Sanditon Season 2: The River and the Man

Chapter 94

Sidney looked to the back of the room impatiently. The gothic play set in the snows of Russian felt out of place and the imposter'ed accents were grating his every thinning nerves. But the actions of the evil master played by Captain Warrick felt strangely fitting as he preyed upon the women around him. His fiance would play better as the cold wife instead of the warm and young serf girl but he had not been the manager of the casting.

He looked back to Charlotte who had just now returned from the foyer. She would have been better cast as the heroin but she had not wanted anything to do with the play. He had been of the same mind. Too many harsh similarities to their own predicament.

"You seem troubled." Miss Brereton said leaning close to his ear. He could feel her breath and he turned but pulled back seeing her face far too close for comfort.

He shook his head. "Nothing troubling," he stated impatiently as he watched Charlotte take her seat by Lady Denham.

"Tell me," Clara started. "How did Miss Heywood come to be the companion of Lady Denham?" she asked.

Sidney shrugged. "She is a capable and resourceful woman," he answered simply. "Lady Denham knew Sanditon would need her imagination and organization at this time."

Clara eyed Charlotte with her sharp eyes. "She has risen in esteem in London I have heard even from my far lower place." she batted her eyes flirtatiously.

"Miss Heywood has the happy manners and good grace to be liked and we respected where ever she goes," he said clapping with the gathering at the end of the scene.

"Captain Warrick has been staying with his cousin in London, as has our pretty Miss Heywood," she whispered. "A man like him takes what he wants." her words slithered into his ear.

Sidney turned to look at the viper to his right. Words had for a moment escaped him as he heard her intention.

"Blackening Charlotte's name among Sanditon will not clear yours." he bit out under his breath. He knew well what had happened. He had pieced it together enough when he had roughly pushed Edward into the carriage the night the Pavilion went up in flames.

She blushed and then looked up realizing he had used Miss Heywood's Christian name. "Forgive me, you misunderstand my intent. I but mean to warn you of his possible indecent intentions. Captain Warrick should not be trusted around fine and innocent ladies." she said leaning close. "Even around your fiance." she directed her attention to Mrs. Campion cowering from an angry Master played by Captain Warrick.

Sidney shook his head. "Charlotte is aware of the shortcomings and reputation of her friend Captain Warrick, as far as I can tell he has respected her wishes to remain only friends," he said looking to her taking in her soft appearance. Charlotte's light blue dress tonight gave her an innocence that physically hurt to look upon for he could not touch her.

Clara frowned and looked at him as he studied Charlotte. "Good God," she whispered. "You are in love with her." her breath still blew annoyingly in his ear.

He looked to the fallen woman and blinked. "I would not share the inner workings of my heart to anyone but the one who holds it."

Clara shook her head and rolled her eyes. "I see she has seduced you as well as the rest of them." she looked ahead coldly. "Innocence is appealing but so easily lost." she smiled with a cold turn of her lips.

He sighed. "Some innocence prevails even when it is seemingly lost in the view of society. Miss Heywood would remain all that is good even if such a thing were to happen. She has not yet been so warped by unhappy circumstance." he replied quietly.

Clara clapped. "But what of your fiance?" she asked. "Is she also as infallible as the perfect blossom our dear Miss Heywood is?"

Sidney's jaw clenched tightly and he stood up and left the play mid-act passing the whispering Babington's still on the stair.

Georgiana turned and looked. Excusing herself she followed after him to the front of the house where he stood in the light of the lanterns.

"You did not need to follow me," he said with bridled anger.

She shrugged. "Still grappling with that temper of yours?" Georgiana quipped.

He nodded. "Does everyone know of my feelings for Miss Heywood?" he asked as he paced agitatedly.

Georgiana shook her head. "It's not like you hide it well."

He sighed and shook his head. "It is impossible to stop, she is too near yet I cannot abide being so far from her."

Georgiana nodded. "I completely understand," she told him stiffly.

He looked down ashamed knowing her one time feelings from Mr. Molyneux. "Of course. Apologies." he looked at his ward tenderly.

She reached out her hand to his arm. "It will get better."

He shook his head. "When? After I have married, or she... After I see her with her children around her and a husband at her arm?" he kicked at the gravel. "No. It will sting with every new understanding and revelation of her life," he confessed. "I will never be able to let time pass without growing more hardened by it."

Georgiana rolled her eyes. "You were like this in Antigua for as long as I can remember. Have you not grown used to it?"

He looked at her and puffed stiffly from his smoke. "No, this is worse. The only difference keeping me from not caring like then is the fact that my brother's family and the livelihood of Sanditon hangs in the balance. I can't succumb. That is what truly enrages me."

She nodded. "Love often finds a way if it is true love and not just fleeting emotion." Looking back through the open doors to the play.

He shook his head. "Time is running out for that. The wedding is just months away."

Georgiana smiled. "A lot can change in a week," she said turning.

He watched as he was left to brood. A lot had changed in a week, indeed in a single span of a day so much had changed many times over.

Charging off into the darkness he needed to be alone.