Authors Note: Hey people! Long time no see. I haven't published a story since 2014, I believe. I've missed writing, but life has been so busy, I've just left it behind. But, I am back now! I am considering returning to my old story Leaving Gotham to finish it, but until then...I'll be posting some fun one-shots! This is my first time ever writing for Sense & Sensibility (which, btw, don't own it!) and I've enjoyed trying to capture my two favorite characters, Marianne and Christopher Brandon. I see my characters as Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman, oh, how I'll miss Alan! I hope you all enjoy!
Marianne wasn't the smartest Dashwood sister - Elinor took that place, with her great knowledge of the world and it's history, it's languages, it's people. She didn't have the confident charm that Margaret, the youngest, had (even though that same charm often got her into trouble, it was also the very thing that made everyone love her so.) come by so naturally. Where Elinor had her wit, her ability to talk to others no matter how they spoke or what they spoke of, her charisma, Marianne had her love for passion, for love, for romance. If her company did not suit her, she had the tendency to turn off her ears, so to speak, and let her thoughts journey elsewhere. She wasn't rude, nor did she dislike many people, but she could not hide her true personality as well as her sisters and mother. Willoughby had been like a breath of fresh air for her - finally! A man with great passion, with a knowledge of literature, a man who could quote Shakespeare in such a way that she knew would've enchanted the writer himself. A man who did not desire to hide his feelings, a man who would show people how he felt not only by words but by his actions. Looking back, she could see why she would've fallen for him so quickly, as a younger and less experienced girl. But when she thought back, and remembered everything, and saw things as they truly were and not just how Willoughby had fooled her into believing they were, she saw how much love and passion the man really lacked. She remembered Elinor telling her of the Colonel's story, about how Willoughby had fooled another woman the same way he had fooled her. True passion and love could not be removed and then copied again so quickly for another woman. How had she missed it? Had she been that desperate for a suitor?
Her mind was snapped back to the present when she heard a familiar voice, one that she had been growing more and more fond of. "Miss Marianne," It said, sounding as if the words were made of velvet. "Are you well?" It questioned. She turned her head, a small smile growing on her face. Not long ago, she'd been bored to death by the Colonel's presence, but she hadn't been willing to hear him in those days. Her thoughts were only for Willoughby, her respect only for Willoughby. If only, she thought wistfully, I'd noticed Brandon sooner. She couldn't fib to herself, in the recent days, after her fever, after him carrying her such a long ways and staying day after day to ensure that she was on the mend, she'd begun feeling things for the man that seemed to pale in comparison to what she felt for John Willoughby. Where her emotions for the younger man were exciting, fresh, passionate, thrilling...her feelings for Colonel Brandon were much different. He gave her peace, comfort. She seemed unsettled whenever he wasn't around, as if a part of her was missing. Her romantic side practically swooned at his heroics, when she thought of him rescuing her. They spoke of things that she doubted Willoughby ever would've taken seriously, or wanted to hear about. He even listened to her babble about new dresses and her unimportant studies and her simple daily life. He was interested in her, not only for grand thoughts, fine literature and her ability to play the pianoforte. He was captivated by her every word, concerned for her.
He was in love with her. She had known it for weeks now, but suddenly, the idea of him feeling that towards her wasn't so unwelcome. Suddenly, she wondered how it would feel to be wrapped in his embrace, to hear him plainly speak to her and tell her precisely how he feels about her.
She finally broke out of her reverie to answer him, her dazed expression confusing him. "I am very well, Colonel. Just stuck in a daydream, I suppose." She leaned back against the tall tree that was behind her. It had become their spot for reading in the hotter days, a nice shelter from the bright sun. He walked closer before claiming the spot next to her as he usually did. He tried to ignore the fact that their calves barely touched - he had sat much closer than he usually did, not quite realizing how close they would be before he had already come down. But despite him assuming that she would find an excuse to move, to stretch her legs and sit differently, he found that she had done the opposite. Her body seemed to gravitate towards his, not quite close enough to be improper. He tried to hide his shock, clearing his throat and sliding his hand into the pocket of his coat to retrieve his book of sonnets. Marianne still complained of headache if she tried reading too long, she wasn't as strong as she used to be after the fever, but he didn't mind reading for her. She had tried reading a brief poem the last time they had met together, a few weeks ago, he'd been out of town, but she set his book back down on his lap, a playful smile (one that he had only caught very rare glimpses of since she had grown ill.) playing on her lips. "You must read, Colonel. I'm afraid my own voice is boring me, yours is much better. You've spoiled me!" She had said, causing the Colonel's face to grow pink with slight embarrassment.
"How was your trip, Colonel?" She inquired after a moment, taking the small book out of his hands casually as he struggled to find their place. She leafed through the pages, wearing a content smile. How different she seemed to be in his company! Comfortable, happy, even. His heart seemed to swell even more than it usually did when he was in her presence, and he let himself hope, only for a second, that she would perhaps grow to enjoy his company as much as he enjoyed hers.
"Uneventful and boring, as business trips usually are." He answered, taking the book out of her hand sneakily and laughing as she gave him an offended look. "I believe we were closer to the middle of the book. Shame, I believe my bookmark has fallen out somewhere."
"Well, surely your days could not have been more boring than mine!" He raised his brow, book forgotten for the moment, waiting for her to continue on. "I'm afraid that I must forbid you from leaving me anymore, Colonel, for my days are quite dull without you! My mother refuses to let me out of her sight unless I am with you or Elinor, because, according to her, you two are my only mature friends, and she is still worried that Margaret would miss the signs of my fever returning and allow something to happen to me! But with Elinor so busy with wedding plans - oh how excited she is! - I have been stuck in my boring, old, stuffy house, to stare out the window and wait eagerly for your return!" He tried so hard to hide the smile on his face, joy most likely plainly written (too plainly, a man shouldn't reveal so much emotion to a woman he is not even in an agreement with.) but tried as he might, he could not hide it. She had missed him? Waited for him? He continued the conversation, attempting to seem halfway normal around her.
"Surely the new song I had left with you kept you busy for a few days, Miss Marianne." He had given her a new song, one that he had ordered weeks before but forgotten to give her until he had left, composed by one of her favorites. He was spoiling her, he knew, and perhaps treading on dangerous water to be so invested in a woman who had shown no interest in him romantically (but he was not blind, and knew he saw something different in her eyes today, as she gazed upon him.) but he could not help himself.
"One can only play so much on the pianoforte before growing tired of hearing oneself." She explained. "I do love the song, though. I hope you stay long enough today to be able to hear it!" He nodded, deciding it wouldn't be wise to tell her that he would wait forever in order to do anything she desired, even if it meant staying so long he'd have to ride in the dark. Yes, he realized. He was on dangerous ground, but there was no telling his heart to tread safer. He was in love with Marianne Dashwood, and as he looked at her, her face animated and over dramatic as she complained to him of her boredom...he realized he'd happily give her his heart forever, no matter the cost or outcome.