When I'm with you

Unexpected thing

"Hell, now I'm going to have to tell them everything," Georgie muttered under her breath, "You couldn't just duck down a bit?"
"Well, sorry", answered Crowe, with obvious sarcasm, "didn't know that being tall was now a disadvantage"
Georgiana snorted in response and gave Francis a long look as she approached the main door.
"So what are we going to do now?" she asked, pressing the bell.
"Improvise," he said, hearing footsteps approaching.
The door opened and a surprised Babbington appeared, followed by Esther.
"Thank God you're here! I was about to call the police to look for you, and an ambulance to calm this hysterical woman down", Crowe asked, "She's worn me out. You have no idea what I had to listen to about your absence. By the way, where were you? We've been looking for you all over the city for half a day! It was pretty irresponsible of you to disappear like that..."
The three of them stared at him in shock, trying to collect their thoughts and find a proper response to Crowe's words.
"The best defense is a good offense. Always", Francis thought to himself, and added aloud," Will you keep us on the doorstep? It's not Halloween and we're not here to beg for sweets"
Babbington silently cleared the passage.
"That's better", said Crowe, skipping Georgiana forward, "Babbers, do you have any whiskey?"

The phone rang, and she reluctantly pulled it out of her purse.
"You already came?", asked her joyful voice of Charlotte, "we are all waiting for you"
"Yes," she said grimly, " I'm just looking at the door to Trafalgar house."
"Great!", Miss Haywood exclaimed - "ring the bell !"
She disconnected the call and put the phone back in her purse. Taking a deep breath, she rang the bell. Georgiana didn't want to go to the Parkers ' for dinner, but Charlotte was adamant. Miss lamb was good to Mary and the children, but she was chronically unable to stomach the owner of the house. And in light of recent events, she wanted to strangle him at the first opportunity. A little earlier, back at the hotel along with Crowe, with great difficulty escaped from Babbington (thank God the nanny returned with the kids), she fell on the bed in the hope that adventure today is over and she will be able to draw, read a book and think about yourself and Francis. Charlotte's unexpected call to come to the Parker family dinner had thrown her off balance. And now, standing in front of the massive oak door, she felt a strong desire to escape.
There were footsteps, and the door opened. Parker's Desk stood in the doorway, completely blocking it. When she saw him, Georgie broke into a satisfied smile and threw herself on his chest with joy.
- Arthur! I didn't know you were here" - she asked in surprise, "Why didn't you call?"
"Well, probably because I wanted to surprise you," he said, smiling, " you don't wanted to see me?"
"I'm so glad!" said Georgie, still smiling from ear to ear, "how long can you stay? Will you go to the bar with me? I have a lot to tell you."
"Can you go through first?", continued clearly pleased with his success Arthur, "I also have news for you"
She happily took his arm and went inside, completely forgetting that just a few minutes ago she was ready to beat Tom Parker.

