Chapter 2
Ralph was in his study tending to business when a footman announced visitors awaiting him in the drawing-room: Mrs Heywood and Miss Heywood. Ralph found this rather curious. It was not unusual for the local ladies to call on the mistress of the house, but they rarely included him in their visits. He found his mother entertaining the two ladies and greeted them with as much enthusiasm as he could summon. Charlotte kept her eyes averted while his mother engaged Mrs Heywood in common civilities about the state of everyone's health and the weather.
"Mrs Heywood, may I interest you in a stroll through the gardens? I shall not be able to boast of their beauty much longer," his mother said, leading Ralph to suspect the mamas had conspired to leave him alone with Charlotte.
After the two ladies had left the room, Charlotte shifted uncomfortably in her chair, tightly clutching her hands together in her lap. She was about to speak but pressed her lips together as if she struggled for the right words.
Ralph did not need to guess what this was about. "You are here at your father's behest, are you not?" he said in a quiet voice.
She nodded. "He insists I accept your offer," she said, focusing on the carpet.
"He is terribly unjust," he said, his anger rising. "I had not thought him a tyrant."
Alarm crossed her face. "No, no, you must not think badly of Papa. It's just that I am twenty-three now and have become a burden on the estate."
"It is inconceivable to me how a daughter could be considered a burden," he said, thinking of his two sisters. Although they were both happily married with their own families, he never would have forced their hands.
"Indeed, he has been quite patient with me, but there are fourteen of us, after all."
This did nothing to change Ralph's opinion of the man, nor could he bear to see his ladylove in distress. He crossed the room, bent to one knee before her, and took her hand. "I promise you, Charlotte, I shall be a good husband and cherish every day with you. You need never fear that I will force you to do anything against your will."
She offered a tremulous smile. "And I shall be a good wife, Ralph."
The sound of his name on her lips filled him with joy, and he tenderly kissed her. "We shall do splendidly together, I am certain." He rose and offered his arm. "Shall we announce our news to our mothers?" he inquired, relieved that he had finally secured her hand.
They found both ladies in the garden, and Mrs Heywood clutched Mrs Starling's arm as they approached. "Charlotte and I are betrothed, Mother," he said, nearly bursting with pride.
Both mamas cried with joy and threw their arms around them. "How wonderful," Mrs Heywood said. "I always hoped you would marry."
"What beautiful children you shall have," Mrs Starling said.
Ralph had no doubt of that with a wife as beautiful as Charlotte Heywood.
Ralph was filled with happy anticipation on the day of Allison Heywood's wedding, knowing his own would soon follow. They had not set the date yet, but after the Heywoods had successfully married off one daughter, plans for the next would quickly commence.
After the ceremony, the party moved to the assembly hall to continue the celebration. Spirits were high as Allison danced with her new husband. When Ralph spied his betrothed conversing with her friends from Sanditon, he begged their leave to take her to the next set, which was forming on the dancefloor.
Charlotte introduced him to Mr and Mrs Parker, Mr Andrew Parker, and Miss Georgiana Lambe, an heiress from Antigua. "Ralph and I are to be married," she said.
Ralph was poised to accept their congratulations; however, he observed only shock on their faces. Instead of happy surprise, their expressions revealed utter disbelief.
"Married!" Miss Lambe said, a note of distrust in her voice.
An awkward pause ensued as confused glances passed between the four guests. Ralph could only wonder why Charlotte had not already revealed the betrothal to her friends, especially Miss Lambe, her closest confidant.
"We wish you every happiness," Mrs Parker finally said, embracing Charlotte. Mr Parker shook Ralph's hand and mumbled his felicitations while Miss Lambe exchanged meaningful glances with Andrew Parker.
Ralph managed to extract Charlotte from the group and led her to the set. "Forgive me if I spoke prematurely," he said, fearing he had caused her some discomfort. "I cannot help wanting the whole world to know you will be my wife."
"I have been so busy preparing for Allison's wedding I have not had a chance to tell them about our betrothal," she said without much conviction.
The set began, and they had no opportunity for conversation during the lively reel. However, he would not despair. The smile had returned to her face, and she gave every appearance of enjoyment for the next half hour.
Afterwards, he met Miss Lambe at the refreshment table. Her severe expression left no doubt of her disapproval. "Forgive my impertinence, Miss Lambe, but you do not seem to look favourably on my betrothal to Miss Heywood," Ralph said.
"Did you know Charlotte had a suitor in Sanditon?"
"I know she had her heart broken there…twice."
"Yes, but—"
"I assure you, as I have told Charlotte, I shall never hurt her." Although he knew not what had occurred in Sanditon, he knew the two men held no regard for Charlotte's happiness. Unfortunately, Miss Lambe still appeared sceptical. "Did this other man offer marriage?" he inquired, knowing he had not, for Charlotte would undoubtedly have accepted him.
