Hello all! Apologies I haven't been able to update for forever. And I know you all love huge chapters, but here's a slightly smaller one to get back into the story. (It's actually the first half of the chapter I'm still working on, but there's a way to go yet on the rest of it, so I figured I'd put up what I had so far.) Hope you enjoy!
Also, as always, I deeply appreciate all your reviews! Thank you so much!
Continues immediately after Sidney says goodbye to Charlotte, Mary, and the children outside Bedford Place
Sidney had hoped to leave for his appointments as soon as Charlotte, Mary, and the children departed for Willingden. But he had to delay his plans when Morgan and Harry, one of the grooms who took care of his horses, came to him with the news that they had just apprehended a man they were sure was the spy.
The man, who was named John, had not been keeping watch on No. 7, Bedford Place from one of the houses opposite after all, but had recently gained employment at No. 9 next door. He had managed to pass a final message to an errand boy who ferried the communications to Mrs. Campion before Morgan and Harry had caught him. It had taken both of them to restrain the man, a fact the errand boy had taken advantage of and swiftly slipped away.
Sidney questioned the man, who Morgan and Harry had tied up and confined in the kitchen cellar. But it quickly became clear that he knew nothing beyond what he had been instructed to do by Mrs. Campion's burly footman, who he said was named Mr. Scroggs. He did not even seem to know the name of the person for whom he had been employed, only that he was supposed to watch and report to Scroggs on the movements of the inhabitants of No. 7 Bedford Place, especially the owner and the young lady staying there, as well as any visitors or arrivals.
When questioned, John claimed he did not know if there were other people spying on the household, but said there might be someone following the inhabitants as they moved about town because he had noticed an unmarked carriage waiting at the mouth of the lane behind the house. But he had not dared to ask any questions about it because he had no wish to cross Scroggs.
When Sidney asked John whether there was someone following the carriage that had just left, he once again said he had no idea. Sidney could not tell if he was lying or telling the truth, and in his anger and frustration, grabbed the man by his collar and lifted him clean out of the chair so that his feet dangled a few inches off the ground.
"Truly, sir! I know nothing! Nothing beyond what I have already told you!" John wailed, his eyes wide with fright. "I only did as I was told! Please, sir! It was only so I could earn a bit of extra money for my family!"
Sidney dropped him back into the chair, as disgusted with himself as he was with the man. He ran a hand through his hair as he paced, ruffling it up thoroughly. Morgan and Harry stood by in silence, watching to see what he would do.
If it were any other man, someone who was an obvious crook or a criminal, Sidney would have had no compunction in thrashing the answers out of him. But it seemed pitiful to beat up someone who could not even fight back — which was obvious from the way John cowered in the chair, fear etched over every inch of his face. Sidney did not have the stomach for it, nor would he be able to face Charlotte if she heard of his actions. (Boxing matches were a different thing — they were held in a controlled environment where his opponents could and did fight back.) Besides, his gut told him John was speaking the truth.
Still, he could not just let the man go free; what if he unknowingly still had some valuable information regarding Eliza Campion or even her footman Scroggs that might help quash the threat against Charlotte and her family?
There was a knock on the door and a footman poked his head in. "A message from Lord Babington, sir. He had it delivered with some haste."
The contents of the note conveyed no emergency, but were merely time sensitive — Babbers and Augusta were also heading to Sanditon later this morning and offered to take Sidney along in their carriage. This worked well for Sidney, who did not have to make his own travel arrangements. But the mention of his friend gave him an idea and he quickly dashed off his reply with a short explanation on how they had caught the spy and asked what could be done with him.
Babbers' return response was quick in coming: turn the spy over to Lord Ashbourne, he advised. He and Martin Blake would know how to question the man and would let them know what they found, if anything. Moreover, the spy might be useful as a witness in the evidence they were gathering against the Campions.
Knowing Sidney's nature, Babbers had also put in a word of assurance about Charlotte's safety. She was heading away from London, to Willingden no less, he reminded him. And Lady Susan's footmen and outriders, who were cut much from the same cloth as Babbers' own combat-trained footmen, would be armed. They would keep the women safe.
It was at times like these that the advantages of having a peer of the realm — as well as a man with a steady head on his shoulders — as a good friend were starkly highlighted. Taking his friend's advice, Sidney personally delivered John to Lord Ashbourne's office at Whitehall.
John seemed far less concerned about being turned over to the authorities than about returning to Scroggs; there had been a certain wariness in the man's eyes whenever he spoke of Mrs. Campion's burly footman.
