Fanny Dashwood loathed nothing more than being forced into the company of her lowly relations. Her brother Robert was abroad. Her son Henry would be away at school for another fortnight and her mother had inconveniently died a month earlier. So with no other obligations she was forced to leave Norland to spend an evening in Delaford with her husband.
As their carriage road toward the house, she admitted to herself that Marianne had married well in spite of expectations, certainly better than her sister Elinor.
It pained Fanny to think of her brother living as a simple country curate with no money and no connections. To have such a relation was deeply disagreeable, but at least she could boast an acquaintance in Delaford. Indeed, such a connection was held in great esteem in all of society.
Fanny did share a few acceptable connections with Colonel Brandon so she didn't feel entirely uncomfortable in the mixed party. She consorted with Mrs. Allen, a wealthy widow with considerable property. Her husband had been in trade, so she was of low birth, but her daughter had recently married a Duke. Fanny found her company to be agreeable.
They commented on the party, their dress and manner and found fewer than six people with whom they considered well-bred.
"I found the food tolerable, I daresay," said Mrs. Allen, "but the cook obviously lacks in classical training."
"Oh, I agree," replied Fanny. "The hollandaise was far too loose and did nothing to compliment the vegetables."
"And who is that wild creature with Lady Brandon. Her robe is dreadful and look at the state of her hair!"
Fanny searched the room for the her next subject of ridicule. Mrs. Allen had been referring to Fanny's sister-in-law, Margaret Dashwood.
Fanny lowered her voice and turned toward Mrs. Allen so that she might not be observed as she spoke.
"That is the young Miss Dashwood. Well, no longer young, I daresay. She must be above five and twenty and she is unmarried."
"She is obviously unmarried. Who would have such classless woman as a wife? How queer she is! Look at how she averts her eyes when she is addressed."
"She has always been an untamed creature. It is a wonder she has an education at all, though I must tell you that she is a novelist. She publishes under nom-de-plume to avoid recognition, but apparently she makes a living of around one hundred pounds a year, which is nothing for a truly successful writer, but enough to fund her travels. She is rarely in England, traveling alone to any jungle that will allow her passage, which explains her under-developed manner."
"Travels alone? The impertinence! A lady - well, she is no lady - but a girl traveling alone must be devoid of all virtue. It is right that she isn't married and she never shall."
"Indeed, she has declared herself spinster on many occasion. It is vexing to have such relations."
"It is truly terrible, my dear Mrs. Dashwood. How do you bare it?"
"I do not bare it. That is my husband's responsibility and his alone."
Their conversation moved to the music as Marianne began to play her piano forte.
Margaret had assumed the party at Delaford would be one that consisted only of her family and close friends, but Colonel Brandon had given Sir John Middleton far too much freedom with invitations and Marianne was in no position to argue so close to her confinement.
Margaret stayed close to her mother and sisters and the majority of her conversation was with her nephew, Georgie. She detested large parties, but found no opportunity to escape.
Further, Mrs. Dashwood would never truly end her mission to see her last daughter happily married and settled. There were quite a few eligible young men with whom Margaret could make an acquaintance.
"Mama, I beg you, please do not," Elinor said before Mrs. Dashwood could introduce Margaret to a Mr. Smith, a banker in London. "You know Margaret will not wish it."
"She cannot object to Mr. Smith. He is based in London and has no aversion to travel and…"
"Look at her. See how uncomfortable she is now with just her brother. She is still weary from her journey. Let her rest and then you may introduce her to any gentleman you wish."
"She will be off the continent before she relaxes."
Elinor smiled at her mother. "Precisely, Mama."
"Please don't leave my side, brother," Margaret said to Edward. "I'm safe so long as you are here."
"Safe?" Edward laughed. "Have you not encountered wolves and bears in the Americas? Surely, you don't fear your friends."
"These are not friends and you know they are not."
"I declare that I will not leave your side, but I must confess I have already promised an introduction."
Margaret was filled with dread. "An introduction? Who would want to be introduced to me?" She had been away for above two years. Surely there would be no one there that was aware of her existence outside of her own family.
Edward turned. "That gentleman there is a friend of Sir John, I believe."
Margaret knew immediately to whom Edward was referring. The gentleman in question was Lord Alexander Allstone of Brightonshire. Margaret had made an acquaintance of sorts with him while she was in the Orient.
She was in the dining room of her lodgings - expertly chosen so she would encounter the fewest number Englishman - when Lord Allstone was seated a table very near her own. They did not speak, but when Margaret decided to retire Allstone followed out of the dining room.
