Return to Sanditon - A Novella

~ Sixteen ~

The evening progressed in a blur. Once firmly back under Lady Susan's wing, Charlotte was never short of dance partners. Determined to forget about her earlier encounter with Sidney, she focused again on her primary goal; to continue to extol the virtues and benefits of Sanditon. Many of her partners were surprised by her conversation and seemed less than enthused. Unwilling to be thwarted, she made one last attempt.

Lord Foster was an amiable fellow, perhaps in his early thirties, of middling height with auburn hair and blue eyes, who showed Charlotte a great kindness by allowing her to discuss the Sanditon venture at length. He offered to forgo their dance so that they could converse more easily.

"Shall we take a breath of fresh air, Miss Heywood? A turn around the terrace would also allow us more privacy to talk," he smiled encouragingly.

Charlotte bit her lip, wondering if such an act would be improper. Ton rules were still very confusing but, she supposed, Lord Foster was a friend of Lady Susan's and would not wish to invite that woman's wrath by flaunting propriety.

"Very well, thank you, My Lord, some fresh air would be most welcome."

Making their way through the throng of people, they skirted the dance floor and arrived at the french windows that opened onto a torch-lit terrace. Charlotte stepped outside to find the space deserted.

Noting her look of concern, Lord Foster ushered her forward with an assurance that they would remain in sight of the doors at all times. Charlotte nodded and moved to the balustrade, peering out into the dimly lit grounds.

"I am still finding it all rather confounding, I'm afraid. London is a million miles away from life at Willingden," She looked up at the smog-filled night sky, "I shall never be used to the absence of stars."

Lord Foster inched closer until his shoe brushed the skirts of Charlotte's dress. She tried to put some distance between them, but he stepped closer once.

Reaching for her, he spoke huskily, "Where are you running too, Miss Heywood? We have privacy and an opportunity to become better acquainted." He tugged on her gloved hand until her body was flush to his side.

Momentarily frozen by his unexpected advance, Charlotte was slow to react. He stooped to caress her neck, then panicked, Charlotte exclaimed, "Stop! What are you doing? Unhand me, My Lord."

When he failed to release her, Charlotte kicked him in his shin as hard as she could manage before pulling away with all her might, staggering away from him until she hit something solid. She spun around and was met with a wall of black superfine. Trembling, Charlotte was somehow instinctively aware of who blocked her path. Raising her eyes, she saw him; Sidney, glaring daggers at the discomposed lord.

He gently moved Charlotte to one side and commanded, "STAY." Bristling at his tone, Charlotte nevertheless complied.

He moved then, all strength and anger, towards Lord Foster, grasping his perfectly tied cravat, lifting him to the very tips of his dancing pumps.

"You will never speak to Miss Heywood again. You will never speak of this incident again, or so help me god, I will hunt you down and call you out," Sidney spoke menacingly enough that Lord Foster nodded his compliance before fleeing the terrace.

They spoke at the same time.

"Thank you, Mr Parker," Charlotte began.

"What in hades do you think you were doing?" Furious, Sidney turned to her and prowled closer. "I believed you to process more sense than to find yourself alone with a man you barely know in such a secluded place."

Sidney was clearly struggling with his temper, but also something else, she noted, fear. Charlotte reached out and gently touched his arm.

"I am well, Mr Parker, I was taken off guard, and I shall not be so stupid again."

His expression softened, "Charlotte, I could not bear it if something were to happen to you." He took her hand in his and kissed her gloved palm.

Charlotte inhaled sharply at the intimacy of the gesture. She must try to be sensible. She had just narrowly escaped ruination at the hands of a cad. She could not risk being caught here in the semidarkness with an engaged gentleman!

Charlotte withdrew her hand and said shakily, "I must return to the ballroom before I am missed."

"No. Charlotte wait. Let me have a few minutes more," Sidney reached for her again and gently tugged her towards him until her body was flush with his own. Before she realised his intent, his mouth descended on hers, and she lost all sense of time and place. Like a starved man, he kissed her until at last he gentled, slowly pulling back. Resting his forehead against hers, he said in a low, shaky voice, "Forgive me, Charlotte. What a boar I am."

Charlotte, still dazed by the intensity of Sidney's kiss, smiled. She recalled another evening, another apology.

"Listen, the musicians have started a new set," Sidney added hopefully, "Dance with me?"

Charlotte regarded him for a moment, "We cannot enter the ballroom together, Mr Parker, it would cause a scandal."

"Sidney," He frowned, "I would like to hear you say my given name, even if it must only be in private. And we shall dance far away from prying eyes."

Charlotte slowly nodded, "Alright," she whispered, "Sidney."

Sidney took her hand in his and led her to a small set of steps leading down to the gardens below. Twinkling lights shone in uniformed lines marking the gravelled walkway. They stepped off the path and on to an expanse of lawn. And there, far away from the crowded ballroom, Sidney drew her into his arms, and they danced.

Green eyes flashed with anger at the scene playing out in the shadows of Lady Northam's gardens. Eliza had tried to keep Sidney in sight all evening but failed to notice him slipping away until it was too late to prevent it. Lord Babington had asked her to dance and, well, she could hardly refuse, could she. It was during that dance that she had noticed Miss Heywood and a gentleman leaving the ballroom via the french windows, followed a short time later by Sidney.

Miss Heywood's companion had returned, but Sidney did not. It seems she had underestimated her opponent. As she watched Sidney twirling Miss Heywood around the lawn, holding her scandalously close, Eliza realised for the first time that something must be done to remove that girl from both London and Sidney's affections.