Thereafter, Sidney rushed off to keep his appointments with the banks, Miss Abbott, and Mr. Cartwright (his man of business) — and even managed to squeeze in a quick visit to Hatchards bookshop — all the while trying not to worry about Charlotte despite Babbers' reassurance. Finally, there was only one more task that remained to be seen to before he joined Babbers to travel to Sanditon.
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Sidney found Otis Molyneux in the building where the Sons of Africa met — the same place he and Charlotte had tracked him down to when Georgiana had been abducted. Had that been only a fortnight ago? It felt like so much longer, almost like another lifetime.
Otis was seated at a desk in a small office-like room, writing in a notebook. When Sidney entered, he looked up once and then did a double take. He rose swiftly to his feet, his face paling. "Georgiana…?" he managed to utter, voice laden with alarm and worry.
"Miss Lambe is fine, Mr. Molyneux," Sidney assured him, ignoring his lapse in manners in calling his ward by her first name.
Otis relaxed fractionally, the spike of worry subsiding as relief flooded him and common sense asserted itself again. If Georgiana had come to any harm, her guardian would not be standing calmly before him, especially not if he believed Otis himself was in any way responsible.
But Otis's eyes were wary as he took in his visitor. "Forgive my manners, Mr. Parker. I hope you are well?"
"Yes, thank you. And yourself?"
Otis gave a short, jerky nod. He did not really know what to say, but nor did he have it in him to lie or pretend all was well with him. Ever since he had broken Georgiana Lambe's heart — and her trust — causing her to sever all ties with him, his entire life had become bleak and colourless, as if robbed of all her vitality.
The two men stood in silence for some moments, both clearly equally uncomfortable although Sidney's face was inscrutable as ever. But Otis could not rudely ask why Mr. Parker was here, so he enquired about the only other person they both knew in common. "And how is Miss Heywood?"
The minute the words left his mouth, Mr. Parker went still and Otis mentally kicked himself. He had lied to Miss Heywood about Sidney Parker, told her he was prejudiced against Otis and had separated him and Georgiana because of the colour of his skin, which was not true. He had led Miss Heywood to believe Mr. Parker was prejudiced and cruel, which was also not untrue. Whatever his other numerous faults, Sidney Parker's actions — risking his own and Miss Heywood's lives and reputations to rescue Georgiana and then paying off Otis's not insubstantial debts — had shown his true character. Otis had no one to blame for his separation from Georgiana but his own actions.
Unbeknownst to Otis, Sidney was not as calm inside as he outwardly appeared to be. He was deeply uncomfortable with everything that had happened in the past and entirely unsure that the offer he was about to make would be well received. But the mention of Charlotte calmed him and reminded him why he had decided on this course of action.
"Miss Heywood is also well." He replied. He did not mention his and Charlotte's engagement, not just because it was not yet public (and still far too many people knew of it already), but more because he did not want to rub his good fortune in Molyneux's face. If Sidney had made similar mistakes or bowed to Tom's pressure, he too might have found himself in an unbearable situation with Charlotte lost to him, and he could not imagine a fate worse than that.
There was another long pause, and the silence stretched. Sidney knew he had to address the matter that had brought him to seek a meeting with Molyneux, who looked increasingly baffled about his visit.
"I hear you are considering joining the navy?"
Otis looked surprised that Sidney was aware of this information. He was not to know that soon after Georgiana's rescue, Sidney had instructed Morgan to make enquiries and keep him updated about the movements of her former suitor. He knew well what the agony of heartbreak could do to a young man.
"My employer was not happy when he heard of my… circumstances." Otis said. "He was of the opinion that my tainted reputation might endanger the company's name too. He said he had no choice but to let me go." He shrugged, as if it did not matter. "The navy presents a viable option. Besides, I will be able to save up and repay you for taking care of my debts, which I intend to do as soon as I can."
Sidney waved that aside; he had not paid off those debts with the intention that Molyneux would be obligated or indebted to him. "One of my employees is retiring and a position has opened up in my company," he said. "I would like to offer the job to you."
"To me?" Otis frowned, puzzled. "Why? Are you doing this so you can keep a watch on me? I promise you, sir, I have not gambled once since our last– our last… meeting."
It was obviously difficult for him to speak of it, for their last meeting had been when Sidney had brought him to Bedford Place for a proper parting with Georgiana. Despite their history, despite the bad blood between them, Sidney felt a deep sympathy for the younger man. The pain of losing the woman he loved was stark in his eyes.
"That is not why I'm offering you the job. I will be spending more time in Sanditon in the upcoming months, which means more work for my man of business here in London to handle on a daily basis. There is a position for a clerk in my company should you want it."