"Forgive me, madam, but are you here alone?"
"I am."
"Where is your chaperone?"
Margaret had been surprised by his forwardness, but answered with equal frankness. "I do not have an escort, sir. I am alone."
"A lady cannot travel alone. It is much too dangerous and you must allow me to see you home safely."
"Pray, what is your name, sir?"
Lord Allstone remembered his manors and bowed. "Lord Alexander Allstone, at your service."
"I'm afraid, Lord Allstone that I will be in the Orient for at least three months. I could not possibly ask you to change your journey so drastically. Good day, sir."
"I say again, madam that a woman may not travel alone, especially someone as becoming as yourself. You will surely damage your reputation."
Margaret was unmoved by the compliment. "By the same convention, a woman should never travel with a strange men and this conversation would be considered an impertinence. What would happen to my reputation then? You are scarcely older than I am and you travel alone. Why shouldn't I?"
And with that Margaret stormed to her room almost frightened that the strange man would follow.
She'd learned his name from the lodging director and made a point to never be in the dining room when he was scheduled to be there. She never saw him again and had almost forgotten him until her first night at Delaford.
"I do not wish to be introduced to him," she told Edward.
"It would be rude to not speak to him, since he has asked for you by name."
"Brother, I thought surely you of all people would understand how intolerable it is to meet new people especially those for whom you have little regard."
"Little regard? You do not know him, Meg. I found him to be a cheerful, amiable sort of fellow. Maybe a bit too honest and self-aware, I daresay, but there is far too little of those qualities in polite society. No, you will be introduced and you will thank me, for I believe even you will find him clever enough for good company."
Margaret hurried to Elinor's side. If an introduction was unavoidable her sister would save her from making awkward or incorrect remarks.
"Whatever is the matter, my dear?" her mother asked alarmed as Margaret nearly knocked Elinor into a wall while trying to be discreet as she made notice of the approach of her husband and the gentleman.
"Behave, Meg," Elinor whispered as the gentlemen joined them.
"Lord Allstone, allow me to introduce my wife, Elinor, her mother, Mrs. Dashwood, and her sister Miss Margaret Dashwood. My dears, may I present Lord Alexander Allstone."
"It is a pleasure," Mrs. Dashwood said.
"The pleasure is all mine, madam," Lord Allstone replied. He took her hand and kissed it.
"What brings you to Devonshire, Lord Allstone?" asked Elinor.
"I've come with Captain Sharp's party. I am his brother-in-law. I believe you share a connection to him with Sir John."
"Oh, then I am surprised we have not yet made his acquaintance," Elinor replied.
"How are you enjoying the society, Lord Allstone," inquired Mrs. Dashwood.
"I'm afraid I'm not one for large gatherings. I much prefer an intimate affair, but when I realised the connection between my family and yours I felt inclined to join you all. You see, I have spent the last six month in search of a young lady I found quite on her own in China. I wanted to see with my own eyes that she was alive and well, since she refused my assistance at our first meeting."
He bowed his head toward Margaret so all of the ladies would understand to whom he was referring.
"I'm sorry, Lord Allstone," Mrs. Dashwood exclaimed. "Margaret never told me that you'd met."
"Propriety requires Miss Dashwood to exclude me from her tales from overseas as ours was not a true meeting."
The eyes of Mrs. Dashwood, Elinor, and Edward fell on Margaret as they awaited a response.
"I'm pleased to make your acquaintance officially, sir." She bowed her head so that her eyes would not meet his. "Thank you for inquiring after my well-being."
She spoke without spirit or interest in her words, which Elinor noted wasn't entirely out of character around unfamiliar persons.
"I must apologize for my sister, Lord Allstone. She is quite reserved around strangers."
Lord Allstone laughed without restraint. Margaret had been well spoken and sure of herself at their first meeting.
"This was not my impression of Miss Dashwood. She spoke with such energy that I found myself quite at a loss for words, quite frightened of her, I daresay."
"Frightened of me?" Margaret said her eyes now sparkling and wholly focused on Lord Allstone. "Had it not been for the manner in which you approached me, I might have found myself more guarded. As it is, I do not know how to respond to such a frankness of address as yours, Lord Allstone."
Mrs. Dashwood, surprised at the lack of civility in her daughter's tone, quickly changed the subject to the weather and roads. Margaret used this as an opportunity to escape before anyone noticed how flushed she'd become.
Lord Allstone watched as Margaret disappeared from the room. Were it not for the thickness of the crowd, she might have run.