Chapter 3

-Outside, next to the river-

As soon as the kids disappeared ridding his horse, Sidney lay in the snow, not able to bear the exhaustion he felt. He felt so numb he could barely even feel his teeth chattering.

"Sidney... Sidney" he heard a soft and tenderness voice calling him. He rolled his head to face the voice, his breathing still shaky, and he found face to face with Charlotte who was lying next to him on the snow. "You need to stay awake Sidney".

-Sanditon-

Lord Babington was just talking in the street with some friends when a horse ridded by two kids kept his attention. He narrowed his eyes because he could clearly recognize Sidney's horse. He had spent too many days ridding together to even recognize it with his eyes closed, just hearing his neigh.

"What's going on?" muttered to himself as he made his farewell with the people he was talking to and followed the horse.

The kids stopped in front of Trafalgar's house as Sidney asked them to. The girl unseated from the horse and later helped his brother down. Still wrapped with Sidney's cloak, Timmy looked much better and although he was still chilly, his teeth had stopped chattering.

The girl rang the bell of the door and Tom opened it. Before he could say anything, the girl began to talk.

"Good morning sir. Sorry to bother you. My brother and I were playing next to the river and he fall inside in the frozen river"

The girl was interrupted by Tom who raised his hand and indicated the kids to come inside. "First come inside and explain me everything in front of the warm fire".

Before he closed the door, Lord Babington arrived and got inside as well.

"Lord Babington, what a pleasant surprise" said Tom taken aback with his suddenly appearance. He looked something was bothering him.

"Good morning Lord Parker" replied Lord Babington a little embarrassed for his abrupt entrance.

"May I ask you kids how is that you were ridding Sidney's horse?" asked politely Lord Babington. He knew his friend; Sidney has always been reluctant to lend his horse to anyone.

The girl nodded. "Thanks to Lord Parker, my brother Timmy is alive. But he was completely soaked and he said it would be wiser to warm ourselves here before coming back home, which is a miles away from Sanditon and it would be dangerous for Timmy ridding with the freezing weather".

Tom nodded. "Of course, you did the right think. Sidney was right", replied as Charlotte entered in the room. "Oh my sweet Charlotte, lucky you are here. Could you help these kids to warm themselves and provide them dry clothes?"

"Indeed" said Charlotte with a smile, glad to help. She was about to turned around when she saw something was bothering Lord Babington, Charlotte could see it. "Something's wrong Lord Babington?" asked with concern.

Lord Babington nodded and decided to say aloud what was bothering him. "May I ask you how is that Sidney is not here with you?" asked as politely as he could.

"He said we would be faster if we came here riding just the two of us but he said that he would arrive here soon after us because he needed to warm himself as well because he ended up soaked as Timmy".

Charlotte squeezed her hands together so hard her fingers turn white. She understood why Lord Babington was so worried about. He shouldn't be out there on his own with this weather. Since Eliza's proposal, he had not acted as himself, she could see the fire she saw in Sidney's eyes was put out. I cannot lose you, she fought the desperate tears that threaten to pour down her face. "We should-" began to say Charlotte.

"Miss Heywood, you should stay here and take care of the children" interrupted her Lord Babington. "Lord Parker and I we will go outside to get Sidney home".

-Outside, next to the river-

Sidney was still face to face with Charlotte who was lying next to him on the snow. "You need to stay awake Sidney", repeated.

"You-you are not real..." mumbled Sidney.

"Does it matter?" asked Charlotte, who indeed was being imagined by him.

"I-I love you Charlotte. You can imagine how it hurts for being responsible for hurting you" he whispered with guilty and regret in his eyes. "It cuts me to pieces to know you're leaving Sanditon. One has to be very blind not to see how lucky a man you can make by marring him. For a brief moment I let myself believe I could be that man but... "

'Sidney…' Charlotte's low voice seemed close by and yet far away at the same time. "I need you to stay with me."

"Leave me be. Pl-please... go!" whispered.

"Sidney... I need you to stay with me" said Tom with concern shaking his brother carefully.

"I was forced to do so..." mumbled.

Lord Babington kneeled next to his brother and called him too. "Sidney".

Sidney blinked his eyes and suddenly he was dimly aware of Tom and Lord Babington presence. He could notice the panic in their voices but he couldn't focus on anything except Charlotte's face.

"How is Timmy?" Sidney asked weakly, keep looking at Charlotte.

"He is fine, entirely thanks to you," Lord Babington said.

Sidney smiled wanly as he began to close his eyes.

"Sidney you need to stay awake" Tom said urgently. "Focus on me" he commanded.

Sidney's breathing was slowing and his eyes started closing.

What do you think? Do you like it? Review will be appreciated