On Pasts and Presents: Chapter 1
"They play so well together, don't you think?" Mrs Jennings whispered to Mrs Dashwood at a less than discreet volume. Brandon and Marianne exchanged a much more discreet look upon hearing this despite being the very people at the pianoforte, sitting closest to the sweet melodies they were producing together. They saw Mrs Dashwood return a polite and subtle nod of agreement to Mrs Jennings. She wasn't wrong, after all. The couple had been engaged now for a month and had taken to entertaining the troops (as Mrs Dashwood had heard Elinor once refer to the usual gathering of friends at Barton Park) by playing a new duet on the pianoforte from time to time. Or sometimes Marianne would sing and Colonel Brandon would accompany her.
There was no denying that their playing and her singing was delightful entertainment in its own right, but Mrs Dashwood suspected that she was not the only person in their little party to keep just as close and sympathetic eye on how the couple interacted with each other. Now that Brandon's lengthy courting had reached the desired outcome of him, first of all, returning back to England safely and then proposing to Marianne, most of the awkwardness and uncertainty in their manner towards one another had disappeared. Brandon visited Barton Cottage often, or if the group gathered at Barton Park, he would be there too. Marianne visited her sister Elinor at the parsonage often and where Marianne was, there Brandon, too, was a frequent visitor.
In all fairness, Mrs Dashwood thought, Colonel Brandon had already had everyone over at Delaford twice and the Dashwoods were going for a whole weekend in a few days. The Colonel had promised more riding lessons for Margaret and also for Marianne. Delaford was a lovely estate and Mrs Dashwood felt blessed that Marianne would, no doubt about it now, be its mistress. The sisters would be near each other and Elinor would always have someone in a good position to turn to if there were ever any problems. She would wish and hope for the best for Margaret now, but on the whole, having two daughters out of three find a happy marriage like this was already more than she had dared hope at one point.
Behind the pianoforte, hidden from the eyes of the group of friends listening to their playing, a hand would brush against another, hips and thighs would lean against another and movements synchronized by the music played were strengthening the bond Marianne and Brandon had formed. Their engagement was not to be an exceedingly long one, but Brandon for one felt like every minute of it was ten times as long. All he wanted now was to make his vows to her and take her home with him. Marianne had cared and looked after him as much as was possible since his return, taking her turn in reading to him or taking long slow walks at Barton Park or where ever they had been able to meet.
Since announcing their engagement the chaperoning had relaxed a little, but it was not like they had many chances to be properly alone for any length of time. On those rare occasions Brandon found he would reach for her hand and she would for his and if there was a chance he would pull her close to him and hold her in his embrace. There may even have been a stolen kiss or two. Playing the piano like this, together, was of course something they both enjoyed. They would do it if they were on their own, Brandon was certain of that, but it also extended their opportunities for physical closeness when discretion was necessary.
How aware Marianne was of it, Brandon was not entirely sure. She was still so very innocent in many ways. For Brandon, however, her scent alone was enough to raise his heartbeat and to be close enough to feel her warmth against him, her thigh brushing alongside his, her arm against his side – each new occasion seemed to increase the intensity of his longing for her. Thank goodness Mrs Dashwood and Mrs Jennings were already working on the wedding arrangements. Brandon didn't know how he would be able to hold himself together with all this anticipation if the reward was not in sight now.
There was, however, one more issue that worried the good Colonel: Young Beth Williams and her toddler. Brandon was, rationally, aware that Marianne knew all the relevant details, including his own history with Beth's mother, but he could not help feeling a little worried about these connections becoming a more immediate reality to Marianne when they married. He did not wish for her to feel any doubts or insecurities when it came to his feelings towards her. Yet there was a small chance that coming across Beth and her child at one of the farms in his estate would bring back sad memories for her regarding that Willoughby, not to mention bring up his own history with Beth's mother. He would somehow have to talk all this through with Marianne before their wedding. Their married life really should start without any questions or unspoken issues. Perhaps this coming weekend, when the Dashwoods would come to Delaford?
