Section I, Next Section

Chapter 1

Posted on Tuesday, 23 September 2003, at 10:15 a.m.

The carriage turned off the high road and up a rutted lane, more rock than sand, and very rough going. The driver would have desisted, but his master urged him on beyond a sizeable house and towards a cottage situated high on the hill and almost obscured by a stand of trees. The disrepair of the lane caused the accident, there could be no doubt, and the carriage overturned across from a hayfield.

The husband and wife riding in the carriage managed to extricate themselves unhurt, until a misstep on the uneven slope caused the gentleman to severely twist his ankle.

"I shall be all right presently dear," he said, sitting upon the bank. "What good luck this accident befell us at such a proximity to the doctor's residence."

His wife agreed as she stood anxiously by his side, having no idea how to go on, but luckily they were joined by a number of the hay-makers from the nearby field and the middle-aged gentleman farmer who had been overseeing the work. He greeted the travellers, introducing himself as Mr Heywood, and went on to politely express his concern for their predicament and surprise at their attempting the lane, which led nowhere but a humble cottage.

"My name is Parker - Mr Parker of Sanditon, and this is my wife, Mrs. Parker. Is that not the abode of the surgeon up upon the rise? I dare say my injury is very trifling, but could I ask that a boy be dispatched to fetch him. In such cases it is for the best to have a surgeon's opinion as quickly as may be."

"Sir, there is no surgeon at hand but I feel we shall manage quite well without one."

"If he is not available, his partner will do, to be sure. Someone should be able to fetch him in a trice."

"There is no surgeon nor partner in this parish and the cottage of which you speak is only a humble tenement housing my shepherd and three old women."

"But is this not Willingden?

"Certainly, sir."

"I have a notice from the Morning Post which I cut out myself." Here Mr Parker reached into his pocket and pulled forth a sheet of paper. "It advertises the dissolution of a partnership in the medical line, and as you can see for yourself, sir, the direction is Willingden."

"So it may be, but should it be printed in every newspaper of the land it would not persuade me. I have lived here since my birth - fifty-seven years - and there has been no medical practitioner in the district in that whole time, though if one were to situate himself atop this hill it would be no bad thing, and he should generate a tidy amount of business for himself with accidents such as your own." This was said with a friendly smile and finished off with a hearty laugh. He reached out and glanced at the paper. "I see the mistake, sir. There are two Willingdens in this country. This advertisement refers to Willingden Abbots, which is seven miles off, in the weald."

After the confusion was resolved, Mr Parker was taken up and carried to the Heywood home. His carriage was in need of repair and his ankle pained him more than he had anticipated so, though he at first had thought to return home to the fresh saline breezes of that charming seaside resort, he soon thought better of it and accepted the hospitality offered. It did not take long for Mr Heywood to discover that Mr Parker's favourite topic of discourse was the town of Sanditon and the many benefits to be found there, both recreational and fortifying. This very journey had been an attempt to lure a doctor to that precious location to make it all the more tempting to potential visitors.

When they arrived at the house, Mr Parker was given to the care of Mrs Heywood and her eldest daughter still living at home, Miss Charlotte. Mrs Parker was afforded comfort and shown every kindness by their generous benefactors and soon found she ought not feel concern for her husband who had fortuitously landed in such good hands.

In the process of the developing friendship, the Parkers learned that the Heywoods, though prosperous, had a very large family and had no interest in leaving their own cosy hearth, but encouraged their children to go out in the world as much as possible.

Mr Parker, along with the other principal landowner in Sanditon, was involved in what he hoped would be the profitable speculation of establishing it as a fashionable beach resort. He was a man of independent means, happily married for seven years with four sweet children at home. He had two younger brothers and two sisters who were all single and independent - the eldest brother quite as well provided for as himself. He was an amiable family man with a kind heart and very fond of his family. His wife was complacent and sweet tempered, relying completely on her husband's judgement.

There was nothing that Mr Parker desired more than to invite his new found friends to Sanditon so they could benefit from the salubrious locale, but Mr and Mrs Heywood, being set in their ways and not inclined to travel, could not be persuaded to make the journey. However, their daughter Charlotte who had been indispensable in the nursing of Mr Parker and the entertainment of Mrs Parker was to go in their stead, and so, a fortnight after the serendipitous accident, when Mr Parker was finally well enough to travel, she accompanied them on their return trip to their seaside home. There she would be encouraged to improve her already excellent health with seaside bathing, and enjoy all the pleasures Sanditon had to offer, including registering at the library and buying gloves for her sisters from the gift shop therein. Mr Heywood himself could do no more than promise Mr Parker that he would suggest to anybody who asked his advice, that Sanditon was the resort worthy of notice, and not to spend even a farthing in Brinshore where he had heard that seaweed befouled the beaches. Mr Parker found this promise very reassuring.

Whilst travelling in their carriage, Mr Parker thought the time right to give Charlotte as much information as possible on the great lady of the neighbourhood. Lady Denham began her life as Miss Brereton and was born to wealth, not education. When she was thirty she married the elderly Mr Hollis, a wealthy man with a manor and mansion house in Sanditon and considerable property in the country. At his death he left her everything. Some years later she remarried to Sir Harry Denham of Denham Park, who died before he succeeded in enriching his family with her fortune. She was much too shrewd for that. She benefited from the marriage only in the receipt of the title, which one imagines, must have been her reason for marrying him.

She was now in her seventies with three different families vying for their share of her fortune. Their constant courting gave her a little self-importance, and her naturally tight-fisted nature led her to pit them against each other for her favour. Her nephew, the present Baronet, Sir Edward and his sister Miss Denham, close at hand in Denham Park, entertained great hopes of improving their meagre inheritances with sizeable provisions from their dearest aunt. In addition, Lady Denham had a young relative, Miss Clara Brereton, living with her as a companion and completely dependent upon her. She was a general favourite because of her steady conduct and mild, gentle temper, and as she was felt worthy of trust, her loveliness could not be held against her. All this Charlotte was told, and she could easily have formed her opinion of their characters on these facts alone, but she chose to wait to meet them for herself and let her own good judgement prevail.

As they drew within two miles of the sea, Charlotte was struck by the view of a moderately sized house with well-tended gardens, orchards and meadows.

"What a very snug looking place. Why, it seems to have all the comforts of my dear home."

"Indeed," said Mr Parker. "It is my family home, where my brothers and sisters and I were born and bred - in fact where my three eldest were born. Mrs Parker and I lived there until our new house was finished. Hillier, my tenant, keeps it in smooth operation and I in return have a home in a much better situation. This old house is hidden away in this valley without air or view, so close to the ocean without receiving any of its advantages. You will not think it a bad exchange when you see Trafalgar House, I'll wager."

"It was always a very comfortable house," said Mrs Parker with a tinge of regret. "And such an excellent garden."

"Yes my love, but it still supplies us with all we need in the way of fruits and vegetables, without the eyesore and smell of decaying vegetation in the wintertime, and if we should happen to run out we may always procure what we need at Sanditon House."

"But the garden was so nice for the children to run about in, and so shady in the summer."

"In the course of a few years when my plantation is grown we will have more than enough shade, and for now our canvas awning gives us complete comfort within doors. And the boys should be encouraged to run about in the sunshine so as to be as hardy as possible."

"And I may purchase Mary a little parasol and she will be as proud as can be, fancying herself quite a little lady. My dear, I have not the smallest doubt that we are far better off where we are right now, but this old house is like a dear friend to me. The Hilliers tell me that they felt last winter's storms not at all while we were all rocked in our beds in the most dreadful manner."

"Yes we get all the grandeur of a storm with none of the danger - the wind simply rages and passes on. Down in this trench the inhabitants can be taken completely unawares by those dreadful currents that do more mischief in a valley." He paused for a moment and then continued in a livelier tone. "My brother Sidney jokes that I should make it into a hospital - he pretends to laugh at all my improvements, you know, Miss Heywood. He has such superior abilities and spirits and will say anything to make one laugh - so clever he is and with great powers of pleasing. His only fault is that he is so unsettled - always here, there, and everywhere. I wish we could get him to Sanditon. He is such a fine young man. With his neat equipage and fashionable air he would lend a great deal of style to the place! Many a respectable family with a careful mother and pretty daughter his presence might secure to us at the expense of Eastbourne and Hastings."

They had long since passed the house and were now approaching the church and real village of Old Sanditon, which nestled at the foot of the hill they were set to ascend. A stream ran through the valley and wound obliquely to the sea, where a small cluster of fisherman's houses hugged the shore. The village itself was made up of little more than cottages, but even some of these had bright new shutters and were let to summer visitors. The hill that rose between village and sea was covered with the woods and enclosures of Sanditon House, and at its height ended in an open down.

Mr Parker was full of anticipation of the lodgings that would be rented out upon the health-breathing hill where New Sanditon faced the sea in all its natural splendour. Sanditon House was the last building upon the hill from the earlier days of the parish. All beyond it was modern; Prospect House, Bellevue Cottage and Denham place were all presented to Charlotte for her praise. She viewed them all calmly with amused curiosity.

His spirits high, Mr Parker spoke of the flowing tide, the sands, the cliffs, and his own house on the most elevated point of the down. When it finally came to view, Charlotte saw that it was a light, elegant building in the middle of a small lawn with a very young plantation around it, and only one hundred yards from a steep but unprepossessing cliff. Next to it was a row of smart looking houses called the Terrace, with a broad walk in front that had become the mall of the place. In the Terrace could be found the best milliners, the library and a little detached from it, the hotel and billiard room. This point began the descent to the beach and the bathing machines and was the favoured spot for beauty and fashion.

The travellers were set down at Trafalgar house and the Parkers were joyfully reunited with their dear children. Charlotte was shown to her own apartment and amused herself standing at the spacious Venetian window, gazing out past rooftops and chimney-pots to the stretch of white sand and the dancing waters of the vast expanse of glinting sea. She breathed in the tangy salt air and smiled at the thought of Mr Parker, who would no doubt be now extolling its every benefit.

Charlotte met with her hosts in the drawing room before dinner. Mr Parker had been going through his correspondence and had a letter to share with Charlotte and his wife.

"Sidney is such an idle fellow. I had expected an answer from him on the account I sent of the accident - but nothing! Perhaps instead he will treat us with his presence. Instead I have a letter here from my sister Diana. What say you Mary? Shall we guess the state of their health? I know what Sidney would say. Miss Heywood, I'll have you know that my brother thinks my sisters' complaints are for the most part imaginary. Possibly it is so sometimes, but really they do suffer wretched health and always have a number of serious ailments. But they are so energetic and useful; their resourcefulness always amazes me. They have weaker constitutions and stronger minds than any two ladies you have ever met. And Arthur, my youngest brother, who is only twenty-one, is so delicate he can engage in no profession. Sidney laughs at them all, and though it is no joke, often makes me laugh despite myself."

Charlotte wondered at a brother who could laugh at the misfortune of his own siblings, but thought better to make no comment that would be thought judgmental. Mr Parker plainly held him in affection.

"If Sidney were here, he would lay odds as to which of the three would have been at the point of death within the last month!" He perused the letter for a moment and then resumed his commentary. "I don't think there is any chance of them coming to Sanditon - Mary, you will be sorry to hear how very ill they have been. It is not a laughing matter, I assure you."

Both Charlotte and Mrs Parker looked on in some concern, and Mr Parker continued. "I hope you don't mind my imparting the full content of the letter, Miss Heywood. I'm afraid this may be the only means of your meeting my sisters. Diana goes on to write of my accident, saying how relieved they were we fell into such good hands." Here he smiled at Charlotte. "It seems she once cured the sprained foot of a coachman by applying friction to the area - mark this! She rubbed his ankle for six hours straight. It was healed in only three days. Well, I don't know if that would have worked in my case, but how fortunate for the coachman . . . dear me, she is suffering from Spasmodic bile again and barely able to crawl from her bed. She says that they have all given up on doctors entirely so, Mary my dear, our trip in search of a physician would have been fruitless even if we had found one. The addition of a doctor would not have brought them here as we had hoped. Diana goes so far as to say she believes the sea air would be the death of her. Now that I cannot countenance - there is nothing more fortifying."

"Yes my dear, but you do know your sisters. They are very set in their beliefs."

"True. They are now undertaking their own remedies . . . Susan's nerves are very unequal and she has been suffering headaches . . . my goodness. First she was treated with six leaches a day for ten days, and then she had three teeth drawn . . . I am happy to say she is much better now, but cannot speak above a whisper. Diana says she only fainted twice that morning and we are to take it as a good sign. Arthur has a cough and Diana fears for his liver. Poor fellow."