Otis remained quiet, forcing Sidney to continue. "The navy does offer many prospects. But opportunities for advancement beyond a certain point for a young black seaman such as yourself are… rare, as I'm sure you are aware. I want you to know you have options, so that your hand is not forced."
Otis blinked. "Why are you doing this?" he asked finally.
Because Sidney had been in Otis's shoes once upon a time and would have ended up dead in a ditch in Antigua ten years ago had Reginald Lambe not helped him. Because he might have ended up worse now if he had lost Charlotte. Because his current situation would have been so much more dire had Charlotte, Babington and Crowe, Lady Worcester, the Grasmeres and Lord Melrose not stepped in and rescued him by rescuing his brother.
Sidney had survived because he had been thrown a lifeline, more than once, in fact. Otis seemed to be doing much better than Sidney had once upon a time; for one, he did not seem to have descended into a spiral of self-destruction. But Sidney knew what despair and despondence could do to a heartbroken man. Regardless, the path would be very difficult for him owing to his background and the colour of his skin.
Besides, Sidney still did not entirely trust Otis and did not want him to think that by paying his debts, he had forgiven him for his role in Georgiana's abduction. But everyone deserved a second chance and Sidney had the ability to ensure Otis got his. By doing so, he would be paying forward the gestures Reginald Lambe and his friends had done for him.
He thought back to his conversation with Georgiana on the morning of the regatta. His ward did not believe a man like him could change; Charlotte had shown him he could. Now he had to prove to himself that he had indeed changed for the better.
Sidney met Otis's eyes evenly, showing none of the emotion he felt inside. "Miss Heywood helped me realise that a good man should not be condemned for one terrible mistake. I have made my share of grievous decisions and poor choices. And yet, I have been fortunate enough to be shown kindness and support instead of condemnation. It would be reprehensible of me not to extend the same courtesy to you."
He said it very matter-of-factly, in the same no-nonsense, impersonal tone he used while negotiating a business deal. Molyneux's eyes widened; clearly, whatever answer he had expected, this was not it.
"You would have the opportunity to continue your work with the Sons of Africa," Sidney added, deciding it was much better to get everything out in one go. "Charlotte– that is, Miss Heywood mentioned your commendable work for the abolitionist movement. I would like to extend my support in whichever way I can."
For a few moments, Otis could do nothing but just gape gormlessly. He found his voice. "What are your conditions?"
"Conditions?"
"About me working for you. Surely you have some?"
"I do not," said Sidney, ignoring the obvious scepticism in the younger man's tone. "Other than that you ensure your activities outside of your employment with my company do not harm its reputation or that of the other employees. Or yourself."
There was a pause as the two men regarded each other.
"You need not give me your answer immediately," Sidney said a few moments later, when it was evident Molyneux would not reply. "Take some time to think about it. I will be away from the city for a few days, a week most likely. When I return, you can give me your decision. If you do decide to accept the job in the meantime, take this note when you go to meet Mr. Cartwright at the offices and he will arrange everything, including your wages, with you."
Otis took the note Sidney handed him, staring at the address written on it in the man's bold, confident handwriting. "And if I do choose to join the navy after all?"
"My wish to support the Sons of Africa remains unchanged." Sidney said. "And my business has given me connections in various parts of the world. If you do join the navy and are ever in need, you are welcome to contact them with the assurance that they will do everything in their power to help you."
Otis looked down at the note again, completely dumbfounded, maybe even a little suspicious about Sidney Parker's actions. This man had done him a kindness he did not deserve by paying off his debts to Beecroft. Now, he was once more extending a helping hand with no apparent expectations in return. Otis did feel ashamed about his own past actions, but his experiences throughout his life had instilled a deep wariness in him of situations that appeared too good to be true.
On the other hand, in deluding Georgiana, he had deluded himself into thinking Mr. Parker was a heartless businessman who cared only about money. But he knew that was not entirely true.
In the end, Otis kept his thoughts to himself. He looked up as Sidney placed his hat on his head and adjusted it. The two men nodded at each other and Sidney departed, leaving the young man with a big decision to deliberate upon.
Once inside his carriage, Sidney finally allowed his shoulders to relax, exhaling as some of the tension left him. He hoped Molyneux would see the gesture for what it was: a genuine desire to make amends and help someone who not only deserved a second chance, but would also use the opportunity to do good.
