Chapter Three #2
Mary stifled her amusement at Maria’s asperity and glanced over at Fanny, who had gone rigid beside her. As the baronet settled his gaze on the girl, she let out a sound of panic. “Am I to go away, sir?”
Sir Thomas did not appear best pleased with his eldest daughter for pressing the matter.
Mary dearly wished to do her part to secure her brother some promise of Maria’s company, though she knew it was not the right moment.
“But what fun to be traveling,” Mary said to Fanny.
“I grow quite envious—but for you, who has traveled so little, the pleasure must be much greater.”
Sir Thomas gave Mary a nod of approval before he addressed his niece. “Well, Fanny, I did mean to speak to you about it, another time. You are cousin to John Dashwood, too, and I believe his mother-in-law might have some connections in society that—well, if we were to put you forward a little….”
The baronet broke off as Fanny recoiled in some distress. “Sir, I….”
“Poor Fanny,” Maria said with feeling. “Of course she must want some female company, if you mean to put her forward, Papa.” Maria smiled widely at her cousin.
Mary thought it very odd indeed, for neither of the Bertram girls ever paid Fanny much notice—nobody ever did, and the poor girl was beside herself at their doing so now.
“I think it a fine idea, Father. My engagement is quite at an end, but Fanny wants only a little assistance of the right kind, and she may fare much better.”
Mary internally commended Maria’s efforts; she certainly wished to get far away from Rushworth, if she was pressing for a house party to put Fanny Price forward. With such efforts as these, Mary may have to do very little herself on her brother’s behalf.
Edmund finally roused himself to join the fray. “I think this a discussion for another time, Father, though I will say that I think it best we all go.”
Julia had been on the periphery of the room, and the conversations within, but she set down the book in which she had not turned a single page—she had been quite occupied this quarter hour in offering them all a colorful array of nasty looks.
Closing the book heavily, she said, “I am perfectly happy to stay at home if that is what my father desires. Indeed, I think we should all heed his wishes.”
Edmund scowled at her. “Do not be churlish, Julia. You were always in want of some amusement during the theatrical, and here is some opportunity for it. Besides, I am sure our father would be best contented surrounded by all his children. It has been quite a long time.”
Mary could not be blind to the friction between Edmund and his father, though she rather wondered at it. Edmund was all duty and honor, and yet he looked as though he wished his father to the very devil! Well, there was no more wondering if she had done him some mischief.
Lady Bertram filled the heavy silence, her voice placid and cheerfully oblivious as she petted her pug.
“I should like to go to Norland. I grew up there, you know.” This last was directed at Mary and Fanny with a look of serenity.
“Yes, I ought to go to Norland. My poor brother Henry! I ought to have gone in the spring—or with Mrs. Rushworth this summer. Ah, but you were away, Sir Thomas.”
Maria and Edmund instantly seized their triumph. “You see, Papa,” Maria cried.
Edmund’s level reply came at the same instant.
“My mother’s feelings are natural and just. And surely, sir, you would not part with us so soon after your return.
Why ever would you wish to break up our happy family circle to visit distant relations with only me for company, and Fanny if she chooses it?
As Maria says, her engagement with Rushworth has been broken; a change of scenery would be quite right. ”
As Sir Thomas fumed, Mary observed Maria give Henry a subtle pinch. “John Dashwood of Norland—but it cannot be the same! Is this relation of yours often in London?”
Mary knew of no such person amongst their acquaintance, and rather wondered at what her brother and his lady were about.
Smiling, she resolved to further her brother’s ruse, for really she felt some relief that Maria had held her brother’s interest even without the excitement of being forbidden fruit.
“I thought the name Dashwood sounded familiar. I believe my friend Mrs. Fraser introduced us to some Dashwoods a couple seasons ago.”
Maria offered her a look of gratitude before turning to implore her aunt Norris.
It was shocking that the old matron, who was always so vocally officious, had held back for so long.
Mrs. Norris had watched all the family discuss the matter without once voicing her own opinion.
Even now she cast a tentative gaze at Sir Thomas before sputtering something noncommittal.
Maria pressed on. “You must wish to go above all things, Aunt. I recall you made the match for Cousin John and Fanny Ferrars.”
