Sanditon Season 2: The River and the Man

Chapter 131

Following after Charlotte as she jogged ahead through the misted rain Sidney went to stop her and slow her.

"Charlotte, you will slip, you don't need to run," he said stopping her by the arm, their eyes meeting amid the chaos around them. "You are not even wearing your coat," he said lastly taking in the pain and confusion in her eyes.

"Miss." Bell's voice broke their gaze as she handed it off to her mistress but was actually taken by Sidney impatiently. Surprised by his action Bell pulled back to straighten her own appearance.

Sidney shook the coat out. "No need to put your personal health at risk. Remember how ill Georgiana was just months ago?" he asked.

Charlotte nodded. "I am a sturdy girl." she protested as he wrapped the coat around her as she shivered. "Come we could miss her," she said pulling out of his attentions.

Sidney still jogged after her and smiled as he watched her hair tumble down her back from its combs and pins.

Bell having noticed picked them up as she still maintained close distance behind and clutched it into her hand tightly.

Coming near to the spot she slowed as they crested a little rise in the terrain. Brambles and bushes littered the area now as they were in the more unkempt and wild part of Sanditon House Park.

She stopped ahead of him, her cheeks pink and he could not avoid the fact she was a beautiful woman brightened with pink cheeks.

Charlotte looked to Sidney and silently communicated to him. Her eyes darted back to where she initially looked. He followed the meaningful silent gesture and looked through the brambles around the narrow path and he could see the figure of a woman in the distance near a tree.

Miss Brockinstile suddenly moaned and cursed as she stood looking down surprised. "Where is it!"

Sidney moved through the brush and up the path. "Something troubling you?" Sidney asked her.

The maid turned startled. "Oh Mr. Parker, I thought I dropped something," she said and her hands moved to her back which was now turned from him. She had not seen Charlotte or Bell yet.

Her eyes were wide and worried.

"What do you have behind your back?" he asked stepping closer.

She dropped the item to the dirt ground and backed up a little so her skirts would cover it and with her heel, she tried to dig out a hole and slide the item into the small sunken void but Sidney looked at her unconvinced and raised his eyebrows at her empty offered hands.

"I was just looking for something..." she answered worried and looked around the ground as if looking.

Sidney shook his head. "Lose the things you stole?" he asked directly.

She backed up and looked ready to run but fear and resolve held her.

"I don't know what you are talking about." she protested.

Bell moved forward. "Liar. I watched you." her approach was hostile as she bent low to the disturbed soil and dug her fingers in finding a string of thick gold. The rope was heavy as was the weighted clock that had diamonds inside the face of it.

Sidney shook his head. "Lord Denham's gift from the old king..." he took it from Bell. "It was much cherished by himself."

"But I-" she started as Sidney gestured for her to head back to the house without the chance of argument or protest.

Charlotte moved into the opening and they all walked silently in slow procession to the house.

Esther stood pacing as Mrs. Bartell sat nervously on a bench in the Foyer. Servants lingered nearby trying to busy themselves in strategically nearby places to overhear what was to happen.