"But, Tom, you say yourself that it is a great pity your sisters give Arthur such a turn for being ill. I can't believe he is as unwell as Diana would have us think."

"I wish I could but get him here. Our fresh breezes and a program of immersion would have him in fine fettle in no time. I dare say Sidney would find something most entertaining in this letter, but their sufferings appear to be immense and their goodness - just listen to this! Though they are so ill themselves, they cannot help but think of our dear Sanditon. Diana has secured two families, through letters with friends, one a rich West Indian, and the other a party from a respectable boarding school for girls. She has been quite tireless in the endeavour!"

"What a splendid thing for our town," said Mrs Parker.

"It is indeed. One family would be perfect for Prospect House and the other the end house on the Terrace. I must write to Diana immediately after dinner. Are not my sisters excellent women, Miss Heywood?"

"They appear to be very extraordinary ones!" exclaimed Charlotte. "I am astonished at the cheerful style of the letter considering their state of health. I do not know which sister's case is the most distressing - but perhaps it is your sister Susan. Three teeth pulled!"

"Oh! They are used to every operation, and they have such fortitude."

"I dare say they know what they are about, although their methods appear somewhat extreme to me. If I were so very ill, I should prefer to consult a professional, but then I come from such a healthy family I am no judge of what the habit of self-doctoring may do."

"To own the truth," said Mrs Parker, "I think our sisters carry it a bit too far sometimes."

"I grant you that I wish they would leave themselves more alone - especially in the case of Arthur. He should be encouraged to occupation and not indisposition," answered Mr Parker. "Ah! Here is Morgan, announcing our dinner. Miss Heywood, let us make our way to the dining room."

After the meal, Mr Parker retired to write his letter so that it could be mailed that afternoon. A walk to the main points of interest at the Terrace was to be the program of the next hour or so. Mr Parker could no longer keep his guest from discovering for herself the delights that awaited her in Sanditon

Chapter 2

Posted on Sunday, 5 October 2003, at 1:13 a.m.

The after dinner hour was the quietest the watering-place had to offer; Terrace and shops, cliffs and sand - all was practically deserted, save an elderly man or two obliged to walk out got their health. To the library they went, and Charlotte was able to gratify Mr Parker by signing the subscription book. That gentleman was disappointed to find the list of subscribers was less numerous than he had hoped, and without distinction. He consoled himself that July was only the start of the season, August and September being truly the busy months.

Besides books, the library offered all the useless things of the world that could not be done without. Charlotte had to restrain her purchases though there were so many pretty temptations for she felt that at two and twenty there could be no excuse for her spending all her money on her first evening, and on such fripperies. They quitted the library with the intent to take a turn on the cliff but immediately met up with Lady Denham and Miss Brereton who had just come from calling at Trafalgar House. After the introductions, Lady Denham professed the intent to go home directly, but the Parkers knew what she really wanted was to be pressed to take tea with them, therefore the stroll on the cliff was left for another day and the party turned their steps for home.

"On no account hurry your tea for me," said Lady Denham. "Miss Clara and I had no thought to take tea with you, only to make sure that you were safely come home before going back for our own tea." However she returned with them to Trafalgar House and took possession of the drawing room apparently unaware of Mrs Parker's immediate request to a servant to bring tea directly.

Charlotte did not mind the loss of her walk for now she was able to observe for herself those very people they had talked of all morning. Lady Denham was stout, upright, and alert, with a shrewd eye and self-satisfied aspect. She was downright and abrupt but had an air of good humour and cordiality. She seemed to be full of good will. Miss Brereton struck Charlotte as being very lovely - elegant and tall, with a delicate complexion and soft blue eyes. She personified all that one could desire in a heroine of a novel - modesty, beauty, and grace - plus her situation, as a poor companion to an old lady, brought out all the ideas of modern plots: poverty and dependence joined by beauty and merit, destined to be ill-used. Charlotte, being a sober-minded young lady, amused herself for a short time with this fancy, but had to admit that observation showed the two ladies to be on comfortable terms, one displaying protective kindness, the other, grateful and affectionate respect.

They conversed on Sanditon, the present number of visitors, and the chance of a good season. Lady Denham was not as confident as Mr Parker that the popularity of the place was successful enough for their expenditures in development. Mr Parker spoke of the families his sister had organised with much optimism and Lady Denham hoped their free spending would not raise the price of merchandise for the local inhabitants, her concern mainly for herself.

"You may smile, young lady," she said to Charlotte, "but you will see that when you have a hall of servants to feed, the price of butchers' meat will be of some importance. It is better to have fewer servants, but the good upkeep of Sanditon House I owe to poor Mr Hollis' memory, not for my own amusement, I assure you. Mr Parker, I feel the girls from the boarding school may be in need of asses' milk. What say you? I have two milch asses at present and could provide them readily. I do hope they have a sharp governess and mind the furniture."

She continued on, chiding Mr Parker for his accident on such a needless journey. Her opinion of doctors was no better than his sisters'. For good health all that was needed was proximity to the sea, the opportunity to walk upon the downs, and asses' milk. She even went so far as to say her good husband Hollis would be alive today if not for the intervention of doctors whose chief interest was their fees. After partaking of a full tea, which she accepted without demur, Lady Denham and Miss Brereton took their leave.

The next morning brought more visitors. Sir Edward Denham and his sister came to pay their respects after first doing their duty at Sanditon House. Miss Denham was very fine - cold and reserved. She gave the impression of having pride in her consequence and discontent in the poverty. Sir Edward was handsome and displayed a desire to pay attention and give pleasure. He talked much to Charlotte by whom he had the good luck to be placed and she was quite pleased by his fine countenance and good voice. She thought him agreeable and was persuaded he found her equally so. He sat by her and conversed though his sister was soon desirous to say her goodbyes. It was not till he saw Lady Denham and Miss Brereton through the French windows of the drawing room that he anxiously glanced after them and shortly thereafter readily agreed to a proposal of his sister for walking on to the Terrace. This sudden change in attentions served to cure Charlotte's half-hour fever and enabled her to be more capable of judging how agreeable he actually had been.

She was soon in his company again and given more opportunity to judge whether there was more to him to attract than his air, address, and title. Once the Parkers' house was cleared of morning visitors their first object was the Terrace where, seated on one of two green benches by the gravel walk, they came upon the entire Denham party. To Charlotte's eye, Sir Edward gave the impression of a lover, but Clara did not seem to appear all that favourable of sitting as they were apart from Lady Denham and her other niece. Miss Denham, for her part, was evidently doing her penance, listening and smiling to her aunt with solicitous eagerness.

Sir Edward surprised Charlotte by quitting Clara's side immediately and joining her to walk along the promenade. He began to speak of the sea and the shore with great taste and feeling, praising their sublimity and the indescribable emotions they were wont to evoke in language as florid as it was fluent. He quoted poetry to back his impressions in a conversation that Charlotte soon discovered showed much sentiment and feeling but said little about his powers of thought or the depth of his knowledge. When there was a proposition to go to the library, she gladly accepted Lady Denham's invitation to remain with her on the Terrace, having had quite enough of Sir Edward for one morning.

Lady Denham immediately took Charlotte's arm and led her off and, like a true great lady, talked only of her own concerns while Charlotte listened, amused at the contrast of her two companions. Here was no doubtful sentiment, no phrase difficult to interpret. "Miss Esther is doing her best to entice me to invite her brother and herself for a week at Sanditon House as I did last summer, but I am not taken in by all her praise. An invitation will not be forthcoming,"

"Sir Edward and Miss Denham?" asked Charlotte, unsure how to respond to such directness.

"Yes, my young folks, as I like to call them. They are very good young people - I would not have them about if they were not deserving of my notice, but I will not be manipulated. I do not only notice them for my poor dear Sir Harry's sake. We did live happily together. When he died I gave Sir Edward his gold watch. It was not a bequest, mind. He only told me but once he should like his nephew to have it, and there was nothing in his will. It need not have been binding had I not chosen to do it."

Charlotte found herself in a position where she had to show admiration of such benevolence, no matter her own thoughts on the subject.

"I have been very liberal to Sir Edward. I receive nothing from the Denham estate - it is I who help him."

Charlotte, casting about for something to say, remarked that he was a fine and elegant young man, which immediately made her open to suspicion.

"Yes he is," said Lady Denham, giving her a shrewd glance, "and it is hoped a lady of large fortune will think so too. He likes to pay young ladies compliments but he knows he must marry for money."

"With such personal advantages as he has," said Charlotte, reclaiming herself, "he is sure of getting a woman of fortune if he so chooses."

"Very sensibly said," cried Lady Denham. "We need to attract an heiress to Sanditon. With all the people coming and going we have not had one yet - they are most scarce. If only one would be sent here for her health - I could supply her with asses' milk and as soon as she became well, have her fall in love with Sir Edward."

Charlotte agreed that this eventuality would be most fortunate.

"Miss Esther must find herself a man of fortune as well. Young ladies with no money are much to be pitied - but still I will not invite her to stay at Sanditon House - I have Miss Clara with me now. I have no fancy for my house to be as full as a hotel and give my housemaids so much more work - next they would be wanting higher wages."

Charlotte said nothing as she could not affect sympathy for objections such as these.

"Besides, my dear, I will not fill my house up when there are lodgings to be had in Sanditon. When next Miss Esther complains of the damp at Denham Park, and the good sea bathing does her, I will suggest they take lodgings for a fortnight. Does not that sound fair? Charity begins at home."

Charlotte kept her countenance but was overcome with both amusement and indignation. She stayed silent but could listen no longer.

'She is very mean - I can see no good in her,' Charlotte thought as Lady Denham continued talking in the same vein. 'Mr Parker's good nature misleads him. Poor Miss Brereton to have to suffer catering to her, and poor Sir Edward and his sister, obliged to be mean themselves in their servility to her. And I am mean too, for I have given my attention and the appearance of coinciding with her. This is the effect when rich people are sordid.'

They were then again joined by the others as they issued from the library. Sir Edward immediately approached Charlotte. "As you perceive our time has been spent selecting reading for our leisure hours. I hold the mere trash of the common circulating library in contempt and read no novels whose puerile emanations detail discordant principles or those vapid tissues of ordinary occurrences which have no relevance. You understand my meaning, no doubt?"

"I am not sure. Perhaps if to tell me which sort of novels you do approve, I may have a clearer idea."

"I would be most willing. They ought to display human nature with grandeur, show sublimities of intense feeling, exhibit progress of strong passion, leaving me full of generous emotion with my heart paralysed - such works I read with delight."

"If I understand you correctly," said Charlotte, "our tastes in novels are quite dissimilar."

The truth was, Sir Edward read more sentimental novels than agreed with him. He owed many of his ideas to this sort of reading, but he also collected eloquent words from the more popular essays of the day and involved sentences from the style of the most approved writers. His great object in life was to be seductive. He knew he had the necessary personal advantages to attract, and talents it was only his duty to utilise. He even felt his very name held a degree of fascination. He made it a point to be gallant and assiduous to the fair, but it was only upon Clara that he had serious designs. He was quite determined to seduce her - her situation called for it - lovely and dependent as she was.

Clara could read his intentions very well and had no desire to be seduced, but bore with him patiently - indeed a greater degree of discouragement would not have deflected his purpose. If she could not be won by affection, he had already determined he would carry her off and was wishful of discovering some solitary house which would suit his purpose. It was only the expense of such a romantic act that obliged him to take a quieter and slower course to the ruin and disgrace of the object of his affections.

A few days later, Charlotte was just ascending from the sands to the Terrace, when she spied a gentleman's carriage standing newly arrived by the hotel door, a quantity of luggage in the process of being unloaded. Delighted to have such news for Mr Parker, she hurried to Trafalgar house, but was soon aware of being followed by a lady walking very nimbly behind her at quite a fast pace. The lady arrived on the step as the door was opened and greeted the butler by name. At that moment Mr Parker entered the hall and Charlotte was soon introduced to none other than his sister, Miss Diana Parker. The Parkers were both surprised and delighted to see her. She had come with her brother and sister and they had every intention of taking lodgings.

