Title: Col. & Mrs Brandon [Series: Sense & Sensibility]

Author: Drusilla Dax (drusilladax@free.fr)

Pairings: Colonel Christopher Brandon/Marianne Dashwood, Edward Ferrars/Elinor Dashwood

Rating: U to R18 (except in the fanfiction version that won't have the R18 chapters)

Summary: What happened when Colonel Brandon came back to the Dashwoods' home...

Disclaimer: I'm just playing with other people's toys. May I be forgiven in my next incarnation! Flamers will be adopted by my family (if you don't believe it's a threat... too bad for you!).

Readers: Starkindler, Mikee, QrYx and Stephanie. Franck helped me with the technicalities linked to the performing of a duet. Thanks a lot! The remaining mistakes are all mine, and I apologize for those.


A/N: See chapter 1 for additional information. (Readers and reviewers on fanfiction should not worry, though this work is in progress, I always finish what I start, and the delay is explained by the fact that I'm writing other fics at the same time).



Col. & Mrs Brandon

Delaford





Christopher Brandon was very busy.

He spent long hours taking care of all the small things that made up everyday life at Delaford. He kept an eye on the improvements he had ordered for Ferrars, and, with a feeling of anticipation in which eagerness and nervousness were mixed in equal parts, he organized the party he had promised.

The Colonel wanted so much for the party to be a success that, as the appointed day was getting closer, the number of hours he could sleep at night diminished.

He was wondering how Mrs Dashwood would behave at Delaford and how Mrs Jennings, and Sir John and Lady Middleton would react to the presence of the Dashwood daughters in his home.

Yet, what was mainly bothering him was the numerous questions that whirled in his head, questions which all dealt with Miss Marianne.

Colonel Brandon wondered if she would like Delaford, if she would not change her mind; he also feared the moment when she might start to expect more than respect and friendship.

The friends of the Colonel decided to help him again, and Sir John managed to meet secretly with Ferrars, who became an active spy for Brandon's old friend.

The two men managed to help Brandon.

Without betraying the secrets of the Colonel, Sir John hinted, during a discussion in the rose garden, that the Colonel might have to be encouraged in his wooing Miss Marianne from time to time. Ferrars had simply bowed, and he undertook discreetly encouraging his protector.





First, Ferrars offered the Colonel help with some aspects of the management of Delaford, and the offer was gladly accepted because it provided the Colonel with an opportunity not to be alone most of the day.

Then, Ferrars suggested that the last details of the Dashwoods' stay at Delaford might be dealt with in a more efficient manner if they were to call at Barton Cottage. The Colonel was forced to agree and on the following day, both men rode to the Dashwoods' home.

They stayed only for tea, but Mrs Dashwood and Miss Dashwood were informed of the latest details about their stay.

While Margaret was given a lesson in embroidery by her mother, Miss Dashwood invited Ferrars to go out for a walk, and the Colonel found himself alone with Miss Marianne in the dining-room. Yet, both were aware that eager ears in the parlour were expecting to hear some of their conversation, so Miss Marianne boldly proposed that they go into the garden so that the Colonel could read to her.

In their haste to go outside, they did not even wait for Thomas to bring them chairs, and while Miss Marianne took the first book she could find, she gave a tartan rug to the Colonel.

'Let's escape before Elinor comes back,' she said in a whisper.

On their way out, Colonel Brandon saw Margaret smiling broadly, and he knew that it could not be because of the cloth her mother had given her.

The Colonel obediently followed Miss Marianne up to a hill where a solitary oak provided them with some welcomed shade.

He carefully placed the tartan rug on the ground and offered his hand to Miss Marianne to help her sit down. He sat next to her, lost, and not knowing what to tell her; she saved him by starting their chat.

'Mama does not really mind our being alone here, but Elinor is going to lecture me tonight,' Marianne said.

He looked at her and said, 'I'm sorry, Miss Marianne. We can go back to Barton Cottage if you wish.'

'Colonel, I would not have offered a walk if I didn't want it. When Elinor tells me that people might talk and that we shouldn't have ventured out without a proper chaperon, I will remind her that I only went out for a walk with a gentleman,' she said with a grin. The Colonel took a breath to answer, but Marianne went on before he could utter a single word, 'Besides, it's been so long since I last saw you alone that I do not want to share your company. I've missed you, Colonel.'

