Sanditon Season 2: The River and the Man

Chapter 107

Charlotte had woken with her head full of fluff having caught only the barest amount of sleep. Her eyes opened and a knot of anxiety formed instantly in her stomach as she waited for the dawn to come, but come it did with a bright display streaming through the small window calling her to rise.

With a heavy sigh, she got out of bed and washed her face in the clean cold water and tried to make sense of her hair. Georgiana had a brush that Charlotte had not borrowed the night before but took the opportunity now.

Without Bell, it was a tangled mess as she struggled to make into a possibly appropriate updo but gave up and tried to just brush it and added water to it to make it controllable. In the end, her hair hung down her shoulders and halfway down her back since she had not chopped it as her mother usually did to her and her sister's hair when she was home.

Dressing in her dried but clearly rumpled dress she appraised herself in the small table mirror and rolled her eyes. Being a companion to wealthy women had spoiled her to the point that she was actually vexed momentarily that she could not see her own full length.

Georgiana still slept while Charlotte slipped out to leave her wayward friend undisturbed as she went down to the ordinary to get something to eat. She had been unable to eat a warm and ready meal in days and her stomach rumbled at the thought of possibly having something appetizing for the first time in too long. Bread and cheese with ale were only barely filling after the food she had grown accustomed to eating in Sanditon and London and her head ached on account of not having a proper cup of tea since she drank her tea in Clara's room.

The plump woman who had met them the previous night smiled as she watched her come down. "Ah, lassie. I thought you lot would sleep till the nooning hours I was just about to wake you all," she said pulling out a tray of butters and jams.

"The morning sunshine called to me," Charlotte answered.

The woman looked outside and nodded. "Short reprieve. It is Scotland ye' know."

Nodding Charlotte laughed. "It rains on the south coast of England too. Especially often in Willingden."

"So that is where you hale from. The clothes on you I thought maybe Paris or London." she bustled about.

nodding Charlotte could smell the biscuits in the air and it reminded her of home and her own experience cooking in the kitchen. They once had a cook but her father tried to save their coin to put away for dowries for so many daughters when she reached an age to learn. Both she and her sister Allison had been the first to start managing the kitchen without their mother.

Charlotte and her sisters were expected to cook all meals and they often traded the duty. However, as time went on Charlotte had less responsibility in the kitchen on account of her being such a good shot and providing the larder with enough food for such a large family.

She longed for home at that moment. The business of Sanditon, the society of London and the complications of her feelings for Sidney had taken up her mind entirely for so many months that she had nearly forgotten on many occasions to write her weekly letter home.

This week they certainly would miss their routine letter and her momma would be cross. Charlotte feared what she would tell them when she did finally pen that long correspondence.

A kidnapping, a journey, and an elopement. At least it was not her own. Her father would have been very upset with her and perhaps would refuse to ever lay eyes on her again for he was a traditional man, and elopement was not a Heywood tradition.

They would learn of this tale and she would not be able to shield them from the scandal that was surely rocking the south coast of England. A rich heiress runs away, a wedding and a kidnapping were things gossiped about as tongues would wag her own ears burned from embarrassment.

"The biscuits are just coming out of the oven." the woman said suddenly almost as if reading Charlotte's earlier thoughts. "Mr. Elliot is already awake and preparing himself. Your friends should rise for he does not like to be made to wait."

Charlotte nodded and hurried up and knocked on Otis's door. She had to rap on the rood four different times before it woke him.

"Is it time?" he asked sleepily through the crack in the door.

Charlotte shook her head. "No, but the priest will be here shortly and does not like to be kept waiting, according to the innkeeper."

Otis smiled sleepily. "Well then, we shan't keep the Anvil priest waiting. I shall be out presently."

Charlotte nodded and went to wake Georgiana who she found half-dressed. "Is it time?" she asked almost fearful.

She nodded. "Mr. Elliot is presently preparing to come."

Georgiana sat down breathless.

"If you have any doubts you must tell me." Charlotte closed the door for privacy.

Georgiana's worried frown turned itself slowly into a smile. "No, It's not that."

Coming to sit beside her she turned to face her. "Well, what is it then?" Charlotte pressed.

Georgiana smiled tensely. "I miss my father. I know he would have liked Otis." she threw her head back frustrated. "Which leads me to think of Sidney and I have known him for nearly ten years, and I wish he was here," she admitted while feeling very foolish. "But he would never approve. We are often at odds."

Charlotte took her hand. "Maybe eventually he would have. After all, he didn't initially approve of me." Charlotte smiled with tender care of her words for they might bring tears.

Georgiana smiled. "I am sure we will be able to change his mind... It will just be after." her dark eyes shimmered. "Oh Charlotte, I will never be able to truly repay the friendship you have offered me. I did not return it initially but you have proven yourself a constant faithful friend to me every step of the way." she held her hand as Georgiana cried. "And now I am going to finally marry the man I love because of the kindness of Captain Warrick and you."

Charlotte shook her head. "I still don't understand it." she thought of Warrick. "Why did he get involved?"

Georgiana shrugged. "Perhaps he just might be a good man."

Charlotte shook her head. "He is far too complicated to be good."

"I think he has feelings for you," Georgiana said quietly her smile falling.

Charlotte sighed. "He does, but he is all about deceit and intrigue. I could never trust him and he has warned me specifically not to. I did not heed it at first, but I do now." she confessed. "After his lover drugged me and packed me up in a box to be carried off to London I don't trust his methods anymore."

Georgiana shook her head and giggled. "I would have died of fright. I am afraid of small spaces."

Charlotte laughed. "I was asleep for nearly all of it. At one point I was vaguely aware I could not move and it was dark, but then I was thrown about. That was when Captain Warrick opened the trunk." She laughed grateful she could laugh about it. "I am quite bruised from it all but I am recovering."

They giggled together a little and then Georgiana took a big shaking sigh. "I think I am ready to go down now."

Charlotte smiled and squeezed her hand. "Then let us go eat something while we await the priest. Best not get married on an empty belly."

Georgiana smiled but did not say she was afraid to eat for her nerves were raw and she just wanted to get the ceremony over as quickly as possible. They had to get this done before anyone could put a stop to it.