Miss Diana Parker was four and thirty, of average height, and rather than sickly in appearance was slender and delicate with an abundance of nervous energy. "We have all come - it was quite unavoidable, though Susan has not slept a wink and I have a thousand fears for her. I am happy to report she has kept up well. Indeed, she had no hysterics until we entered poor old Sanditon, and these were over by the time we reached the hotel. When I left her she was directing the disposal of the luggage. She has sent her regrets and Arthur too for, though he wanted to pay his respects, could not come out in the wind for fear of lumbago. Miss Heywood must have seen our carriage - I knew it was she the moment I saw her ahead of me on the down. But Tom dear, how is your ankle? It looks to be all right and tight."

"It does very well, sister. I am more than pleased to have you all in Sanditon, but how came you to change your minds?"

"It is this business with the two families. The West Indians prove to be a Mrs Griffiths and her family whom I came to hear of through Miss Capper, a particular friend of my dear Fanny Noice, and she is intimate with Mrs Darling who corresponds with Mrs Griffiths herself. The said lady meant to go to sea for her young people's health and had decided upon Sussex and through a chain of letters between the lot of us I was able to make her the recommendation of Sanditon, but I have lately learned that she is hesitating because she has no connections in this place and no means of ascertaining that she should have good accommodations upon arriving here. She is particularly scrupulous on account of a young lady in her care. Miss Lambe is her name. She has quite a fortune and very delicate health. It is quite obvious that Mrs Griffiths is one of those women who have been made helpless and indolent by wealth and a hot climate. For me the decision was clear - I could have put it in your or Mrs Whitby's hands, but I hate to employ others when I can act myself. Here was a family of helpless individuals it was in my power to serve. Susan was of the same mind and Arthur readily agreed so we were off yesterday morning at six, left Chichester at the same hour this morning, and here we are."

"Diana, you are unequalled in serving your friends - I know nobody like you - is she not a wonderful creature, Mary my love? What house do you plan to engage for them? What is the size of their family?"

"I have not the least idea," replied his sister, "not having heard the particulars, but I am certain the largest house in Sanditon cannot be too large. I shall undertake to hire them a house for a week. Miss Heywood, I see by your looks you know not what to make of me. You are not used to such quick measures."

The words 'unaccountable officiousness' and 'activity run mad' had just gone through Charlotte's mind, but she was able to answer civilly. "I am surprised at such exertions because I know what great invalids you and your sister are."

"Indeed, we are three of the worst invalids in England, Miss Heywood, but we are put upon this world to be of use, and strength of mind overcomes weakness of body. It is the duty of those who can to act and let no opportunity of being useful escape them. My sister's complaints and my own do not threaten our existence immediately, and I am convinced that in helping others, the mental benefits we receive assuage our physical ailments. While I have been travelling with this object in view, I have been perfectly well."

Mr Parker then thought to ask after the other family his sister had recommended to visit Sanditon.

"The Camberwell Seminary party is certain to come," said Diana. "Three days ago I had a letter saying all was arranged from Mrs Dupuis, who lives next door to a lady who has a relation newly settled in Clapham who actually gives lessons at the seminary. I provided that man with a hare, which I got from a friend of Sidney, and he recommended Sanditon to the headmistress. That lady, not being so wealthy and independent as Mrs. Griffiths, is capable of travelling and choosing her accommodations herself."

Shortly after, Diana Parker, resisting all offers of assistance from her brother, went off to scour the area for a suitable home for the Griffiths family, and hoped to settle the matter before dinner at six, giving her a full hour and a half for her search. She could not answer for seeing them again in the evening because she had little confidence in Arthur's ability to procure their own lodgings and expected to be busy in that regard all evening, in the hopes of being able to move from the hotel after breakfast.

Charlotte marvelled at Miss Diana Parker. Less than a week ago she had been certain that the sea air would be the death of her and now she was intending on a long stay in Sanditon, without the slightest recollection of her prior misgivings. Charlotte could only suppose that all the disorders and recoveries were due to the amusement of eager minds in want of employment rather than actual afflictions and cures. She surmised that the Parkers were a family of imagination and quick feelings - Mr Parker finding his outlet in the development and promotion of Sanditon while his sisters were driven to dissipate theirs in odd complaints and a zeal for being useful. Either they were very busy about someone else's business, or they were extremely ill themselves. Though they had charitable hearts and many amiable feelings, there appeared to be a vanity in all they did as well as all they endured.

Mr and Mrs Parker spent most of the evening at the hotel but Charlotte stayed back and had only two or three views of Miss Diana posting all over the down after a house for a lady who had not employed her. The following evening Charlotte finally made the acquaintance of the other two Parkers when she joined Mr and Mrs Parker in visiting them for tea at the Terrace house they had hired. The dining room was small and neat and would have had a beautiful view of the sea had they but opened the curtains. There was a brisk fire going in the hearth and the entire set up of the room was established around it.

Miss Susan was quite like her sister in person and manner but a trifle more thin and worn, and more relaxed. Her voice was more subdued, but she talked as incessantly as Diana. Though she held salts in her hand, took drops two or three times out of the various vials that surrounded her, and made a great many odd faces and contortions, Charlotte was unable to observe any symptoms which she herself would not have undertaken to cure by putting out the fire, opening the window, and disposing of the drops and salts.

In Mr Arthur Parker, Charlotte had expected to discover a puny, delicate looking young man, but instead he was quite as tall as his brother and a good deal stouter. The only thing that gave him the look of an invalid was his sodden complexion.

Diana was the most active and industrious and alert of the three. She had been about Mrs Griffiths' business all morning; Susan had superintended the removal from the hotel, and Arthur had found the air so cold he had merely walked as quickly as he could from the hotel to the lodgings and employed himself in building up the fire and roasting himself before it.

Diana had spent seven hours on her feet, by her own estimation, and had not only secured the perfect house for Mrs Griffiths at seven guineas a week, she had also interviewed any number of prospective servants and even bathing women. Upon conclusion of her efforts she had written a few lines to the lady herself to inform her that all was in place. She had no doubt that all her efforts would be greatly appreciated.

On their way to the Terrace lodgings, Charlotte and her companions had seen two post chaises roll into town and they were now all speculation as to just whom it could be. The general opinion was that the party from the seminary would employ at least three chaises so it had to be another family entirely, a thought which pleased Mr Parker enormously as he had visions of there soon being nothing available to let in all Sanditon.

When they seated themselves for tea, Charlotte was placed beside Arthur, after politely refusing his own chair, much to his satisfaction. She was happy to have him as a shield from the heat of the fire and was thankful that he had turned out to be so much larger than she had expected him to be. Although Arthur was sleepy eyed, he was not indisposed to talk to an attractive young woman, and his brother, who often belied his want of motivation for action, looked on with pleasure. The influence of Charlotte's youth and bloom was so great he even began a sort of apology for his fire.

"I would not normally have a fire at this time, but the damp affects me so very much and there is nothing quite so damp as the sea air."

""I never notice whether air is damp or dry," said Charlotte pleasantly, "for either way I always find it wholesome and invigorating."

"I have a great fondness for air," responded Arthur. "There is nothing finer than standing in an open window when there is no wind, but damp air gives me rheumatism. You do not suffer from it, I suppose?"

"Not at all."

"What a blessing! But are you nervous?"

"I have never had any indication of it."

"Nerves are my greatest complaint. My sisters think me bilious, though I doubt it."

"I would encourage you to doubt it for as long as you can."

"If I were bilious, wine would disagree with me, but it always does me good. I am at my best in the evening after a glass of wine."

Charlotte kept her countenance and said, "I believe air and exercise are the best remedies for nervous complaints. I would recommend more than you are probably in the habit of taking."

"I am very fond of exercise and mean to walk a great deal. If the weather is mild I shall be out before breakfast every day taking a turn upon the Terrace and even call at Trafalgar house."

"I would not call that much exercise."

"But the hill is so steep! I would be in a bath of perspiration once I arrived - my nervous condition makes me very subject to perspiration."

Charlotte was glad at this point in the conversation to be interrupted by the serving of tea. Arthur's attention was taken up by his cocoa. There were also various sorts of herbal teas for the Parker sisters. Arthur busied himself with toasting bread upon the fire.

"Would you not like some cocoa and toast?" he asked Charlotte when he was done, quite unaware that she was already drinking tea. "I take a large dish of weak cocoa every evening, but if you prefer tea . . ."

"I do." Charlotte noticed that the cocoa appeared quite fine and dark, and his sisters became aware of it as well and immediately began to scold him.

"'Tis rather stronger than it should be tonight," was his only excuse, but Charlotte gathered that Arthur was not as fond of being starved as his sisters might wish.

"I hope you will take some toast," said he rather hurriedly. "I pride myself as very adept and never burn a slice. I hope you like dry toast."

"With a reasonable quantity of butter," said Charlotte, "but not otherwise."

"Yes, yes. Butter coats the stomach, making it more wholesome. I will prepare you some directly." Arthur had difficulty getting the butter from his sisters until they understood that it was for Miss Heywood. He spread her toast liberally and then, eyeing his sisters much to Charlotte's amusement, took his own to hand, scraping off as much as he put on and then adding a large dab just before taking a bite. Charlotte was now ready to believe that his invalidism was no more than a form of indolence, and that his disorders were probably of the type that called for warm rooms and good nourishment.

After tea, a letter was delivered by hand from the hotel. It was from Mrs Dupuis, and served to introduce Mrs Griffiths with her party from Camberwell. Diana was astounded by the coincidence that both families bore the same name, until she read the description of Miss Lambe, and she had to come to the realisation that the two families she had so assiduously worked to bring to Sanditon were the one and the same. She quickly put on her shawl and rushed to the hotel to investigate the truth and offer her services.

Diana felt a trifle awkward when first obliged to admit her mistake, but the fact that she had gone to so much trouble for nothing seemed not to bother her in the least. She easily divided the blame among all the links in her chain and was seen the next morning energetically walking about after lodgings with Mrs Griffiths.

That lady had come to Sanditon with three young ladies in her charge, and of these three Miss Lambe was the most important. She was seventeen, half mulatto, and had a maid of her own. The other girls were two Miss Beauforts, of a type found anywhere in England, with tolerable complexions, showy figures, and an assured look. They were very accomplished and very ignorant, their time divided between attracting admiration and attempting to dress in a style beyond what their purses could afford. Their object was to capture a gentleman with a larger fortune than their own. They would have liked a more fashionable summer resort but Mrs Griffiths chose the quiet of Sanditon with Miss Lambe in mind. The Miss Beauforts had every intention of being the most stylish in the place, the elder with her harp, and Miss Letitia by attracting the curiosity and rapture of all who came near her while she sketched. The introduction of Mrs Griffiths to Diana Parker assured them of acquaintance with the residents of Trafalgar House and the Denhams, and they were soon very satisfied by the circle in which they moved.

Lady Denham called on Mrs Griffiths with other motives than elevation of their circle. In Miss Lambe, young sickly and rich, she had hopes for Sir Edward's sake and also that of her milch asses. The benefit for the Baronet could not yet be counted out, but Mrs Griffiths was adamant that Miss Lambe was suffering from no symptoms that would benefit from asses' milk.

Miss Diana Parker finally settled her new friends in the corner house on the Terrace, which opened onto the favourite meeting place of all visitors to Sanditon, the house she had previously hired being too large. The Miss Beauforts were very pleased with this location as it would provide them with just the sort of seclusion that they most desired. In fact, the frequency with which they opened and closed the blinds and arranged flowerpots on the balcony had attracted many an eye upwards. They could not go anywhere without being noticed and soon decided that a place like Sanditon had benefits that a busier locale might not have afforded them.

Chapter Three

Posted on Wednesday, 15 October 2003, at 10:50 a.m.

In her ten days at Sanditon, Charlotte had not once been to Sanditon House, as Lady Denham was always met the moment they would set out. This day there was a greater effort made to leave earlier so that the attention of calling on Lady Denham could no longer be neglected, and Charlotte would have a chance to visit the stately home that she had heard so much about. Mr Parker desired his wife, Mary, to discuss with her ladyship the idea of taking up a charitable subscription for the Mullin family which was in dire straights. Mrs Parker was not sure she could handle the task at all well, though both Mr Parker and Diana thought there was nothing easier. Miss Diana Parker even went so far as to suggest that she also present the case of a family in Worcestershire who were in need, and if Lady Denham should be in a giving mood, to also speak in the favour of the Charitable Repository in Burton on Trent and the family of a man recently hung in the assizes at York.

"My dear Diana," said Mrs Parker. "I could no more mention these things to Lady Denham than I could fly."

