them.

"I'm afraid there is bad news on that front, Babbers."

Sidney explained the entire situation to his friend, from finding out Tom had no insurance for the construction works to how much he owed his various debtors, and Lady Denham giving them just a week's time to return her money.

"Good lord! I am so sorry, Sidney, I had no idea."

Babington had never seen Sidney so worried, and could not blame him. Ever since he had returned from Antigua, Sidney had done everything he could to help his older brother, mainly from a sense of obligation as Tom had paid his debts a decade ago. For years, Babington had seen Sidney repeatedly yield to the pressure of Tom's unceasing demands, helping however he could despite his evident irritation and reluctance to involve himself in the ill-managed and haphazard development of Sanditon.

Babington did not understand how someone could be quite so blind to his brother's aversion as Tom was to Sidney's, but he also could not fathom why his friend gave in every time. Surely he could see how detrimental it was to him? But that was Sidney for you; he might not like it, but he did everything he could for those he loved, often regardless of the cost to himself.

And now Sidney was saddled with a responsibility that was not his at all, except his feckless brother wouldn't have a clue how to proceed, and would probably just indebt himself even worse to someone who would demand an even heavier price.

"I leave for London today. I just–" Sidney's eyes darted to Charlotte, his expression sheepish. "I had to talk to Charlotte about something before I left."

Charlotte returned his look with one of her own, one that plainly said Sidney was trying her patience, but there wasn't too much admonishment in it.

Lord Babington observed this byplay between his friend and Miss Heywood with curiosity, sensing something had occurred there. But they seemed to have put it past them, so he did not venture to ask any questions at this time. There were more pressing matters to deal with right now, and anything else could be addressed later.

"I am for Hampshire this afternoon," he told them. "Mother and Augusta, my sister," he added in explanation for Charlotte, "are at Beaulieu Park, my country estate, and I need to tell them the news of my engagement. And see that the place is ready by the time Esther and I marry, whenever that is. But I will be in London in two days' time, Sidney, and I will do everything I can to help. I'm sure something can be done."

Sidney just nodded, unable to put into words his gratitude just then, even as a tiny part of him envied his friend. Babington was free to start planning his life with his love, while Sidney could do nothing until his predicament was resolved. He pushed the uncharitable thought out of his mind; if anyone deserved happiness, it was Babbers, and Sidney did not begrudge him even a single sliver of it.

"Meanwhile, I will try persuading Lady D to give you some more time. Surely she must know that raising eighty thousand pounds in a week is an impossible task." Babington frowned.

"I doubt you will make her see reason. She would like to see Tom in prison, and I cannot say I blame her after how reckless he has been." Sidney's voice betrayed his rage, and Charlotte slid her hand into his, squeezing his fingers. He forced himself to calm down. Anger would not help right now, it would only inhibit him. He needed his head to be clear, needed his wits about him.

"I will try my best," Babington promised. "I am to be her nephew-in-law, and Esther is her only acknowledged relative now that she has disowned Sir Edward and Miss Brereton. She might be predisposed to hear reason from us that she would not from anyone else."

"Thank you, old friend." If anyone might be able to make an impression on Lady Denham, it would be Babbers. "But pray, say nothing to anyone else about this yet. If word gets out of the fire, any progress we have made so far, especially after the regatta, will be lost. The Parker name will be ruined beyond whatever damage Tom has already inflicted upon it, and we cannot afford that."

Sidney's eyes went once more to Charlotte, and Babington understood his friend's unspoken fear. More was at stake here for Sidney than just the Sanditon project and the debt, massive as it was. If the Parkers were forced into circumstances beyond redemption, Miss Heywood's parents would never allow her to marry him.

"Don't worry, Sidney. You will not have to deal with this by yourself." Babington squeezed Sidney's shoulder, the gesture an assurance of friendship and support.

Sidney nodded, grateful beyond imagination.

Lord Babington took his leave then, and they parted, Sidney and Charlotte returning to town while Babington took the cliff path that would take him to Sanditon House, where his fiancée and her dragon of an aunt waited for him.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Charlotte and Sidney returned to Trafalgar House to find it in a state of intense activity, with maids and footmen rushing about as the housekeeper directed them. They found Mary, Diana, and Arthur in the drawing room with the children, even baby James, who was in his mother's arms. Tom was nowhere to be seen.

