Sanditon Season 2: The River and the Man

Chapter 96

Bell entered Charlotte's room and brought her a small sweet liquor and helped her out of her dress but left quickly since it was so late and she was in her own nightdress.

Charlotte sat by her fire and stared into the flames as a knock sounded. It was Lady Worcester.

"Just came in to bid you good night my dear," she said coming in.

Charlotte nodded. "Do you know why the Aiden is going to London?" she asked having mulled over that and Georgiana's strange conversation with her earlier.

Lady Susan shook her head. "He has always been one to go this way and that way. After all, he has mostly been away for the last five years." she replied taking a seat and sighed heavily. "The nights are very long here in Sanditon. I had thought it would be less exciting than London, but you have kept us all so busy my dear."

Charlotte smiled. "Esther has planned at least half of the activities. She surely shoulders most of the credit." replied.

Lady Susan nodded. "She was not at the play tonight, but I saw her with you on the stair for a moment." the observant woman noted.

Charlotte nodded. "Esther and Clar- Miss Brereton have a history. It is not my place to tell it..." She stood and looked out.

"You seem troubled," Susan said taking the untouched nightcap from the table and brought it to her.

Charlotte nodded and took the drink. "Yes, I am confused at all that is happening and I feel it is somehow all connected." she looked to her friend.

Lady Susan nodded. "I suppose perhaps you should listen to yourself. Perhaps it all is," she told her.

Charlotte sighed still confused. She had no real idea of what her mind was telling her. Captain Warrick leaving made her stomach drop and she remembered how Mrs. Campion acted around them. Was she jealous or did she just sense impending doom?

"Tell me, what is it?" Lady Susan touched her shoulder comfortingly.

"I am worried I will get no sleep as I try to unravel this knot in my breast," she said pacing back to the fire.

"What else is the matter my dearest Charlotte?" she asked. "Is it something perhaps Mr. Parker has said, or maybe my cousin?" she implored.

Shaking her head she sighed. "I just feel something is about to happen," she confessed and thought of Otis, and Captain Warrick, Georgiana... Suddenly she looked up. "I think I see the scheme now," she whispered and reached for her shawl.

"Where are you going, my dear." Lady Susan followed her.

Charlotte shushed her. "Follow me. I need to warn Sidney," she said grabbing her bedside candle and went to the dark hall.

Lady Susan followed confused. "Warn him of what?"

"I can't let him have reason to dislike me for the same folly again." she led the way.

Lady Susan followed as Charlotte made her way to Sidney's chamber passing servants along the way.

Charlotte took a deep breath.

"You seem afraid." Lady Susan asked. "What is it, dear girl?"

Charlotte shook her head. "He could get very irate with me." she winced.

Lady Susan shook her head. "Can't you just tell me?"

Charlotte braced herself. "You will know soon enough my naivety," she swallowed and knocked.

They waited and Charlotte looked at the threshold of the door and could so no light burned nor was lit.

"Could he be deeply asleep?" Charlotte muttered under her breath.

Lady Susan frowned. "Can it not wait until morning?" she offered. "It is such a late hour, I fear not too long the sun will rise."

Charlotte shook her head. "No...I fear it cannot."

She tried the door and found it opened easily and once inside she found it empty. The bed remained undisturbed. A jolt of jealousy ran through her and she wondered if he must be in Mrs. Campion's chambers..." she shook her head meeting Susan outside. "He is not there."

The Lady frowned as if now she wondered where he could be. A gentleman out of bed at this hour led the mind to scandal.

"I need to speak to Aiden," she said taking Lady Susan's hand. "He needs to be held to count," she said to Susan who followed quickly behind her.

Coming to the door Charlotte knocked hastily without the hesitation she had at Sidney's door.

No sound came from the other side either.

"Why are the men not in their beds?" Charlotte said impatiently.

Lady Susan sighed. "Well we can't wake the whole house to track them down," she warned. "We should not tempt a scandal that could envoke."

Charlotte turned and bit her lip in thought. Where were the men? To ask the servants would expose them both to downstairs gossip which could hurt reputations unknown as Lady Susan warned her.

"I suppose it shall need to wait until the morning." Charlotte lamented. "But I was supposed to go to Sanditon early."

Lady Susan took her hand. "Shall I warn him for you, should you miss the chance?" She whispered.
Charlotte turned and leaned in. "I think Georgiana is going to run off with Mr. Molyneux and I think perhaps your cousin is somehow involved," she said seriously.

Lady Susan's eyebrow went up. "Oh, how thrilling," she whispered.

"Thrilling?" Charlotte exclaimed.

She nodded. "Yes, my dear. Elopement always is." she smiled knowingly.

Charlotte shook her head. "Mr. Parker is going to be so angry with me for being their go-between again."

Lady Susan nodded. "And how is my cousin involved?" she asked.

Sighing heavily the burden of her part in all of this she closed her eyes. "I passed on the letters to him from Georgiana, and he passed on the ones from Otis," she confessed.

Lady Susan smiled and slipped her arm in hers. "Well, I will warn your Mr. Sidney Parker if I see him first, but I think perhaps he may have a different view on the matter altogether." she patted her hand. "His manner may have softened."

Charlotte shook her head. "No, I don't suppose it would have," she said resolved to her fate to tempt the man again to rage at her.