Chapter 11

The ladies, accompanied by Mr Wilson and their maids, left at daylight the following morning. When they arrived at Trafalgar House, and Mr Parker learned that Elizabeth had abandoned him, and sent two young, unmarried girls just past their majority to solve the problem with the hotel, he collapsed, and took to his bed, dramatising the matter, and exasperating his wife, who eventually abandoned him to his brandy.

Mrs Parker was, as Elizabeth predicted, very happy to have them to stay, although like her husband, she had concerns about what two young girls and a governess might do. "I hope you will not mind sharing a room," Mary Parker said as she bustled about making things ready. "Soon, I am not certain how soon, precisely, we will have more guests. We are expecting our dear friend, Miss Heywood, to return with her sister Beatrice. Miss Heywood stayed with us for a time, before returning home to visit her family and to attend a wedding in her village. We look forward to her returning to us."

Lydia and Georgiana agreed that they could hardly object to sharing a room when they had imposed upon their hostess quite unexpectedly, and that they looked forward to knowing the Misses Heywood. Lydia assured Mrs Parker that when her sisters were delivered of their babes and her mother returned to Sanditon, that they would remove to the dower house at Shannon View, though Mrs Parker responded that she was not to concern herself about it, and left the girls to settle in.

The very next morning, Lydia and Georgiana presented themselves at The Sanditon Grande shortly after breakfast. She stepped down from the carriage to look upon the tremendous hotel that seemed to have sprung up overnight compared to how it had looked when they had been in Sanditon seven months prior.

Mr Farinacci came bounding down the steps to greet them, having received Lydia's note the night before. The man was delighted they had come. Farinacci was no fool. He knew Elizabeth Darcy well, since her girlhood, and he knew that she was all too aware of how much was at stake. For Lady Darcy to have sent her youngest sister, she must believe her abilities to be great indeed, and thus the man accorded her the respect that he would customarily extend to Elizabeth.

He showed Lydia into Mr Ainsworth's office. "It is a shambles, but you should have seen it when he left. I have spent the last days attempting to create a semblance of order, so that someone can make some sense of it all."

It was a mess, Lydia observed as she looked about her. Everywhere was piles of paper, receipts, order slips, catalogues, reservation details, fabric and paper samples, and everything in between. Farinacci explained what he could of what he had discovered, what he knew had been accomplished, what was still left to be done, and what was undetermined.

Lydia thanked him, and asked how he was managing in the kitchens, and with the school. He answered that everything there had been in order up until Ainsworth left. His assistant was managing now, and the student chefs and assistants were doing well in their studies. Lydia told him that she and Georgiana would do what they could to make sense of the mess. The two young ladies and Mrs Annesley spent all day sorting papers and making lists. Lydia could not see that anything had been ordered, or that there had ever even been plans to order anything from linens, to dishes, fabrics, carpets and wall coverings. The man had collected funds for these items for months, and now that it was time to commence the finishing work on the interior and exterior of the building, had taken the money and run.

*****

Georgiana looked at Lydia and said helplessly, "How on earth shall we find it all in time?" Lydia knew not the answer, but she knew she could only manage one thing at a time. The two ladies took a walk with the building foreman as he showed them every inch of the hotel. The answer of what to do with the workers who had nothing to do because there was nothing for them to install, was answered an hour after they finished their tour, as they were eating the lunch that Mr Farinacci sent for them.

The girls went outside to find a line of carts and wagons lined up outside the portico. Her Uncle and Aunt Gardiner had worked around the clock with their clerks to send every bit of carpeting, fabric, and wallpaper they had in their warehouses. Lydia sent for the building foreman, and put the men to work carrying up the fabrics and wallpapers and carpets to the areas of the house that she dictated as she sorted each piece individually. Georgiana was astonished at what Lydia had already memorised about the hotel and its rooms. She was beginning to see why Elizabeth thought Lydia was perfect for this monumental task.