Diana could see no difficulty. She said that she wished she could go herself but was engaged with Mrs Griffiths to superintend Miss Lambe's first dip in the ocean, as the poor girl was quite frightened. After that she needed to apply leeches for Susan, a treatment she expected to take three hours. "By then I dare say we shall both go to our rooms for the rest of the day."

This prompted Mary to invite Arthur to join them, but it was Diana's opinion that Arthur was in need of a rest too, for left to himself he would eat and drink more than he should. "So you see, it is impossible for me to accompany you to Lady Denham's."

Mr Parker then withdrew his application for his wife to take up the matter of the Mullins with Lady Denham thus Diana was not able to press her suit. Mr Parker acted not only out of a desire to relieve his wife of a duty that she found cumbersome, but also because of the ill effect all his sister's requests would have on his claim.

Mrs Parker was delighted to be released from the duty and set off with Charlotte and little Mary in the direction of the great house. It was a misty morning and when they reached the brow of the hill they had difficulty making out whether the carriage that was coming up towards them was a gig or a phaeton. Mary finally recognised it as belonging to her Uncle Sidney.

In a moment a very neat curricle pulled up beside them and the driver jumped down, handing the reins to his groom. After bestowing a salutation and a kiss on the cheek to Mrs Parker, he turned to Mary and said, "You are so grown up now Miss Parker that I can no longer pick you up and throw you in the air as I am wont to - at least not openly in the street like this. What would the neighbours say? I can see them peeking from behind their curtains, so instead I will offer you my hand and my kindest wishes and tell you how much you have grown, and then when I visit your house later tonight we can play like children as much as we fancy and they will be none the wiser."

Mary giggled and held out her hand, which he raised to his lips, whispering, "Enchanted."

"Oh, Uncle Sidney," she said bashfully as she crept closer to her mother's skirts, but she seemed very pleased to have been offered the distinction.

During this exchange Charlotte had time to observe him. She knew him to be seven and twenty from what Mr Parker had told her, but without that information she would have thought him younger. He was taller than his brothers were and of a lighter build, very fashionably dressed and with easy manners. His countenance was lively, his eyes bright, and his smile mischievous. When he was done sporting with his young niece, he looked over to Charlotte and then at his sister expectantly.

"Sidney, let me introduce our good friend Miss Heywood who is staying with us. Miss Heywood, this is my brother, Mr Sidney Parker, of whom you have heard us speak. Finally the two of you are able to meet." Mrs Parker looked at them both happily as Sidney made his bow.

"I have heard so much about you, Miss Heywood, and I would say now that all the reports were true if I was not aware that you must be acquainted with my family's propensity for exaggeration. I am afraid that from all you have been told of me you are already prepared to doubt the validity of anything I have to say." He smiled down at her with a decided twinkle in his eyes.

Charlotte was amused by this very unorthodox greeting but was left wondering if the young man had it in him to ever be serious. She was also left unsure of whether to take what he said as a compliment or rather the reverse, not that she was either hoping for or expecting compliments from Mr Sidney Parker. "I have heard much about you, also, Mr Parker, and at the moment I am inclined to believe that all of it was true."

"That is a low blow indeed," he responded, laughing and then turned to his sister who was asking if he meant to stay with them at Trafalgar House.

"You did not tell us you were coming, but a room may be ready for you in a trice. Tom will be delighted to see you."

"I have just come up from Eastbourne and only plan to stay for two or three days, but I will be quite comfortable in the hotel. There is no need to go to any trouble over me - Tom should be most happy that I am bringing my custom to the hotel and increasing the prosperity of his resort. Not only that, I am to be joined by a friend or two. We will soon set the society of Sanditon on its ears with all our fancy town airs as we walk out upon the Terrace!"

After a few more common enquiries and remarks they parted with plans to meet again at Trafalgar House in a few hours. This adventure afforded agreeable discussion for some time as the ladies continued down the hill to the prestigious home of Lady Denham. Mrs Parker elaborated upon all the joy her husband would derive from this surprise visit, and exulted in the credit which Sidney's arrival would bring to Sanditon.

The road they were walking was a broad and handsomely planned approach between fields. At the end of a quarter mile a second set of gates led them through into the grounds which, though not extensive, were made beautiful by an abundance of very fine timber.

Though Charlotte enjoyed the views of the sea and the cliffs that she beheld from her window at Trafalgar house, she missed the beauty of the countryside and being surrounded by woods and fields. Mr Parker's plantation was too young to afford her any of the joys that beholding so much splendour engendered.

The entrance gates were at the corner of the grounds so near to one of its boundaries that the fence was almost pressing upon the road until a few bends threw them a better distance from it. This fence was a well-kept park paling with clusters of fine elms and old hawthorns following the line it carved between the properties. Here and there, however, were vacant spaces, and through one of these Charlotte caught a glimpse over the pales of a dash of white in the far field.

For some reason the image of Miss Brereton came into her head and, stepping up to the pales and glancing over, she spied her seated on the foot of the bank, distinct in spite of the still-present mist. She appeared to be composed, and to Charlotte's surprise she was accompanied by Sir Edward Denham who was seated quite near to her. They were closely engaged in conversation, and Charlotte instantly felt that to make her presence known would be an intrusion. Privacy was certainly their object.

She stepped back and rejoined Mrs Parker and Mary but could not avoid speculating at what a rendezvous of that sort could mean. It certainly put Clara Brereton in an unfavourable light - from all she had seen of the young lady up until this point she would never have expected it of her. Still, Clara's was not a situation to be judged with severity.

Charlotte was pleased that Mrs Parker had noticed nothing. It was her own added height that had brought Miss Brereton's white ribbons to her observant eyes. The tête-à-tête produced many points of moralising reflection for Charlotte, one being the extreme difficulty secret lovers must have in finding a secluded spot for their stolen meetings. Perhaps they had thought themselves secure from observation - an empty field, a steep bank, and pales never crossed by the foot of man at their back, and the added benefit of the low fog - but yet they had been found out. They had been ill used by the coincidences of fate.

Lost in reflection, Charlotte did not notice the house until they were almost upon it. Sanditon House was large and handsome, built of grey stone with an imposing entranceway. Two servants in fine livery appeared to admit them, lending an air of importance to the establishment and showing Charlotte in just what high regard Lady Denham held herself.

They were shown into a sitting room of fine proportions. The furniture was all of high quality and though not of the latest fashion, extremely well kept. Lady Denham was not yet present, giving Charlotte the opportunity to look about at her surroundings much more openly than she could have in that lady's company. A full-length portrait of a stately gentleman placed high over the mantelpiece caught her eye immediately. Mrs Parker was able to inform her that it was a picture of the late Sir Harry Denham, and that among a collection of miniatures in another part of the room the likeness of Mr Hollis could be found. Charlotte felt instant sympathy for that unfortunate gentleman, who in his own house had to yield the best place above the fire to his wife's second husband. He had provided her with all of the wealth that afforded her lifestyle, but it was the baronet from which she derived her prestige. To Charlotte's mind Mr Hollis was harshly used.

Lady Denham kept them waiting a full five minutes and then joined them without apology. She was eager as ever to hear if there was any news of more visitors to the town, and at the same time bemoaned all of her expenditure in its development that she was afraid would never garner the profit she had anticipated. She went on at length to list various areas in which she felt she had been short changed already and Charlotte was heartily glad that Mr Parker had withdrawn his request that Mrs Parker forward the plan for a subscription for the Mullin family. She could not imagine even someone as persuasive as Miss Diana Parker succeeding in getting a charitable donation from such a tight-fisted old lady who was only willing to use her money for her own aggrandisement.

"I am only awaiting Miss Clara and then I will order tea," said Lady Denham once she had dispensed with all her monetary concerns. "I do not know what she is about this morning."

As if on signal, Miss Brereton entered the room and politely greeted the guests. Charlotte searched her countenance for some show of embarrassment or guilt but saw nothing but her usual composed serenity.

"Where have you been, girl? We have been waiting on you this past half hour," said Lady Denham in a manner both irritated and petulant. "Order the tea at once."

Clara complied but offered neither excuse nor explanation, and when pressed admitted only to having been reading in a far corner of the library. She ordered the tea most obligingly, showing no offence at having been spoken to in such a brusque manner. Charlotte thought that she must be either a very good actress or of such a disposition that nothing could discompose her.

While they drank their tea and ate the dry fingers of toast provided with the refreshment - Lady Denham stating that sweet cakes were dangerous to the stomach that early in the day, though Charlotte had never seen her decline them at Trafalgar House - the lady of the house detailed a problem she had been having with one of her servants who she had felt impelled to let go, and the difficulty of finding someone suitable to replace her. Mrs Parker made all the correct sympathetic rejoinders leaving Charlotte free to attempt to converse with Clara Brereton. She did not have much luck as that young lady affected an interest in all that her aunt was saying. Charlotte was certain that the engrossment could not be real because undoubtedly she must have already heard the story repeatedly.

Charlotte gave up her attempt and instead gave her attention to young Mary, who was sitting quietly but beginning to swing her feet out of boredom. She had already noted more than one annoyed glance directed at the little girl by Lady Denham. Mary was quite glad of Charlotte's notice and crept closer to her upon the settee so that she could talk quietly and not interrupt the conversation of the adults. What was uppermost in little Mary's mind was the arrival of her uncle, whom she disclosed shyly was her favourite relative because he was so very amusing and not given to indisposition.

When Mrs Parker was finally allowed to contribute to the conversation she became aware that they had overstayed their visit by at least twenty minutes and quickly made their excuses. Lady Denham was very gracious as she accepted their thanks for the lovely tea and even went so far to say that she hoped they would find their way over again sometime when they were not so busy with their pursuits upon the Terrace. Charlotte gave the imposing figure of Sir Harry Denham one last look before she quitted the room, and then happily traded that place which had become so oppressive for the freshness and light of the open air.

Their walk back to Trafalgar House was entirely uphill, and they no longer had the refreshing coolness of the morning mist. It had completely dissipated whilst they were in Sanditon House and now, as it was closing on midday, the sun's rays could be felt warm upon their backs. Mary unfurled her dainty parasol, happy that she had insisted on bringing it. Charlotte folded her shawl over her arm and enjoyed brightness of the sun and the clear blue of the sky. She offered to carry Mrs Parker's shawl as well, as that good lady was quickly feeling the heat and not quite as accustomed as Charlotte to strenuous exercise. They walked slower than Charlotte would have wished and talked in a desultory manner, giving her ample time for taking in all of her surroundings: the thick green grass upon the verge, the wildflowers in the fields that skirted the road, and the birds singing high in the elms.

When they arrived back at the house they discovered that Mr Parker had already heard the exciting news and had actually walked down to the hotel to pay his respects to his brother. He could now speak of nothing else but Sidney and what his presence would mean to their quiet little resort. By the time the proposed evening visit rolled around Charlotte felt that she was heartily sick of him, for all that his appearance had made his brother inordinately happy. Tom Parker was a very good man but sometimes she found his enthusiasm for certain subjects wearing rather than amusing. She longed to hear a sentence from him which did not start with the phrase 'my brother Sidney'.

Diana, Susan and Arthur all accompanied their brother and were in very high spirits. Diana entered the house explaining what a surprise she had had when she chanced upon her brother on her way up from supervising Miss Lambe's outing in the bathing machines. "To be sure at first I wondered if I were seeing things as he suddenly loomed up from the mist, but no, it was Sidney sure as day. I had just been telling Miss Lambe that she should quickly repair to her rooms to sit before a brisk fire and take a cup of weak camomile. Strong camomile would never do after such exertions as she had just been through, but weak camomile is the very thing. The next thing I knew there was Sidney standing before me and laughing quite loudly at the cut of my pelisse - and a very serviceable pelisse it is too, I might add."

"Come Diana - you know I was doing no such thing. How am I ever to recommend myself to Miss Heywood if I am forever misrepresented so? I merely asked how you could be out in a thick woollen coat on such a lovely summer's day. The fog was entirely vanished by this time, I assure you Miss Heywood," he said, glancing in her direction and giving her a beseeching smile.

Charlotte, who had become almost completely set against him, found her heart warming with his look and, knowing his sister, thought that he was the one of the two it was safer to believe in this instance.

Diana continued to ramble on about Miss Lambe's delicate health and all the various recommendations she had made to Mrs Griffiths for the young lady's care. At the same time Susan deposited herself by the fire and began unpacking all her vials and pill boxes and placing them on the small table by her side. She spoke throughout to Mrs Parker in low tones but her face looked more animated than Charlotte had ever seen it. Though Charlotte herself was nowhere near the fire, Arthur came to her and asked politely if the chair by her side was available. She smiled the affirmative and waited with much curiosity to see what he would have to say about his brother's unexpected appearance.

