close your eyes and feel me

13

Charlotte had been staying at Susan's house for about two and a half month now, and she was simply having the best of time. She regularly wrote to her family, especially her sister Allison, as the two of them started a weekly correspondence. 

Her routine consisted of getting up early in the morning, eat breakfast with Susan's before going off their ways, together or separated. Susan would spend some of her own time with friends and family, and as much as she loved Charlotte, it would not have been proper for her to be with the royal family uninvited. 

Susan would also spend an important amount of time studying in the library with her best friend, the very charming Catherine. Catherin was a Russian aristocrat who would come to London for time to time. She was a few years younger than Susan and only a year older than Charlotte, but the two ladies were very close and had a captivating correspondence. She was in town for some time, and Charlotte let the two friends spend some time alone together. 

As for herself, she would often go on numerous walk in London by herself in her spare time. The snow had started to fall for a couple of days now and she was enjoying a lot of the beautiful view that offered the city all covered in snow.

She even dared to go to the coffee shop by herself, knowing that lots of artists and thinkers we're hanging out in those places. Sometimes, someone would be painting, she would see men writing poetry and a couple of gentlemen debating philosophy.

She had come to really love those moments.

Charlotte was feeling better, days by days. She tried her best to put that fastidious nights, and that dream, far up in her brain. Most importantly, she was getting better at not thinking all about Sidney Parker himself. She was quite proud of herself. 

 One day, while drinking coffee, she was reading a new book when someone knocked on the window next to her, leaving her surprised. Taken away for a moment, she slightly jumped on her seat and looked over, only to see a young man running inside. 

- "Miss Heywood!"

Surprised, but more pleased, Charlotte got up.

- "Mr.Stringers!"

Her friend took off his cap, white by the snow, and looked at her all smiling.

- "I did not know you were in London!"

- "And I didn't know you were here!" She exclaimed.

After all, from what she had last heard, he had chosen to stay in Sanditon, both to honour his father and finish the reconstruction. Charlotte happily sat down and offered him to sit by a show of hand.

- "Mr.Stringer, I thought you were staying in Sanditon?" She said. "Is there something wrong?" She added, worried.

-"I sure hope not, Miss Heywood." He answered while pouring himself some coffee.

Charlotte was taken away by his answer.

- "What do you mean by that, you hope so?"

- "I listened to you, Miss Heywood!" He took a sip, made a bitter face but smiled to the lady in front of him. "It's a shame, me not trying out this internship."

- "But...What about honouring your father?"

- "I know we didn't see eyes-to-eyes on this," he let go of a sigh, "but he and I both know he didn't raise me to give up. The Stringers aren't cowards, Miss Heywood!"

Charlotte smiled, pleased to see her old friend so determinate.

- "Well, I sure hope you'll succeed in your internship, Mr.Stringer."

She took her cup of coffee and made a subtle toast before taking a sip joyfully.

Jame's eyes wandered to her hand quickly. He then looked away, and awkwardly said :

- "I have heard, if I may, some rumours about you, miss Heywood."

Charlotte looked at him, surprised.

- "I beg your pardon?"

- "Oh please, miss Heywood, excuse me... I simply see that there's no ring at your finger, and thought that they might be true."

- "I'll let you know, Mr.Stringers, that it had never been officially said that I would get married, and..."

-"But it had been said unofficially, am I right?"

- "Even if it had, Mr.Stringer, I doubt it's any of your business! Or anyone's for that matter!" Charlotte's voice was higher and caught the attention of some of the clients. Mr.Hopper, the owner of the place, came to their tables.

- "Is this man troubling you, miss Heywood?"

- "He isn't, Mr.Hopper. He is actually leaving."

- "Miss Heywood..."

- "Let me tell you one thing, Mr.Stringer, this is very disrespectful of you to talk to me that way!I thought I knew you better."

- "This is not..."

- "Thought the lady's said you were leaving, lad." Said Mr.Hopper with a warning voice.

With a conflicted look in his eyes, James got up and gave one last look at Charlotte.

- "I guess I am", he then said before finally leaving.

As James left, Charlotte let go of a sigh.