Sensible Ralph

A Short Sanditon Variation


Author's Note:

I do not believe this is the path Sanditon Season 3 will take. I'm confident that Colbourne will finally release his emotional baggage, crawl back to Charlotte, and Ralph Starling's heart will be savagely ripped out.

If you think Ralph is too boring for Charlotte, this story may not interest you. I'm sure plenty of other fanfictions match her with Sidney or Colbourne. But this is #TeamRalph, and he gets his HEA.

Ralph is not a bad boy or a man of mystery. He never broke Charlotte's heart or took liberties with her. He may not be an adventurer or possess a vast fortune, but he is a decent, honourable man. He is an uncomplicated, reliable guy who deserves his happy ending. #TeamRalph #NoRalphHate


Chapter 1

Sometimes the stars align, even when the fates are against you, and everything is possible. However, even in his youth, Ralph Starling was far too sensible to embrace such fanciful notions.

As a schoolboy, horses were Ralph's passion. When he returned from university, one lovely young lady caught his attention. By the time Charlotte Heywood came out to society, she had grown into the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She had a luminous glow about her that shone brighter than the stars in the heavens. He fell in love with her five years ago during their first dance at the Willingden assembly. Unsurprisingly, Charlotte had been the favourite partner of every man in the assembly hall. However, Ralph had no means to take a wife and settled for admiring her from afar. As the heir to Glendale, his father's estate in Great Willingden, it would be many years hence until he came into his inheritance.

Charlotte had gone off to Sanditon for the summer last year, and when he next saw her, the light had gone out of her eyes. He knew not what had happened to cause her melancholy but suspected an affair of the heart. He had heard from a neighbour that a man she met in Sanditon had left her for another woman.

When he danced with her at the harvest ball, she kept her gaze away from his. He would have willingly murdered the man who had extinguished her brilliant spirit, but he dared not to inquire for fear of plunging her further into gloom. All he could do was hold her hand and lead her through the dance.

"The orchestra is in rare form tonight, is it not?" he inquired.

"Indeed, it seems they are leading us through a race."

The pace was somewhat livelier than usual, but if it took her mind off her troubles, he would not complain.

"I hope you will ask Allison to dance this evening. She has just come out to society and is an excellent dancer," she said with a hopeful expression.

He would do anything she required if only she would look favourably upon him. "Of course, I shall add my name to her dance card." Nothing she asked would have been too much. Unfortunately, Charlotte was everything cordial and proper in his company, but nothing more. She displayed no secret smiles, longing glances, or pleading gazes as other ladies of his acquaintance sometimes offered.

As the heir of Glendale, the largest estate in the area, Ralph had seen his share of those looks from marriage-minded ladies. But none appealed to him like Charlotte Heywood with her doe-eyes, chestnut curls, impish dimples, and glowing smile. She was unmatched. However, Ralph was acutely aware that Charlotte saw nothing to admire in him. Her eyes held no sparkle when he was in her company, almost as though he was invisible.

If he was being honest, she would be wasted on him. She was far better off finding a young man of fortune who would provide her with everything she could possibly desire. Charlotte deserved far better than a gentleman farmer who would always be tied to the land. When he came into his inheritance, his days would be filled with ledger books, meetings, and keeping the estate running smoothly. He would assume responsibility for the family and the dozens of tenants living and working on Glendale property. However, his father was hale and hearty, and it would be many years hence until Ralph came into his fortune. Until then, he was in no position to take a bride.

Then disaster struck Glendale. Mr Starling fell from his horse and broke his hip. Unable to rise from his bed, he needed constant care for weeks afterwards. Ralph ran the estate during his father's convalescence, but the master continued to decline. "I am not ready to lose you, Father," he said at his beloved parent's bedside.

Mr Starling scoffed. "Nonsense, you shall be an excellent master of Glendale. I have prepared you for this your whole life, just as my father did for me," he said, reaching for Ralph's hand. "You must marry, Ralph. You need an heir to carry on when your time comes."

His father had indeed tutored him on the intricacies of estate management, crop rotation, harvesting, and animal husbandry. These past five years, Ralph's responsibility had been to meet with tenants and keep their cottages in good repair.

Unfortunately, after two months, the struggle proved insurmountable, and Mr Starling drifted into a decline, a former shadow of himself. When he took his last breath, Ralph was overcome with regret. He would gladly retract all past complaints about waiting years to come into his inheritance if he could have his healthy father back. He had not appreciated the freedom he had to enjoy his own pursuits until the weight of the world came crashing down on his shoulders.

Ralph was suddenly the new master of Glendale. The responsibility for his family's and tenants' survival now rested solely on him. He had no idea how he would succeed; he only knew he must not fail them. While he mourned the loss of his esteemed parent, estate business occupied his waking hours, but he kept up the schedule his father had set.

