Sanditon Season 2: The River and the Man

Chapter 29

Sidney had finally managed to tear himself from the pillar he had been clutching onto while gawking at Charlotte, but it was like a tug on his heart as he went back down to the dance floor to where she was now taking a breather and partaking in a refreshment.

He tried to gather his thoughts and intentions but it was a mess in his head.

Approach her or try to ignore her? He felt his mouth go dry and he grabbed two drinks and downed them rapidly and placed the empty flutes back on the server's tray as he hesitated to enter the ballroom.

"Mr. Parker."

Looking sidelong he hesitated and then pasted on a smile. "Captain Warrick. It has been a long time."

Warrick nodded. "Indeed, a trip to the East Indies will do that."

Distracted by the presence of Charlotte's dance partner he wanted to know more since he was so close to her now by how Sidney had noticed the man looking at her.

"How long does that take?" he asked the Captain.

Warrick smiled. "Take's a shorter time overall than I spent. I pushed the envelope. I was gone three years." he sighed. "I needed to getaway. You would know best wouldn't you agree?"

Sidney smiled. "When are you leaving next?" he asked.

When are you leaving my Charlotte he thought bitterly but did not verbalize it.

Warrick looked to Charlotte who was smiling at something someone said to her. She had not noticed either of them talking.

"I had plans of leaving soon, but I have postponed them for the time being," Warrick answered.

Sidney's gaze narrowed and he looked to the ground to disguise his anger as a mere thought.

"I would have thought there were fortunes to be made on and across the sea. Unentangled as you are, what would hold you from that?" Sidney asked half encouraging him to leave on his fastest ship.

Captain Warrick smiled slightly. "Miss Heywood." he saluted his glass in her direction as an explanation. "She has an obsession with your home town of Sanditon," he said near to his ear. "I should see the place if just to please her. Her good opinion is hard to come by." he laughed. "Oh, but she is glorious when in a snit."

Sidney ground his teeth at the mention of her passionate temper. Indeed the fire in her eyes was enough to sear even the hardest metal.

"Have you met young Miss Heywood?" he asked now noticing Sidney's strange expression. "She stayed with the Parkers there, must have been one of your brothers perhaps?" he asked now digging.

Sidney nodded. "Tom, my brother Tom. She stayed for the summer season." he swallowed hard. "You must excuse me," he said and left Captain Warrick.

He flexed his hands itching to smash something with the ball of his fist but instead, he heeded the pull of Charlotte and weaved ever near to her gravity.

Summoning the last vestiges of courage he drank down a third glass of Champagne from another blasted server and made his move. He was able to find an opening as she was not currently dancing and had her back to the corner where her admirers awaited their turn to dance, which in his opinion there were too many of.

Breathless Charlotte sipped at a glass in hand and still had not noticed him to her left. This allowed him a moment to observe her up close. She looked tense and on edge. Like she had at the London ball with him.

"Miss Heywood, could I beg a dance?" He could see her blood turned to ice and she turned to face him shocked.

A young man blustered. "Mr. Parker, don't you already have a rich fiance?" the suitor goaded. "You don't have a need to beg."