Return to Sanditon - A Novella

~ Eleven ~

Somerset House, Grosvenor Square, London

A few days had passed from the uncomfortable encounter at the modiste shop. Charlotte refused to allow the disagreeable Mrs Campion to ruin her resolve. She was here in this strange, bewildering place, to find a way to restore fortunes to Sanditon and the Parker brothers and nothing would sway her from her cause.

The theatre had provided her with an opportunity to extol the virtues of the resort to the Regent and his companions. She had described the beauty of the locale, the visionary architecture and the inspiration behind the resort. She had shocked them with a recounting of the devastating fire and assured them of the absolute commitment to rebuild and restore Sanditon to its former splendour, if not greater. For the moment, she had done all she could. She would begin again this evening when they attended their first ball of the season.

Alison, as she was want to do, interrupted Charlotte's contemplations by entering the room in a flourish.

"Lady Susan, Charlotte, the day is fine, and for once, the sun is shining. Would it not be a lovely day for a stroll through the park?"

Susan smiled at Alison's exuberance, "My, Alison. How becoming you look today. Let us finish our tea, and then, if you wish, we may take a short turn around the park." Turning to Charlotte, Susan asked, "What say you, Charlotte? Does the world not deserve to see Alison in her ton couture?"

"It would indeed be a shame to deprive society, and a walk would be most welcome." Charlotte laughed as Alison bounced on her toes in excitement.

"Come, Charlotte, make haste! We must ready our bonnets and pelisses."

Amidst much excitement, the ladies made their way to the most well-known of the London open spaces, Hyde Park, to strut amongst the most fashionable of London's inhabitants along the famous Rotten Row. The weather was fine, and the park was still a beautiful expanse of late summer blooms. Carriages and riders ambled the pathways without apparent haste, and many opportunities were taken to converse and share pleasantries. For the first time since arriving in London, Charlotte felt she could breathe. The city was no place for a girl so well acquainted with the countryside.

As they meandered along the path, stopping numerous times for Lady Susan to greet acquaintances, Charlotte spotted a rider in the distance. The horse was well boned and moved with an elegant gait. Ebony black with sleek lines and dignified head carriage, it was an impressive sight, not unlike the rider he carried.

The rider, of course, looked familiar. Charlotte had forgotten the number of times in recent weeks that she had caught sight of a tall, dark gentleman to then blink and realise it was not Sidney at all but her foolish imagination. The rider closed the distance and Charlotte gave him one final reassessing glance. Her heart stopped. As the rider drew ever closer, Charlotte's gaze was met and held.