The three adults looked up when Sidney and Charlotte walked in, their faces lined with worry. But Arthur and Diana's concern was immediately replaced with curiosity when they saw Sidney and Charlotte holding hands, while Mary looked relieved. Even Alicia, Jenny, and Henry, who would have leaped at their favourite uncle and Charlotte the moment they saw them, held back, as if aware that something was different.

Sidney looked from them to Charlotte, and she nodded, her small, nervous smile reflecting his own. "Uh– Miss Heywood and I are engaged."

Sidney's siblings leapt up from their seats with excited shouts, and swarmed around him and Charlotte much like the children. Alicia, Jenny, and Henry were hanging off Charlotte's skirts and clutching Sidney's legs, while Arthur and Diana pulled them into a group hug, so that, for a moment, they were all little more than a confusion of heads and limbs.

"How wonderful!" Arthur hugged Charlotte until she was out of breath, then did the same to Sidney, almost lifting him off the floor in his excitement.

Diana's embraces were, thankfully, not as forceful as her brother's, but her voice was no less loud when she joined in the outpouring of happy wishes for the couple. "That's fantastic!" she exclaimed, hugging Sidney first, then Charlotte. "Is it not the most exciting news, Tom?" she added, spotting their eldest brother near the door.

Tom, who had kept to himself in his study to stay out of the way of his still wrathful wife, had heard Sidney and Charlotte's return and had tentatively slid into the drawing room, hovering near the door.

"Yes, yes, of course." He stepped forward, trying to sound jocular. But he lacked his habitual ebullience, and behind his smile, his face looked rather pale and strained. "Congratulations, brother." He clapped Sidney on the shoulder, but it was half-hearted. "And you too, my dear," he added to Charlotte.

Sidney's eyes narrowed a little at Tom's less than enthusiastic reaction, but he subsided at Charlotte's nudge. She knew it must be hard for Tom to show much joy when the spectre of the debt hung over his head like the sword of Damocles. She understood the Parkers' justified anger towards him for landing them in such perilous circumstances, but she could still feel sorry for him.

"You do not seem very surprised, Mary," Diana commented, noticing that her sister-in-law had not joined the fray, though that might be because she was carrying baby James.

"I became privy to their good news last night, not long after he asked her," Mary explained as she shot an amused smile at the couple.

Recalling how Mary had come up upon them at an awkward moment – yet her timing had been opportune or they might have gotten carried away too far – Sidney and Charlotte both blushed.

"Welcome to the family, Miss Heywood." Arthur looked like he was restraining himself with some difficulty at giving her another of his rib-crushing hugs. "The Parkers are fortunate indeed to gain such strong and lovely women."

There was a momentary distraction when the nanny came to take the children upstairs. Mary handed off baby James to her, and once Alicia, Jenny, and Henry were gone, she turned, and now there was a business-like air about her.

"I told Arthur and Diana what transpired during the conversation with Lady Denham, Sidney."

"Good. I will leave for London as soon as I can. Mr. Cartwright and I will meet with bankers, and also try to identify some private investors to approach." Mr. Cartwright was Sidney's man of business in the capital. "Lord Babington will be in London in a couple of days, and he has promised to help as well. He might know which investors to approach, or at least whom to speak to."

Charlotte stood back, listening as plans were made. On the walk back to Trafalgar House from the dunes, she'd racked her brain for a suitable reason or even a passable enough excuse to justify accompanying Sidney to London, but nothing had come to mind.

However, it was Mary who now surprisingly solved the problem for her.

"I'm coming with you, Sidney. And the children and Charlotte are too, of course."

Everybody stared at Mary's announcement.

Sidney started to assure Mary that he would handle it, that she didn't have to inconvenience herself, when his gaze landed on Charlotte. She widened her eyes at him, her wordless message obvious. Realising a second later the benefits Mary's decision posed, he promptly shut his mouth and just nodded.

Besides, Mary seemed to have donned the mantle of indomitable matriarch and her tone brooked no argument, so that was that.

Predictably, Tom could not stay silent. "There's no need for us trouble ourselves, my dear. I'm sure Sidney can handle–"

"I see you have already absolved yourself of all responsibility and fobbed it all off onto Sidney." Mary cast her husband a withering glance.