Lydia sent for Mr Arthur Parker, then began instructing the men regarding putting up wallpaper in some of the guest rooms, which ought to keep some of them busy for a day or so. Many craftsmen had been kept at work carving and installing mouldings and doors, for which Lydia was grateful. When Mr Parker arrived, Lydia asked him, "Mr Parker, while I know you have no profession, it is true that you spend much time in Sanditon helping your brother, and that you have a great knowledge of the area, having grown up here?"

When the gentleman concurred, Lydia continued, "And I am certain it is also true that you must have a great desire to help your brother, and the town of Sanditon, through this latest trial?" Mr Parker agreed again, and Lydia pressed on. "I need someone here to help me day to day, Mr Parker, not only someone who knows nearly everyone in town but someone who knows how to find the resources I need locally, and quickly."

"What is it that you need, Miss Bennet? I shall be happy to help as much as possible!" The gentleman exclaimed.

"First, I need seamstresses. How many do you think are hereabouts in the area?" Lydia inquired.

Arthur Parker looked deep in thought. "I can think of about four. My sisters likely know more. There are probably many women in town that can wield a needle but do not take regular employment."

"Would you be so kind as to find as many women, or even men, such as men trained to be tailors or valets, that would like employment, as possible? They will be starting by sewing curtains, draperies, pillows, cushions, and counterpanes. The hours will be from eight in the morning until six in the afternoon each day. The pay is thirty shillings a week, and lunch will be provided each day," Lydia promised, knowing that Farinacci's kitchens would be able to provide something suitable without too much trouble each day.

Lydia realised that she was going to be there very late for at least several days if not weeks, and so she sent a note to Farinacci asking if there was a maid, or a local girl who could stay there with Lydia and Wilson late in the evenings as a sort of assistant and chaperone. A half hour later, a sturdy and capable young woman of about five and twenty came, and said that she would be glad to take the position. Lydia suspected Mrs Annesley would be accompanying Georgiana more often than not, and Lydia did not feel she could ask the two of them to stay so late as she planned to work over the next week at least.

Lydia and Miss Joan Smythe quickly came to an agreement regarding terms and compensation. The woman would receive twice as much as the seamstresses, and would work as many hours as Lydia did. When Lydia learned Joan could read and write with a fair hand, she set her to recording the reservations into the ledger, and sending each patron a letter confirming their reservation details. The deposits were gone, but they must honour them. Mr Parker returned with news that his sisters were taking the matter of the seamstresses in hand, and that all interested parties would present themselves at eight o'clock the next morning.

Lydia sent Georgiana and Miss Annesley home in time to change for dinner, sending her regrets to Mrs Parker. The two ladies were unused to such work for such long hours, nor did they have Lydia's enthusiasm and inclination for it. She bid them to return the carriage with two enormous trunks of patterns, decorating periodicals, and other materials she had collected while helping her sisters and friends decorate their homes that were useful. She selected four fashionable yet exceedingly simple designs for curtains and draperies, that could be made up in very little time, as well as similar plans for counterpanes, pillows, and cushions for a start.

The rest of the evening was spent with Messers Wilson and Parker in the office, sorting through as much as they could while Joan scratched away in the corner. Mr Farinacci had sent a hearty dinner, and they were kept going by the good, wholesome meal, and cider. Most of the skilled labourers in the village were already working at the hotel, so Mr Parker's next task would be to travel to neighbouring villages the next day to hire more woodworkers, cabinet makers, furniture craftsmen, and the like, to put aside whatever other jobs they had, and work exclusively in Sanditon until the work was finished. Lydia was grateful indeed that the glazing had at least been done, and that the plumbing had been as well, likely because Elizabeth had put those businessmen into operation, and would have learned much sooner if they had not been arranged.

