Not The Same River - A Sanditon Sequel

Chapter One

Charlotte sat in the window seat of the entrance hall of her home. Strangely, it was often found to be the quietest part of the house. 'Quiet' being a relative term, as finding any kind of peace in a house of twelve children could be thought more scarce than encountering a hen with teeth!

The late summer sun shone through the window casting its halo of warmth around her. It was hardly felt, however, as Charlotte was engrossed by her latest letter from Lady Worcester. It brought news of Lady Babington's confinement and the comings and goings of an assortment of people Charlotte had never met. A smile could not be prevented when she considered how much Esther must be enjoying pregnancy. That same smile did not last however, when Susan repeated her offer to have Charlotte for a visit.

It had been almost a year since Charlotte had returned from Sanditon broken hearted. Since then she had endured a difficult winter both practically and emotionally. The weather had been hard and there had been great strain on the Heywood finances as many repairs had had to be made to tenants' cottages. Lady Worcester had been a great correspondent throughout and had always been kind enough never to mention Mr Sidney Parker or his fashionable wife. No doubt she had attended the wedding, but it was from her other main correspondent, Mrs Mary Parker that Charlotte had learned that the event which ruined all of her hopes of happiness had indeed taken place and that the happy couple were to honeymoon in the Lake District.

Although Charlotte had rallied her spirits quite well in the weeks following her return from Sanditon, she did not possess the same 'joie de vivre' as the girl who had left Willingdon so keen to take advantage of every opportunity that life might throw in her path. Indeed, she had lost a little weight and the colour had left her cheeks almost entirely. A fact that was not lost on Mrs Heywood.

Later that evening, when the family were gathered around the fire in the sitting room and the younger Heywoods were rightly tucked up in bed, Mrs Heywood addressed her eldest daughter on the subject, "Are you well, Charlotte?" she enquired.

"I am. Why do you ask?"

"You look a little pale"

Confused, Charlotte turned to her sister for moral support, but Alison could only smile weakly in silent acquiescence with their mother. This being all the encouragement required, Mrs Heywood continued her investigation. "I thought there might have been something in that letter you received today that had upset you?" Knowing that this was enough to force the revelation of the letter's content, Mrs Heywood returned to patching one of her younger son's pairs of trousers and allowed her second daughter to do the rest.

" Oh really? Was it from Lady Worcester?" Alison could barely contain her enthusiasm, "Has she asked you to visit again, Charlotte? I do so wish someone would ask me to stay with them. I should love to go to London or Sanditon, or anywhere really." Alison continued on, bemoaning the tedium of Willingdon and pointing out how blessed Charlotte was to receive such invitations until only a lack of oxygen eventually curtailed her verbal effusions.

"Yes.", replied Charlotte, "It was from Susan. But I am still disinclined to go. London isn't all you might think, Alison. And , you know, bad things can happen even in a place as pleasant as Sanditon!"

Alison was not convinced of this however and urged her sister to accept Lady Worcester's offer.

The truth was that Charlotte very much wanted to see Susan again. Although London itself held no interest for her, she knew that Susan would keep her constantly occupied and therefore, distracted. But Charlotte was afraid. She knew that any opportunity for amusement would most likely be hampered by the possibility of encountering the new Mr and Mrs Sidney Parker.

"I think you should go," Mrs Heywood's words interrupted Charlotte's thoughts, " and what is more, so does your father!" Charlotte turned to her father who was asleep contentedly in his armchair. She doubted he had been much troubled by the matter, but understood her mother's invoking him, emphasised her own seriousness. Whether it was wise or no, it would seem that Charlotte was London bound.

The next few days passed in a flurry. Letters went hither and thither to Lady Worcester and to Mary Parker and back again, until eventually arrangements were finalised. Mr Heywood could not spare his carriage for the entirety of the journey to London, so it was proposed that it should carry Charlotte to the 'Wagon and Horses' coaching inn, some ten miles or so away. This allowed for it to return to Willingdon within a day. There she would be met by Mr Tom Parker's equipage and conveyed to Sanditon, whereupon Charlotte would rest overnight at Trafalgar House before being accompanied on the final leg of her journey by Mrs Mary Parker who was herself to stay in London with the children for a few weeks.

It all sounded exhausting to Mr Heywood who still could not find an adequate reason for anyone to travel abroad unnecessarily. A feeling he expressed to his wife when they were alone. "Ah yes," replied his lady, " but Charlotte is old enough to be considering her future and although Willingden has served us well, I do not feel that our daughter is offered all of the opportunities that she deserves here." Mr Heywood could offer no rebuttal and so wisely chose to say nothing.