Don't Look Back

Chapter 21

"So you have finally come to see an old woman at last Miss Heywood?" Lady Denham said imperiously from her great cushioned seat near the fire. "I must confess that I am entirely offended I seem to be the last one you deign to visit and I consider that a grievous affront." She fiddled with the lap blanket over her skirt. "My hearing is not too good, so you will need to come closer and speak up." she prompted waving her hand impatiently. "I am looking forward to hearing your contrived apology." Lady Denham's mouth was set firm.

Charlotte smiled and shifted nervously where she stood. "Your Ladyship...I did not want to assume an association so far out of date, Lady Denham..." Charlotte answered unsure of how to not offend the woman further as she glanced nervously at her sister and then to Lady Susan.

Lady Denham nodded curtly. "Indeed. And who's fault was that I may ask?" she said. "Five years and not a word, or a glimpse of the cheeky Miss Heywood?" she shook her head disapprovingly, "And still, Unmarried! I suppose you held fast to your independence just to prove me wrong." she decided.

"I assure you I have not remained unmarried to spite you." Charlotte retorted.

Lady Denham smiled and squinted thoughtfully. "Good, for that, would drop my high estimation of your character in the extreme." she shook her head and huffed. "and who are these people you brought with you?" she asked noting the young woman behind her.

"Uh, This is my friend Lady Susan Worcester." Charlotte began with her.

"Ah, I have heard more than my fair share of you." Lady Denham said with a knowing nod. "How is the Prince Regent?" Lady Denham asked slightly more warmly.

Lady Susan smiled not sensing disapproval. "As he ever was Lady Denham."

The older Lady nodded thoughtfully and remained silent.

Charlotte smiled nervously and broke the uncomfortable silence. "And this is my sister, Allyson Heywood whom I have brought to meet you." Charlotte brought her sister forward.

Lady Denham appraised the girl with her bright clear eyes. "Ah, another unmarried young Lady come to Sanditon. Luck would have you there are a good many eligible young men here for your picking. Though you will be in competition with your sister" she looked at Charlotte. "You are in danger of becoming an old maid." Her face looked Charlotte over again. "Still pretty though I would say." she looked over Charlotte. "Figure as pleasing as it ever was."

Lady Denham gestured to the two chairs across from her as the servant brought a third. "Sit, have tea with me," she said simply.

Charlotte sighed relieved and the ladies all took seats far from each other in a circle in the great parlor. Her sister looked around to all that surrounded her in awe reminding herself of her first time in the house.

"So how old are you Little Miss Heywood?" Lady Denham asked Allyson.

Allyson blinked shyly but sat straight. "I am nearly twenty, your ladyship...." she said nervously.

Lady Denham nodded and squinted. "And how old are you now Miss Charlotte Heywood?"

Charlotte blinked, "I am now one and twenty," she answered.

Lady Susan remained silent and observed this intriguing interaction. She had heard of the old woman but never had the occasion to meet her. Lady Denham had been terribly ill the day of the Regatta so missed the chance to make acquaintance then.

"One and twenty!" Lady Denham said sharply. "You should be a mother perhaps three or four times over at this juncture in your life." the old woman said. "Oh, what do I know. I did not have the good fortune to have any, perhaps you will neither."

The servant brought tea. "So how do you find Sanditon now?" she asked.

Charlotte looked to her companions wondering if she should answer. When non offered comment she cleared her throat. "I find... Well, I find it quite a marvel. I saw the model in Tom's office and I stared at it for hours I must confess, but the reality of it is so much more."

Lady Denham nodded. "And it should be. Mr. Sidney Parker was a better planner. He designed GrandView and I must agree that it is absolutely without fault."

Allyson smiled. "Is that not the terrace we are in?"

Lady Susan smiled and nodded.

Charlotte blushed. "Is not Mr. Stringer the architect?" she asked.

Lady Denham smiled. "Yes, Mr. Stringer, he is a good lad. He does what he is told to. But Mr. Sidney Parker has a more realistic vision of the future of Sanditon. He also understands the Beau Monde better than his brothers and it reflects in the design." She explained shocking Charlotte who had never heard a good word about any Parker. "Tom Parker was frivolous and wasted money on unnecessary projects and materials."

"It is my understanding that you have stables here Lady Denham?" Susan started.

Nodding Lady Denham nodded. "For my asses," she replied simply.

Lady Susan frowned. "I have been thinking about investing in some land here and building a fine stable to house racehorses," she said bluntly. "What say you to a notion like that?"

Lady Denham pursed her lips. "I abhor gambling. Leads to the loss of fortune and the ruin of men." she shook her head.

Lady Susan nodded. "But to just house the horses, you do not need to participate in the bet."

The old woman shrugged. "We all have our principles. Mine does not include the support of gambling fortunes away on a farm animal that costs a fortune to keep and gives nothing but excrement and occasional bursts of speed."

Lady Susan smiled. "I understand. I do not however have the same sensibilities. Jobs, fortune, and activity would be.... need I say explosive if there were more horses, and perhaps one day a track, not just the beach. And whoever housed those horses would be assured of a constant flow of fortune." She sipped at the tea that was just handed to her.

Lady Denham nodded. "Oh I see, you have some interest investing in this venture now that it bears fruit. Where were you Lady Worcester when Mr. Sidney Parker was forced to marry that spider Mrs. Campion?" she asked pointedly.

Lady Susan nodded and smiled sadly. "I was in London, I had not spoken to Charlotte in some time. I, unfortunately, learned of the wedding after."

Allyson looked confused at the women talking of people she knew about but in ways, she had not expected.

Charlotte however had gone beet red.

"You could have given the Parkers more time after the fire," she whispered. "You only gave him a week."

Lady Denham frowned and turned her eyes. "What did you say?" she asked. "I can't hear you if you whisper.

Lady Susan looked shocked at the words that fell from Charlotte's mouth and she dearly hoped she was going to opt to say something less offending.

Charlotte lifted her head. "It is not Lady Susan's fault she did not know of the disaster nor was it her responsibility to fix it. If Mr. Parker was forced to marry Mrs. Eliza Campion it was so that you would not put Tom's family into the poor house." Charlotte leveled the blame. "Of course none of it would have been necessary had Tom acquired the proper insurance." she amended finally making Susan sigh relieved.

Lady Denham nodded and eyed her piercingly. "I see you understand the situation most accurately."

The room went silent as they ladies all drank the tea.