Chapter Text
Charlotte woke with the dawn and pondered a walk on the beach before breaking fast with the Parker family. They would not rise for many hours yet, but after yesterdays disaster she thought she better sit in her window seat and read instead. She reread the same passage several times before she put her book away exasperated. She could not get Sidney Parkers naked form out of her mind. It was so embarrassing and it seemed she could not be at peace even in her dreams last night. She had seen boys unclothed before having brothers and living on a farm she knew what male anatomy looked like. What she had not expected was her reaction to a certain person’s anatomy. She did not even like Sidney Parker. He was arrogant and insufferable even on a good day. Desperate for something to take her mind off him she even contemplated working on the needlepoint her mother had included in her trunk.
However, daydreaming seemed to be the only thing going on in her head this morning. Charlotte raised a hand to her lips and traced them with her fingertips. Feeling warm all of the sudden she decided to dress for the day and go and see what cook had in store for breakfast. Perhaps she could get a cup of tea and take it out to the garden. Cook was more then happy for some morning company and even allowed Charlotte to cut the biscuit dough in to shapes and place them on pans for the oven. She sipped her tea and followed cook’s instructions to the letter. Cook left her on her own after a while once she saw that Charlotte knew her way around a kitchen.
Biscuits finished and on the trays Charlotte accepted another cup of tea and took it out to the garden. It was a lovely little space with most of the blooms past their prime. She sat on the bench near the wall that separated the property from the cliffs. There she could hear the sound of the waves crashing on the beach below. A little gate in the back wall opened to the meandering path that led down the cliff side to the sand. Maybe later she would climb down and paddle in the water with the children. Having brought her book with her Charlotte attempted to read the chapter that could not hold her attention earlier. It did not seem very long before she was called in to breakfast with the family.
On her way she stopped in front of her nemesis’s portrait on the wall and although it did not quite do him justice she found herself admiring him all the same. Mary caught her staring at the painting of Sidney and wished her good morning.
“How did you enjoy your afternoon yesterday Charlotte, I did not see you when you came home.”
“Ah…oh…yes…I went for a walk on the beach to collect some shells to send home to my siblings.”
”Did anything impressive catch your eye?”
Charlotte’s cheeks colored as she looked again at the painting and she took longer then normal to answer Mary’s question. The scene from the cove yesterday rolled through her mind. His muscular body in the late sunlight, the water dripping off of his skin, and that dark trail of hair on his stomach all played out before her eyes again and she grew warm. Mary noticed her guest looked a little rosy about the cheeks.
“Charlotte, are you feeling well? You look a bit feverish.”
“I am perfectly fine Mary, just a little warm from sitting in the garden too long.”
“Are you quite sure my dear?”
When Charlotte did not respond again Mary was sure there was something wrong.
“You know you can tell me anything. Did something happen on your walk yesterday?”
Charlotte contemplated what to say to her suddenly perceptive friend. Could she tell Mary what happened yesterday? Truly, it was innocent after all. It would be nice to talk to someone about the incident, but she felt that it was private between her and Mr. Parker. She did not wish to break a confidence and risk Mr. Parker’s short temper again. She remembered her father’s warning to be careful of everything in Sanditon. What might it do to her reputation if it was found out publicly? It could affect her whole family if society thought her compromised.
“Charlotte?”
Trusting that her friend Mary had her best interests at heart she decided to share.
“Mary, the most peculiar thing happened on my walk last afternoon and I am not quite sure what to do. Might I tell you and ask your advice?”
“Of course my dear, I would be happy if you confided in me. I will help in any way I can. Perhaps after we break fast and the children go to the play room with Nanny, Alright?”
“That would be perfect Mary. I am a bit famished.”
After breakfast Mary asked her to the sitting room and they sat across from one another on the sofas. Charlotte had contemplated the best way to broach the subject all through their morning meal and still could not think of an easy way to tell her story. Deciding not to beat around the bush she just came to the point.
“When I was on my walk yesterday afternoon down at the far end of the main beach. I wasn’t paying much attention to my destination. I had my head down looking for shells, you see? Spotting a few limpets of a particular color, I examined them in the light. I took a few more steps and noticed a pile of clothes on the shore just ahead. I turned to look for the owner. I heard some splashing in the water to my right, which drew my attention.”
Charlotte paused looking at Mary not sure she should continue. The woman’s look of motherly concern eased her mind and she went on with her tale.
“Well it happened so quickly and I was so embarrassed. I am sure he was too. It was all an innocent mistake and neither of us meant to be there together. It was not intentional on either of our parts, I assure you.”
“I am not sure I understand, Charlotte.”
“Yes…well…that is the thing. I turned towards the splashing and before I knew it up popped Mr. Parker out of the ocean. He was fully unclothed. I turned away immediately of course. He may have said some words, but I did not hear as I ran off and came back home.”
Charlotte was looking into the face of a shocked Mary Parker who didn’t quite know what to say.
“Please tell me I did the right thing in telling you, Mary? I was not quite sure what I should do. I can not even imagine being in the same room with Mr. Parker again. What would I say? I am mortified.”
“Mr. Parker was swimming last afternoon? Are you sure it was Mr. Parker. Tom was home all afternoon working in his office. I was busy with the children, but I am sure he would have told me if he was going out?”
Charlotte eased her confusion when she confessed that it was not Mr. Tom Parker she saw at the cove, but his brother Mr. Sidney Parker. Mary was relieved at the news that it wasn’t her husband that Charlotte found swimming in the cove, yet seeing her brother-in-law was even worse news. Mary wondered if they were seen together? What was Sidney thinking she wondered swimming at the cove like that? It was very irresponsible of him.