"So you're staying until the festival?"  Sidney asked, taking a mouth - watering bite of biscuit.
"Yes, and even after that", said Arthur with a smile, "I have a surprise for all of you. I'm opening my own pastry shop, right on the waterfront. I will treat all the guests Sanditon fine pastries and more. This cookie you're eating right now was made by me"
Everyone looked at each other in disbelief and then back at Arthur.
"Really?", Charlotte was surprise, "I knew that cake is your weakness, but God it really is so delicious, you're a real pastry chef!"
"Thank you", a little embarrassed, said Arthur, "I took the course almost four years ago. I've been improving my skills for a long time. Then i'm opened a small coffee and pastry shop in London, near Central Park. However, it is very tiny."
"AP? Is this your coffee shop?", Georgie exclaimed, "I go there twice a week. God, the eclairs are divine. But I never saw you there"
"I don't go out much," said Arthur, smiling.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?", Sidney asked, "maybe we can help you with something."
"I don't know", said Arthur, hiding his face behind a huge Cup of tea, "maybe I just wanted to prove to myself that I'm worth something on my own, and not as one of the Parkers."
Sidney smiled at Arthur, feeling incredibly proud of his younger brother. His mood had clearly improved, and Sidney had almost forgotten about the trouble with Eliza Campion.
"It's just unbelievable," Tom said, as if he'd just come out of hibernation.
"What does Diana think?"  Mary broke in.
"She doesn't know", he answered, "or rather, she doesn't khows everything. At first, she laughed at the idea, and then when she started Dating her yoga instructor, she completely forgot about me and my pastry shop. However, this is even better. She is busy with her yoga, Pilates, diets and calorie counting. Every month she passes tests and goes to the doctor. I'm very glad that I don't have to hang around with her."
Mary exchanged glances with Charlotte and Georgie and smiled knowingly at Arthur.
" What are you going to sell here?", Georgie asked with interest.
" A lot of things", said Arthur, slyly squinting, "I found old recipes that were used by cooks back in the 19th century."
"So you can take part in the festival, too," Tom said briskly, " and you'll be another milestone in Sanditon, so to speak. Have you seen my project?"
"Not yet", said Arthur honestly.
"Come on, I'll show you everything", said Tom, barely hiding the unhealthy glint in his eyes, "you'll see, it will be just a Grand event. All the Beau Monde will be talking about Sanditon. And your cakes."
Arthur got up and excused himself to the ladies, then followed his brother out. Mary also rose to clear some of the dishes from the table. Charlotte volunteered to help her, leaving Georgie and Sidney alone at the table.
"I heard you gave one person a hard time," Sidney said.
"Not as much as I'd like," she said, wrinkling her nose, " at the thought of throwing her off a cliff."
"You know it's very dangerous," he said, more seriously " I don't want you to mess with her."
" I have enough strength to stand up for myself", said Georgie indignantly, "do you think I can't pull out this old chicken's hair?"
"I don't doubt your capabilities for a second," Sidney said, "just be carefull"
"OK," said Georgie.
"I'm serious," Sidney said, "you must be carefull"
"Calm down, eat your cake and drink your coffee before it gets cold", she answered.
"You know I'm very worried about you... " Sidney began, but the phone rang. He ignored him, "do you want to talk?"
"You're getting a call!"  Georgie said, pointedly reaching for the cake, "in case it can be urgent. I think we should pick up the phone."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ringing mobile phone, frowning. A second of hesitation and then he was out of the chair, moving to the far corner of the room and answering the phone.
"Yes," he said shortly, and Georgie strained her ears to catch the words.
To her delight, the voice on the other end was loud, beautiful, and familiar to Georgie.
"You asked me to find out where Eliza Campion is staying," Esther said. " just like I thought, Eliza's not in" Crown", but I know where she is."
"Don't keep me in suspense," Sidney muttered impatiently.
"Eliza has rented a small cottage on the coast. 15 colins lane", Esther said.
"15 Colins Lane? But this is... " Sidney began.
"Yes, the very first alley from Parker house, if you go towards the city," Esther confirmed.
"She deliberately rented a cottage three hundred meters away from Charlotte and me", he said sadly "She did it on purpose"
"It looks like it," Esther agreed, "Sidney!"
"What?", he asked.
"Are you sure you should go there?", Esther asked, excitement in her voice.
"I have to try to stop this madness somehow," Sidney said, "I have to protect my family."
"I understand," she said, "be careful, Sidney."
"Thank you," he said.
"I hope I don't regret it," said Mrs. Babbington, and hung up.
He turned to look at Georgie, who was still sitting on the sofa, looking at the book on the table with interest.
"Did she hear the conversation? Did she understand any of it?"  he thought.
Sidney could only guess at that. He walked over and sat back down in his favorite chair.
"What did you say about Mrs. Campion?", she asked casually.
"Nothing," Sidney said, swallowing hard, " just try not to cross paths with her again."
"Ok," said Georgie, hiding behind a mug of tea like Arthur had just a few minutes ago.
Sidney breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Georgie had been so preoccupied with herself that she hadn't listened to the conversation.
"How did you spend today?", Sidney finally asked.
" Bored", she answered, "slept until lunch, then briefly visited Esther...."
They began to talk peacefully about London and her paintings, not even realizing that Charlotte was standing right behind the curtain, her icy hands pressed to her mouth, listening to the entire conversation between Sidney and Esther from beginning to end.