Nothing Sidney or his countrymen ever did would be enough to make up for the atrocities he had witnessed in Antigua, for the way in which he and countless of his countrymen profited from the sugar trade while people like Otis were enslaved. He could not do right by everyone, but he could ensure one young man did not have to choose a desperate or dangerous path, or worse, be forced into it because he did not have a choice.
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All his appointments and obligations in the city taken care of, Sidney headed to Babington's house. He met his friend in the entrance hall, where they were joined by Augusta, who cheerfully greeted Sidney as she pulled on her gloves in preparation to leave.
Babington wanted to bring Esther — and hopefully even Lady Denham, if she had sufficiently recovered from her recent illness — from Sanditon to London to meet his family. Together, they would plan the wedding, and attend the engagement ball his mother wanted to hold for them. Sidney knew Babbers hoped he would not need to persuade Esther too much to agree to this, but they both had their doubts. Although the gossip about the scene Edward caused at the midsummer ball had — surprisingly — not yet spread much beyond Sanditon, the possibility of a scandal still hovered tantalisingly above her, ready to fall at any moment.
Augusta was coming along with Babbers should a chaperone be required on the return journey in the absence of Lady Denham, a notion she found extremely amusing. But she was also very impatient to meet her soon-to-be sister-in-law and eager to see the seaside town that she had long known of but never visited.
For the first time in a very long time, the journey to Sanditon did not induce the dread and worry in Sidney that it used to so far. Earlier, it always felt like a summons from Tom to tackle responsibilities he had been avoiding — although they were his brother's responsibilities and not his to avoid. In fact, only one previous visit came to mind where he had actually been eager to get to Sanditon, and that was to see Charlotte. Of course, that one had gone quite spectacularly downhill after he discovered the illicit picnic and the presence of Otis Molyneux.
Augusta was an engaging companion during the journey. She wanted to know everything about Sidney's courtship of Charlotte and openly laughed as he revealed some of his less scandalous missteps as they had bickered their way into love. Beside her, Babington smirked as he remembered his friend's unconventional 'courtship' and chipped in with a few teasing remarks. He even made some vague allusions to Charlotte choosing Sidney despite having "seen all of him", allusions Augusta did not understand but that did make Sidney kick his friend in the shin when she was not looking.
Babington's carriage was top-notch and pulled by one of the finest teams of horses in the beau monde. Although they left London well into the morning, they rolled into Sanditon comfortably in time for supper. Sidney and Babington quickly took the opportunity to check on the footmen Babington had assigned to guard Georgiana at Mrs. Griffith's lodgings. But they did not go up to meet her; it was late enough that they did not see the need to disturb her. Instead, they left the footmen on duty for the night and proceeded to Trafalgar House, where Sidney had invited the Babington siblings to stay for as long as they were in the seaside town.
Arthur and Matthew Abbott had just finished supper when the travellers arrived. But they were happy to sit at the table with them as they had a quick meal and caught up on the latest news and developments from each other. After they finished eating, Augusta retired for the night, while Sidney and Babbers accompanied Arthur and Matthew to Tom's study to help tackle some more of the paperwork.
When Sidney walked into the study, he found it very different from the night he had asked Charlotte to marry him. Had that been just a week ago? That too felt like a lot longer. That night, most of the papers had already been neatly sorted and separated into different piles of income, expenses, rental payments, bills and so on, thanks to Charlotte. But it was obvious Tom had not only destroyed all the progress in the time Sidney, Charlotte, and Mary were in London, he had actually made it far worse.
Sidney understood now why Matthew looked exasperated and exhausted and why Arthur looked a little dazed. Although, in his brother's case, he was not sure if it was because of all the financial information he did not understand or if it was because he was seeing firsthand the true extent of Tom's blunders and his predicament. For instance, Tom seemed to have worked on the belief that the more expensive the building materials, the better their quality. As a result, most of the suppliers he had chosen had quoted high prices and happily bilked him of his money.
The four men worked only for a little while longer, before exhaustion — both mental and physical — compelled them all to seek their beds.
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The next morning, Sidney was up early. After a quick visit to the cove for a bracing swim, followed by a substantial breakfast, he set about tackling his tasks for the day. His first order of business was to track down Mr. James Stringer — and on failing to find him, Mr. Fred Robinson — to deal with the matter of the workers' owed wages.
To say Robinson was stunned when he opened his front door to find the middle Parker brother on his doorstep was an understatement. But he rallied quickly enough and sent his younger brother, a lad of about twelve, out with a message for all his fellow workers to gather at the Crown inn to receive their pay.
