Don't Look Back

Chapter 40

Clutching her parasol Eliza watched as her things were stacked in the Foyer. Her eyes were puffy and bloodshot with lack of sleep.

She had to leave before Sidney knew she had made her escape back to London and from there she had to think of something.

Lord Sellac was still in Sanditon. Surely he would follow her. But so far he had not answered any of the messages she had smuggled to him. Had not even dared to reply. At least not here.

Perhaps, however, he would if she removed herself from Sanditon. And there, the rumor would not have followed.

"What of Flora?" her maid asked. "Surely you wish to say goodbye to her?"

Eliza sighed and shook her head. "I have little time, and besides a child like her would say something to Sidney. He owns her loyalty where I am just the woman who birthed her." she adjusted her gloves and watched as the trunks were loaded in the dark outside. The time was chosen as it cloaked her from prying eyes.

"Mr. Parker is going to be irate when he learns you vacated the apartments when he barely secured his own." the girl said behind her.

She scoffed. "I am sure he will be. He never wished to take Grandview." Eliza said cooly. "Just because I favored it so much." she felt rage at the thought of him being so near to Miss Heywood. She needed to get away to wrestle back the upper hand.

In London, she could spin her tale of how it had all happened and how she was really the sympathetic one. That was if Sidney did not fall back into the desired position.

She wasn't so cold-hearted that she would not allow that first. Especially since opinions seemed limited. Besides, if she were forced to manage and dispose of as she had her first husband she would need to gain proximity again.

Her in Sanditon he was not allowing it.

Clutching a bottle in her hand.

Dr. Foughs had given her disturbing news but not all that surprising. She pressed to send a servant to find a peddler for the item. She debated using it on herself knowing it likely too late.

If it was too late she would need to flee to the city to at the very least see someone about her current condition. And from there repair her reputation. Sidney would not force her hand. Not openly at least.

From London she had more power to weld against Miss Heywood as well should she need. She wasn't a darling there as far as she knew in her circles, and that was enough despite her connection to Lady Worcester. And the woman's own connections held scandal despite the high elevation.

Slipping out of the street she felt like a thief in the night. Her servants hushed as they made their move into the carriage.

——-

Looking over the twin apartment Susan stood with Charlotte in the grand foyer. "Well, It is just as grand it seems," she muttered sparing Charlotte a glance.

Charlotte fidgeted her fingers behind her back nervously.

"Quit your fidgeting, my dear." Lady Susan whispered gently with a lean. "Even the servants can notice things. You should know from Claudet that they are the biggest busybodies of them all."

"Sid-" Charlotte blushed horrified she already almost forgot herself. "Mr. Parker does not seem to employ an overabundance of servants." She answered as they both listened to the silent tick that sounded from the clock on the ornate mantle in the fashionable parlor that matched the one in the apartment they occupied. Though the furnishings were different, as was the paper on the walls.

Lady Worcester frowned and nodded. "It would seem he perhaps has not yet had the opportunity."

Charlotte blinked. "Or he is just a man of modest means."

Susan looked about and rolled her eyes. "I doubt it."

There was a slam at the back of the apartment house and they both jumped and in strode a disheveled Mr. Parker.

"Char-" he stopped himself. "Miss Heywood, Lady Worcester." his voice betrayed surprise. "I confess I entirely forgot about our scheduled meeting today.

Charlotte noticed his strained and serious countenance. As if he was bridling rage he wished to unleash.

"I do hope it is not serious." Lady Susan said curiously.

Sidney looked up to Charlotte. His eyes betraying his desire to speak plainly.

"Susan," Charlotte said, her eyes still held by his. "Could you grant Mr. Parker and I but a private moment."

Susan looked at the two and her eyes appraised the situation. "Mr. Parker, are there servants here?" she asked.

He cleared his throat. "My manservant, the newly hired cook is out, and Flora is with Mary."

"You have so few servants. This grand apartment will get disordered," she commented seeing his disheveled appearance.

He cleared his throat and nodded curtly. "Well, I have not the time yet to hire more."

Charlotte cleared her throat indicating her insistence and Susan smiled sweetly and nodded. "I will go to the parlor here and set myself to a nice view of the street. Perhaps you have a smaller parlor upstairs here as I have in our apartments?" she asked him.

He nodded. "I do." he looked away impatiently.

Susan could only suppress a smile as she nodded hoping the intrigue was worth the risk of reputation.

Turning as they both ascended the stair she smiled. "Uh, the door should remain open, speak in low voices if you do not wish them to carry." she cautioned with a smile.