Chapter Text
Sidney stood in the room, once more feeling the outlier he always was. In a sea of strangers, imbibing the night away, laughing and dancing. Romantic pairings sparking all over the place. Love was in the air but not for him. Such tedious events. Sidney took a sip from his glass and glanced around. Then paused. She was here!
The noise from the throng faded away until all he could hear was the beating of his broken heart. Beating alive for the first time since that dreadful final parting of theirs. She was here!
A perfect rose among all the dandelions, a breath of fresh air and as beautiful as ever. Her dress a pale pink complementing her beautiful dark tresses. She had not changed at all but why should she! Perfection! He took another sip to calm his nerves, hoping that no one had seen his reaction before moving away. She was here!
"Sidney" His name was barely a whisper on her lips. She had seen him turn away on entering the room, among all the glamorous ladies & eager gentlemen. She recognized the way his shoulders sagged a little as he turned, defeated and downtrodden. Her heart ached. She knew he would be here, Susan had prepared her. But nothing could ready her for how she would react!
The quickening of her heartbeat. The blush that came to her cheeks. The memories flooding back all at once of another time at another ball where they both stood as outliers together. When it felt like his eyes were for her and her alone. Until…
Shaking herself mentally out of her brief memory trip, she clung to Susan’s side a little more and walked the room with her, receiving introductions to the gentry. Sidney locked away once more like a best kept secret, close to her heart. Courage, Charlotte!
The music played on as Sidney navigated the room, keeping as far away from conversation as possible. Lord knows, he did not want to get caught up in discussions over his forthcoming betrothal to Eliza. The lady in question was not in attendance due to feeling unwell. Sidney smirked to himself, a night of freedom for a change! Away from her watchful gaze, always on alert in case he dared to think of someone else!
A flutter of pink caught his eye and there she was again, dancing away without a care in the world. Her face beaming away at her would-be suitor. A dark and ugly creature snarled away inside. Mine, it said. But of course she couldn’t be his, he thought, pitifully. He moved around the room again, distancing himself from the dancing couple.
Dancing had always made Charlotte happy. The thrill as the instruments started to play, the energy of the dance moves and the partners to compliment. But somehow this dance could not reach that part of her. Seeing Sidney had thrown her night off completely. What if he approached? What would she say? What would he say? Making a false smile to her partner as they twirled, she could feel a pair of eyes on her. This was all too much!
Sidney glanced towards the patio doors and saw a petite figure in pink making a familiar escape into the cool air outside. His heart beat alive once more with a passion he had thought locked away. Placing his glass down, he walked with purpose in the same direction.
Taking a deep breath, Charlotte sighed a loaded sigh into the cool air. She thought she could handle it. She thought she would be all right seeing him again. But it was torture. Courage, Charlotte!
Seeing him out of the corner of her eye, feeling his glance on her as she danced, knowing he was within reach. Her heart ached. The memory of him came flooding back! His touch, his lips on hers... air, she needed air!
Tears threatened as she excused herself and left the room. Heart pounding, she refused to let herself cry. She could handle this. She must! Then a familiar voice spoke from behind her... "Charlotte”