Furniture had not been ordered, and so every estate sale for miles and miles must be visited and every bed, wardrobe, dressing table, and stick of furniture to be found that could be polished to gleaming must be bought and the rest for the public rooms must be made, if possible, so that it would match. Lydia did not wish to consider that if all the rooms could not be furnished in a manner fit for royalty, then some rooms might not be opened for the season, and she had been shocked at the number of reservations that were already received.

It was ten o'clock when the little group called it an evening. Lydia was weary indeed when she returned to Trafalgar House. Mrs Parker, having learned how hard Lydia was working, ensured that water was kept on the boil until she returned, so the girl was able to soak in a hot bath before sinking into her bed.

*****

The following morning, Lydia and Wilson ate in the kitchens and left by six, picking up Joan on their way to the hotel, and returning the carriage for Georgiana and Miss Annesley after breakfast. By the time those two ladies joined her, Lydia had finished setting the office back in some type of order, and had met with all seventeen of the seamstresses, led by Mr Parker's sisters, who had kindly offered to act in a supervisory manner over the ladies, and keep them organised. Lydia set them to work in a back room of the hotel, tracing the patterns so that there would be enough for all to use. Wilson had been sent to inquire of Mary Parker where enough worktables and chairs might be acquired for the seamstresses to use, and by lunch time returned followed by wagons filled with worktables and chairs that Mary Parker had appropriated from heaven knows where.

Farinacci informed Lydia that it was good for the students to practise. Now that there were many workers, they needed to practise making much larger quantities of food, and so the seamstresses and workers ate very complicated and sophisticated meals twice a day, because the man provided the workers with a meal before they left in the evening as well as lunch. Each worker also brought a pot from home to bring a meal home to their families, so the cooks would be trained properly for when the hotel and its kitchens were fully operational.

Lords Rutherford and Berkeley called after lunch to see if there was any way they might be useful, but Lydia could not quite see how yet. Skilled workers of all kinds were needed, but Lydia's greatest problem was where to find the thousands of matching plates, glasses, and cutlery, not to mention hundreds of new linens that must be acquired. Lord Rutherford knew someone in Staffordshire who owned porcelain mills, and he volunteered to send out letters the next day to learn whether such a large order could be filled in time for a price.

Lydia spent the rest of the afternoon touring each room in the hotel again, reconsidering the wall coverings, carpeting, and fabrics she had sent to each room the day before, and leaving notes with each bolt of fabric, with instructions of what patterns it was to be made into and what embellishments to add. This work would keep the seamstresses busy while the men were doing the finishing work on the public rooms.

Lord Berkeley announced that his brother was arriving the next day, which made Georgiana very happy. It made Lydia very happy too, because as much as she loved them, and they meant well, Georgie and Mrs Annesley did not have the instinct for this work that Lydia did, and she spent more time instructing them than she saved by their assistance. Joan had a very good instinct already for the direction that Lydia's thoughts ran, and the two worked together as Elizabeth's industry partners said, like a well-oiled machine, whatever that meant.

Her next days followed the same pattern as the first. Lydia breakfasted in the kitchens, and left for the hotel every morning by six, and did not return to Trafalgar House until after ten at night. Georgiana only came for an hour or two a day, which did not disturb Lydia, for Mr Radcliffe had arrived in Sanditon, and she knew how much Georgie hoped a proposal was forthcoming. Her third afternoon there, Lydia was sorting another wagon load of fabrics and wall coverings that had been sent by her aunt and uncle, this time from one of his competitors' warehouses. There were also crates of wall sconces for the gas lighting that Lydia was grateful had been installed before the walls were finished.

As she worked alone, Joan having run to the back of the hotel to carry a message, she felt a prickle on the back of her neck, then a familiar voice spoke up behind her, "Could you not hook a man in London? I am surprised, considering how much bait you are fishing with."

Lydia started, then smothered a rude word and turned around. "I beg your pardon, but who says I am fishing?"

Sidney Parker, all six feet of him, lounged against a door, looking like something a Greek God might have created or written a verse about, "You're all fishing. Every one of you. And you have better bait than anyone. So why aren't you married?"