His first comment, however, was related to his own concerns. "You will be happy to discover, Miss Heywood, that I have put much in store by your advice to me. As you see I am situating myself a good distance from the fire tonight. That is all due to your influence, and to tell the truth my nerves are now in much better shape than they have been for a twelvemonth. I will have to go closer when I prepare my cocoa and toast, but for now I can happily sit by your side without a pang. And I have been out walking a good deal more now too, as you advised me, but not in the wind or in a mist like we experienced this morning, my rheumatism could not stand that sort of draught or damp."

"I had no idea I made such an impression upon you," said Charlotte, "but I am glad of it. You are looking much less pale."

"It is such a pity that I cannot go on like my brother Sidney. He tools over in the mist from Eastbourne in an open curricle without so much as a twinge in his muscles, and then, instead of being laid up in his room, he goes out for a walk on the sand at his first convenience. And in a morning coat of the lightest of fabrics."

Charlotte gave him what she hoped to be a sympathetic smile, but all the while she was distracted by the antics of the same annoyingly hearty brother. He was now rolling upon the carpet with his three young nephews astride him while Mary looked on, her face showing how much she wished she could join them if only she weren't so very grown up. A moment later he was up, shaking the little imps off, and the next thing Mary was twirling around the room in his arms, her face alight with laughter. The children shrieked for more while their mother and father quietly admonished Sidney for exciting them so much when it was almost their bed time - the joy and pride on their faces belying their words. After another few minutes he calmed the children, led them around the room to say their goodnights, and then, throwing the youngest upon his shoulders, escorted them upstairs to the nursery promising to read to them once they were tucked up in their beds.

"Sidney has such a way with children - I think it is because he is still so much of a child himself," said his younger brother wistfully. "I would very much like to play with the children as he does, but twirling about in that manner makes me very short of breath and before I know it I start to wheeze. Close proximity to children can also bring on a runny nose and a putrid sore throat so I must be very careful of that sort of thing."

"Indeed," said Charlotte. "I am very sad for you, to not be able to experience that pleasure as your brother can."

"Yes, Sidney is so very fortunate. He has everything - health, charm, and wit. It is difficult to compete with him."

"You do not feel the need to compete with your brothers, surely? You have your own good qualities and do not need to compare yourself to either of them." Charlotte was glad she did not have to list the qualities because at that moment she would have been hard pressed to think of one. The sight of Mr Sidney Parker playing with his niece and nephews had made her more homesick than anything else she had experienced upon this, her first extended visit from her dear home.

"Oh, Tom does not worry me - he is already married - but if ever I meet a handsome young woman and Sidney is present I have no chance that she will think of me at all."

Charlotte reached out and touched his arm in commiseration. "All females are not blinded by such charms as he possesses," she said in a tone of encouragement, little thinking what type of effect this statement might have on the impressionable young man by her side.

Chapter Four

Posted on Monday, 27 October 2003, at 11:59 a.m.

The morning dawned bright and clear with no trace of the fog that had so plagued Sanditon the day before. From her Venetian window, Charlotte was able to see far out upon the ocean. The tide was low, leaving a great expanse of sand and Charlotte watched for a few minutes, attempting to discern whether it was at the ebb or flow. She felt a great desire to be upon the shore herself, walking as the crisp saline breeze tugged at her bonnet and loosed strands of her hair to blow about her face.

Born and bred near a small country town, she was unused to the constant barrage of society that was the norm in this seaside resort. Here walking out meant meeting others upon the Terrace and talking of what they had done the day before, what they planned to do the following day, who they had seen and what had been said. Clothes were studied minutely so it was of utmost importance what one wore. Charlotte liked to be well groomed and enjoyed a pretty dress as much as most young ladies, but fashion was not her prime interest in life and displaying herself was not her ultimate goal. The novelty of the society she now found herself in held her attention, and the quirks of her new friends amused her greatly but there were times when she longed for more rational conversation or the freedom of solitary walks which she was accustomed to indulge in at her home.

Charlotte studied the gowns that hung in her wardrobe and realised she would have to dip again into her small savings to procure some new ribbons for trimmings and possibly a second shawl, if she could discover one that was both pretty and not too dear. She had noticed the Miss Beauforts eyeing her and whispering the other day and she was certain it was because she had worn the same bonnet two days in succession. She knew that these fine young ladies encouraged her friendship only because she was a guest of the Parkers. They would probably be very much surprised to discover that Charlotte held them in less esteem than they did her. She had more interest in becoming acquainted with the shy and retiring Miss Lambe who kept mainly to her rooms due to her delicate health. Charlotte sighed and chose a soft peach gown that she had worn less often than the others, and prepared herself for breakfast.

"Our Miss Heywood is looking fresh and pretty this morning, is she not, Mary?" cried Mr Parker jovially as she joined them at the table. "I believe you cannot wait but to be out upon the Terrace and meet up with all the other young people. It is small wonder now that Sidney is here. He will keep you all well entertained. I was just now speculating which of the Miss Beauforts is most likely to catch his fancy. The elder is taller and has finer features, but Miss Letitia is the most outgoing."

Mrs Parker was not often in disagreement with her husband, but on this matter she had a decided opinion. "I think our own Charlotte will be more to his liking than either of those two young ladies."

"Of course, we have such a fondness for Miss Heywood, my dear," continued Mr Parker in the same light-hearted way, "but you know these young men - their eyes are caught by sophistication and style - and the Miss Beauforts are so very polished, you must admit. All eyes are upon them when they are on the Terrace. We shall have to spruce our protégé up if she is to compete with them."

"I have no wish to compete for anybody's favour, especially that of your brother," said Charlotte blushing. "That is not my purpose in coming here."

"Of course not," said Mary Parker. "We would never think that."

"Forgive me," said the gentleman. "I only spoke in jest. This is Sidney's influence upon me, for he can never be serious and his levity in almost as contagious as Diana's spasmodic bile."

As Mr Parker laughed at his own joke, Charlotte could not help but reflect that he had such a high opinion of his brother it must be difficult for him to imagine a young lady not being attracted to the infamous Sidney Parker. But she had no intentions of being charmed by his flighty wit. Better he stick to the Miss Beauforts.

After visiting the nursery with Mrs Parker and playing upon the rug with the children for half an hour, Charlotte and her hostess set out for the Terrace. Their avowed purpose was to shop for trimmings and exchange their books at the library but Charlotte knew they would end up upon the green benches which faced the sea, drawn as usual into the social circle that whiled away their morning in that prominent location.

The first person they met was Miss Diana Parker, charging up the cobbles in search of a widow woman who lived in a far cottage. Diana was anxious to procure a variety of herbs to make a reviving posset for Miss Lambe and also a compress for Susan to drive away a nervous attack that was sending tremors through her body. She could not stop to talk, the need was so great, but she found the time to instruct Mary to guard her children well because she had heard of a case of measles in Old Sanditon, and to warn Charlotte that she should return home for a shawl because she was bound to get a chill in such a flimsy gown and thin spencer, or better yet, change altogether into something that would do more to hold off the wind she was sure was brewing. Mrs Parker was almost convinced to turn around, but Charlotte assured her that her clothing was quite warm and that in the time they would be gone the children were hardly likely to leave the nursery, and if they did, were sure to go no further than their own back garden with their nurse.

It did not take long to make their purchases. Charlotte bought ribbons in primrose yellow and periwinkle, but held fast against the dainty Spanish lace that Mrs Parker brought to her notice. After the conversation at the breakfast table she had almost changed her mind about purchasing even so much as a ribbon for fear Mr Parker would think she was making a cast for his brother. She knew her desire to trim one or two of her outfits had nothing to do with that young gentleman but rather the critical looks from the Miss Beauforts. She feared the Parkers would think otherwise.

At the library, the object of her disinterest was encountered, looking quite as debonair and appealing as he had the day before. He was accompanied by two young gentlemen and he hastened to make the introductions.

"My dear sister!" Sidney cried upon seeing them. "I was hoping to meet you and Miss Heywood somewhere about this morning and save myself the exertion of climbing your hill." He directed a glowing smile towards Charlotte after placing a fond salute upon Mary Parker's hand.

Charlotte suspected that his comment about the hill was a direct poke at his younger brother, for she could not imagine the hale Sidney Parker balking at such a short and effortless walk. She gave him a brief nod to show him that she was not amused and then looked beyond him to his friends with much more interest. One was tall and thin and very elegantly attired, the other more compact with a fresh, open face and a casual manner about his dress; they were introduced as Mr Yardley and Captain Mittering. The one bowed and offered a languid hand; the other smiled broadly and fell in beside Charlotte with a cheerful greeting.

"I see now what brought Sidney from Eastbourne in such a hurry," he said. "He wanted to get the jump on the rest of us."

Charlotte blushed despite herself and looked up to see Sidney Parker wink at her. She quickly turned her attention back to the captain, showing more interest in his conversation than she actually felt. Captain Mittering was a bluff and friendly fellow and was soon relating the performance of his horses on the short trip from Eastbourne.

"Yardley would have it that we took our turns too tight, but my greys are prime goers and were ready for a run."

"Next time remind me to ride with Parker instead," said Mr Yardley. "He does not try to impress me with his driving prowess by having me thrown about in the box so."

By dint of having so many brothers herself, Charlotte was used to talk of horses and knew full well how men liked to tease each other about their driving abilities. She discerned from her conversation that the captain tended to be slap dash in all that he did while Mr Yardley's affected interest in fashion made him quite meticulous in every aspect of his behaviour. Yet she could not help but think that he did it more for his own amusement than out of vanity.

She found her new acquaintances much to her liking, and did not mind at all that Sidney Parker was content to walk by his sister's side and converse only with her. She was pleased, actually, to know that he was as little interested in her as she was in him and hoped that should stop any further speculations by her hosts.

As they passed by the corner house on the Terrace, Charlotte noticed the curtains twitching and they were no sooner seated comfortably on the green benches than the Miss Beauforts were seen walking towards them.

"My dear Miss Heywood, Mrs Parker, we had no idea anyone was out and about yet. I was just telling sister that we should find ourselves all alone upon the Terrace, but what a happy surprise to find you here before us." Miss Letitia Beaufort looked expectantly at the three gentlemen and her sister did the same.

Charlotte had to admit that there was a lot of truth in what Mr Parker had said that morning. The two young ladies most certainly outshone her. Miss Beaufort was dressed in ivory silk with stripes of deep blue and a fine merino shawl the colour of the distant sea. Her bonnet was a dainty concoction with its satin bow tied becomingly at her right ear. Miss Letitia had a double row of ruffles at her hem. The bright yellow of her gown was echoed in the frills that adorned her snow-white parasol. She wore no bonnet and had her light hair dressed in curls high upon her head and threaded with the whitest of ribbons. She was now smiling saucily from beneath lowered lashes, hoping to draw the gentlemen's attention.

"A little overdressed, don't you think?" said the captain to Charlotte in an undervoice as if he were an old friend.

Charlotte only smiled as Mrs Parker performed the introductions. She watched the two young ladies closely as they weighed the relative merits of the gentlemen, and then Miss Letitia, who seemed to have the upper hand in her relationship with her sister, began her siege of Sidney Parker. Mr Yardley was Miss Beaufort's victim, and Captain Mittering heaved a sigh of relief.

"It pays not to dress up to the mark," he confided to Charlotte. "Until they are informed differently the ladies never expect that I am more flush in the pocket than those two flashy coves." He then appeared to recollect himself and looked at Charlotte apologetically. "I'm sorry. I ought not be using such cant phrases. I mean to say . . ."

Charlotte laughed. "I understand you perfectly, sir. I have four older brothers and am used to hearing all manner of things."

"That must be why I am so at my ease in your company," he said ingenuously, and then he continued to expound the comparative attributes of his pair of greys and his friend's matched bays, a rather one-sided conversation that had been interrupted by the appearance of the young ladies.

Charlotte listened with half her mind, making sure to nod or comment in agreement when expected, and with the other attended to Miss Letitia's progress. To her surprise Sidney Parker appeared well pleased with his companion. She had thought him more discerning than to be entertained by such superficial conversation as she knew Miss Letitia capable of. It seemed he was as susceptible to a moderately pretty face and flattering smile as any other foolish gentleman. She was glad that Captain Mittering, at least, proved to have better taste.

