Chapter Text
Chapter One – Call to Duty
Sidney Parker found himself once again in Trafalgar House, smoking while reading his newspaper, hoping that the next person to walk through the door would be his brother. He had been waiting for Tom all afternoon and he was eager to get their business over with so he could leave for London. He had been restless and itching to leave Sanditon for the past fortnight, but he kept getting delayed by business pertaining to his brother’s elaborate plans for the sea-side town. With newfound investment bought by Sidney’s engagement to Mrs Campion, Tom was eager to resume and expand on his plans.
For Sidney however, this was a pain more than a pleasure. It had been only two weeks since Charlotte’s abrupt departure from Sanditon. Sidney had wanted to leave for London immediately, wishing only to escape Sanditon for it bore only memories of her. Eliza was already in London so it somehow seemed appropriate that Sidney would join her there. However, he seemed able to find reason after reason to delay his departure. Some of those reasons were to do with Tom and Sanditon. There was much work to do and Sidney wanted to ensure he left affairs in good order before he set off for London.
Of course, there was also the presence of certain people he wished to avoid. Georgiana, who was never a friend to Sidney, held no restraint in displaying her ever expanding despise for him. Truthfully, Sidney often wondered if she went out of her way to hurt him. She had resorted to comparing him to Otis and indeed Eliza of late for his behaviour towards Charlotte. However, where in the past he would have risen to her confrontational demeanour and defended himself, he found he could not, for he agreed with her. She was right to compare him to those who married for money instead of affection, for that is what he had done.
Then there was Mr Stringer. He too was aware of Charlotte and Sidney’s affections towards each other and though normally restrained in his opinion, Sidney found himself at the harsh end of his tongue days earlier. Mere hours after Charlotte’s departure from Sanditon, Sidney walked past the terrace and spotting Mr Stringer, stopped to convey his sympathies at his father’s death. So much had happened in such a short amount of time, he realized he had not yet done so.
“I thank you, sir,” Mr. Stringer replied formally, though with a slight harshness to his voice that was noticed by Sidney. “It was a tragedy for us all.”
“Indeed,” Sidney agreed, inwardly thinking of how true that statement was. Had it not been for Old Stringer’s incident, Sidney would no doubt be happily engaged to Miss Heywood.
“And I ought to congratulate you on your upcoming nuptials,” Mr. Stringer added before Sidney could get away. “Though I must say, your choice of bride is a surprising one.”
Sidney’s eyes widened and the boldness of the foreman. “We all do what we must, Mr Stringer, no matter how much we may wish otherwise.”
That was all he trusted himself to say. There was a danger that any more time spent with this conversation would result in an explosion of temper that Sidney was trying to contain. Mr Stringer unfortunately was not aware of the restraint Sidney was portraying and thus, pressed him further.
“What of Miss Heywood and what she may have wished?” He asked in a tone not befitting him.
At the mention of her name Sidney froze. He had thought of little else since her departure, though he had not the nerve to speak her name out loud. To hear her name on someone else’s lips, someone who cared for her, made the consequences of his actions all the more real.
“Do not involve yourself in matters you know nothing of, Mr Stringer,” Sidney replied coldly. And with that he turned and walked of before he said something he would regret.
Then there was Mary. Unlike Georgiana and Mr Stringer, she did not chastise him for his actions. Instead she looked upon him with pity in her eyes. Sidney found himself wondering how much, if any, Charlotte had confided in Mary. Perhaps she was aware of the true nature of their acquaintance. If so, she dared not speak of it; after all how could she, knowing that Sidney’s actions were keeping her and her family out of ruin.
In addition to the presence of certain people who had their own opinions on the matter of Sidney’s actions, Sanditon itself had become less appealing since Charlotte’s departure. Though everyone else’s lives continued on as normal, Sidney found the place much bleaker than before. It was almost as if the life and energy of the town had been removed when she left.
He vividly recalled the moment he watched her leave in the family carriage. How he had yearned to ride after her, hold her close to his chest and whisper words of comfort that all will be well. He wanted to tell her to stay with him, that together they would find another way to sort out Tom’s mess. He knew however, that finding an alternative solution would take time; time that Tom did not have. So, he watched her go and along with Charlotte, he said goodbye to the best version of himself.
