Chapter Five #3
Mary sipped at her drink and then set it aside, leaning forward with interest. “Oh, yes,” she exclaimed.
“I have heard more than one report of the Dashwood sisters being rather ill-used by John Dashwood and his wife. Our being given their rooms must be confirmation of it. I wonder what they are like. But I hope you are not too eager to meet them, and exert your full powers of pleasing.”
“Maria has said little of them,” Henry replied with a shrug. “Apparently they were not very often together as children, and a few years younger than she. But we must find some way to give them back their rooms, without offending John Dashwood or Sir Thomas.”
Mary smirked. “Of course we shall, though it is pleasant enough tonight to have our cozy room for comparing our first impressions of Norland. But why should Sir Thomas have any opinion on our switching rooms? Unless you mean that he seems so disposed against you generally—I believe you are very ill-used as well.”
Henry glowered at her, and she knew she had hit her mark.
“I shall find my footing with him soon enough. If he were really so set against me, he should not have relented on our being included in the traveling party. He wants only a little convincing that I am suitable for his daughter—he approved Rushworth without ever having met him, and look at how that ended.”
“Has it ended? The Rushworths will come to Norland with the Dashwoods tomorrow and, as you say, if Sir Thomas were really decided against him….” Mary gave her brother a provoking look, for she saw through all his false confidence.
Henry had struggled to converse with Sir Thomas at dinner; even Maria had appeared worried.
He shrugged again. “The Rushworths claim a relation to the Dashwoods. He could not prevent it. At any rate, I have had enough encouragement from Maria….”
“Ah! Henry, I wish you would have a care. I know your ways, and they have ever been the same.” Mary laid a hand on her brother’s arm, her look earnest. “You enjoy the thrill of the chase. I had wondered before if you sought Maria out for the challenge of it, and now that her affections are secure, your interest is held only by winning over her father.”
Henry stood abruptly, grimacing down at her.
“That is not fair, Mary—especially coming from you! I told you before, when I went to Everingham at your urging, that I would give it much thought, and I have had more reason to than you will admit. Do you think I would make so light of what she is giving up? You saw Sotherton—it makes Everingham look like nothing. To suggest that I would trifle with such a strong and freely given regard—you wound more than just me.”
Mary was nonplussed by her brother’s outburst—and still more than a little suspicious.
He certainly protested her accusations a great deal.
“I only wished you to consider that which you claim you already have. I have no doubt your intentions are honorable. For Heaven’s sake, I cannot bear you to be cross with me now, for it is bad enough that Edmund is behaving so strangely.
” Mary leaned back and pouted. Though Henry may wish to dissemble, she still needed a confidant.
Henry heaved a great sigh and poured a drink at the sideboard before resuming his seat on the end of the sofa. “I am sorry for you, Mary. I had noticed he has been rather quiet this last week or more. I thought perhaps he did not like to be coming to Norland.”
“I suppose that may account for it, for he has certainly been cold to his father. But why should he object? Really, Henry, I begin to fear he did not wish me to come to Norland. I only agreed so that I might be your ally in this business with Maria, for you know I always want what is best for you. But Edmund has scarcely spoken to me since his father’s return, and we have always been so very candid with one another. ”
“What will you do?”
Mary rolled her eyes, a wry smile tugging at her lips.
“What can I do? I shall hardly force him to speak to me, if he does not like it. Happily, I did think to have my harp brought along, and it should arrive in another day or two. He has always liked it.” Bubbling with sudden humor, she laughingly added, “I may not bring Edmund round with my harp, but you know Mrs. Dashwood was very vocal about her handsome, eligible brothers. Good Heavens! I only meant to help you on with Sir Thomas in pretending an acquaintance with them, and the Dashwoods were so determinedly civil in owning it possible we have met before. Given how eager Fanny Dashwood is to have me for one of her brothers, I can only imagine them very odious; no doubt I will soon repine ever claiming any knowledge of them at all!”
Henry shook his head at her jest. “You may laugh at everything, but I do begin to wonder, Mary. Sir Thomas has been quite severe, and Edmund’s demeanor very different than what I would have expected, given his nature.
And why come to Norland so soon after his return to England?
I am sure there is something off about the Rushworths and Dashwoods, too. ”
Mary laughed. “Sir Thomas dislikes you, and so it must all be a great conspiracy?”
Henry swatted at her. “It would explain your problem, too.”
“Well,” Mary drawled, “I suppose if there is anything afoot, we had better get to the bottom of it at once.”