Sanditon Season 2: The River and the Man

Chapter 168

With a swing of his cane, Tom smiled at the scene before him. The parkers were moving up in society and fortune. Naught could wipe the smile off his face.

"What are you grinning like a fool over tom?' Mary asked joining him on the edge of the gathering.

He shook his head and saluted the pair. "Oh the general splendor of it all." he chuckled. "Imagine if I had never invited that little Willingden girl to come to Sanditon none of this could have ever happened," he said self-congratulating.

Mary smirked and then laughed. "Oh gracious Tom, you are still a fool," she said grinning without malice. "It was all Charlotte."

Tom studdered trying to speak and shook his head.

"We owed her a favor for coming to our aid." she reminded him. "She cleaned up your disaster and her family gave us comfort and charity. No Tom, goodness did this, not you, my dearest." she scoffed. "Indeed you were an obstacle that she and your brother overcame. I may need to remind you often it seems," she said sweetly with her chiding.

Tom shook his head. "I found the Solicitor!" he protested.

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes Tom, you found the solicitor." she patted his arm. "You did do that, but Mabbin found him first," she said gesturing to the boy who was eating a sweet by the handful.

"And now Sir Denham is on the run," Tom remarked scratching his nose.

Mary shrugged. "Is it any wonder?" she asked. "Just weeks ago you were preparing to do the same."

"I have heard he has utterly disappeared." came Diana's voice having overheard the latter comment.

Arthur who stood near at hand as well turned and shoved a sweetmeat in his mouth. "The law is after him now, not just creditors."

Tom sighed. "It is just as well. It is all the better they are after him and not asking questions about young Mabbin."

Diana's voice lowered. "Has the man been found?" she asked.

Tom nodded. "Yes, and identified and a few knew he was working for Sir Denham. Turns out the fool did not pay for a discrete highwayman. He boasted of a fortune to be made if he but found the solicitor. They think the highwayman was killed by Sir Denham."

Mary frowned. "But that is not right. He did not kill the man."

Tom nodded. "Yes, but he was going to kill Mr. Hale. And this happy day would have never come."

Sighing seriously she looked unsure. She was always an honest woman, but having Mabbin possibly swing in a noose for a noble action seemed more wrong.

Lady Susan moved forward. "Be at ease. Mr. Hale wrote a statement just last night claiming to have acted in self-defense and that his memory has been fully restored and paints young Mabbin quite the hero in making that possible. He said the boy distracted the man long enough for him to act."

Tom's eyes were wide. "He took the responsibility of the highway man's death?"

She nodded. "Being a man of the law he can prove self-defense and since the criminal boasted of deadly intent before the event was a good reason to believe it was not a lie."

"So Sir Denham may not hang for murder, but he is looking at time in prison," Mary said relieved. "And Mabbin is safe."

"Mighty good of you to keep him." Lady Susan said observing the child playing with the Heywood children.

Tom shook his head. "No, the boy has been good to us. I think he will have a bright future here in Sanditon."

The Beaufort sisters came running up the lane holding hands.

"He has come, he has come!" they both shouted. "The prince Regent has come!"

Lady Susan smiled. "Ah, early." she looked to the group. "Is he coming here?" she asked the breathless girls.

"No," One said as Susan went to Charlotte.

Sidney went to Tom and smiled. "Should we not go to the beach and find the best place for the exhibition?" he asked.

Charlotte stood and waited for them to leave but he turned. "I hoped you would be coming," he said. "I do like walks with you."

She shrugged. "Let me be here with my family a little longer then I will join you," she said and he leaned forward and kissed her as the group all seemed to be engaged in other avenues.

When he looked up he did see the pale sad face of Eliza, and the brooding face of Warrick. They still would need to talk, but first, he needed to speak to Charlotte about the business.

"Captain Warrick?" he said speaking to him. "Would you also like to come and scope out the best position for the exhibition of the air contraption?"

Warrick nodded and smiled. "Indeed, a capital idea."

Mrs. Warrick looked on in surprise at being left behind. "Shall I come with you?" she asked.

The Captain turned. "Yes, I think that would suit you very nicely," he said actually hoping to keep her from saying something rude to either Charlotte or her family.

Sidney smiled at Charlotte as they left and headed out. But came to her side a moment later. "Please don't take too long."

She blushed and looked around to her family and then to him and nodded. "Of course."