Sanditon Season 2: The River and the Man

Chapter 173

Charlotte watched Mr. Stringer lead her younger sister to dance and parents seemed to approve. Somehow she felt that there could be something there. Allison was sweet and intelligent like herself. They both would be very lucky if they suited.

Mr. Stringer looked more relaxed and happy as he glanced back at her with a thankful smile.

The young heart she had held regret over the feelings he had for her. Truth was before Sidney had made her so conflicted in her feelings she might have liked Mr. Stringer as much as he seemed to like her. But that all evaporated after one conversation with Sindey. The conversation before their dance when he told her that she was equal to any woman there.

She looked about at the twinkling lights and the white and cherry blossoms that decorated the reception all and she could not help but smile in the memory of it.

Lady Susan regarded her with a smile and a simple look above her head and her own moved in answer as they drifted up and found her intended standing there looking down to her. His form leaning on the railing. His eyes hot under the candlelight.

His gaze held hers beckoning her to join him and she answered as she moved swiftly up the railed stair and looked to Lady Susan who smiled smugly at them and winked her encouragement.

Still, her stomach filled with butterflies as they did the night nearly a year before.

He was turned to face her and smiling as she moved through the curtain that hung in the backdrop of the balcony and he took her hand.

"At last," he said with the smile that undid her. "We keep meeting here," he whispered.

Her eyes sparkled as she met his gaze and did not know she gave him the very smile that nearly took his breath from his chest.

"Aye, we do seem to meet here often," she said as he took her other hand.

He sighed releasing the tension he felt and shook his head. "Would that I could have finished our conversation here last summer. Would we again be standing here in the same manner?"

She shook her head. "I do not know," she said with little regret. "So much good has happened since I would not change it. Not for the world."

He laughed. "Yes, we have that luxury that things worked out in everyone's favor." his voice like crinkled silk. "Because I am still fortunate enough to finally have you for a bride," he chuckled. "Albeit at length."

She chuckled too as she felt her body draw into him closer.

He clutched her hand to his chest. "I will make you my wife soon." the words made her stomach coil and she blushed.

"Yes, I thought these last few weeks would not pass quickly but with the Prince Regent and all that has gone into salvaging the spectacle I have not had a moment to breathe," she said. "I am glad to have left all the wedding plans to Lady Susan. I suspect she has been planning it since last year with how seamlessly she has arranged everything."

He laughed then. "It is not too elaborate is it?" he asked recalling a once sad conversation between them.

Charlotte shook her head. "No, Susan understands that I am a country girl. It will be simple and well catered."

He smiled as he tucked a stray curl from her loosening hair and fingered it playfully.

He smiled. "I wish it were now," he whispered. "Then I could take you home with me."

She blushed as he stroked the back of her hand and she bit her lip. "You do?"

He swallowed. "Charlotte, you must not be in doubt of my-" he hesitated. "Forgive me, it is not gentlemanly." he looked away ashamed of himself. She was already well aware that he had an appetite. She had accompanied him to a house of ill repute.

Her smile looked seductive. "Maybe in some ways, I will not always be gentleman's daughter but a man's wife?" she quipped and he groaned in response.

"Charlotte," he whispered. "I fear I may quite frighten you."

She laughed and shook her head. "Mr. Parker, I am made of stronger metal than that."

He pulled her into the shadowed recess of the small landing on the stair and pressed her into the velvety fabric of the curtain and out of the prying eyes of the gathering below.

They did not see the scandalous smile on Lady Susan's face as she watched them disappear from sight. Flipping her fan open she covered her mouth and she turned to see her cousin frowning seriously as he threw another drink back.

"Cheers to them," he said with a wince and a sigh as the stronger drink burned the back of his throat.

Susan's eyes darkened as she fanned herself. "You seem in a mood tonight cousin?" she said concerned.

He looked to her and then to the balcony above. "Not all battles won are celebrated."

She nodded compassionately. "Did you feel so very much for her?"

He cleared his throat and looked to his wife. "I am not sure. But seeing her happy and with another does not thrill me as I thought it would in the beginning." he shook his head. "No, a good commander knows when you are fighting a losing battle and I knew when I saw them together I would lose."

"But you gained a wife with a fortune," she said looking to Eliza who looked rather fine that night. The child enhanced her complexion and she seemed content at that moment.

He turned to the woman and nodded. "Yes. She is a handful, but there are moments of passion," he smirked. "She can be entertaining."

Susan shrugged. "There is at least that."

He nodded. "But it is of no great importance. I will be leaving soon."
Susan waved at herself and looked at him shocked. "Really, Aiden, you can't be serious. Surely you are staying until the child is born."

He shook his head. "No, I have business that I have been from long enough."

"You are about to be a father." she protested.

He laughed. "I have been a father since I was but a young buck myself."

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, but this one is legitimate."

Shrugging he scoffed. "I am not sure that makes any difference."

"To the world it does, and to your wife," she told him behind her fan.

He shrugged. "The sea is my first mistress, even over a wife," he said simply with some regret. "This is the main reason I could not follow my foolish heart."

Susan scoffed. "So you just marry without love thinking that will make things easier?" she asked him but was left without answer. "Honestly Aiden the thing I often admire most about you is your intellect." she closed her fan. "But you seem to be losing that."

She left his side frustrated and joined his poor wife who she was beginning to pity more each and every day.