Return to Sanditon - A Novella

~ Thirty ~

Sanditon House, Sanditon

Lady Denham had graciously opened her home to the four of them and was agog to hear of their unfortunate ordeal. Her nephew, or 'he shall not be named', was still incarcerated in the cellars of Denham Place.

She smiled the smile of the knowing when informed of Charlotte and Sidney's intention to marry.

"Of course, I knew yours was a great love," she smiled, "I had to trust you both not to squander the chance."

Lady Denham appeared thoughtful for a moment before continuing, "You know you must be married and swiftly," she cautioned. "In the eyes of the polite society, Charlotte has already been ruined. Have you thought about how you will prevent this Campion woman from distorting the truth and then telling anyone who will listen? No, indeed. You must be married here before heading back to town where you can rebuff the gossip and silence Mrs Campion, once and for all."

Lady Denham looked entirely pleased for a moment but then frowned, "Although, there is the matter of her financing the Sanditon restoration to consider." Her words trailed off on the thought.

The remark reminded Sidney of Tom's letter. Was that only yesterday, he thought. He reached into his jacket pocket to retrieve the note Georgiana had slipped him before he set off to rescue Charlotte. Noting the brief description of Edward's carriage, he turned the paper over to reveal the contents of Tom's letter.

He quickly scanned the lines and then grinned, "Sanditon has no further need of Eliza's funds. Thanks to a brilliant campaign forged by Charlotte and Lady Worcester, Tom says that he has received offers of investment from numerous gentlemen, mostly peers. It seems that the Prince Regent himself is amongst them." The table was stunned into silence.

"Gracious me," Charlotte muttered. "I had no idea we had been so convincing. How simply wonderful," she beamed.

"Well played, Miss Heywood. Sanditon owes you a debt of gratitude." Lady Denham, caught Sidney's eye and said sagely, "Perhaps your brother could use some help managing those investments, Mr Parker?"

Sidney raised his glass with a wry smile, "Touché, Lady Denham."

A few days passed.

Edward was released from his confinement in order to write and sign a testimony admitting his part in the abduction and detailing Eliza Campion's involvement. Lady Denham gave him a banker's draft of one thousand pounds and told him that he was to leave for the continent and not return. Accompanied by two of Lady Denham's most burly footmen, he journeyed to the docks in Portsmouth and set sail on the next available boat.

Babington penned a note to the Archbishop of Canterbury on Sidney's behalf. It turned out that the Archbishop was an uncle of sorts and Babington was sure he would consent to issue a Special Licence.

Meanwhile, Sidney wrote a note to Mary advising them of Charlotte's safe return and their plans to stay on in Sanditon for a short while and be married. He beseeched them to keep the matter quiet as there were still matters to be resolved.

Sidney also wrote a letter to Charlotte's father and had asked formally for her hand. Charlotte, similarly, wrote a letter to Lady Susan, with a postscript for Alison. She explained that she was sorry to have alarmed them and that she and Sidney were to wed.

It should, therefore, not have come as a surprise that two days later, carriages began to appear at Sanditon House. The first to arrive was the entire Parker contingent, excluding the children who had continued on in a separate carriage with their nursery maid to Trafalgar House.

Tom assisted his wife, sister and Georgiana as they disembarked, with Arthur bringing up the rear. They made a merry party, and many thanks were given for Charlotte's safe return. Lady Denham opened her dining room and arranged for a celebratory luncheon to be prepared. A decision much appreciated by a starved and travel-weary Arthur. Just as they sat down to lunch, a second carriage arrived, pulled by four smart matched bays. Lady Susan, swiftly followed by Alison, joined the celebration amidst more tears and laughter. A final interruption occurred when a messenger arrived with an urgent letter for Lord Babington. In it contained a freshly signed Special Licence.

Later, Tom took the opportunity to take his brother aside. "Sidney, I owe you a heartfelt apology," he spoke contritely. "My single-minded devotion to Sanditon and the risks I was willing to take to achieve my dream, almost lost me my family and condemned you to a life of misery." He smiled weakly, "Had not Mary informed me where your own happiness lay," he looked across at Charlotte, radiant with joy, "I may never have realised my own considerable folly. Please forgive me."

Sidney, witnessing his brother's sincerity, smiled, "Tom, of course, I forgive you. I have played no small part in the events leading to today. I have been closed off from the world for so very long. An outlier, as Charlotte once called me. I knew that Charlotte was the love that I had waited my whole life to find but could not accept that I deserved her."

"Stuff and nonsense, you deserve that and more!" Exclaimed Tom.

Sidney shook his head. "I understand now that you cannot choose to love, love much choose you. I failed to realise that by accepting Eliza's bargain, I was taking the coward's way out. I would have continued to live the life of the unworthy – familiar territory, you see. But I couldn't accept that that was the hand fate had dealt me, Tom," he smiled. "With Charlotte by my side, I feel like I have finally come home."

"I'm pleased for you, Sidney. No man deserves happiness more."