Sidney dressed for his niece's wedding with an air of excitement in his dressing room. He hadn't been to a wedding in some years, and even so, he normally did not care for them. His own had been a veritable circus, and these affairs generally reminded him of his unhappy marriage. He could never bring himself to invoke ill-will against his deceased wife, but he was secretly grateful that their marriage was short lived. And for all Eliza did to him, she had given him the girls. There had been good years, happy years before she ran off. And when he heard their laughter down the hall, as they descended the stairs in their bridesmaids gowns, he knew everything was worth it. Sidney exited his dressing room to join them for a bit of coffee.
Marianne and Annabella wore rose colored dresses with fluttering sleeves, their long honey-colored hair piled on top of their heads, sprays of flowers tucked in between the curls and braids. He caught his breath, they looked impossibly grown up, and utterly lovely. He didn't think he could love two people more than he loved his girls.
"You look lovely my darlings." Sidney said as he joined them in the breakfast room. He kissed them both on the top of their heads and silently thanked heaven for giving him his daughters.
"Thank you, Papa. Is that a new cravat?" Marianne asked.
"Indeed. The ladies shouldn't be the only ones who get new frippery for a wedding." He teased.
"Just wait until you see Jenny's dress Papa. Uncle Tom must have spent a fortune on her trousseau." Annabella said through sips of coffee.
"Ah, that must be why he taxes me every time you two destroy an article of her clothing?"
The girls laughed and blamed the other for their destructive habits.
"Carriage is ready, sir." Dixon, the butler said from the doorway.
The Sidney Parker family made their way to the front of their house and Sidney helped his daughters into the carriage. As they took off towards the church, Sidney admired the beautiful June day outside. The sun was shining, the air was warm with a light breeze. The wedding ceremony this morning, and the ball tonight at Trafalgar House would be well attended. He hoped this weather was here to stay for the entirety of the season.
They reached the church and Sidney left his daughters with Tom and Jenny at the rectory, escorting Mary to the front pew as guests filed in. He turned around to survey the guests, seeing Babington and Esther a few rows back. Their massive brood of children was scattered around them, some in their parent's laps, others already looking bored. But there was a few children in the same pew that he did not recognize at all; two black-haired girls a bit younger than his own daughters, a boy who couldn't have been much older than 16 with a little girl on his lap, who looked like they could have been twins with their chestnut hair and eyes. A woman sat beside them, chatting with Esther, but he could not see her face past her bonnet. He thought this must be the Leyburn family, children, countess, but where was the earl? With a shrug, he turned around. He would surely be introduced to them eventually.
The organ began to play again, and Tom came into the nave of the church with Jenny on his arm, Sidney's daughters carrying her train. Sidney smiled when he saw his brother wipe a tear from his face as he passed his daughter into the arms of an Irishman.
The ceremony was quite fine, he thought, according to his Anglican sensibilities. After the girls had been born, Sidney was a regular church goer who was decidedly traditional, not too charismatic, not too Catholic. A few good hymns, a strong sermon, and no unnecessary rituals beyond the sacraments. Tom generally shared his sentiments, and saw his brother wince each time one of the Shannons genuflected or crossed themselves. The Shannons were fabulously wealthy, and divided their time between Dublin and London, but he knew his brother was having a hard time letting go of his anti-Irish prejudice.
It came time for communion in the ceremony and Sidney dutifully joined the line to receive the elements, noting that all the Catholics in attendance stayed in their seats. Among them was the family who sat with the Babingtons, the woman with the wide brimmed hat was knelt upon the stone floor in prayer, and once again he could not make out her face, but he did take notice of her outfit. It was a pale grey with a bateau neck, trimmed with an extremely fine black ribbon. Her bonnet was likewise straw, with grey and black ribbons that cascaded down the back. It was quite a somber costume for a wedding, he thought.
"Papa." One of his daughters hissed, pulling him forward by the crook of his elbow. It seemed he was holding up the line for communion by staring at the unknown woman with Esther.
Before long the ceremony was over and Sidney took his two daughters on his arms for the recessional back down the aisle. Rather than make a buffoon of himself, he purposefully did not gawk at the Babington's companions. It was most likely the Earl and Countess of Leyburn, an inconsequential couple to him. But he could not shake why he was so interested in them…
In the churchyard the vicar greeted the guests along with the new Mr. and Mrs. Shannon and parents. Tom, despite his misgivings, looked like he was bursting with pride.
"Uncle Sidney!" Jenny kissed her uncle on the cheek, smiling from ear to ear.
"Mrs. Shannon, you are loveliness itself." Sidney told his beloved niece.
"All thanks to you...Uncle." David stumbled over the new title for Sidney. The three of them laughed.
"I'm glad to have had some part in this union. Who would have thought that pulling David into our opera box to avoid the Duchess of Inverness would result in marriage." Sidney replied.
"If the Duchess had succeeded in chasing me down, I would have wound up married to one of her frightful granddaughters." David joked.
Sidney moved along and allowed the happy couple to greet other guests, while he stood back with his nephew Henry and discussed a recent cricket match. All of the sudden, he heard a shout of surprise and saw Jenny hug someone with great fervor. It was the lady in the grey dress who had sat with Esther during the ceremony. She had a rosary in her gloved hand, but he could still not see her face.
"I can't believe you're here after all this time." Jenny practically squealed. Sidney was confused. Who could this possibly be?
But then, she turned to face him, and looked directly into his eyes with a kind, knowing smile. Like one a forgiving mother would bestow upon a repentant child. It took him a few moments to realize it was her. It was Charlotte Heywood.
Later that evening
"Mama please."