As he turned away from Robinson's humble abode, Sidney had a glimpse of a small, not very well-lit living room. He paused. A careworn woman, probably younger than she appeared, sat by one of the small windows, clutching a cloth she had obviously been darning. Three young girls ranging from about fourteen to seventeen years old — dressed in clean but worn aprons as if to go to work — stood in the back of the room. The eyes of all four women were on him, clearly worried. Robinson's mother and sisters, Sidney realised. He remembered Fred's pointed remarks at the cricket match regarding money, which reinforced how worried he had been about being forced to work without pay for weeks. He nodded at them and gave them what he hoped was a reassuring smile, which made the girls bob in quick curtseys.
Despite the morning hour, most of the workers turned up at the Crown, although many looked suspicious and unconvinced about the news that they were finally getting the wages Tom parker owed them. When Sidney saw the relief and joy on their faces at receiving the money (plus a small bonus he had added for each of them), he felt deeply ashamed of Tom's callous disregard for the men's livelihoods. They all had families to feed and they had been struggling to put food on the table while Tom had been squandering away money that rightfully belonged to them on ostentatious decor for Trafalgar House and expensive baubles for his wife.
Sidney informed the men construction work would begin again soon and assured them wages — at better rates than what Tom had offered — if they decided to come and work for him. They seemed surprised to learn he would be overseeing the project — which in itself was not surprising; before this summer, he had barely visited Sanditon since his return from Antigua. He said nothing about Charlotte's future role yet.
"Why should we believe ye?" came a voice from somewhere in the thick of the crowd. "Your brother made us promises too, ones he'd no intention of keeping. Didn't care that our babes went hungry while his own lacked for nothing."
The men quietened, turning to face Sidney. For the man had voiced what each of them had been secretly wondering.
"Tom Parker is no longer in charge of this project," Sidney replied firmly. "I understand you have no reason to trust me after my brother's conduct. I can only ask that you give me a chance to show you I mean to keep my word."
There was silence as the men digested that.
Sidney was aware that many, if not all the men, would turn up to work once the construction restarted simply because they lacked better opportunities. He knew he could not change the past, nor could there be any excuses for Tom's actions. But he and Charlotte could only prove themselves in the future. And the men would certainly feel more confident once they learnt of Charlotte's role in the project; he was aware she was well liked and respected by the people of the town.
The workers seemed to accept Sidney's point, or perhaps they too were aware they did not have much choice in the matter. As they began to disperse, he turned to Fred Robinson. "Was Mr. James Stringer not informed about this meeting?"
"James doesn't spend much time in town nowadays, sir." Despite the grudging respect Fred accorded the middle Parker brother, his tones were now clipped. "He prefers to be by himself, he does. Y'know, ever since his father's death."
Sidney nodded, his face equally sombre. "I understand. If you see him, would you tell him I'd like a word?"
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Sidney's second visit that morning was to Georgiana. His ward was predictably furious about his plans to take her to Willingden in addition to being upset about his engagement to Charlotte and for taking her away to London with him and Mary.
"If Sanditon is tedious, Willingden is a veritable backwater!" She began raging even before he could complete his explanation. "Charlotte said the most exciting thing to happen there in years was your brother crashing his carriage near their home! And now you want to incarcerate me there!"
"It's not incarceration, it's for your own safety." He sat back in his chair and tried not to let the edge of impatience show in his voice. "When we were in London, we gained a clue about another possible plot to harm you. You might not be safe in Sanditon anymore. Too many people know you live here. You are too accessible here."
"A plot?" She scoffed. "What sort of plot? By whom?" But her defiance could not hide her alarm. "Is it that man–" she hesitated, shuddering as she remembered the odious Mr. Howard's horrifying words in Mrs. Harries' brothel, the sickening fear she felt when she was alone with him in his carriage as it sped to Gretna Green.
"No." Sidney reached out and caught her hand, trying to soothe her. "It is not him this time, Georgiana, I assure you. We think it might be Mrs. Campion."
She shook off his hand. "Mrs. Campion?! What does that witch have to do with me?"
"Nothing, except that you are my ward and an heiress with a vast fortune." He sighed. "This is just a precaution. We do not think Mrs. Campion will act against you anytime soon. But it would be exceedingly foolish of us not to use this information and take the required steps to prevent any unfortunate incident, would it not? We sent word to Charlotte's family as soon as we found out about the threat against them. In fact, Crowe is in Willingden right now–"
Georgiana goggled at him. "What threat against Charlotte's family?"