"No."
"Why not, do you suppose?" he inquired. "He had a chance to secure Charlotte, yet he did not. There is nothing to prevent her from marrying me," he said, confident that he had successfully made his point.
"Except that she does not love you." The lady's pointed barb pierced his heart. "Her father gave her no other choice."
"You are rather direct, Miss Lambe," he said, stung by her bluntness. "Do you imply that her father forced her to accept me?"
She was instantly contrite. "Forgive me, Mr Starling. I should not have been so abrupt, but at least I was truthful."
"Kindly excuse me," he said, desperate to escape the merriment of the assembly hall. The sun had set, and the cool autumn breeze washed over him. She does not love you. Miss Lambe's words echoed in his brain. Although he had perceived some hint of this when Charlotte accepted him, having it flung in his face made it glaringly obvious. Her father's insistence was the only reason she had agreed to marry him. He raked his fingers through his hair. What could he have been thinking? Was he attempting to save her from her situation at home, or was his motive purely selfish?
"Ralph?" He recognised Charlotte's voice but did not turn to face her. "I'm sorry if Georgiana upset you. She is far too outspoken."
"She only spoke the truth," he said, unable to meet her gaze. "If you want to be released from our engagement, I will understand."
"You are too good."
He spun on his heel. "No, Charlotte. I am not good, or kind, or any other virtue you may wish to burden me with," he said, struggling to maintain his composure. "I love you, but I am willing to sacrifice my own happiness to ensure yours. I doubt the men you loved before me could make any such claim."
She hung her head and remained silent.
"Do you suppose I want an unwilling bride?" he said, his temper now rising. "That I relish the idea of marrying a woman who is still pining for another man? That she will think of someone else when I take her to my bed? Knowing you might change your mind at any moment is driving me mad." He reached for her hand, but her morose demeanour stilled him.
"I have been terribly unfair to you, Ralph," she said in a hushed whisper.
He stepped closer. "My dearest Charlotte, I have loved you since our first dance together. I love your vibrance, kindness, loyalty, your willingness to help others, and how you abhor injustice. I even love your sense of adventure and eagerness to accept every challenge. I never imagined I would be lucky enough to marry you. Now, it seems, I never shall," he said as the truth finally hit home.
"I have not changed my mind, Ralph."
"But if the other man comes for you, you will forgive him for breaking your heart and marry him."
She gazed off into the darkness. "He will not come."
"And you will be stuck with me," he said as a shadowy gloom descended over him. "No, Charlotte. Your father may force you to marry me, but I shall not. You may cry off with my full understanding."
The moon moved out from behind the clouds, illuminating her tormented brow. "The moon is wasted on us, is it not?" he said with no small amount of sarcasm. "Perhaps I would have had better success if I had broken your heart. Of course, that would have been quite impossible because your heart was never mine to break."
"You are not thinking clearly, Ralph. Nothing has changed."
That much was true; she still did not love him or want to marry him. "I must insist you set a date or release me."
"Ralph, my father would just force me to marry someone else."
He released a crazed laugh. "What a fool I was. I had no idea the woman of my dreams could be so cold-hearted. You are willing to ruin both our lives to appease your father. Have you no compassion? Never mind, I already know the answer," he said, then offered his arm. "Come, let us go back inside. If your true love comes looking for you, he won't find you outdoors."
When they entered the hall, a score of smiling faces greeted them. "Just look at them. Everyone considers us the happiest couple in the world, except for your Sanditon friends," he said, then offered a polite bow. "Good night, Miss Heywood."
He left her and found the nearest footman. "Please tell my brother Gregory that I have gone home," he said. "I shall depend on him to escort our mother to Glendale."
He collected his horse from the stable and set out for the ride home. As he reached the main avenue, his horse's hooves struck a steady beat on the well-worn path.
Reliable Ralph.
Ridiculous Ralph.
Foolhardy Ralph.
He laughed aloud at his own stupidity. As a man of twenty-nine years, he had no more sense than a green schoolboy. The moon emerged from behind the clouds, illuminating the road. "You are mocking me now," he said to that cruel celestial orb. "What a great farce. The woman I love would rather be a spinster than married to me."
"You knew when you addressed her that she loved another man, did you not?" the moon said. Of course, the moon did not speak, but if this were possible, she would have cited the obvious.
"Yes, my humiliation is richly deserved. I was charmed by a pretty smile and laughing eyes."
The moon continued to taunt him as he travelled, switching between hiding and revealing the roadbed. Fortunately, his horse knew the way to his stable. By the time he reached Glendale, Ralph needed fortification. He walked directly to his study, poured a generous portion of brandy, and then raised his glass. "Here's to you, Ralph. The greatest fool in the kingdom."
