Sanditon Season 2: The River and the Man

Chapter 59

Sidney looked down at the infant in the bassinette and could hardly contain the strange way it affected him. He should be looking at his child if fate had been kind. It's little hand clutched his finger and he felt a mist fill his eyes.

"You have outdone yourself," he said to Babington a moment later.

"Why is it always men that get the credit," Esther said carrying a second bundle. "I see you have met Teddy." she smiled. "Now you can meet Charlotte."

"Twins," Sidney said taking a look at the small face and trying not to choke up at the choice of name. "However will you manage?" he asked.

Babington beamed. "My dearest Esther and I are up to the task," he said raising his glass to her.

"When are you off to Sanditon?" Sidney asked knowing the host and hostess honors for the spring ball were going to fall on Lord and Lady Babington.

Esther sighed. "Day after next. we are quite overwhelmed with all that needs to be brought." she rolled her eyes. "Children need so much and to cart them all the way to the shore is a great monumental bother." she snuggled at her daughter noting that Sidney did not wish to hold them.

"Don't you wish to hold one?" she asked.

He smiled and shook his head. "I wouldn't know how," he answered.

"Nonsense. I have seen you with your nieces and nephews." Esther commented.

He nodded. "Aye, but they were a fair bit larger then, not so easily broken." Looking at the hall where noise could be heard.

"Well met, I see I have come at a good time." Mr. Crowe said as he entered the parlor without announcement. "So in a matter of days we are off on another adventure to Sanditon," he said going right for a drink. "But a little more encumbered than we were the last we went methinks," he said raising his glass to the infants.

Esther rolled her eyes. "Do pace yourself Mr. Crowe, we have more diverse company now," she said cooing over her beautiful daughter.
He looked at the child and winced. "Oh yes, well shame about that," he said and laughed with his friends. Esther handed her daughter off to one of the wet nurses.

"What about you Sidney, how are you in your venture?" Crowe asked. "Got those apartments finished?" he asked. "I don't intend on going back if it is to be in the Crown Hotel, though their womanly staff was invigorating."

Sidney smiled and looked down at the child still in the bassinette gazing up at the little wooden figures hung above its head.

"Yes, some basic furnishings are already commissioned. And with Miss Heywood and Mr. Stringer's efforts perhaps it will all be finished in time," he answered. "Never fear, you shan't sleep in the lumpy bed of the Crown hotel a single night of your three-week invitation, but if you wish to stay on, you will need to pay for it," he said cheekily.

"Well, I managed to acquire the goods you asked for." Mr. Crowe said drinking heartily. "If anyone cared."

Esther rolled her eyes. "You mean that after three weeks of failing you finally came through. Bravo." Esther said with a sting.

Mr. Crowe smiled. "Oh dear Lady Babington, you wound me." he looked to his friends. "I got the goods a while ago, it was hiring of transport that was ....without putting it lightly, ghastly." he shook his head. "I should have had an easier time commissioning the use of a coach than the use of a farmer's cart. But it seemed wrong to stack explosives in a fine carriage and not ride in it myself."

Rolling her eyes Esther went to her son and picked him up on account of the fussing sounds he was making.

"Something tells me you tried that," she said lazily.

He laughed. "I did, the poor coachman was quite flustered when he understood what I wanted to convey, and he feared there would not be enough room, and furthermore, he fussed on and on about not smoking near the carriage when we tried to load it up," he said cluelessly.

"Honestly Lord Babington, the company you keep. Please tell me you are more careful than your friends?" she asked irritably. She hoped her husband had more brains.

Mr. Crowe still looked confused. "What did I say?" he asked as Sidney came near to him.

Patting him on the back he shook his head. "Next time, don't smoke near explosives. Could set them off at a most inopportune time," he said with a smile.

Frowning Mr. Crowe laughed. "I can be such nitwit sometimes." he laughed. "I think it's because I'm always drunk."

Esther eyed him with her judgmental glare. "Try sobriety sometimes." she offered. "Might do wonders for your luck with the more delicate, and sensible sex."

"What about you Sidney, Miss Heywood is going to be in Sanditon, she ain't still got your tassel twisted does she?" Crowe asked pointedly not caring if he got his head bitten off anymore.

Sidney ground his jaw his momentary good mood dashed. "Some knots can't be undone," he said simply. "But I am quite resigned to my fate. Mrs. Campion and I have fallen into agreeable enough state that I can live with for the time being."

Mr. Crowe blew out. "Oh, sounds miserable." he looked to him.

Sidney sighed and looked back to the Babington's. "Congratulations, they are perfect. You are a lucky man Baber's." he said and smiled at Esther."

"Thank you, Sidney. We will see you in Sanditon at the end of the week." Esther said. "You will be staying at Sanditon House. I have sent ahead for rooms to be prepared," she said.

Sidney shook his head. "No, I was to stay with my brother Tom."

Esther shook her head. "Diana and Arthur are going there since you know neither of them intends on settling. It will save on apartment space."

"What arrangements have been made for Mrs. Campion?" he asked.

Mrs. Campion is also being extended an invitation to stay at Sanditon house as well." she said.

Sidney sighed his stomach in knots now. Under the same roof with Charlotte for three weeks felt an odd mix of heaven and hell.

"You do so like to see me struggle," he muttered.

Lord Babington shook his head. "It was Lady Denham's insistence on the arrangement. She wants possible tenants in the apartments and all others squirreled away in other places."

Esther nodded. "It is mighty generous of her. I imagine it is Miss Heywoods doing. She is clever at getting the logical thing accomplished, is she not?"

Sidney nodded, "Yes but I do not think she meant to have us all under the same roof." he sighed. "It will only be for several weeks. It will be over quickly and it will be so busy, our paths will but rarely cross I imagine. I will count on all of you to help me to behave myself." he said seriously.

Mr. Crowe swung an arm around his neck. "Just come with me down to Madam Lucien's house and we can get right tupped before succumbing to more dangerous temptation."

Sidney shook his head and shrugged him off. "I'm getting too old for those kinds of nights. They don't fill me, indeed I feel more empty after than before."

Esther looked shocked. "Gentlemen you are among ladies." he cautioned.

"Apologies." Sidney bowed. "I am for home." with that he exited out the door and went home before nightfall. He still had to pack up his things.