Sidney groaned and rubbed his face; he was going about this all backwards. He quickly gave her a succinct summary of Charlotte's confrontation with Eliza Campion in London, and told her how Crowe had volunteered to go to Willingden to warn her family and ensure their safety. Midway through his explanation, he saw her baffled expression and realized she knew nothing about Tom's debts and why Sidney, Charlotte, and Mary had gone to London in the first place. So, without going into the minutiae, he told her how Lady Denham had given them a week to return her investment, how they had learnt about Mrs. Campion's penniless state, and how Charlotte, Lady Susan, Babington, and Crowe had helped to find the required investors. He ended by explaining how nearly everyone had unanimously agreed to have Charlotte manage the venture.
Georgiana stayed silent while Sidney spoke. But he could see the surprise in her eyes that he was offering her an explanation when he had not deigned to share much information with her so far. But she deserved to know — not just because this directly pertained to her and because Charlotte was her friend, but also because Sidney had learnt his lesson about keeping her in the dark.
There was also the matter of his latest meeting Otis Molyneux in London. But Sidney had decided not to say anything to his ward about it yet. For one, the matter was between him and the other man. And for another, if Molyneux decided not to take up his offer and join the navy instead, there would be no direct link between him and Georgiana unless one of them chose to get in touch with the other. So, he would keep that matter to himself for now.
Sidney could also see the questions gathering in Georgiana's eyes. She voiced the first one as soon as he finished his explanation.
"My fortune would have covered the debt and I would still have some left over. You could have used it. After all, you have charge of it."
There was something almost challenging about her tone and Sidney tamped down a sudden spurt of anger and frustration at being deliberately misunderstood. It seemed that due to whichever unknowable way he had wronged Georgiana, she was still determined to believe only the worst of him.
"I am all too aware of your low opinion of me and I have been made well aware of my shortcomings in seeing to your welfare. But surely even you would concede that I have never abused my financial responsibility to you as your guardian."
He gave her a moment to think on his words.
"If you are still determined to believe only the worst of me, know that there are laws that govern such guardianships. Which means that while I may be in charge of your fortune, I cannot just spend it as I please.
"Now, of course, if I truly did want to get a claim on your inheritance, I could have, as your guardian, arranged for you to marry Arthur. He is a perfectly eligible suitor and society would not frown upon my ward marrying my brother. Indeed, combining your fortune with the Parker family's connections would be seen as a highly advantageous match for both of you. However, I should hope that I am not seen as so cold and unfeeling that I would subject my brother and my ward to an arrangement that would be a detriment to both their happiness."
He held her eyes, his own stare hard and cold, as he let her digest this information. "But all of that is beside the point. I would not touch a penny of your fortune, regardless. It is not mine."
Georgiana stared back defiantly for a few minutes, but then flushed and looked away. She might blame Sidney for a number of things, but he had never once claimed, requested or borrowed even a single penny of her money. Not even when he had great need of it on one instance shortly after he brought her to England. He had lost precious cargo on one of his ships due to a bad storm in the Atlantic, and despite having insurance for both the ship and the goods, the loss of the money from the potential sale of the goods had impacted his business for an entire quarter. But he had dealt with his company's losses on his own and had managed to bring it back into profit once again without any external monetary help.
Nor had he ever denied her access to her own money for her usual monthly expenses or on new gowns and the such. He paid all her bills and kept assiduous records of her finances. He had once shown her the contents of those ledgers, with their the meticulously maintained columns of figures, in his study at Bedford Place. She could wager that if she ever asked to check them herself, he would not deny her.
Nor would he force her to marry Arthur, of that she could be certain. She had gradually come to think of the youngest Parker brother as a dear friend, but she felt nothing more for him other than friendship, and she certainly had no intention of ever marrying him. And she suspected Arthur had no interest in marrying her either, or indeed marrying any woman. She knew Sidney well enough to be aware that, of all his siblings, he felt the most affection for Arthur even if he did not show it. He would not force his brother into a marriage he did not want, which meant he would not force her into it either.
All these points did not mean she could not be angry at Sidney about his hitherto neglectful behaviour in other aspects of his guardianship. But her implicit accusation against him was unjust and she knew she had made it just to show him she continued to hold him responsible for her separation from Otis. No matter that she had yet not forgiven her suitor (former suitor?) for his betrayal either.
But in her unhappiness, she could not bring herself to apologise to her guardian, so she switched subjects.
"How did you convince Charlotte to agree to marry you?" she demanded. "How could she trust you when she knows how you've ruined my happiness? I told her not to believe your glib words and lies! And then you dragged her to London with you just so you could keep my only friend away from me!"