Marianne was slightly blushing, and the Colonel could not think of an answer to so sweet a confession.

Once more, Marianne came to his rescue when she exclaimed, 'Oh, Colonel! I've been selfish again! Maybe it's not good for your rheumatism to sit under so cold a shade. Would you like us to go elsewhere?'

He shook his head and managed to answer. 'Only damp days, usually before and after a storm, make me remember an old wound.'

'A wound?!' Marianne exclaimed, horrified because she had noticed that the Colonel had touched a place that seemed very close to his heart.

'It was not serious, Miss Marianne, but when I came back to England, I discovered that damp weather was somewhat painful.'

'This is why you have some flannel waistcoats,' she said.

'Why, yes, Miss Marianne. Do you remember my mentioning that?' he said in awe.

She nodded and added, 'Will you tell me how you got wounded?'

He frowned and she thought that she had said something to displease him. 'Forgive me, Colonel!' she said in haste, already kneeling on the tartan rug as she meant to get up and leave.

'Marianne!' he exclaimed. He patted the place next to him and said, 'Sit down, please. I remembered that there are some things in my past that I should share with you.'

She settled down a bit closer to him and declared, 'You don't have to tell me anything.'

'I thought we had agreed that sharing thoughts was important. Was I wrong, Miss Marianne?' he teased her.

'No, Colonel,' she said, smiling again.

'You will soon understand why the memory of that wound is so strange. It happened in the West Indies... One day, as I was trying to forget Miss Williams, I stood in front of one of our soldiers in a battle, thus protecting him from a native sword. I woke up in our headquarters. Sir John had had our physician dress my wound and he had convinced one of the natives to take care of me. She was a noble lady and she saved me,' he explained.

'You wanted,' she was forced to pause, 'to die?'

'I felt I had failed in protecting Miss Williams and nothing was no longer important.'

'Your nurse helped you,' Marianne said.

'She convinced me that my death would be of no use, and that Miss Williams might need my help and my strength when I went back home.'

'How did she...?' Marianne started, but she stopped when she noticed that the Colonel was blushing. 'Sir John chose her,' she said, and he nodded. 'I... I think I understand,' she added.

The Colonel dreamily looked at the glorious scenery, lost in his thoughts; a small hand on his brought him back to reality under the mighty oak.

'If she saved you, then it was certainly one of the best ideas that Sir John ever had,' she whispered.

The Colonel Brandon brought Marianne's hand to his lips and reverently kissed her fingers. She shivered visibly.

'Are you cold, Marianne?'

'No,' she paused, 'Christopher, I am not.'

The Colonel never paid attention to the birds that were singing around them; he was drowning in Marianne's eyes.

After some silent minutes, the Colonel cleared his throat and said, 'I hope you will like your stay at Delaford.'

'Do you think,' she started, but her voice trailed off.

'Marianne?'

'Do you think that we'll be able to play together quietly?' she asked.

'If I ask Sir John to keep Lady Middleton busy, and if Ferrars shows the splendours of the garden to Mrs Jennings with your sister's help, I guess we'll be able to have a quiet look at the scores I've found,' the Colonel said.

Marianne laughed heartily.

'Scores? But I thought you had ordered only one duet,' she said.

'Initially, but I thought you might like to have some choices and I found a way to find other duets.'

'Thank you,' she said simply. 'It will be a real pleasure to visit your home.'





The Colonel read some poetry and Marianne let his voice lull her.

He stopped when she placed her hand on his arm; he looked around and saw Miss Dashwood walk towards them with her fiancé.

'Do you think Elinor is looking for us?' Marianne whispered in his ear, which made the Colonel shiver in his turn.

He looked at them, in the clearing slightly below the tree where they had settled, and he said, 'No, Miss Marianne, I don't think so.'

She was about to ask him why, so he pointed a finger towards the couple. Edward was kissing Elinor.

'Now, she will not say a word to me,' Marianne whispered.

'Or to me,' the Colonel added.

They smiled at each other, and Marianne wished that she had the gift to make him smile more often.

When the fiancés walked by the oak, Marianne called them and the Colonel interrupted his reading.

