Sanditon Season 2: The River and the Man

Chapter 15

Sitting in Tom's study he looked over the ledgers. Tom was already sketching plans for more projects banking on more money from Eliza's fortune which was not Sidney's until he was a husband. He was paying for the insurance out of pocket to protect her investment at all costs so as not to trap him further but it seemed Tom could not slow down. He had tried to commission a new set of models incorporating a small version of a Roman bathhouse which was to cost far more than it should because he wanted statues of Grecian heroes to decorate the place.

He slammed the paperwork down and remembered the first conversations with Charlotte and wondered at his stupidity of defending such a foolish man while offending her.

Of course, he admired his brother's vision, he acted like he had the bank account of an Emperor which the man did not.

Scratching his overgrown stubble he stood and doffed his hat, jacket and cane and went to go survey the rebuild.

"Mr. Parker." came a familiar voice.

"Ah, young Mr. Stringer." he greeted recalling Charlotte but felt no animosity. She was not his arm at least.

Stringer nodded and looked ahead. "Come to see the work so soon?" he asked.

"It's been nearly a month," he said putting his jacket to rights since the weather was turning quite dismal now that it was deep November.

Stringer nodded. "Aye, got the roof finished before your last visit. Now all the floors are placed again. Moldings are in the midst of being formed and new banisters are being carved."

Sidney tried to smile but those never came to his face anymore unless in deep thought of Charlotte, but more often than not it made him feel sick.
"Penny for your thoughts Mr. Parker?" Stinger asked thinking his boss looked lost.

Sidney startled and rubbed his face. "Oh I was just miles away," he admitted. "What were you saying about the moldings?"

Mr. Stringer could see he was bewildered and imagined the reason. "They are being formed."

Sidney nodded and turned to look at some other work but Stinger stopped him.

"Sir," Stringer watched the man stop and not turn for a moment. His shoulders dropped.

"Yes, Mr. Stringer?" he answered.

Taking off his hat he looked nervous. "You haven't had any word from Miss Heywood have you?" he asked. "I didn't think it proper to write her in London, but I thought that maybe you might know how she is getting on?"
Sidney's heart started to pound and the blood roared through his ears just as a crack of lightning flashed overhead in the distance.

"Ch- Miss Heywood is in London?" he asked.

Stringer frowned. "I thought you and Miss Lambe might know best how she is."

Sidney looked down, his eyes lost, brow furrowed in confusion. "London, what in God's name is she doing there?"

Stringer put back on his hat since the rain fell now. "She is staying with Lady Worcester and has been for the better part of a month."

Sidney turned and forgot to say his pleasantries to his hired foreman. He needed to get to Trafalgar House.

"Tom!" He shouted. "Did you know?" he yelled now incensed.

Mary looked like a fearful church mouse now whenever he saw her. He felt ashamed at how he was acting but hearing Charlotte had been in London all this time while he longed for a glimpse of her she had been there all along. Had she seen him?

"Sorry Mary," he said closing his eyes pained. "Miss Heywood, do you-" his words were not easy to come by.

Mary winced and stood. "Yes, she is in London. I'm sorry I did not write to tell you and well I thought you might not wish to know."