"Not all my actions are done with the sole and express purpose of ruining your life, Georgiana." He retorted, his tones still clipped. "I did not force Charlotte to agree to marry me and nor did I force her to go to London with me, although we could not have done without her help. Must our lives always revolve around your whims and Tom's?"
He stopped abruptly, realising his voice had steadily risen and he was — unfairly — taking out his frustration about Tom on her. No matter how wilful and vexatious her general behaviour, she was nothing like his brother.
Georgiana flushed again; she did not like the way he made her feel spiteful and petty and made her sound like a selfish girl.
Sidney exhaled impatiently. "You are welcome to ask Charlotte yourself about her motives in agreeing to marry me when you next see her. Which shall be tomorrow evening, provided I am able to complete all my tasks today and we leave for Willingden tomorrow morning."
Ward and guardian glared at each other, but Georgiana realised she might have reached the limits of Sidney's already stretched patience.
"And you are sure I will be safe in Willingden, with people Mrs. Campion has already threatened?"
"The Heywoods and Crowe have the situation well in hand," he said, accepting her olive branch. "Charlotte would not have suggested that you stay with her family if she was not confident of their abilities."
Georgiana eyed him warily and Sidney suddenly realised Otis had looked at him with the same expression the previous day, when he had made him the job offer. It was the look of someone who wanted to trust but still had their doubts.
It saddened Sidney and reminded him that both Georgiana and Otis's experiences with the wider world, as a ward and a former slave respectively, had been almost predominantly shaped by people with far more power over them. And that one of those people was probably he himself.
"Georgiana, I know you don't think very highly of me, but will you please trust that I'm doing this to ensure your safety? And that I'm not passing off my responsibility towards you to someone else?" he asked earnestly. "If I could stay and ensure your safety myself, I would. But I foresee myself going back and forth between London, Sanditon, and Willingden for the next few weeks and it will be impossible for me to keep dragging you everywhere with me, not to mention exceedingly tedious for you. You will be safe in Willingden and hopefully you will only have to put up with the boredom for no longer than a couple of weeks."
Georgiana considered this for a long moment, then nodded. "Fine."
Sidney sat back, his shoulders relaxing at having finally managed to convince her. He had not relished the prospect of playing the autocratic guardian and forcing her to do his bidding.
"There is another matter I wanted to discuss with you."
He told her about his previous day's meeting with Miss Abbott and how he had decided to turn over her investments to the financial advisor. She would invest Georgiana's money in ethical and profitable ventures, which would ensure that not only would it be better protected but also would not stagnate. He had also consulted Martin Blake, who as a solicitor, had offered to legally secure Georgiana's inheritance in such a way that no fortune hunter or husband would have complete control of it or have direct access to large sums of cash from it.
"I am your guardian until you turn twenty-one. That means I will be managing your fortune only for another two years. I would like you to use the time until then to learn how to manage it yourself so that you are well prepared to handle your own affairs when you come of age."
Georgiana gaped at him, unable to keep the light of hope and interest from her eyes. "Do you really mean that?"
"Of course. It is your money, after all. It is only fair that you decide how you want to use it. I will, of course, always be there to guide and advice you — and protect you — should you need it. But it is far safer to have experts like Miss Abbott and Mr. Blake helping you handle your fortune."
Seemingly realising she was revealing more of her emotions than she wanted, Georgiana composed herself. "That is acceptable."
"Good. One last thing," Sidney said. "Charlotte and I discussed that after we are married–"
"If her father gives you his blessing," Georgiana interjected, unable to help herself.
"–after we are married," Sidney continued, his voice regaining its edge of impatience, "We would like it very much if you lived with us."
Her eyes widened. "You want me to live with you?"
"If you are agreeable."
She sat back, stunned. "I'm sure it was Charlotte's idea, not yours," she said finally.
His response was just a tight lipped smile.
"And you agreed to it?"
"It is Charlotte's wish and mine."
Georgiana did not look like she believed a word of it, so Sidney sighed internally and began to tell her the same thing he had told Otis. "You do not have to decide immediately–"
"Oh no, I rather think I will," Georgiana interrupted. "Live with you and Charlotte, that is. Anything would be preferable to staying with the gorgon and the bird-witted Beaufort sisters." She tried to disguise her excitement with her cutting wit, but could not hide the way her eyes brightened. "I'm even willing to put up with you, if I have to. Living with Charlotte will make everything bearable."
Sidney had to work hard to mask his relief. He nodded. "Good. We shall make the arrangements accordingly."
"That is if Charlotte's father gives you his blessing," Georgiana reminded him once more, smirking, truly unable to help herself.