"I remain unmarried because after refusing several offers of marriage, I find that I still cannot shake the notion that I have better opportunities open to me in which the hours are shorter, the work more agreeable, and the rewards more gratifying than they otherwise would be by tying myself to a man." Lydia returned lightly, turning away from him and returning her attention to her task.

"You prefer this to being married?" the man choked out in disbelief.

"It must be a blow to your confidence, to find that your charms are so meagre," Lydia quipped. "But I fear I speak as I find."

"Why would you call on my brother for help?" Mr Parker asked suddenly, rapidly changing the subject. "Why would you not call upon someone more capable and less silly? Someone better capable of being useful?"

"I beg your pardon, but I am grateful you are not my brother!" Lydia snapped at the rude man as she slammed the lid of the chest she had been rummaging in heavily. "You should not dismiss or underestimate Mr Arthur! He may not have your looks or your devastating charm ," Lydia rolled her eyes, "But he is enthusiastic, and well meaning, and has a great desire to be useful and do what he can that is very pleasing compared to the cruel mockery of some others!"

Mr Parker was taken aback by her vehement defence of his brother, and opened his mouth only to be cut off, "I suppose you feel superior to him considering he hasn't done anything quite as useful as standing around making satirical remarks, or taking to his bed with his brandy to moan about how difficult it is to have his bacon saved by a young unmarried girl!" Mr Sidney Parker backed up as she advanced on him until he had backed into the bookcase, cut off from his attempted response again as she continued, "I will have you know, that Mr Arthur and your sisters have been more kind and helpful than anyone else since I have arrived, and they have been here to help in any way they can every single day !"

That was apparently enough for Sidney Parker, who was so swept up in this young woman's glorious temper, that he grasped her by the shoulders, spun her around, pinned her to the bookcase, and kissed her. His attentions were apparently unimpressive because as his tongue teased the edge of her lip, Lydia's knee jerked up, hard .

In an instant, Mr Parker was on the floor turning blue. Joan and Wilson entered the room a moment later, when Lydia said in a monotone, "Oh dear. Mr Parker has injured himself."

"That is a right shame now, is it not?" Wilson said, dragging the man onto his feet. "We had better help him on his way then, wouldn't do to have a gentleman such as yourself getting hurt, Sir. This seems to be too dangerous of an environment here for you! You ought to steer clear of the hotel in the future, we would hate to see you come to harm!"

Mr Parker yelped as Wilson jerked him roughly to his feet by the arm he had twisted up behind him. Lydia turned away as Wilson manhandled him out the door. "Are you alright, Miss?" Joan asked when they were gone. "I fear I was gone too long; I am sorry."

"Do not apologise, Joan. I ought to have been safe here for a few moments and there was no harm done," Lydia assured her as the two returned to their work.

*****

The man returned the following day, this time with flowers. "You have got to be joking," Lydia said as he was shown into the room. "Mr Wilson is going to cause you a serious injury, sir, if you keep turning up here. He works for my sister, not me, and she is ruthless, and so are her stewards. Do not think your behaviour will be tolerated by those who protect me."

Mr Parker held up a hand. "I would like to apologise, for several things, if you will allow it."

Lydia instructed Joan to work on the other side of the room, and gestured for the man to speak. "Miss Bennet when I met you, it was just before my betrothed came to Sanditon. I was betrothed! Affianced! Committed to a woman that I had every intention of devoting my life to!"

He met her eye, "And then I was introduced to you. One look into your lovely eyes and I was lost. I panicked! What was I to do! How could I commit myself to her knowing that I was obviously not in love with her the way she believed I was! And then she fell ill so quickly."

He began to pace back and forth in front of her, "I felt wildly guilty, even though it was something I could not control! And then we were in the hall, and they were saying it, they were saying those horrible words, and I looked at you and for one terrible instant, I was relieved! How could I feel such a wicked sentiment at such a moment!" He turned to her sadly, "I was filled with such self-loathing for that one intrusive thought. And every time I saw you, I behaved badly. I hated myself because I blamed myself. I told myself that God had taken her to punish me for my wicked thoughts. And so, every time I saw you, I acted like a savage, in order to keep you away from me. Because I felt I did not deserve to be happy.

