Work Text:
Mrs Wheatley burst through the kitchen door, red-faced and breathless. ‘Such a bustle there was in the town today, ma’am. The streets were so full of people I could hardly make my way. I got a lovely piece of beef from the butcher for tonight’s dinner so it was worth jostling through the crowds.’
She placed the shopping baskets on the kitchen table and put the precious beef joint on a marble slab in the larder.
Charlotte Colbourne turned away from the window.
‘Oh yes, it’s the Jane Austen Festival. A celebration of 250 years since her birth. I had forgotten it was today. I wondered at the sudden increase in visitors to Heyrick Park. I came down here with Charlie to watch them all passing by outside. Sanditon must be pulling out all the stops for the festival.’
She lifted her toddler daughter Charlie down from the windowsill and put her on the rug. ‘Let me help you put away the groceries.’
There was a sound of feet on the rickety wooden backstairs and Leo came rushing in, followed at a more sedate pace by Augusta and Zander. Leo ran to the window. ‘Have you seen all the people outside today?’
‘Yes dear,’ Charlotte replied. ‘It’s the Jane Austen Festival.’
Augusta joined Leo at the window. Zander put an arm fondly around his wife’s waist. ‘I have Jane Austen to thank for creating you, my dear. Without her there would be no Sanditon and no Charlotte Heyward to tantalise and infuriate me, and to finally win my heart.’
‘Darling Zander. I am so grateful that the creators of the Sanditon series continued the story. I had waited more than 200 agonisingly lonely years for my happy ever after ending.’
‘And a merry dance you led me, too. At times I still can’t believe you’re mine.’
‘You made an adorable governess but an even better mother,’ put in Leo, impulsively giving Charlotte a hug.
‘Thank you, my dear. I couldn’t imagine my life without all of you in it.’
‘It must be wonderful to dress up and celebrate this special day,’ said Augusta. She was still looking out of the window. ‘Some of the costumes are gorgeous. I would love to go to a ball in that lilac and gold dress.’
‘And some of the dresses look like they’re made from bed sheets and the hats fashioned from lampshades,’ Leo laughed.
‘No matter, Leo,’ her father said. ‘They are all entering into the spirit of the day and having fun.’
Charlotte’s expression grew mischievous. ‘Shall we join them?’
Zander turned startled eyes in her direction. ‘Could we? Should we?’
‘I don’t see why not. We would easily blend in with the crowds today. No one will notice us.’
‘Oh yes, lets,’ said Leo. She took her little sister by the hand and helped her up. ‘You would love an afternoon by the sea, wouldn’t you Charlie?’
‘I shall run and fetch your bonnets,’ said Mrs Wheatley. ‘And a straw hat for Charlie. The sun is hot today.’ She hurried out of the kitchen, calling to the butler. ‘Harrison, bring the master’s grey top hat. He is going out.’
The family waited in a flurry of excitement for Mrs Wheatley’s return. When everyone was ready, they crossed the courtyard into the kitchen garden.
The gardener was perched on top of a ladder propped against one wall. He was busy picking peaches under the fascinated gaze of several costumed onlookers.
‘Lewis,’ Zander called. ‘We are going into town. Could you let us out of the garden door please. There’s quite a crowd around the front.’
‘Of course, Mr Colbourne, sir.’ Lewis jumped down from the ladder and hurried to the door in the wall.
This exchange caused a stir among the onlookers. Phones were suddenly whipped out of pockets and handbags and held up in the family’s direction. Snippets of whispered conversation reached them. ‘That’s Zander Colbourne himself… must be Charlotte, Augusta and Leo… and the baby too…What a treat to see them today.’
One grandly dressed gentleman pulled out a pocketbook from his floral waistcoat pocket and shyly approached. ‘Good day to you, it is such an honour to meet you all in person. Would you mind if I ask for your autographs?’
‘Our what?’ asked Charlotte.
‘He means our signatures, dear,’ replied Zander. ‘Many people collect them from famous people as a hobby.’
‘And we are famous people I suppose.’