Sidney scowled. "Yes, thank you, Georgiana, for reminding me once again." He rose from his chair and swept up his hat and cane. "As if I could forget," he added under his breath.
The prospect of his forthcoming conversation with Charlotte's parents dwelt continuously in Sidney's mind, forcing him to push it away every time it reared its head at an inopportune moment. He could not deny his greatest fear — which escalated with every moment — was that Mr. and Mrs. Heywood would declare that a Londoner like him, successful businessman or not, was not a worthy suitor in their eyes for their most precious firstborn and eldest daughter, and turn him away.
He pushed the thought aside and focused on the present. "I suggest you spend the rest of your day packing. I shouldn't think your stay in Willingden will last more than a fortnight. All your other belongings can be stored at Trafalgar House until they are required. You can stay at Trafalgar House tonight and we can leave early tomorrow morning for Willingden."
As he took his leave, he paused at the door to the parlour. "I am glad Charlotte has someone as fierce as you looking out for her."
Catching sight of Georgiana's expression and mistaking it for some kind of approbation, he hastened to explain. "Charlotte is loyal to a fault. If there is anything to be done to protect those she loves, she does it without thought for the consequences for herself." His tone conveyed a little of his exasperation at Charlotte's selflessness. "I am glad she has a friend as loyal as you on her side to protect her. Thank you."
Georgiana stared at Sidney, astonished. All her life, she had been seen as nothing other than a rich heiress, had never been defined by anything other than her money. She had never felt useful before. To be acknowledged and appreciated for being a fierce and loyal friend was a welcome change indeed and surprisingly gratifying, especially coming from her guardian.
But what startled her even more was Sidney's demeanour. He had given away more of his emotions and showed more of his soft side with those words than he had ever done before. For someone as reserved and taciturn as him, his confession was almost akin to him divulging his deepest feelings.
Receiving no verbal response from his ward, Sidney nodded and took his leave. Georgiana started after him, thinking perhaps that he might not be entirely unworthy of Charlotte Heywood after all.
Thank you for reading! Leave a review, let me know what you think!
A/N: I've introduced many minor original characters throughout the story. Some have just been mentioned by name, others make a small appearance, still others are a tiny bit more integral to the plot. I though I'd make a list to keep track, both for the readers and for myself.
List of OCs mentioned so far (includes all minor OCs mentioned or who have put in an appearance, and also the names of Charlotte's siblings as and how they are mentioned. I've tried to list them in the order in which they appear. If you do see a name I have missed out, do let me know!):
• Mrs. Mullins – housekeeper at No. 7 Bedford Place
• Mr. Cartwright – Sidney's man of business
• Mr. Wetherby – Sidney's accountant
• Merridew – butler at No. 7 Bedford Place
• Martin Blake – Mary's younger brother
• Lady Harper – Lady Susan attended a ball given by her the evening before she met Charlotte in London
• Eliza Campion's burly footman (Scroggs)
• Morgan – Sidney's valet and general manservant
• Harry and Sophia – two of Charlotte's siblings
• Lady Wortley – a member of London society
• Bertram Chudleigh – a member of London society
• Miss Althea Fowler – attended the Sanditon regatta
• Miss Alice Donwell – attended the Sanditon regatta; Mrs Campion was rude to her for wearing a pelisse similar to her own
• Lady Celia Babington – Lord Babington's mother
• Mr. Matthew and his sister Miss Penelope Abbott – Lady Susan and Lord Babington's financial advisors
• Mr. Robert White – Mr Campion's nephew, died unexpectedly
• Mrs. Isabella Huxley – Mr Campion's niece
• Mr. Richard Huxley – Mrs. Isabella Huxley's husband, current president of Campion Industries
• Welham – butler at Lord Babington's London house
• Lady Hammond – a member of London society whose dinner party Mrs. Campion was supposed to attend but had to cancel
• Hughes – footman at Lord Babington's London house
• Lord Rupert Melrose – Lord Babington's distant, very rich cousin
• Lady Grasmere – Lord Grasmere's wife, aunt of Lady Susan's late husband
• Lord Ashbourne – works at Whitehall, investigates sensitive financial matters for the Crown
• Miss Cassandra Reynolds – governess who works at Mrs. Isabella Huxley's house, is assisting Lord Ashbourne and Martin Blake in the investigation into Campion Industries' business malpractices
• Lady Melrose – Lord Melrose's wife, mentioned in Ch. 14
• Mr. and Mrs. Hillier – caretaker and housekeeper respectively at Parker House in Sanditon; Mrs. Mullins and Mrs. Hillier are sisters
