Don't Look Back

Chapter 52

Passing Trafalgar House they paused a moment.

"Should we not stop in here?" Lord Babington asked.

Crowe hesitated. "I am sure they received the same word that you did."

Babington shook his head and winced. "It's the right thing," he muttered and rapped his cane on the door.

Coming to the door a flustered and confused Tom Parker came to the door.

"Oh Lord Babington..." his voice low. "I am afraid we are not in the calling mood."

Babington shook his head. "I wish this was a mere social call." he imparted. "I assume you have heard the news of your brother."

Tom nodded. "Just received word this morning in the post from Eliza. Poor thing..." he sighed. "And she is feeling so ill as well."

Crowe scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Is she?" he asked and shared a look with Radmore.

'We were just readying ourselves to go to London to take Flora to her mother, but we will need to fetch her from Lady Worcester." Tom muttered.

Sir Radmore frowned. "Did she expressly ask for her daughter to be brought?"

Tom looked down and then up. "No, but is that not what a mother would wish? Her child near at such a time?"

Lord Babington looked at Radmore and shared a serious look. "Hum..."

Crowe looked up and down the lane impatient to get to GrandView.

"I think it best for the child to remain outside of a possible investigation." Lord Babington offered. "And there are children here for her to distract herself from the loss."

"You think I should keep the child here?" Tom asked the man above his station and took advice as if it was the gospel itself.

Nodding he glanced at his friends.

Sir Radmore was the one to speak now. "I do. We do not know what has happened. Only that your brother went to London to find a way to manage his wife, and now he is reportedly dead. I think we should have some answers before we make any moves to support his widow."

Tom shook his head and blinked. "You mean...Eliza could have been behind some evil deed?" he asked.

Radmore shrugged. "Women are complicated and not always as innocent as we think. As men are not always as bad as we seem."

Crowe scoffed coldly. "Speak for yourself. I am perfectly worthless, but Sidney is among the greater of our miserable sex, and his wife, ranked among the worst of hers."

Lord Babington spared him a sympathetic glance as Tom grappled with his guilt in regards to his brother and the unfortunate part he played in Sidney's misery for five years.

"I should go to London," he said with an abrupt impulsive tone. "Perhaps see what I can lend in the search of answers."

Lord Babington nodded. "If you like, but I think you will be needed here to manage what Sidney normally manages..." he offered. "Would not wish to see all he worked for fall apart."

Tom shook his head and agreed. "No, of course, you are right. I know there is the purchase with Lady Worcester, and the new road to..." his voice trailed. "I did not imagine losing my brother so soon," he said breathlessly. "Mary cannot even get from bed now that she has taken to it."

The three men looked at Mr. Tom Parker with sympathy as tears entered his eyes.

"One can never conceive of how far their mistakes can go in affecting others while barely hurting yourself...until the end. Only then can you see the destruction your thoughtlessness has wrought upon everyone." he shuddered. His heart broke.

Lord Babington stepped forward and put his hand on the man.

"We all make mistakes. It's how we act after them that matters," he said comforting him. "Go to your family, focus on them and Sanditon. Sir Radmore and Mr. Crowe are going to London to get to the bottom of what happened to your brother."

Tom blinked back tears. "Really, that is..." his voice halted. "That is...Thank you, I will take care of everything here. It would be as if Sidney had never left. Perhaps I may even ask Charlotte to come and help me." he thought back to the year she helped him organize his mess.

Lord Babington shook his head. "I think Miss Heywood has had enough thrust upon her emotionally as it is."

Tom nodded realizing his folly. "Quite right. Sidney Afterall left Flora in her and Lady Worcesters care... she has that right now and Lady Worcester to keep happy. I shan't burden her with my troubles." he muttered. "Oh good lord, Charlotte!" he said realizing her presence. "Does she know? Surely you, his closest friends know of the regard the pair felt for one another."

Lord Babington nodded. "We were to GrandView when we passed here to speak with you."

Shaking his head. "Poor young lady. I ruined her life." he cried. "How she must hate me."

Sir Radmore smiled. "The little I know of the young lady I still cannot believe that is true."

Nodding his agreement Lord Babington smiled. "I know her better and agree. She harbors no hard feelings, I am sure."

"She is too forgiving," he whispered. "Well... I shan't hold you up with my misery. I will bear it as well as I can." he sniffed. Nose red and eyes again watering.

Lord Babington nodded. "If you need anything, let me or my wife know. If Mary needs company I am sure Esther would be willing to come and sit with her."

"You are too kind," he said and waved him off as a new wave of unbridled emotion took over. "Be on your way gentlemen or you will be privy to a most obscene scene," he said closing the door.

"So now on to GrandView," Crowe said as he turned again with purpose.