"I said no, Junia."
"But Minnie Babington is going."
"And that is her parents choice. I am your mother, and I said no girl younger than thirteen is going to a ball. At our home you may stay up and watch but this isn't our home."
"Junie, you have to stay with me. I don't want to be alone in the nursery with all of them." Helen hugged her big sister around the waist.
"How about this," Charlotte sat down next to her two youngest girls and pulled them into her lap, "When we get home from the party, I'll come into your room and tell you all about it. And then tomorrow Lady Babington and I will teach you and the other children some dances. Alright?"
"I guess so." Junia said dejectedly. Charlotte kissed her on the cheek. Precious girl, she wanted to grow up so quickly.
"Mama can you twirl for us?" Helen asked.
"Alright, last time. Then we need to leave and you need to have your supper."
Charlotte stood up, shaking the skirts of her blue silk. It was the first time she'd worn anything but black since James' death, save for this morning's ceremony, and she felt years younger. The gown had puffed sleeves with a lace cuff about the elbow, the bodice sitting just off her shoulders. She flipped her fan, waved it a few times flirtatiously, and curtseyed low before her daughters. They giggled at her theatrics. With one fluid movement, she stood and began to twirl her voluminous skirts.
"Mother, Tere and I are ready. Lady Babington says the carriage is out front." Anthony called through the door.
Charlotte kissed her little ones goodnight and left the room. She and Theresa each took one of Anthony's arms as they descended the staircase.
"I believe it is quite unfair for a family to look this fetching, don't you agree George?" Esther proclaimed as Charlotte and children arrived downstairs.
"I think the Babingtons look alright, too!" George said in mock indignation.
"Where's Junia?" Minnie, their 10 year old asked.
"She is staying home with her sister." Charlotte replied. They had only been in Sanditon for two days and already her daughter had a bosom friend.
"Mama, if Junia is staying home, may I stay too?" Minnie turned to her mother.
"Alright, but be careful taking your gown off, and don't leave the little ones out of any games or play. Do you hear me? I don't want to come home to tears because you can't share dolls." Esther warned.
Minnie just nodded and scampered upstairs towards the nursery. Now it was just the two eldest Babington children, Ruth and William, accompanying their parents.
"Shall we?" Lord Babington gestured to the door.
Once settled in the carriage, Charlotte could not help herself.
"Forgive me, Esther, George, but I simply must know. Will Sidney and Eliza Parker be there tonight? I did not see her at the ceremony, it was so crowded in the churchyard." Charlotte burst out.
"I thought you'd never ask." Babington chuckled.
"Who?" Theresa asked.
"Oh Charlotte, they don't know?" Esther said incredulously.
"Know what? Mama?" Anthony sounded worried.
"Oh my dears, I should have told you this earlier. Before I met your father, the summer I spent in Sanditon I had an attachment to a young man named Sidney Parker. It was his niece we saw married today. But he was engaged to another, and then I went home to Grandmama's at Willingdon, and never saw him again." Charlotte responded.
"Oh I just knew you had a romantic past and you were keeping a secret!" Theresa squealed.
"You didn't love Papa?" Anthony sounded heartbroken.
"Oh Anty, no no my love! I adored your Papa. We loved each other very much, and I would not have traded him for any man on earth. I was a very naive girl, when I first came to Sanditon, I was infatuated. Do not fret."
"There is something you should know, Charlotte," Babington began, "Eliza has been dead for some years now, Sidney has all but raised his daughters alone."
"Oh. Oh I'm so sorry." Charlotte whispered.
"And yes, they will be there tonight. His girls are about the same age as these four, and they are such good fun. They remind me of young Charlotte Heywood." Esther leaned over and patted her friend's arm.
"Does he know we are coming?" Theresa said breathlessly.
"Good lord, Tere. You'd think you were the one reconnecting with a long lost beau, not mama." Anthony, having regained his good mood, joked.
"Oh, hush. I am not seeking out any suitor. I could never love again after your father."
Esther and Babington shared a knowing look at Charlotte's statement.
"The Parkers stopped by Sanditon house yesterday whilst you and the children were resting. They inquired after our guests but we only referred to you by earldom. He knew of your family, but otherwise he seemed quite ignorant to the identity of the countess." Esther replied.
"That's odd. I would think he'd know just from the London society of my marriage." Charlotte said.
"Yes, but James was just Mr. Dryden when you married him, he didn't inherit the earldom for another two years. And when you were wed he was but a country squire, younger cousin of an earl." Babington reminded her.
"Indeed. We were very much nobodies at our wedding, and living exclusively in Yorkshire has kept us rather anonymous. Perhaps he won't even recognize me tonight. I daresay he did not this morning."
"Oh Lady Leyburn, I sincerely doubt that." Ruth said cheekily.
"The cheek! I wonder where she gets that from." Charlotte laughed and pointed at Esther.
"Don't I know it." Babington said drolly.
"Oh Father, please." William groaned.
"Lord Babingdon, what was my Mama like when she was romanced by this Mr. Parker?" Theresa asked with a devilish grin.
"If you must know, Lady Theresa, she was rather incorrigible."
"George!"
"I'm only teasing, she was a very well-spoken young lady. Full of conviction, not afraid to say what she thought. And she loved a laugh."
"Oh George. I wonder if that girl is gone forever." Charlotte said with a sad smile.
"Let's have her, just for tonight. I know that's the girl James loved, too." Esther gripped her friend's hand.
"Yes, Papa loved to dance and make people jolly." Anthony agreed.
"And let's find that Mr. Parker." Theresa whispered to Ruth with a laugh.