Still inexplicably sulking in the window seat, Julia snorted with derision. “Yes, and we have seen very little of them ever since.”
“Julia,” Sir Thomas scolded. “Do not be unkind.”
Now Mrs. Norris tittered. “Well now, Fanny Dashwood—Fanny Ferrars as she was—what an elegant, well-bred lady! So fashionable—and how captivated my nephew John was! Yes, it was a match very well made, every advantage in the world….” She fell silent, her gaze lingering on Henry and Maria, who were still sitting very close.
Now Mary began to understand Mrs. Norris’ early reticence.
The old busybody had been so well-pleased with herself for catching Rushworth for Maria—she could not like Maria’s new choice.
Mary bristled. Henry might have half the fortune of Rushworth, but he was twice the man in matters of mind, and even in his heart.
If he had come back for Maria, intent on wooing and not merely dallying, then to Norland he must pursue her.
“Yes, it must be the very same,” Mary cried, and gave a clap of her hands.
“How astonishing, that we should be together nearly every day for so many months, and yet be so long in discovering a mutual acquaintance. Mrs. Fraser will laugh when I write to her of it. Is it not shocking, Henry? But you must give the Dashwoods all our regards. I recall I quite admired Mrs. Dashwood’s taste and style.
I believe I met her sis- brother, as well.
” Mary had taken a subtle cue from Maria, who had discreetly mouthed a few words to her; she gave a little nod in return.
“Yes, her brother, Mr…. Ferrars. Charming man, and just as fashionable!”
Lady Bertram came to Mary’s rescue before she really began to flounder.
“Oh, but there could be no objection, if you are acquainted already. Really, Sir Thomas. Why disrupt the perfection of our present company? We have been so very well content all these many months, and might do just as well at Norland. It is a dear, pretty place, and quite large enough for twice our number, I am sure. Young Mrs. Dashwood is very genteel—she should like to entertain. Let us all go to Norland together.”
It was so uncharacteristically long a speech from Lady Bertram that the other occupants of the room all fell silent and gaped at her.
Fanny trembled at Mary’s side, and Mary might have been tempted to utter some gentle reassurances, were it not for the next very great shock.
Mrs. Rushworth had slipped into the room unannounced and taken a seat amongst them with a cheerful smile.
After the awkward business of the footman rushing in to belatedly perform his duties, the silence prevailed once more.
Mrs. Rushworth appeared majestically impervious to the tension as she took in the wide array of reactions she had aroused.
“What a fine discovery! A family trip to Norland! Well! Heaven and earth, you will never believe, but I have come to take my own leave of the neighborhood. You will never guess where I mean to travel—but you know my niece Margaret is a Dashwood by marriage, and she has been quite longing to bring her girls back to Norland for a visit. I mean to join them there, with James, of course, for the Miss Dashwoods are comely girls—though such a pity that their brother John could give them no portion….”
Mary really might have applauded the old crone, were she obviously not a rather natural enemy of Henry’s.
But still, it was really rather well done of her.
How Mrs. Rushworth had caught wind of the family’s intention to travel, Mary could not determine—but servants were prone to gossip, even in the first families.
Mary could only plot her next move. Should they perhaps now shy back from Maria’s going to Norland?
Surely Henry might court her better wherever Mr. Rushworth was not, though Mrs. Rushworth clearly meant him to be wherever his erstwhile fiancée was.
And yet, if these comely girls might tempt Mr. Rushworth, Mary would be happy to help there.
She glanced back at Edmund, for she was suddenly wanting a game of chess, amidst such maneuvering.
As Mary weighed her options, there was nervous stirring in nearly every quarter, but the silence was finally broken by Lady Bertram. “My goodness. I really ought to ring for tea.”
Fanny Price ended her day in a greater degree of distress than she had ever experienced, since her earliest days of coming to Mansfield as a child.
After the initial shock of being transplanted from the home of her youth, she had by and by begun to feel her position secure enough; she expected never to leave.
Hearing that her uncle meant to bring her to Norland, among cousins who had never taken notice of herself, her parents, or her siblings—cousins who were by all accounts very grand—it was not the sort of news to put her at ease.
Having been acquainted with the news amidst such company had been difficult, even to one as accustomed as she to concealing her feelings.