Don't Look Back

Chapter 5

Smoke swirled and the brandy and whiskey flowed in the new Crown Hotel accompanied by the gentle quiet tune being played on the piano.

"What'll it be gentlemen?" Sir Radmore opened his arms welcoming the men who had just descended into the lower floor of the Crown Hotel.

The club was full but for the center table where he sat and shuffled a deck of cards.

"Cards will do nicely don't you think Crowe?" Sidney Parker said directing his head to the table occupied by the owner of the establishment. "Give you a chance to get a little of yours back." He said with a smile.

"Upon my word Sidney you say that nearly every time. Ply him with brandy and take him for all he has on him," Lord Babington said taking off his coat. "I am calling you out my old friend."

Sidney smirked and clapped him on the back as they went to sit.

"You say that now, but you never see how I pay handsomely for some beautiful woman to care for him until dawn." he smiled crookedly. "I have half a mind to think he loses on purpose just so he does not have to claim he spends it on women of the darker arts."

Smiling knowingly Sir Radmore looked over. "I have only two women like that here if that is your aim." he nodded in the direction of two beautiful courtesans on the arm of one guest.

Sidney frowned and turned to look behind him to observe the ladies with their low dresses showing the pink hint of nipples and he groaned. "The Crown Hotel is a brothel now..." he remarked disapprovingly.

"They are not mine." Radmore looked at his cards seriously. "If I had girls they would be of a finer caliber," he said reaching for his brandy.

Nodding at the excuse Sidney laid a card down and took a drag from his smoke.

Lord Babington spoke clearing his throat from a stiff gulp. He had a losing hand and had trouble not showing his tells.

"Lady Denham would have you shunned out of town if she ever caught wind of woman of that ilk in here," Babington said looking casually their way only mildly interested.

Sir Radmore laughed. "The old woman is now deaf after that firework display two years ago. She hears not a single word now as we all know."

"She can still read." Mr. Crowe said sighing frustratedly for he too had a losing hand.

Sir Radmore smiled. "Speaking of ladies I just had the pleasure of meeting a certain young lady that won't easily leave my mind," he confessed mischievously.

Sidney nodded. "Don't you have an intended?"

Shaking his head. "No, not at present." Sir Radmore continued. "The young Miss Beaufort is hopeful but I am afraid I am not interested."

Sidney nodded his head. "Best you think of settling down before this honest establishment becomes a den of iniquity.

"Oh, stuff your marriage advice," Crowe snapped and turned to Sir Radmore. "This lady...What she look like?" He asked abruptly changing the subject as he leaned forward interested in details.

Leaning back in his chair Sir Radmore he felt sure he had a good hand. "Nutbrown hair, and the darkest wide brown eyes I have ever the pleasure of looking upon."

Sidney looked away disinterested as he smoked and waited to be dealt one more card and responded in upping the bet. Wide brown eyes came to his mind and he took a drink to wash it down and to forget.

"I am out." Lord Babington sighed and took another drink from the barkeeper.

Sir Radmore leaned forward tossing another item in the pile and waited readily to show his cards if only Sidney would meet the bet. "I think you may already know her." he smiled showing his straight white teeth.

Sidney sighed and shrugged. "I can't imagine who you are talking of," he answered putting a small stack of notes on the table deemed equal. "Sanditon's visitors become more varied by the season."

As Sir Radmore laid out his cards he continued to show his hand. Looking up he saw the serious expression of Mr. Parker and he looked bored with the topic but interested in the pile of winnings before them.

Sidney closed his hand indicating his loss and the winner smiled a pleased grin. "She is an old acquaintance of Georgiana I hear."

Sidney looked up to him now more interested.

"A Miss Charlotte Heywood," Radmore said sorting the winnings before him, collecting them into piles.

Both Lord Babington and Mr. Crowe coughed into their drinks while Sidney looked like he had just taken a right hook,

"Ah, so you all know the lady?" Sir Radmore asked them.

Crowe leaned back and eyed Sidney waiting for an answer, and when none was forthcoming he smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

"Yeah, I know the minx." Crowe wiggled his eyebrows. "Quite a girl I dare say."

Sidney's jaw clamped hard as he processed the information and reacted to his closest friends talking about the woman he still thought of every day.

"So there is history?" Sir Radmore looked to Sidney.

Sidney reluctantly nods. "We are acquainted." he sighed and sat forward a fraction. "She stayed here five years ago with my brother Tom and his family," he answered.

Sir Radmore frowned. "So you are old friends." he nodded understanding.

Sidney cleared his throat. "You could say that, but the connection is...old." he tried to weigh his word carefully. Struggling to not give away the tumultuous feelings that roiled inside him.

"Miss Heywood is the companion of Lady Worcester and has been with her for many years now," he said readying to shuffle again. "Another game?" he asked.

Sidney shook his head as his mind turned. "Another time. I should get back, I have a lot to check on in the morning. Prey excuse me, gentleman.

Crowe frowned. "But I thought you promised to allow me a chance to get my money back?" he protested.

Sidney turned and patted his hand on the chair. "There was your chance Crowe, we both lost."

Sir Radmore frowned but laughed at the statement as he dealt cards to Lord Babington and Mr. Crowe all the while noting the troubled expression upon the face of Mr. Sidney Parker.

He looked to the two men beside him and wondered if either had any more things to say on the matter but it seemed both of them were interested in other things.