Don't Look Back

Chapter 27

Wearing crisp white Sidney loosened his collar with seething frustration. He still had not confronted his wife, and entirely avoided her whenever possible.

Occupying the days with the projects of Sanditon was exhausting in normal circumstances, but now it was impossible with his mind otherwise engaged with other things.

"Miss Lambe." Sidney regarded his former ward with a nod. "You are not standing up?"

He noted that she was not dressed for the match.

Georgiana rolled her eyes. "You know I have no interest in the sport. I rather observe or escape it all," she said cooly. "Or perhaps it is just society that I am escaping..." she offered and looked to her partner Sir Radmore. "I would like a drink," she told the man.

Sir Radmore scoffed and shrugged. "At your service," he said sarcastically and clapped Sidney on the back as he passed.

Sidney looked down and then up reluctantly and looked about.

"Is everything alright?" she asked him and he looked at her and his head shook just a fraction. Only a mere second of admittance that everything was in fact not alright.

She looked around and her eyes lighted on the pale blue dress Mrs. Eliza Campion wore with a bright yellow sash and a straw bonnet with a bright white ribbon.

"My servant tells me there is gossip below," she whispered. "Eliza spends her nights now and not just afternoons with Lord Sellac."

Sidney put his champagne glass down and his mood was dark and brooding. "What is being said?" his voice was low and barely restrained.

Georgiana looked at him with her wide brown eyes that regarded him sarcastically. "Does anything else need to be said?"

Grinding his teeth under the tense line of his hardened jaw he looked to the woman they spoke of with utter contempt. She was with other ladies but they did not seem to be treating her very warmly. Her cheeks blushed but not prettily.

Sidney shook his head. "No, you are right. That is entirely enough." he sighed.

"What was the drama with Charlotte the other night?" she asked. "I have asked Sir Radmore, but he just tells me it was not the fuss everyone made of it."

Sidney took a deep breath filling his lungs and making him stand taller. "She went out too late and wandered too far off."

Georgiana frowned and shook her head. "Why would she do that? Doesn't sound like her." then her eyes narrowed. "Unless you did something." her eyes leveled at him accusingly.

Sidney shook his head. "I imagine her return was not entirely as she anticipated."

Rolling her eyes Georgiana looked around. "I don't believe she had any intention of any return. It was Lady Worcester who dragged her here."

Sidney nodded. "Yes, I do believe you are right, but I do not think she had any ill intentions. She means to have a stable built."

Georgiana turned and her eyes blinked. "Stables!" her heart lept. "Why that is wonderful!"

Sidney blinked confused and shook his head. "Why does this news seem to please you so?"

Turning she noticed Sir Radmore approaching. "Why more business of course. If there are more horses there will be more races, and the more races there are the more people are inclined to....sleep in my hotel." she recovered.

Sidney smirked at her comment. He knew she was the silent owner of the Gentlemen's club as well as owning the hotel that resided above the club. Sir Radmore required all the signs of success and reputation for he had secretly lost over half his fortune on a risky scheme. Now he paired up with Georgiana since women were not known to handle business in this manner let alone once from her background and he was not about to throw his weight around seeming perfectly happy to do as he was bid. It was a sensible partnership and Sidney was beginning to wonder why they did not just marry. It would certainly render the situation less precarious.

Insofar Sir Radmore was supposed to acquire a suitable wife for his uncle Lord Barnes but seemed to be neglecting that task.

Georgiana took the drink and stepped from the two gentlemen and strolled away. Sir Radmore sighed. "How are you holding up Mr. Parker?"

Sidney took another filling breath and nodded. "Well enough for a rumored cuckold."

Wincing Sir Radmore nodded. "I would send her away," he said simply.

Sidney's jaw clenched and he felt his anger rise as he was trying to relax. A cricket match was an invitation, an obligation to be on display. A day to be watched by all and he wasn't in the play-acting mood that society forced its players to play.

"Sidney!" Came a familiar voice and he turned with reluctance.

"Tom," he said pursing his lips shortly after and softened his expression when his eyes lighted on Mary. "Mary," he said lightly inclining his head.

"Ready old chap?" his brother asked looking at his form up and down.

Sidney's sleeves were already rolled up and his jacket abandoned from early heat out of place so early in the season. The green was blocked from the wind by some old grove trees and it made the air more still than it had been in years before when they played on the sand.

"Do I look ready?" he asked coldly.

Tom's happy expression dropped and he looked around. "You alright brother?" he asked.

Sidney turned from him impatient with the questions.

"Of course. Excuse me," he said and turned to get ready. The ladies were late and it was making the men who had already gathered anxiously.

"Oh, Sidney!" Came Diana's bright voice as she went to greet him. But Sidney could not manage manners at that moment.

"Diana," he nodded curtly and walked away.

"What in Sanditon is the matter with him?" Their sister asked coming to Tom. "Is he forever going to be in a mood? Honestly, he has not talked to me more than three sentences since Arthur and I arrived," she said hurt.

Tom shook his head regretfully. "He has a lot to contend with dear sister. More than I had thought."

He smiled. "Come now let us find you a good place to view."

Mary smiled and took off her jacket exposing her tan-colored dress.

"Mary? You are going to play?" he asked.

She smiled and nodded. "Yes, I have been practicing."

Tom's eyes were wide. "But then we will be playing against one another!" he protested.

Her eyes sparkled. "What? Afraid you will lose to the likes of your wife?" she asked playfully.

His mouth had dropped but he could not deny the sense of excitement that fired to life.

"No, no....perhaps it just might be a pleasure to beat you my dear." he teased.