Sanditon Season 2: The River and the Man

Chapter 101

Pulling up to Pessham House Warrick sighed and ran up the steps. He had just been to the Archbishop of Canterbury Charles Manners-Sutton's London house to make good on a favor owed to him. He was the only person in the country that could perform this most important act and lucky for him he had leverage to get what he wanted from the man.

Patting the official document held in his breast pocket he turned and frowned as he noticed a trunk being unloaded which was odd since he had not any need for a trunk for the duration of his visit was short.

"I did not carry a trunk with me." he looked at the driver tossing it to the ground and a shriek emanated from the confines of the case.

"Good Lord, there is someone in there," Warrick said running down the steps hurried and his hand shook as he unhooked the straps and threw the top open. Inside he found to his utter horror a rumbled and fearful Miss Heywood.

"Charlotte?" he asked incredulously.

Charlotte locked eyes on him and her brows narrowed in abject anger. She pushed him back as she scrambled from the confines of the box.

"You, you!" she sputtered and shoved him back again from attempting to help her from her heap. "How dare you!" she accused as she came finally to her feet. She had drawn the attention of passers strolling by. Ladies with Parasols watched as she had emerged from the trunk.

He noted the small crowd forming as Charlotte accused him of kidnap.

"Charlotte, Miss Heywood." Warrick put up his hands appealing. "I have no notion of how you came to be in the trunk!" he shouted to make it clear that he was not a part of this devilish deed. "This is the last thing I wanted," he said trying to check her over. "Are you alright?" he noticed her lack of coordination as she pulled her arm back and decked him square in the nose.

His hands went to his face as blood started to trickle down.

"I suppose I do deserve that," he said gravely and looked to the house. "Can we not take this out of the public eye?" he asked.

She shook her head. "I would not go anywhere with you at this time!" she shouted. "Why?" she asked angrily!

He shook his head. "If you would feel more comfortable we can report this." he turned to the Pessham house butler who stood looking bemused and nodded to him to go.

Charlotte shook her head. "No." she stopped the butler. "I don't want it to be made public that you have placed me in a trunk and carted me from the south coast to London like chattel."

He shook his head. "I did not do it my dear, but if you want all of London to think I did we can remain right here," he whispered.

She let him take her arm gently and she stepped out of the box her coat lumped up in a heap.

"Come, we shall get to the bottom of this," he said leading her inside the foyer but no further.
"There now, please tell me how you came to be in the trunk?" he asked.

Charlotte touched her head because she felt dizzy, her limbs had cramps and she rubbed at her neck that had a knot in it.

"Charlotte!" Came Lord Feathersly's voice. "Charlotte home!" the bird bobbed and exclaimed.

She moved to greet the bird she had missed. "Oh Lord Feathersly. How bored you must have been without us." she lamented as she watched him fly to her and snuggle her for a kiss.

"Charlotte," Warrick said seriously from the door. "How did you come to be in that trunk?" he said frustratedly.

She shook her head. "Clara, she asked me to help her and I met her at the Crown Hotel. She could not have done it all herself. She had to have help." she accused him. "You are always so mysterious and secretive. Is she one of your conquests?" Charlotte asked as Lord Feathersly moved to perch on her shoulder and mirror the accusing look she gave him.

His face darkened as he realized how Charlotte had come to be in his possession. "That conniving whore." he looked to her. "Apologies," he said for his language. "she is..." he turned away from her and winced as he wrangled with what to tell her. "She has been my lover for months since my return. She followed me to Sanditon and is trying to get back the fortune she feels she lost, she must have wanted you out of the way and since you were placed in my carriage she is looking to ruin your reputation," he said turning back to face her. "I should have seen this."

Charlotte looked at him enraged. "What about Georgiana and the letters?" she said recalling her need to find him the night before.

Warrick smiled. "On that, I can have pride." he smiled. "I arranged for her to be picked up outside of Sanditon away from prying eyes by her beloved Mr. Molynuex and now they must be on their way to Gretna Green," he said with a sigh.

Charlotte moved to the parlor and opened the writing desk she had occasional use of while she was staying in London months before. Scribbling out a note to Sanditon and Lady Denham briefly explaining what she thought happened and her current intentions. Folding the note hastily and went to a footman. "Take this to the two penny post and hurry." she directed him.

Taking the bird off her shoulders she returned him to his perch and then looked to the butler who stood holing her coat she took it from him and pulled it on and held out her hand to Warrick. "I need some assistance since I am without any means at the moment," she said seriously.

Warrick nodded. "Of course, but why?" he said pulling a few notes and coins from his pocket. "I will be returning to Sanditon tomorrow. You can return with me."

She shook her head. "I will not stay or go anywhere with you," she said disgustedly.

He stopped her by grabbing her arm. "Charlotte, please," he whispered. "I did not mean for your reputation to be ruined. I had no part in that," he said. "In time you will understand all I have done for you."

She yanked her arm from him and shook her head. "All you have done for me?" she shook her head. "Sidney will blame me," she looked at him coldly. "If you were really a good person you should have told me you were helping to arrange all this. I am going to be the one to pay for it in the end. Sidney will never forgive me. And I am not sure I will be able to go back to Sanditon either." she felt him increase his grip on her and she looked at him and the desperation in his eyes.

"Charlotte if you knew..." he struggled with his words. "If you really knew how I feel about you." he swallowed and leaned his face to hers. "If I was a different man..." he said with affect.

She shook her head. "But you are not, you are a scoundrel, and a breaker of virtues are you not?" she felt his fingers loosen as he let her go. Disappointment and heartbreak clear on his face as he could not dispute her assessment of him.

She went to the coach. "I will be taking the coach and shall see it returned to Lady Susan in Sanditon upon my return," she said.

He shook his head. "Where do you go?" he asked as he rushed down the steps after her.

She looked at him as she pulled the door shut. "To Georgiana, I must fix this."

Warrick shook his head. "You are not likely to catch up."

She shrugged. "I must try. Drive on to Scotland as quickly as you can please?" she shouted to the driver.

The driver looked at Warrick confused for he was likely hungry and wanting a rest. "Sir?"

Warrick struggled a moment and looked up. "Do as she says. Keep her safe."

Charlotte looked back at him with a tense glare. Why did he continuously say this was for her? How could it be!