He reddened. "Now see here, Mary–"

"I'm going, Tom. And it's just as well that you're staying here. Somebody in this family must make amends for your mistakes. And since I cannot trust you to do that, it will be me."

The other occupants of the room exchanged uncomfortable glances. They had never seen Mary and Tom so at odds with each other, or rather Mary so openly critical of Tom. It appeared that her famous well of patience when it came to her husband had depleted and reached its last dregs.

Her words and the accompanying glare effectively silencing her husband, Mary took a deep breath. "My brother is in London, he is a solicitor," she added in explanation for Charlotte. "He might be able to help us. Besides, I find I cannot bear to be under this roof right now. We are coming to London with you Sidney."

She glanced around fiercely, as if expecting a challenge, but no one was foolish enough to contradict her.

"Very well. We leave as soon as you're ready, preferably within the hour."

Before they could disperse, Charlotte swiftly said, "If you do not mind, perhaps I could ask Lady Susan for advice? She might know someone who might be able to help us…" She faltered when everyone stared at her. "Forgive me. I didn't mean to be presumptuous, I only want to help. I hope you won't think I am trying to interfere–"

"You could never be presumptuous, dear Miss Heywood. And you are to be one of us now."

Charlotte was surprised at such warmth coming from Diana. They had talked a little and celebrated together on the day of the cricket match, but otherwise they were not very close. Certainly, she felt more comfortable with Arthur, who did speak of things other than his illnesses and could be amusing and witty.

"Forgive us, dear Miss Heywood." Arthur patted her hand. "We are simply unused to the fact that you are such dear friends with someone of such importance and rank in the beau monde."

"I am not surprised Charlotte has made such a dear friend of Lady Susan," Mary said warmly. "If you believe, Charlotte, that she might be able to help us, and that she will not think it an imposition or an impertinence, then we would be grateful."

"But we must try to keep the news as contained as we can," Sidney cautioned. "If word gets out that we are in dire straits, it might hit Sanditon's prospects worse."

"I will be discreet," Charlotte promised. "As will Lady Susan. I am sure she will not think it an imposition or an impertinence."

"Arthur, Diana," Mary turned to them. "You could stay here at Trafalgar House while we are away. Keep Tom company." Although she did not glance at her husband, her motive was clear: she wanted someone to keep an eye on him, and while Diana and Arthur might not be her first choice, with this terrible calamity unfolding, she hoped they would act to stop him from doing anything rash, if he so did.

Diana and Arthur readily agreed, and left for their lodgings to pack and bring back their things, especially any potions, tonics, tinctures, and medications they might need while staying at Trafalgar House for the next week.

Tom said nothing. He wanted to promise Mary he would fix everything, that he would right his mistakes and restore their fortunes. But she would expect him to actually take action, and he had no clue what he could do. Empty promises would not work, and he quaked at the thought of failing her again. Better to let Sidney take care of it, though Tom did try to wrack his brain for a way to stop Mary from having to go to London. Word would surely get out of her going in place of her husband, and he would lose even more face amongst the residents of Sanditon than he had already done.

But he kept quiet, and no one paid him any more attention as they dispersed to pack for their trip.

Sidney, Mary, and Charlotte left for London within the hour, the latter two squeezed into the family carriage with the four children and their nanny, while Sidney rode alongside on his horse.

It was possible to travel from Sanditon to London in one day, but it was a tedious journey, made worse by the restless children and a cranky baby. Nevertheless, they pushed on apace, making only quick stops for lunch and tea. To Sidney's relief, they rolled into London earlier than he'd anticipated, although it was still quite late and already dark.

Mrs. Mullins, the housekeeper at No. 7 Bedford Place, was used to Sidney's frequent comings and goings, and efficiently dealt with the unexpected arrivals, directing maids to prepare bedrooms for them and footmen to take their luggage up to the correct rooms.

The travellers had strength for nothing more than a quick supper, efficiently laid out by the cook. The children, already half asleep, went to bed without complaint, and the adults followed soon after.

It was just as well, Sidney thought as he fell into bed, for the day had been long and had felt more like two or three days instead of just one.

Tomorrow, they would start their fight to save Sanditon and the Parkers. And though he'd never felt so weary before, a combination of the journey and the worry of their predicament, Sidney curiously did not feel as hopeless as he might have otherwise done.

His last thought before he surrendered to Morpheus was that at least this time he was not shouldering the burden alone.


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