Their group of seven was soon enlarged to nine with the arrival of Sir Edward Denham and his sister. There was no longer room for all to be seated on the two benches, and a proposal was soon put forward for a stroll to the beach. They had almost established the pairings for the walk when they were hailed again and joined not only by Lady Denham and Clara Brereton, but also by Arthur Parker. Captain Mittering commented to Charlotte that for an out of the way spot, Sanditon appeared almost as crowded as London, and went on to wonder how many others were likely to join them as their party was already unwieldy. As luck would have it they were able to start on their way to the sands without anyone else accompanying them, and their number was reduced by two when Mrs Parker and Lady Denham elected to stay behind.

As there were five gentlemen and five ladies, by rights they should have been able to walk down to the beach in even pairs, but there was more than one case where two persons were not inclined to give way in their choice of partner. Miss Denham had decided that she should be escorted by Sidney Parker and stood on his right, the expression on her face showing that she felt this distinction her privilege. Miss Letitia, however, was loth to give up her spot on his left, and affecting a stumble, clung to his arm for support. He shot Charlotte an amused glance and then smiled benignly at both ladies.

Charlotte did not know how to interpret his look which seemed to imply some sort of complicity between them although they were just barely acquainted themselves, but had no time to question it further upon finding herself similarly besieged. Captain Mittering whispered to her that she was not going to be given up for any of those other, more formidable women, but Arthur Parker also attached himself to her, claiming that as she was responsible for his new-found interest in walking the least she could do was take his arm. Sir Edward sent a cursory glance in her direction and then offered his arm to Clara Brereton with a profusion of civility.

As luck would have it, the steps that led to the sands were broad and there was ample room to walk three abreast. Charlotte and her swains descended immediately behind Mr Yardley and Miss Beaufort and she was able to observe that the gentleman, though still unerringly polite, had a glazed look of boredom upon his face that surpassed the languid air he had earlier cultivated. She smiled at him sympathetically as his companion once again entered into her favourite subject - dissecting the minutest activities of the London ton.

Once everyone was rambling upon the beach the group became more homogenous as the couples intermingled. Sir Edward immediately gained Charlotte's attention.

"I understand you have just come from the library, Miss Heywood. I was on my way to exchange some books as well, before our happy meeting. I feel the need of poetry in my life - the delectable charm of a rhyming couplet never ceases to captivate. Poems of the sea would be most apt - I am hoping you may suggest a verse to me - you have such inestimable taste."

"Thank you, Sir Edward," she said, "though I must point out that taste in poetry is a very individual thing. I hardly think we like the same styles."

"Surely no! All young ladies enjoy the finer sentiments that are displayed in the romantic meanderings of our foremost wordsmiths. You have but to look to the sea and all those glorious lines ring through your heads. Why, you could quote me a few of your favourite stanzas as we walk upon this somnolent shore and my heart would be lost to you, for poetry is the wellspring of love."

"I am sorry to disappoint you, sir, but the best I could do is quote you some nursery rhyme I learned as a child."

"There must be some poem you can relate that speaks of the burnishing waves, the spray, the spume, the boundless energy that flows from deep . . ."

"I hesitate to interrupt such a passionate speech," said Sidney Parker, his manner showing not the slightest hesitation at all, "but I believe I can help you. What say you to these lines?
It keeps eternal whisperings around
Desolate shores, and with its mighty swell
Gluts twice ten thousand caverns, till the spell
Of Hecate leaves them their old shadowy sound.
Often 'tis in such gentle temper found,
That scarcely will the very smallest shell
Be moved for days from whence it sometime fell,
When last the winds of heaven were unbound.
Oh ye! who have your eye-balls vexed and tired,
Feast them upon the wideness of the Sea;
Oh ye! whose ears are dinned with uproar rude,
Or fed too much with cloying melody, -
Sit ye near some old cavern's mouth, and brood
Until ye start, as if the sea-nymphs choired!"

He quoted with an intensity of feeling that took Charlotte completely by surprise. Sir Edward watched him open-mouthed and when he was done could think of no suitable rejoinder.

Charlotte turned to Sidney and said, "That was quite beautiful."

"The words or the execution?" he asked, a gleam in his eyes.

"Both," said Charlotte, not wanting to show how much the recitation had moved her. "Who is it by? I am not at all well versed in the modern poets."

"You are entirely too cruel. You were supposed to ask if I had written it myself. Do I not strike you as a poet?"

"I should expect nothing more from you than a limerick."

Sidney laughed. "You see through me too well. To even the score I ought withhold the information that you seek, but I am too fond of my dear friend John Keats not to give him the credit that he deserves. I visited him this spring at the Isle of Wight where he penned it."

Sir Edward just then found his voice again and it was evident that his silence had stemmed from exercising his powers of thought.

"Its eternal whisperings abound
These desolate and lonely shores,
and with its mighty swelling waves . . .
How does it go again?
Ten thousand caverns in a spell
Of Hecate leaves and shadowy sound . . . when last the winds of heaven are unbound
That is exactly the essence of the sensibility to nature I was longing for. Would you tell it me again that I may order the words within my tempestuous brow?" There was an impassioned light in Sir Edward's eyes as he placed his hand upon Sidney's sleeve in supplication.

"My good sir, you have almost got the hang of it," said Sidney. "Do not forget the line, Oh ye! who have your eye-balls vexed and tired, I believe it is my favourite." He pulled a sheet of folded parchment from an inner pocket. "You will find the sonnet writ down here. If I were you, I would set it to memory at once."

Sir Edward thanked him profusely and then Sidney steered Charlotte to the outskirts of the crowd. "It would seem there is more to me than meets the eye," he said smugly.

"I am wondering when you took it upon yourself to memorise that poem, and how you would have fit it to the conversation if Sir Edward had not given you such a convenient opening? Or have you used it once already this morning whilst impressing Miss Letitia Beaufort?"

"Miss Letitia is impressed with much less effort," said Sidney with a grin. "I had saved that purposefully for a person of a more perspicacious nature."

"Well you have succeeded if your object was Sir Edward."

"Then we shall say that he was indeed my object for I would hate to think that after such preparation I was but a dismal failure."

Charlotte laughed.

"I am glad to see that you are no longer ignoring me," said Sidney.

"I? Ignoring you?" Charlotte looked at him in surprise. "That is a strange thing to say when this is the first time this morning that you have paid me the least bit of attention."

"You noticed!" he said with glee. "So my stratagems are working."

"You are talking a lot of nonsense, sir," retorted Charlotte with a slight blush.

"Yes I am, and I freely admit it," said Sidney. "What do you say? Should I continue to try my luck with Miss Letitia or should I instead favour her sister or the imperious Miss Denham?"

"I think it better that you play with the emotions of none of them," said Charlotte shortly.

"Why ever not? They expect it of me."

"Your vanity does you great credit."

"In flirting with any one of those three girls, I fear I would have little chance of breaking a heart," said Sidney seriously. "Their interest in me is not for myself but my status as an eligible bachelor. If I have a little fun in the process what harm is there in that?"

"Only that you will harm yourself in the eyes of those who have more sense than you apparently do," said Charlotte, turning away from him in disgust.

Sidney stared after her for a moment and then joined Mr Yardley, relieving him of the burden of Miss Beaufort's company. He entered into an animated conversation with her. Their laughs drew many an envious glance from Miss Letitia and Miss Esther Denham, but Charlotte, who was now walking with Mr Yardley, deigned not to even turn her head.

Chapter Five

Posted on Sunday, 16 November 2003, at 8:23 p.m.

Charlotte had great curiosity to make Miss Lambe's acquaintance. In all the time she had been in Sanditon, Charlotte had yet to meet her. She had seen her from a distance being scurried across the Terrace and down the steps to the bathing machines but their paths had not crossed. The girl was somewhat of a recluse. Neither of the Beaufort sisters brought her up in conversation and when pressed stated that she was very dull and sickly and had no interest in anyone. Miss Diana Parker had forged a relationship through sheer persistence but even she knew little of Miss Lambe other than her pressing ailments, and those she had discovered from determined grilling of Mrs Griffiths.

That morning Diana Parker called early at Trafalgar house bearing a concoction of herbs for little Charles whose cheeks had been flushed upon bedtime the evening previous. Charlotte silently believed it was the result of too much boisterous play with his uncle and that he would be more than well in the morning, but Diana had managed to convince the concerned mother otherwise. So Charles, rather than be allowed up to play with George and Thomas, had been kept in his bed in the morning and was now suffering the ministrations of his aunt, much to his chagrin. When Diana felt he had been coddled and mediced enough, she came downstairs and announced her intention of calling at the corner house on the Terrace to see how Miss Lambe did and try if she could convince her to sample the same beneficial herbal remedy, which had been so effectual with the young lad.

"Do you think it would be possible for me to join you?" asked Charlotte. "I have long wished for an opportunity to pay Miss Lambe a visit."

"Yes indeed," added Mary, "I feel I must stay in this morning to attend poor little Charles and I would not like to deny dear Miss Heywood the chance of an outing."

Diana, having no scruples in deciding what was best for other people, quickly agreed to the scheme saying that though Miss Lambe often was laid low in the mornings by a severe headache a dose of the herbs should enable her to undergo a visit from two such close friends.

"I do not want to impose myself upon her if she is truly ill," cried Charlotte.

"Nonsense," said Miss Parker. "I often find that nothing lifts the poor girl's spirits more than ten minutes of my care. Truth to tell I don't think Mrs Griffiths or the nurse really understands Miss Lambe's constitution as I do. And I know I can trust you not to excite her overly. Afterwards you can sit in my parlour with Susan and attend the changing of her poultice thus freeing me to run to Old Sanditon where I fear there will be an epidemic of the vilest sort. I have heard reports of children all covered in spots and I mean to get to the bottom of it. I should not like any infectious malady to be transmitted to my nephews and niece."

Charlotte did not much look forward to a day spent in a hot, stuffy parlour listening to Miss Susan's insipid and rather querulous conversation, but could do nothing but acquiesce. She thought it was very good of Miss Diana to be concerned for the village children, but also worried that her kindly interference might do more to spread the disease rather than curb it, if indeed there was a disease and it was not just the case of a child having fallen into poison ivy or having been bitten by bed bugs.

They set off almost immediately and soon were shown into a snug parlour where they were invited to wait while the maid located Mrs Griffiths. The hour was still early and Charlotte became concerned that the ladies of the house had not yet breakfasted. She was at the point of urging Diana Parker that they should leave and call back at a more opportune time when Mrs Griffiths quietly slipped into the room. When she noticed Charlotte her smile became more welcoming and she stretched her hand out to her.

"Miss Lambe will be happy to hear that you have called, Miss Heywood. She is at this moment settling back into her compartment and you may join her shortly. I trust you had no expectations to see the Miss Beauforts because I regret to say they are still abed."

"But will not such prolonged lying about make them bilious?" asked Miss Diana. "I find that a brisk walk early in the morning settles me very well - I can almost be assured of making it all the way to tea time without suffering a spasm."

"Neither of the girls have had a sick day in their lives," responded Mrs Griffiths. "I wish I could say the same for my dear sweet Miss Lambe. She slept very ill last night. I believe it would be better for her to have no more than one visitor this morning and as it is Miss Heywood's first call I think she should be the one."

"Oh, but if she is not well enough to see me . . ." began Charlotte only to be interrupted by Diana Parker.

"Miss Heywood may visit another day but I have a distillation of herbs that I ought to administer at once. Miss Lambe would benefit from it greatly - why little Charles took only one dose this morning and was instantly restored to such a fine fettle that there was no need of a second one."

Charlotte could well believe that Charles had no desire to swallow any more of what she thought must be a bitter extract.

Mrs Griffiths smiled politely at Diana Parker but remained firm. She did not think Miss Heywood's visit would be a strain on her young charge and she was also of the mind that if the herbs would indeed be of avail to Miss Lambe, her nurse was more than capable of dispensing them. Diana could do no more than graciously back down and comfort herself that she could use the time wisely by laying all her expertise at Mrs Griffith's feet should she be in need of any remedies for the ailments she indubitably must me suffering. It was impossible that all the rest of the household could be as bursting with good health as the Beaufort sisters.

Charlotte was ushered into Miss Lambe's private salon and had her first glimpse of the young lady up close. She was small and slight and appeared even younger than her seventeen years. Her complexion, which should have been a warm caramel if she were healthy, was sallow and pale. There were dark circles under her eyes and a pinched expression about her mouth, but her face transformed with the smile she gave Charlotte. Her teeth were very white and straight and her eyes, nut brown, showed lively intelligence. Her hair was dark and thick and dressed in fat braids coiled at the nape of her neck. She wore a simple high-necked gown, neither of the first stare of fashion nor outdated, made of a fabric that showed its quality rather than style. When she spoke her voice was quiet and well modulated without the trace of an accent.

