Sanditon Season 2: The River and the Man

Chapter 21

Outside on the brisk turn along the street Charlotte spied Captain Warrick and she tried to duck from his notice. After all her walk was initially to get away from him. Her maid ended up giving her position away when she was too confused to move swiftly out of sight.

"Ah, Miss Heywood, a word?" he asked.

Stepping out from behind a grand stair of a neighboring house she rolled her eyes. "Yes Captain Warrick?" she said feeling unable to keep polite. The drama and intrigue of London were wearing thin and she wished for the less complicated Sanditon which was far more complicated than she was used to in Wellingden.

"I was wondering if you would like to attend a rally that is happening right now. It's dreadfully dull in there with the ladies, and I thought you would like something more stimulating for your mind," he said going to the carriage.

Charlotte could imagine many other things she wished to do that the moment but walk back into the house and face the high society ladies regardless of her acceptance into the circle was.
"I will not go without a chaperone...My maid will come," she said stubbornly.

He smiled and put his hat on. "I would have it no other way. Rules of etiquette must be adhered to even if not behind closed doors."

She frowned at him and went to the carriage. "I must make my excuses with the ladies," she said going to the steps.

He nodded.

Moments later they were jostled down the street Charlotte frowning at Captain Warrick suspiciously.

"What are you up to Captain Warrick?" she asked right to the point. Bell sat quiet and looked out the window. She knew better than to involve herself with the dealings of her employers.

He turned and looked at her. He held his cane purposefully in front of his face.

"Whatever do you mean Miss Heywood?" he challenged.

Her inquisitive eyes looked him over. "You thought I was silly to have been at the rally the other day. Why are you taking me to one now?"

He smiled. "Because I will be there to escort you and keep you safe."

Sighing she sat back. "So you do not think it foolish to be an activist?"

He laughed. "God no, unless you are at the center of it. Better to be an outlier," he said looking out the window.

Somehow all roads and conversations led Charlotte's mind back to Sidney. She had accused him of being an outlier and then admitted to it later at the ball where everything changed between them, and nowhere Captain Warrick proudly proclaimed himself an outlier too. She felt some interior wall crumbling in regards to the man. Maybe he wasn't so bad when you looked harder.

"What is the rally for?" she asked curiously.

He pulled out a paper from his jacket. "Labor union formation and repression by the aristocracy." he looked out. "The tradesmen are fed up with bad working conditions and poor pay even though there is so much building at this time."

She looked down and read the print. "And you support and show interest in it even if you are among the aristocracy that is trying to repress it the unions?" she asked.

He frowned and looked to her. "I find anything that impacts the stability of the realm interesting and of great import." he looked out into the dismal streets. They had to cross a rather rough part of town to get to the hall where the rally was being held. "I have been away from London over a year and there is much to catch up on."

She studied him in the snow reflective light that poured into the carriage. "When will you leave again?" she asked.

He shrugged. "No definite plans as yet, but probably in the spring."
"Do you think it will be as rough as last time?" Bell asked worried and fretted as she looked out the window.