"But as you saw, I could not stay away from you. I perversely placed myself in your path, repeatedly. I had to take myself away from Sanditon. From you. I went to work with her father. I made his business thrive, and made him a wealthy man, and although I made wealth for myself as well, I feel he betrayed me, because he had led me to believe that I was his heir, and then he left everything to his nephew, and I lost my stake in the company. Yet I know I deserve it, because I cannot stop blaming myself for her death.

"Then yesterday, when I was being my worst self, you amazed me with your vehement defence of my brother. Most women would jeer at Arthur, who is a good and thoughtful man. But you defended him. You shamed me. How could I speak of him in that way, just to impress a girl with my cruelty? Arthur, of all the good and well-meaning people to denigrate! Watching your reaction to my words was like looking into a mirror; I saw how you view me, and I do not like it." He spun his hat around in his hands. "At that moment yesterday, you showed me in an instant why I love you, because you make me wish to be better than I am, and that is when I forgot myself, for which I truly apologise. But I cannot fight it any longer, and no longer wish to. I am in love with you. And if you would accept a courtship, I would like to court you."

Lydia raised her eyebrows at his audacity. His complaints about his fiancé's father set off alarm bells, and Wickham's litany of ill use rang in her mind. The gentleman seemed sincere, and his words were pretty and compelling, but if there was one thing Lydia had learned about good and decent men, it was that they never lowered themselves to attempt to garner sympathy from others, and Lydia distrusted such behaviour. "I thank you for your apologies. I know of what you speak because I felt it as well. The very instant I looked into your eyes, I felt a deep and sudden attraction. And like yourself, I felt immediately guilty, and ashamed of myself for my reaction to a betrothed man. And though I knew I had no right, I thought of and worried for you for many months after."

She looked at him impassively, "Since then, I have had to admit that though you attract me, I am not sure that I like you. You might have some sentiment for me. But that does not mean that you can be trusted. You have a tendency to speak sardonically to and about your family in a manner that reminds me of my father, whom I did not respect. You have a cruel nature in you that I cannot like. In addition, I am unsure that you can be trained to learn proper manners, and even if you could, I doubt that I should feel inclined to be the one to instruct you."

"I know how I ought to behave!" the gentleman objected.

"That makes it all the worse, for I would rather believe you had just never been taught! Mr Parker, I learned at the tender age of fifteen that what I think my heart wants is not necessarily what is good for me, and my intuition is screaming at me now that this is just another such moment. My sister says that God gave us intuition to protect us from our emotions, and we must learn to use it. My intuition is telling me now that I am grateful that you and I might start anew, but I am far from entering a courtship with you with any confidence. I am glad to have cleared the air between us, and spoken candidly, and in the future, I hope to have the opportunity to know you better."

"That is the best I can hope for, after my behaviour I suppose," Sidney Parker replied regretfully. "But I can do better, and I will! I shall begin forthwith!" The man bowed and took his leave of her, striding purposely out of the door, leaving Lydia shaking her head.

"A right determined one, he is, Miss," Joan observed as she returned to her previous task. Lydia agreed with her as she resumed her activities.

Sidney Parker had left with a new purpose. He went directly to his brother's house, past Mary and into the bedroom, and poured a pitcher of water over the head of his elder brother, who was drowning his sorrows in an armchair near the window. After a great deal of recrimination and insistence, Mr Tom Parker was dragged from his pity party, made to bathe, dress, and eat, and when Lydia returned to Trafalgar House late that night, he was slightly green, and rather worse for wear, but he stood upright and clear eyed as he apologised to Lydia for having been so out of sorts, and promised to be at the hotel the next day to assist in any way he could.