"I'm pleased to finally meet you, Miss Heywood," she said, holding out her hand. "I apologise for not standing - I hope you will excuse me."

"There is no need to apologise," said Charlotte. "It is I, rather, who should do so, after having disturbed you so early and when you are so unwell too."

Miss Lambe glanced towards the door and then said softly, "I am feeling quite well, but sometimes use my indisposition to my own advantage."

"That reminds me that I have a herbal remedy here than Miss Parker has been so kind to send you." Charlotte placed the package on a low table between her chair and the divan Miss Lambe was reposed upon.

"Thank her very much for me," said the girl.

"You have a very lovely view here," said Charlotte indicating the window which she was gratified to find slightly open.

"Yes, I am very pleased with the situation of my rooms." Miss Lambe hesitated and then confided to Charlotte in a low voice. "I am quite in love with the sea. My home was on an island and I saw the sea every day. The sand here is not as golden nor is the sea such a vivid blue but . . . it helps me from being too homesick."

Charlotte was at once struck that she had never even considered Miss Lambe missing her home in the West Indies, but yet she could sympathise immediately because though she was enjoying her stay at Sanditon immensely and had no wish to return home before her few months were up, she missed the rolling meadows and shady woods of her own Willingden. "How long have you been in England?"

"I came here when I was only twelve. My father wanted me to have the same education as a true English lady. His home was in Worcester and that is where my English relatives reside."

"Do you see much of them?"

"I think they find me an embarrassment," she answered in her quiet way. "But I am well taken care of by Mrs Griffiths."

Charlotte's heart went out to the girl who must number loneliness amongst her other burdens of ill heath and homesickness. From what she saw of the Miss Beauforts she doubted they extended much in the way of friendship. "If you like, I could visit you most days," she offered and was rewarded again with one of Miss Lambe's rare smiles.

"I should like that very much."

Charlotte indicated the wall of shelves filled with books and the little pile of volumes upon the table. "You must enjoy reading."

"Yes - it is one of the few things I am able to do without overly exerting myself. I am not too fond of essays and works of a more serious nature, but I read many novels. My favourite of all, though, is poetry."

"I heard a most lovely poem recited just the other day," said Charlotte. "It was about the sea, but I cannot recall enough to repeat it with any degree of faithfulness. When next I see Mr Sidney Parker I shall ask if he can put it down on paper for you."

"Would you?" Miss Lambe's expression was so eager that Charlotte fervently hoped she would not forget the promise. She knew Mr Sidney Parker would gladly undertake the task - not only did he enjoy showing off his accomplishments but she believed he would consider it a kindness and he appeared to lack nothing in generosity.

They were then disturbed by Mrs Griffiths who popped her head in the door to say that it was time for Miss Heywood to take her leave. Charlotte felt a wave of disappointment for she had been enjoying getting to know the young girl. She felt more interest in gaining Miss Lambe's friendship than she had done with any of the other young ladies she had met. They quickly made arrangements for Charlotte to pay a longer visit on the morrow and then she regretfully said goodbye.

Diana Parker was anxious to return to her own lodgings where she quickly prepared the poultice for her sister and left minute instructions with both Susan and Charlotte as to the exact amount of time it was to be left on, the most efficacious method of removing it, and the various possible outcomes if it was either taken off too soon or left on for too long. Charlotte resigned herself to spending the rest of the morning listening to the histories of Susan's various ailments and how they were affecting her desire to follow her sister's example of doing good within the community. Providentially, Arthur Parker joined them not long after they had diligently dealt with the poultice exactly as instructed. He was more than pleased to discover they had a visitor, especially as he had been intending on calling at Trafalgar House himself in the hopes of seeing her.

"Now that I have been denied my walk, you must join me in some exercise, Miss Heywood," he said as he pulled his chair as close as the placement of other furniture would allow. "I now cannot go a day without walking out upon the sand at least once, and I must say that I feel much better for it."

"I have great fears of Arthur growing quite thin," interposed Susan. "Exercise is all very well when one has a strong constitution, but Arthur has a weak chest."

Her brother gave her a fulminating glance and corrected his posture so that his more elevated upper body proved that the supposed weakness of his chest had nothing to do with its physical structure. Charlotte could not observe any discernible thinning of his form but she did notice that his complexion was more robust. "I am happy to hear that you are getting out more and would welcome a walk on the shore if your sister can spare me," she said with a smile. Arthur's cheeks flushed with pleasure.

"I am often as not on my own for the greater part of the day," said Susan with a touch of petulance. "It will make no difference to me if you take my visitor, Arthur, just be sure not to tire her out with your excesses. I would not forgive you if Miss Heywood should suddenly be taken ill because of your unnatural desire to be forever gallivanting like Sidney."

Charlotte immediately assured Susan that she had no intentions of leaving her alone just yet, and resigned herself to another half-hour in the stuffy, overheated apartment. She felt a little guilty at the obvious pleasure that Susan showed this decision, which for her was more of a penance than anything else. She attempted to make light conversation that didn't touch on the topics of health or cures but given her companions it was no easy task. She soon relented and allowed herself to be entertained by the number of leeches used in the course of a sennight to cure a particularly malignant fever. When she was finally out of doors and walking across the Terrace with Arthur, she relished in the feel of the sun upon her back and the sharp breeze upon her cheeks.

"Should we not return indoors and out of all this wind?" asked Arthur solicitously.

"Wind?" asked Charlotte. "This is but a light breeze and most invigorating."

"You do not think it will affect my lumbago?"

"Not at all - you are very snugly dressed," she said, eyeing his thick woollen coat.

"Be sure to keep your shawl firmly wrapped about you," he said as he took her arm to lead her down the steps.

Charlotte saw no need of her shawl and as soon as they had reached the sand she folded it over her arm, much to Arthur's horror.

"What if you were to become ill? Susan would have my hide."

"My dear Mr Parker," answered Charlotte, "I am not such a delicate creature that I would catch a chill on such a fine day. Look at the sea - is it not lively how it dances and crashes upon the shore?"

Arthur looked at her with undisguised admiration but she was watching the waves as they eddied and furled, tossing little shimmering white caps to and fro. He longed to think of something brilliant to say, as he knew Sidney would, but he was afraid instead he would sound a fool. "You think that dancing? To me it is quite wild. I fear we are in for a tempest."

"Mr Parker, there surely is no danger of that. It is not the season for storms. This is the weather a sailor loves - a breeze to furl his sails and a sky that is bright blue to the horizon."

Arthur began to relax and enjoy his walk. His companion he found to be more charming than ever, and when Sir Edward, Captain Mittering, and the two Miss Beauforts eventually joined them, he was understandably put out. Captain Mittering especially annoyed him with the cordial greeting he gave Miss Heywood as if they were friends of long standing. Sir Edward made an interminable speech of which he barely understood one third so he had no idea weather to resent his intrusion or not. He was also hampered in his conversation with Miss Heywood by Miss Letitia who kept directing intrusive questions at him, seemingly intent to divide him from the rest of the party. It would have been much more flattering if all the questions had not to do with his brother Sidney. And then, if he had not problems enough, the gentleman himself joined them. Luckily the initial result of Sidney's meeting up with them was that Miss Letitia and Miss Beaufort both assailed him and left Arthur free to talk to Miss Heywood. Unfortunately he did not have her undivided attention as Captain Mittering and Sir Edward both were attempting to monopolise her.

Captain Mittering employed himself in drawing Charlotte's attention to small craft that were bobbing far out upon the waves and they both were trying to decide whether they were fishing vessels or pleasure barques. Sir Edward was waxing long about the diligence of sailors and how they put their lives at peril day in and day out while their womenfolk suffered untold distress, worrying about their return. Arthur was determinedly asking if Miss Heywood was tiring and would like to return to his sister's parlour, meanwhile advising her to wrap up well in her shawl instead of dangling it over her arm. Sidney was balancing questions from both the persistent sisters and at the same time casting humour filled glances towards Charlotte whenever he could catch her eye, until somehow, with the utmost dexterity, he was by her side and had her attention, though no one else could swear exactly how it happened.

"How have you been enjoying the attentions of your three beaux?" he asked with a twinkle of mischief.

"I may well ask the same of you and the Miss Beauforts," she answered tartly, her patience wearing thin. Why should the first remark he made to her be something so entirely facetious?

"You are quite right to put me in my place," he answered good-naturedly. "But I must say that my friend and my brother are smitten with you. Sir Edward, I'm afraid, is smitten with every young lady he comes across. I hope you are not too severely disappointed."

"I do not care for Sir Edward's flatteries as well you know."

"Aha! So you like the attention of the others. The captain is the richer of the two, but I must put in a word for my brother. Your influence is doing him a world of good so I really think I ought to forward that match."

"Can you never be serious?"

"Why should you think I am not? Do you think I am above a little matchmaking?"

"I hardly know what to think of you, Sir," she said severely.

"As long as you think of me, that's all I ask," he said and gave her such a devastating smile that despite herself Charlotte was affected. The man was completely insupportable! She put all her confused feelings down to embarrassment and was happy when he changed the subject with a comment upon the ocean.

"'Tis no wonder that they often refer to cresting waves as horses heads - can you not imagine a surging troupe of the fine beasts galloping our way upon a rolling plain?"

Charlotte looked at the rushing water and could picture it perfectly. She instantly felt more in accord with him.

"I was making a new acquaintance this morning," she said. "Have you met Miss Lambe? She is most interested in poetry and loves the sea so I promised her that I would ask you for a copy of that poem your friend wrote, if it is at all possible."

"I'm sure Keats would be honoured for her to have it. I will write it down and deliver it to you as soon as possible - or should I present it to the lady herself?"

"Thank you - you are most kind. She is an invalid and does not go out in company much, so it would probably be best if you were to give it to me."

"And it would give me an excuse to visit you."

"There you are, talking nonsense again. You know that you do not need an excuse to visit your brother."

"But seeing you is quite an incentive."

"Do you really need to flirt with every girl that you meet?"

"No - did you want me to stop flirting with all the others?"

"You know exactly what I meant Mr Parker and you are only saying that to tease me."

"I am afraid you are right, but you cannot expect me to stop when you always react so sensibly. It is so refreshing to be seen through at every turn. You cannot begin to believe how very gullible some young ladies are. I know that no matter what outrageous thing I say to you, it will not turn your head."

Arthur felt that his brother had kept Miss Heywood in private conversation for much too long. He managed to break free of Miss Letitia and came up upon their other side, making a comment on the distance they had walked and the increasing strength of the wind. To his surprise Sidney relinquished her easily, and when the whole party turned back Miss Heywood remained at Arthur's side until they again reached the stairs to the Terrace. She seemed just as interested in their conversation as she had done before the others joined them and he silently marvelled that she did not appear to mind the change of brothers in the least.

When he suggested they return to his sister's fireside to share a pot of cocoa she politely refused saying that she had deserted Mrs Parker for much too long. Arthur valiantly offered to escort her to Trafalgar House, though he feared the climb would be the death of him after such a long walk, and when Sidney offered to go in his stead, to save his endangered health, nothing would sway his decision, though Charlotte did not feel the need of an attendant at all. In the end, both brothers performed the task and left her at her host's doorstep with cheerful greeting for the family within and promises to visit later in the evening.

Chapter Six

Posted on Sunday, 23 November 2003, at 12:14 a.m.

The brothers were true to their word and arrived on the doorstep of Trafalgar House at 8:00pm, escorting their sisters. Charlotte was surprised to see Susan Parker up and around for she had seemed so very ill earlier in the day. Diana appeared to have her usual energy, her cheeks well flushed and her eyes bright. True to form she was the first to speak upon the little group's entering the parlour.

"I was certainly right about the state of affairs in the old village. There are children dropping ill left and right - why five children in all have taken to their beds, three in the same family."

"Oh dear," cried Mrs Parker in alarm, "ought you to be here tonight? What if you should be a carrier of the disease?" She called her children to her side and attempted to put her arms protectively about them all at once.

"Nonsense," said Diana. "Your children can come to no harm from contact with me - though I risked my own delicate health to administer to the sick I brought no contagion away. But should they not already be in their beds at this late hour? Especially young Charles who was so feverish this morning? If they turn up ill in the morning it would be from staying up late rather than their visiting auntie."

