Sanditon Season 2: The River and the Man

Chapter 109

Understandably, Georgiana and Otis wanted to be alone as quickly as possible to the point that both Sidney and Charlotte uncomfortably blushed and left them alone to their intimacies while they sat and ate the rest of their breakfast that was briefly interrupted by a wedding.

Sidney asked for a room to rest and looked to her across the table. "I am glad I found you safe." he voice low and her heart fluttered in her chest like a trapped bird. "Please write to Sanditon of your well being. Lady Denham was quite struck with your disappearance."

She shook her head. "I have quite failed her with all that has happened."

Sidney shook his head. "She does not care about all that. All our friends care more about your well being."

"This was to be an important week in Sanditon. The final spring ball is at the end of it and I am not sure we can make the journey back in time." Charlotte pressed the importance.

He looked rough and his beard was more than a noon shadow. Charlotte longed to touch it. To smooth the fatigue from his face.

"My horse needs rest, and I am sure Mr. and Mrs. Molyneux will not be ready to leave back to London until the morrow," he said stiffly trying to act appropriately in her presence. "It will still be enough time, but you may not have the energy to dance."

She smiled and looked down. "I am dreadfully tired now, and sore. The bouncing around for so many days is terribly painful I find."

He laughed slightly. "I have quite chafed from the journey myself," he admitted and she noted that he indeed did have a pained look on his face.

The innkeeper came by and picked up the tray with a smile as she had been watching the guests. "So ye' two will no' be layin hands on an anvil today will ye? For it is plain to see there is love 'tween ye'." she winked. "It would be cheaper to save money on the rooms." she winked suggestively.

Sidney's jaw clenched and he looked to Charlotte. The weight of that subject had become burdensome with the weight of Sandiotn, his fiance, and the breaking burden of the inflated debts of Tom.

"No, I don't believe it to be our sort of thing." he smiled at Charlotte sadly. If he were to ever have the good fortune of marriage to Charlotte it would not be rushed and scandalous. It would be sweet and proper with all things done well as was Charlotte's way.

Charlotte looked away sadly recalling a similar comment made by Mrs. Campion the summer before concerning the wedding she saw herself to have with Sidney.

His eyes lingered on her as the tray was carried off. He seemed reluctant to say or do anything.

"You must rest Mr. Parker. You look tired." Charlotte managed to say.

He nodded and sighed. "Yes, quite right." he stood. "Good day Charlotte," he said stiffly and went to the room he was to take.

She too found her bed early that day and did not hear the snickers about the lovers and the lazy Londoners that slept the day away while the small town bustled around them.

The next afternoon the sun hung high above Charlotte and Sidney as they walked the old roman wall miles south from Gretna Green followed by the black horse that seemed Sidney's sudden shadow.

They had stopped for a spell to stretch legs and view the sight of the ruin and Georgiana had suggested a stroll and so they all followed.

They had all woken early that morning and filled a carriage the four of them.

Sidney's horse was not trained to pull a buggy and soon showed himself to be quite useless as a pulling horse and Sidney seemed reluctant to sell the animal so he resorted to tying a long lead to the back of the carriage. The shining black horse trotted along at a frustrating pace for the animal as he often would race up to the window when there was space long side and would blow and puff to Sidney so that he would get his attention as if imploring the man to ride him instead of the carriage.