The Future of Sanditon

Part 2

The next morning was foggy and damp. A storm had blown in during the night and soaked Sanditon to its bones. After breakfast Charlotte had decided to go visit her friend Miss Lamb, but to her surprise before she could ready herself for the short walk the bell rang and it was the lady herself.  Her friend immediately rushed in breathlessly and took her hands with concern in her eyes.

"Oh, my dear Charlotte, Sidney just left Mrs. Griffiths with that horrible woman! What is he thinking?"

Charlotte cautioned quiet to her friend, "The children are with their governess, Mary has gone to see Arthur and Diana, but Mr. Tom Parker and Mr. Stringer are in the office. We should go to the drawing room before we speak further."

The drawing room at Trafalgar House had large windows with airy curtains and normally Charlotte loved this room for it faced the sea and often had wonderful sunlight in the mornings. However, the weather today was certainly suiting her mood, particularly after seeing Sidney and Mrs. Campion in the street yesterday afternoon. She could not get his looks out of her mind, and the way he had defended her to his fiancé. Charlotte hoped he would stop provoking more the ill-will that Mrs. Campion already held towards her.  Lady Susan was right, she was obviously threatened by Charlotte, though she couldn't understand why, it seemed the race was already won as far as Sydney was concerned. Charlotte refused to let herself feel any kind of hope or hurt as to where it would be impossible now for her affections to lie and resolved to focus instead on her friend.

Charlotte rang for tea then she and Georgiana sat by the fire, the damp outside was a bit chilly yet, and they were both grateful for the warmth.

"I cannot bear to be at Mrs. Griffith's today. The Beaufort girls are simply too insipid for words and I could not rest until I came to see you."

Charlotte looked gratefully at her friend, "I'm sorry I haven't been to see you sooner, I have been very much distracted lately and have been spending a lot of time with the children and preparing to go home after the wedding."

"Why on earth would you stay to wait for that!?  Sidney has done nothing to deserve your loyalty or pity. He has brought this loveless marriage upon himself. That woman, looks at him as though he were a toy in a shop- it is the novelty of gaining that which she once discarded and now has shine again that makes her want him, nothing more. He deserves the miserable marriage he has in store for his ill treatment of you and the destruction of my happiness. Don't you dare pity him Charlotte!"

"I appreciate all your concern for me and if I had indeed meant Mr. Parker's wedding you would be right on all counts! However, I meant the wedding of Esther Denham and Lord Babington."

Nelly came in just then with the tea service and the girls were quiet for a few moments as they warmed their hands and hearts in each others company.

"Have you heard from or written to Mr. Molyneux? We never got a chance to speak about how your farewell to him fared."

Georgiana closed her eyes for a moment then spoke, "It doesn't matter now. He is lost to me forever. I may love him still, but I cannot trust him though it breaks my heart to say it."

"I don't believe that he ever meant to put you in harm's way..."

"That may be true," Georgiana interrupted her gently, "but the fact is that he did. His loose tongue and impertinent assumptions nearly cost me everything I have. I know you are only concerned for my happiness my dear friend, but I fear that we both must garner inner strength and the will to continue on and find contentment elsewhere."

"Of course, you are right. And I do believe that you and I are both very well suited to find our own happiness without the necessity of some silly man." When the last two words passed her lips, it was as though the heavens opened up and golden light poured into the drawing room and filled the room with sunlight and warmth. The girls looked at each other with wide eyes then giggled in unison.