"I know it is late, Diana," said Mr Parker, "but Miss Heywood let slip that their uncle Sidney had promised to call and nothing would induce them to retire before he made an appearance."

"I do not want any illness in the children laid at Miss Heywood's door," said Sidney gallantly, "nor mine, so I will take them off to the nursery immediately."

The children all rushed about him clamouring for a story, which he promised to read to them once they were tucked in bed. He threw Charles upon his shoulders and took Mary's hand as the other two raced ahead, almost forgetting to say goodnight to the rest of the company. Mrs Parker sighed in relief.

In the meantime Susan had placed herself very near the fire, surrounded by her various medications, and Arthur had taken up a seat next to Charlotte.

"I wonder at your sister Susan coming out tonight," said Charlotte in a low voice. "Should she not have rested instead? She complained so much this morning of her throat and her great fear of contracting an inflammation of the lungs."

"You do not know my sister very well, Miss Heywood," said Arthur. "Though she may feel completely wretched nothing will keep her from paying her respects when they are due. She is as dedicated as Diana in that regard. Her own health becomes completely unimportant to her in her consideration for others. She was insisting that I remain at home with hot bricks at my feet because I complained of a little stiffness in my toes, without any concern for her own ailments."

Charlotte wondered about the wisdom of such an attitude but made no comment. From her observation she was inclined to believe that Susan's fragile health had more to do with the cures she suffered herself to endure rather than anything else. But still, once in such a weakened state she ought to take precautions or true illness could set in.

Diana continued to try to set Mrs Parker's fears to rest regarding the illness in the village, but the more she spoke of it the more insidious she made it seem. She intended to go and stem the tide of disease in the morning if her nerves could withstand it; in the same breath as stating that there was no danger at all, she talked of other epidemics she had been involved with which had taken the lives of more than one small child and left her suffering from untold assorted complaints.

Sidney returned to the room in time to hear the end of one of her long and terrifying speeches. He noticed how very pale Mrs Parker had become and at once sat beside her and took her hand in his. "Mary, your children are fine and healthy. They have no contact with the village so you have no need to worry." He smiled reassuringly and then continued. "I'm sure my sister has exaggerated the case immensely. I'll go myself tomorrow and see what the real situation is. We will probably discover that five quite well and thoroughly upset children have been sent to their beds due to Diana's zeal, and only because of her desire to protect yours from some imagined harm."

Diana opened her mouth to protest and Sidney gave her a quelling look. Tom Parker looked from one to the other and cleared his throat. "Sidney, you must not tease your sister so, though indeed you may well have the right of it. You see, Miss Heywood, it is just as I said. Sidney will make sport of us all - he has made sport of you as well, no doubt."

"Indeed he has, Mr Parker," answered Charlotte. She directed a warm smile at Sidney Parker to show him she took no offence. Quite the contrary, in fact. She was very much in charity with him for the care and concern he had shown Mrs Parker. No one else had truly sought to relieve her maternal alarms; instead they had indulged in Diana's most morbid revelations. She was also warmed by Mr Parker's blustering attempts to smooth the whole affair over and try to assuage Diana's damaged feelings.

"Yes," said Sidney. "I have made attempts to tease Miss Heywood mercilessly, but she has shown her true strength of character and common-sense in not being swayed by my fatuous sallies in the least. She has become quite a challenge and I am determined to best her in the end."

He then resumed talking quietly and comfortingly to Mrs Parker while the conversation in the room became more general amongst the others, Mr Parker attempting to steer it towards discussing his various interests in the development of Sanditon and the other three finding every opening possible to mention their ailments, real or imaginary. Charlotte merely listened, intrigued by the interplay of the family members, so different it was from what she was accustomed to in her own dear home.

When tea was served, Sidney brought her a cup and took the seat Arthur had deserted in order to prepare his cocoa.

"I am quite certain that your brother intends to return," said Charlotte after thanking him for the tea.

"As am I, but he shall find his chair occupied and have to search out another."

Charlotte felt she could not reprimand him for being cruel, not after he had already proved his kindness amply already that evening, so she ignored the remark.

"Aha! You intend to chastise me with silence."

"Why should I want to chastise you?"

"Why indeed?" asked Sidney with a smile. "I see no reason for it at all. How can you support such an unfeeling action on your part?"

Charlotte let out a small burst of laughter despite herself. "You have purposefully twisted my words. Now I truly will refuse to talk to you."

"Then I shall just sit here and gaze at your loveliness." He put his chin in his hand and his elbow on his knee and proceeded to give her a most soulful stare.

Charlotte blushed. "Please stop," she said. "You are behaving quite intolerably."

"I knew I could make you speak," he said as he sat back laughing.

Charlotte glared at him but could not hide her amusement.

"Very well, I make a solemn pledge to behave," he said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. He then reached into his coat pocket and handed Charlotte a folded paper. "Here is the poem that I promised you. Blush and hide it quickly so they will all think it a love note."

"Is that your idea of behaving?" she asked as she opened the paper and proceeded to read the poem, ignoring his impertinent instructions.

"Not even the slightest reddening of the cheeks," he said, affecting disappointment. "How am I ever to pass myself off as your paramour?"

"I should hope that you will not even try," said Charlotte seriously.

"I can see that it would be a lost cause," he replied with a wistful grin and a shake of his head. "I will have to accept my fate then."

Arthur returned and gave his brother a disparaging look. "You have stolen my chair."

"I have, but to no avail."

"Well, are you not going to give it back?"

"I have promised that I would not, so I cannot go back on my word at this stage. There is quite a comfortable armchair in the corner by the fire."

"You have promised?" Arthur looked at Charlotte reproachfully.

"Do not tease your brother so, Mr Parker," said Charlotte. "Please give up his chair." She turned to Arthur. "In no way did I extract such a promise from him. He is being extremely silly this evening."

"Am I to take the chair by the fire then?" asked Sidney.

The look of appeal in his eyes almost caused Charlotte to relent, but instead she said, "Why that is most obliging of you, Mr Parker," and he was given no choice but to relinquish the chair to his brother.

When he was settled. Arthur eyed the paper in Charlotte's hand suspiciously. "What is that you are reading?"

"Only the poem your brother has written down for me to give to Miss Lambe," said Charlotte hurriedly, folding it up and slipping it into her pocket. She looked over at Sidney and he smiled at her complacently. Despite herself she blushed before she turned away. 'Drat the man!' she thought, and then she turned her attention to Arthur, feigning an interest in his conversation beyond what she felt. She did not look back at Sidney Parker until the evening was over and he wished her goodnight. His manner seemed completely unaffected by her indifference.

~

Charlotte was enjoying a comfortable chat with Miss Lambe and Mrs Griffiths in the front parlour when visitors were announced. Lady Denham imposed herself into the room followed by the ever mild and aloof Miss Brereton.

"Good morning Mrs Griffiths, Miss Lambe. Miss Heywood, what a surprise it is to see you here. I expected you to be out on the Terrace with the other young people." Lady Denham then turned and addressed Mrs Griffiths directly. "My dear lady, I have been thinking long and hard about what we can do to improve your young protégé's health. It seems a shame she is unable to join all the goings on with the others; the gentlemen especially must feel the loss of her company - I know my nephew, Sir Edward, has complained of it on more than one occasion."

Charlotte looked over to her new friend who blushed lightly.

"When she is strong enough and shows an inclination, I will have no reservations of her taking a turn upon the Terrace with the Miss Beauforts," said Mrs Griffiths, "but you have no need to be concerned that her health issues are not being well taken care of."

"Of course you are doing all in your power," said Lady Denham. "I had some idea that if not asses' milk she would benefit from our Sanditon House eggs. No others can match them for freshness and flavour. There is nothing as wholesome as an egg, lightly poached and with a nice slice of dry toast. I have brought a dozen for Miss Lambe to try. Miss Clara, if you please?"

Clara Brereton reached into her basket and produced a bundle that she carefully handed over to Miss Griffiths, who professed her thanks as she hurried off to the kitchen with the gift.

"Thank you, Lady Denham," said Miss Lambe shyly. "You are most kind."

"My only thought is for your health. This room is very pretty. I have not been inside these houses much since they were built but I am happy to see that they are done up so nicely. I was forever inspecting them whilst they were being constructed, you understand. You can never leave the labourers unsupervised for too long or expensive materials will be disappearing to be replaced with some shoddy ones and their own cottages will end up in far better repair than the ones they are being paid to build. The foremen are just as bad. Mr Parker did not keep such a careful eye as I and rued the results, let me tell you. Vigilance is everything. And the wages they expect! It is scandalous sometimes - but nothing gets past me. I pride myself that the houses I was involved with were built much cheaper than those Mr Parker commissioned alone."

None of the young ladies had much to say to this, though Charlotte deeply resented Lady Denham's open criticism of what she felt must most certainly be Mr Parker's more fair and generous dealings with the builders.

"My nephew is having a cottage ornée constructed and I am forever finding fault with the workers. It is to be a lovely little place although I do think the designs drawn up by his architect somewhat defective - these modern ideas for columns and porticos that seem to have no relationship to the structure of the house in any way. It is very close to completion. I wish that you could see it, Miss Lambe. I am certain Sir Edward would be more than pleased to take you on a tour of it."

Lady Denham continued in the same manner for quite some time, making mention of her nephew in whatever subject she was discussing: his love of literature and the sea, his handsome bearing, his cultivated manner, his community standing. It was as if she thought she must make as many inroads as possible on his behalf with the young heiress until such time as she would finally manage to bring them together in the same room.

Clara Brereton spoke little as was her custom and though Charlotte studied her face as often as she could with discretion, she noticed no concern at the concerted effort her aunt was making to interest Miss Lambe in Sir Edward. Charlotte wondered again just what the relationship was between Miss Brereton and that gentleman. She would have believed that there was no interest on either side if she had not witnessed their clandestine meeting for herself.

Finally the visitors rose to leave. "Are you not going to accompany us, Miss Heywood?" asked Lady Denham.

"I have promised myself to Miss Lambe for the entire morning," she said, "or I would gladly join you in your walk."

"Surely you need stay no longer. You would not want to over-tire Miss Lambe. It would never do to tax her strength."

Miss Lambe protested that she was feeling quite up to Miss Heywood's company and hoped that she would not think of shortening her visit, and Lady Denham had to be content with that.

After the ladies had gone, Miss Lambe and Charlotte retired to her private sitting room so that they would suffer no more interruptions by inquisitive visitors. Charlotte remembered the poem Sidney had given her, and she presented it to Miss Lambe.

"How kind of him for going to such trouble," she said as she settled down to read it. "And how kind of you, as well, for thinking of me." She read it through three times before she said anything more and when she looked up there were tears sparkling on her lashes. "It is most wonderful. I feel honoured to possess it. Please tell Mr Parker how pleased I am with it." She read it one more time, put it in her desk, and then turned to Charlotte. "May I ask you a favour and tell you a secret?" She looked very young and vulnerable, her eyes large in her pale face. Charlotte was deeply touched.

"Of course," she said without hesitation.

"First the favour. Could you call me by my given name? I would like that beyond everything."

"Such an easy favour to bestow, that is if you would tell me your given name."

"Julia."

"And you must call me Charlotte. Now what is the secret? I am bursting to know."

Julia laughed. "There are two, actually. The first I will tell you now. I know a back lane that leads to a little used path to the beach. I go there with my maid whenever I am well enough. I cannot bear to remain entirely closed off from the sea, and never out of doors. This is a very private part of the beach and as yet I have been able to go there unnoticed. Would you like to join me when next I go?"

Charlotte looked at the girl first with amazement and then with understanding. Here was a person who was truly ill, but did not like to continually be made a fuss of. Instead she wanted to enjoy those things that were important to her. While she was well, why waste time with the commonplaces of superficial conversations when she had deeper interests to experience? Charlotte felt very privileged to be invited to share these pursuits with her.

"I would like that very much. Would it be asking too much for you to share your second secret with me, or are you not yet prepared to do so? I will understand if you are not."

Julia looked a little bashful, and then leaned forward and said very quietly, almost in a whisper, "I write poetry."

Charlotte was unsure what she had expected to hear but that was not it. Miss Julia Lambe was continually surprising her, though she supposed, upon reflection, that Julia led such a quiet life, so prone to introversion, and had an underlying tinge of melancholy about her and such an abiding interest in poetry that she ought to have expected the girl to express her restless soul by the same means as her favourite poets.

Continued in the next section