‘Of course you are, ma’am,’ replied the man. ‘My wife and I have watched the entire Sanditon series several times. Dear me, where are my manners? I am Mr Alan Watkins. May I present my wife Mrs Angela Watkins?’ He bowed. A blushing Mrs Watkins bobbed an awkward curtsey. Zander bowed and the ladies curtsied politely in return.
Zander took the pocketbook. ‘Pleased to meet you. It would be my pleasure to sign your book as a memento of today. Only, I do not have a pen.’
Charlotte offered a silver-topped pencil from her chatelaine. ‘Will this suffice?’
The whole family signed their names. Even little Charlie was aided by her mother to draw a C. Mr Wilkins took back his pocketbook and gazed at the page in awe. ‘They will never believe this back home,’ he whispered. ‘Zander and Charlotte Colbourne have signed my book, and with Mrs Colbourne’s own silver pencil.’
Lewis approached them. ‘The garden door is open for you now.’
‘Thank you Lewis,’ replied Zander. Feeling giddy with freedom, he offered his arm to Charlotte. ‘Shall we go?’
The family strolled down their private cliff path to the seafront. They enjoyed walking among the crowds thronging Sanditon promenade, which today was lined with brightly painted wooden kiosks.
‘Ice cream,’ cried Augusta, like an excited child. ‘Oh please, can we have ice cream?’
‘Of course,’ replied Zander. They each choose two different flavours, served in double wafer cones. Charlotte offered Charlie her vanilla and salted caramel one to taste. Everyone laughed when Charlie ended up with sticky ice cream all over her face.
Charlotte enjoyed watching Zander and Leo vying with each other to knock down the most tins in the tin can alley. The two of them did not always see eye to eye and it was good to see them having fun together.
The bandstand at the end of the promenade was hosting a music festival.
‘It’s lovely to see the old bandstand being used again,’ said Charlotte. ‘It looks so pretty covered in fairy lights.’
Zander pulled a face. ‘I’m not too sure about the music though.’
‘Not like it was in my day,’ Leo mocked. ‘It’s 2025, Papa. This is a pop band.’
Leo and Augusta, holding Charlie’s hands between them, hurried to join the people dancing in front of the bandstand.
‘Do you remember the brass band from the barracks playing here on summer evenings, Charlotte? That’s the sort of band I prefer.’
‘I do remember. But all the same, I think this band sounds delightful. Everyone is enjoying the music. Look, even little Charlie is prancing around and has forgotten how tired she is.’
The band began to play again. A pretty, lilting melody floated across to them on the warm summer air.
Charlotte leaned against Zander and he bent his head towards her. As they kissed, he breathed in the warm, mildly salty scent of Charlotte’s hair.
‘Do you know,’ he murmured in her ear. ‘I believe we could dance to this tune. Shall we?’
Charlotte stepped back and looked up at him, her face full of merriment. ‘Zander Colbourne, what devilment are you suggesting? I am a respectable married woman! What would my father say if he saw us daring to dance a waltz?’
Zander grinned back at her. ‘I am certain he would say it is a fitting end to a wonderful day. My love, may I have this dance?’ Charlotte readily took his outstretched hand in hers.
Zander gently placed his free hand around her back. ‘Now rest your other hand on my shoulder,’ he instructed. ‘I believe that is how it is done.’
They danced so close together they could feel each other’s warm breath on their faces. As the dance steps spun them round and round, the music and song lyrics seemed to whirl about them in a giddy symphony. ‘Dancing in the dark, with you between my arms… Darling you look perfect tonight.’
The song ended but Zander and Charlotte stayed wrapped in each other’s arms. By this time the sun was low in the sky, turning the sea to glittering gold.
Zander softly repeated the song lyrics. ‘Darling, you look perfect tonight.’
‘Thank you.’ Charlotte kissed him in response. ‘You too, Zander. This entire day has been perfect.’
‘Any day is perfect that has you in it, my darling.’
Charlotte’s involuntary peal of laughter shattered the romantic spell and set the girls running excitedly towards them.
Charlotte swept Charlie up into her arms as she toddled towards her mother. ‘Hello, darling. Did you enjoy dancing to the music?’
She started to walk back down the promenade. ‘Come, it’s high time we went home. We don’t want to be late for Mrs Wheatley’s roast beef dinner.’