One Sunday morning in May, he noticed that Charlotte was not at church. After services, he greeted Mr Heywood and his wife. "I hope Miss Heywood is not unwell," he said, hoping to hear a good report about her.

"Not at all, Mr Starling. My two eldest daughters are in Sanditon at Mrs Parker's invitation," Mr Heywood said with a proud smile.

Ralph recalled the name of the businessman who had invited Charlotte to visit last year. He hoped she and her sister would enjoy the summer at the seaside resort and looked forward to seeing her upon her return.

Preoccupied with his new responsibilities, he scarcely noticed the passage of time. By the end of summer, he heard the Heywood ladies were back home. Allison was betrothed, and Charlotte was nursing another heartache, disappointed once again in love. Although he found this terribly unjust, he could not be sorry that she had returned home unattached. Now that he had come into his inheritance, nothing prevented him from taking a wife. Who better to spend his life with than the girl who had captured his heart years ago? He knew perfectly well that she did not hold him in the same esteem, but perhaps, in time, she would find a place for him in her heart. Once the harvest was over, he finally had time to pursue his own personal affairs.


Dressed in his finest coat, he called on Mr Heywood and requested permission to pay his addresses to his daughter. "Charlotte is past her majority and may decide for herself if she is willing to hear your address."

"I hope you are not opposed to me," Ralph said, unable to read the man's severe expression.

"Not in the slightest. I wish you every success." Mr Heywood summoned his daughter and encouraged her to walk with Ralph in the garden.

Once outdoors, Ralph offered his arm and escorted her past the blooming flowerbeds. "My dear Miss Heywood, you can have no question of my purpose in seeing you today. It has been many years since I hoped this day would be possible, but I believe the fates have conspired to bring us together. You cannot be unaware that I have held you in the highest esteem since my youth."

"Yes, Mr Starling, I am aware," she said, keeping her eyes fixed on the garden path.

"Since you have been out in the world for many years, I feared I would never have this opportunity. I thought it impossible that you would still be available when I finally came into my inheritance. But now that I am master of my own estate, I am well able to take a wife. I know you have suffered disappointments, but if you accept me, I promise to never break your heart."

After hesitating for a few moments, she spoke in a quiet voice. "I had not thought of marriage, Mr Starling."

Alarmed, he stopped walking. "Do you not wish to marry, or is it just me you don't want to marry?" he inquired, searching her eyes for some hint of her meaning, but he observed only sorrow.

"My father wants me to marry, but I am considering being a governess."

"A governess!" he said, shocked by the resignation in her voice. "Your situation is not as desperate as that."

"No, not desperate, precisely, but..." She did not continue.

"Is it because your heart has been broken in the past?" Her eyes grew misty, and she turned away. "You need not discuss it if you prefer not to."

"No," she whispered.

He took her hand. "I love you, Charlotte. I have never loved anyone but you. I was not at liberty to declare myself before because I had nothing to offer you, nor did I expect to be able to address you. My father was in the best of health until his accident." Pressing a hand to her quivering lips, she averted her eyes.

He instantly regretted troubling her. "I apologise. I do not mean to make you uncomfortable. If you are not ready—if you are still recovering from a broken heart, I will say no more. I can wait. I have waited all these years, and a few more weeks will not alter my affections."

"You are very kind."

"May I call on you again in three or four weeks?"

She offered a teary smile. "Yes, thank you, Mr Starling. You must not think I am ungrateful. I understand that you expected rather a different answer today."

He allowed no hint of disappointment to cross his face. "No, indeed. I had no expectations, only hope. I shall continue to hope that you will look favourably upon my suit."

"You are very good," she said, wiping a tear away with a trembling hand.

His heart clenched to witness the once lively woman now cast into gloom. Offering his arm, they continued on the path. "Someone must have hurt you badly. If I am lucky enough to claim your hand, I vow that I shall never cause you one moment's pain." They walked on in silence. "Tell me about this man your sister is marrying," he said, changing to a more agreeable topic.

"His name is Captain Fraser."

"Ah, a military man."

She nodded. "He was, but he sold his commission and will return to his farm."

He took encouragement from this news. "A farmer, indeed? I wish them every happiness," he said, thinking perhaps he still had reason to hope. If Allison had accepted a farmer, Charlotte might still be within his reach. "May I secure a dance with you at the harvest ball?"

"Of course. I always enjoy dancing with you," she said, offering a half-hearted smile.

"I shall look forward to it."

Although crushed, Ralph maintained a pleasant façade. Charlotte had left no doubt of her lack of affectionate regard. Her heart had not been touched, not by him at any rate. She probably still loved the blackguard from Sanditon, who had engaged her affections and left her heart in tatters. Still, he would not despair. He had waited this long to declare himself. Certainly, he could wait a few more weeks to allow her to recover her spirits.