Even now, only two weeks hence, he could feel his cynical, disagreeable-self return. He felt such pain and anger as he had done once before. This pain however was a new kind of agony he had never experienced. He wasn’t in pain simply because his actions broke his own heart. He was alright with that outcome, for the love of his brother and Mary he would gladly suffer to aid their circumstances. It was the anguish he had caused Charlotte that he could not tolerate. He knew all too well the agony of separation he had caused her. He spent the better part of the last decade overcoming such pain himself. To think that he had caused such torment on Charlotte, was more than he could bear. Thus, he had to leave Sanditon. He had to go to London and fulfil his promise to Eliza.
Eliza. . .
He thought of Eliza now, not as his love as he had done many years before but as his keeper. For that is what she now was. She had the means to save his brother from disaster and he had no other choice. He had spent one week in London trying to secure funds and investments, but no one would see him. Anyone who had helped them before would do so no longer. At the end of the long week, he met with Mrs Campion. He explained the situation in great detail and found her rather receptive to him. He did not even need to ask for her help; she offered it of her own accord.
“Sidney, you are well aware that I have the funds to help you. There is one simple way with which you can secure it,” she had said with a calmness that sent shivers down his spine.
Yet, at the time, he had little choice. Obliged as he was, he offered her his hand in marriage and she accepted without hesitation. Sidney immediately left for Sanditon to relay the news. Eliza was happy to have won the hand of her lost love, Sanditon was saved and Tom and his family were no longer in ruin. Sidney should have been pleased with that much. Yet, the mood on his ride home was sombre indeed. For he knew he would be returning to undo Charlotte’s world in a most brutal fashion.
Sidney had stayed in Sanditon for the past two weeks out of necessity. Truthfully, he stayed also as a part of him hoped that Charlotte would somehow materialise once again, and he could lay his eyes upon her one more time. It was a foolish notion to hope for, yet when the door to Trafalgar house opened, Sidney looked up over his newspaper hoping in vain that a head of dark curls would appear. Naturally, it wasn’t Charlotte and he felt the disappointment despite himself. It was Tom who had finally arrived home.
“Sidney!” Tom greeted his brother cheerfully as he walked into his study with Mr Stringer following close behind. “I thought I would find you gone.”
Sidney stood as they entered, briefly glancing at Mr Stringer who acknowledged his presence but neither spoke to each other. “I am about to leave Tom, but I wanted to check one last thing before I left.”
“Very well,” Tom replied. He reached his desk and started rummaging through the pile of paperwork building up all over it. “What is it?”
“I want to make sure you have purchased the appropriate insurance for the terrace repairs and continued work.”
Tom actively avoided his brother’s penetrating gaze. “Yes well, I will get to it Sidney, no need to worry.”
“Tom,” Sidney said, more forcefully than he had intended. “You will get the insurance, or better yet, I will get it and be done.”
“But, the premiums are so high, it seems unlikely - ”
Sidney cut off his brother from finishing his point by slamming his fists onto the desk. “No, Tom, no more excuses. I will not be party to anymore of this recklessness. I have given up too much to risk Sanditon again. I have hurt too many people.”
Tom looked up at Sidney’s fury with bewilderment. “I don’t understand.”
“No, you don’t,” Sidney agreed, harshly. “Get the insurance. My marriage to Mrs Campion will provide enough for that I am certain.”
He stormed out of the study before Tom could reply. He brushed past Mr Stringer who had watched the exchange with fascinated silence. Hurriedly, he grabbed his coat and hat and made for the door. But before he could leave, Mr Stringer stopped him.
“Mr Parker, I owe you an apology for my outburst when last we spoke. I did not realise what the situation entailed.”
Sidney nodded in response. “Where did you think the money was coming from? Or did you not think at all?”
Any pretence of civility had long abandoned Sidney’s demeanour. His reputation of be cold-hearted and disagreeable was well earned and without Charlotte, it was certain to return in full force.
Mr Stringer looked ashamedly away from Sidney. At last, he understood why Charlotte had been so generous in her affection for Mr Parker. As even after he rejected her, she had refused to think badly of him. How could she when his actions had saved not only Tom and his family but also Mr Stringer and the workers’ livelihoods, as well as Sanditon.
“Do not concern yourself too greatly Mr Stringer,” Sidney continued. “Nothing anyone says can make me feel worse about the situation than I already do. Good day.”
He walked away from Trafalgar house in a disagreeable mood and made his way to his carriage. He took himself away from Sanditon, away from the memories that would undoubtedly plague his mind forever and towards a future he did not desire.