Sir Thomas has forced Fanny into marriage as he believed it to be advantageous to all parties involved. Fanny, distraught with Edmund's continued infatuation with Mary, is married rather numbly.
Henry looked up from his book, surprised to see a women in the room, and even more surprised to remember she was his wife.
I am married, he reminded himself. He stole another glance at the woman who managed to take his bachelor status. He never truly believed he would be a married man, yet here he was.
Fanny was busy with needlework. She had taken it upon herself to clothe every single tenant under the Crawford name. Finding food for the hungry and tending the ill, in two short weeks, Fanny had established herself as more of a mother than a mistress of Everingham.
She is mine at last, Henry tried the thought. It did not feel right however. Yes, Fanny was married to him at long last. Yes, he was her protector and guardian. Yet, she did not belong to him.
They had yet to consummate their marriage. Henry was sick with impatience, but he would not have Fanny if she did not want to. After their marriage, Henry took Fanny to Everingham immediately, hoping to take her away from such condescending environment. Unfortunately, he had to remove himself to London immediately for business, postponing their honeymoon to Bath. He had returned five days prior, finding his wife settled and elbows deep in work that she could not possibly leave Everingham at the moment.
He was aware her uncle had pressured her into accepting him and that she was mending her wounds that her cousin had given her. Their courtship had served no other purpose than to plunge Henry Crawford deep in love with Fanny. She remained unaffected, even now as his wife. However, now he was cautious, almost shy, in his treatment of her. He allowed her to do as she wished, with no flirtations to make her uncomfortable. Watching her, he could see she was content as she was, so he made no attempts to pressure her. She seemed a bit happy even, especially when the neighborhood children brought her flowers. He found that he lived for her smiles now.
"I will be retiring now," Fanny stood, flexing her hand from the strain of needlework. She gave a slight nod and left the room before Henry could say a word.
She was most likely retiring to her own rooms. They were more like host and guest than husband and wife. Henry looked down at his book and realized he had been holding it upside down. With a sigh, Henry put down his book and took a candle to guide him to his room.
The house was dark and cold as he climbed slowly up the stairs. He was unhappy even though he had attained what he desired. So, why was he not happy? The howling wind that could be heard from outside seemed desperate to tell him what he was doing wrong.
His valet changed him into his night clothes, but he barely registered the man, he was so deep in thought. He wondered if perhaps he should have continued his flirtations with Fanny after they wed. In truth, Henry had wished for more from this marriage. What had he wished for? Fanny. But he had her. What more was there? Her affection?
Henry sat in his bed with his musing, when a clap of thunder startled him to the present. He looked to the large windows. They were closed, but the drapes were pulled back. Lightning flashed brightly before another tremendous thunderclap.
Henry moved to close the drapes, since his valet retired, when he heard a sound at the door.
"Who's there?" Henry stood.
A small figure entered his room and stepped gingerly into the candlelight.
"Fanny, are you alright?" Henry's shoulders relaxed when he recognized her.
"I-" she began. Lightning brightened the room and Henry could see her eyes widen and mouth open in fear.
She ran the distance between them before the bang of thunder exploded. Henry caught her in his arms and held her as the thunder rumbled away.
"Fanny, you are not afraid of storms are you?" Henry asked with a smirk.
She did not answer, just hid her face in the fabric on his chest.
They remained still, as another lightning flash lighted the room.
"Let me close the drapes," Henry detached her from his person to go close the drapes, thankfully, they were heavy and could hide the lightning from outside.
Henry turned back around to see Fanny sitting on his bed. She hugged herself, looking at nothing in particular.
When he approached, she turned her eyes to him. She reached out her arms to him.
This made Henry pause a moment, at least in his mind. The sight of Fanny reaching out to him voluntarily was something completely beyond his comprehension. It pulled at his heart a million times, so as that it was barely tolerable.
He took her in his arms once more as thunder rumbled. She was warm and smelled of sunshine and jasmine.
"Do you wish to stay with me tonight, Fanny?" She nodded her head against his chest.
He pulled her gently into bed, settling beside her. She turned to him and snuggled into him quickly when there was another thunder clap. He held her again, held her so close he thought he would melt into her.
He tried his best to not make any unwanted advances, but it was nearly impossible with her so close and so precious. He settled on patting her hair back, which she seemed to enjoy as she expressed with a sigh. Her eyes closed slowly and her breathing evened.
As she settled into sleep and the thunder rolled away, Henry found his answer. What he wanted, what would make him ultimately happy. If there could be thunderstorms every night and every day he should be very much happy the rest of his life.