Elinor immediately understood that both her sister and the Colonel had seen her being kissed by Edward. If Marianne's grin was something that she was somehow expecting, she was slightly disturbed by the Colonel's small smile; yet, she could ask no question.

Then, she realised that she could not scold Marianne for her escapade, and she pointedly looked at Brandon whose smile suddenly made more sense. Curiously, Elinor could not bring herself to even wish to scold Marianne or the Colonel.

The couple under the tree decided to walk back to Barton Cottage with the fiancés, and while the two sisters walked hand in hand ahead of Ferrars and Brandon, the Colonel seized the opportunity to have a word with his protégé.

'Ferrars?' he murmured.

'Yes, Colonel?'

'Would you mind inviting Sir John in for a glass of port the next time you secretly meet him in the rose garden?' Colonel Brandon said, very proud to have discovered the plan of his old friend, thanks to one of his servants.

Edward leant towards the Colonel and said, 'He knew you would wish to plan a way to have some of the ladies occupied during their stay at Delaford, and he told me that he would be waiting for us tonight when we go back to your estate.'

Edward was almost certain that the Colonel had practically growled.

They walked in a companionable silence till they reached Barton Cottage where they excused themselves and told Mrs Dashwood once more that a carriage would come and fetch them after breakfast in three days.

On their way back, the Colonel finally said, 'You know, Ferrars, I do hope that Sir John can plan to distract his wife and mother-in-law as well as he can plan a battle or a game of chess.'

'Was your afternoon fruitful?' Edward asked.

'How was yours?' the Colonel retaliated.

Edward blushed and remained silent until they reached Delaford where they found Sir John testing the Colonel's liquor cabinet.

With a greeting battle cry of, 'Brandon, Ferrars! We have much to plan for the Dashwoods!' Sir John shared his idea with them.





On the appointed day, a carriage reached Delaford from Barton Park and another arrived one hour later from Barton Cottage.

Elinor immediately understood what Edward must be doing; only Colonel Brandon was at the door to welcome them, which meant that Mrs Jennings, her daughter and son-in-law were being entertained somewhere else.

Colonel Brandon's servants took care of the Dashwoods' luggage while their master showed his home to his guests.

Delaford reminded the Dashwoods of Norland Park, but instead of making them feel sad about the estate that the Mr Dashwood's death had made them lose, they felt happy to be invited to the home of someone who was becoming such a good friend of their family.

The Colonel took them to the wing where their four rooms were and he offered to give them time to explore the place for themselves.

'I am afraid, Miss Dashwood, that my other guests have asked Ferrars to introduce them to the latest additions in the park. We will all meet for lunch,' the Colonel told Elinor.

'Thank you, Colonel,' she said with a smile.

Elinor knew that it was a way he had found to tell Marianne when the others would intrude in their peace; what the eldest Dashwood daughter had not expected was that Margaret would help the Colonel.

'Maybe you could show your pianoforte to Marianne, Colonel,' Margaret suggested.

'That is an excellent idea, Captain Margaret,' the Colonel said.

Elinor offered to help her mother unpack.

The Colonel gave his arm to Marianne and he held out his hand to Margaret. Marianne nodded and Margaret took his hand.

The Colonel led them into a comfortable room where a magnificent pianoforte stood in the middle.

Marianne let go of Colonel Brandon's arm, and she nearly ran to the pianoforte.

The Colonel gently pressed Margaret's hand and whispered in her ear, 'You're going to be our audience and you can tell us if our music is any good.' Then he led her to a chair.

Marianne was already examining the scores when Christopher joined her.

'Can we work on one of those, Colonel?' she eagerly asked.

'With pleasure, Miss Marianne. I have had the opportunity to read and practice them, choose the one you prefer.'

She picked one and the Colonel smiled.

'What is it, Colonel?'

'This is the one that I ordered, the others were bought by Ferrars and he listened to the salesman.'

She smiled in her turn.

She read the notes and hummed.

They finally sat side by side, each on a stool, which showed Marianne that the Colonel had planned their coming here, and they started to play. On her left, the Colonel had taken the bass part, which was the most intricate. Both were excellent players, and the chemistry between them allowed them to soon master the piece of music.

'Shall we try to sing the song?' she said.

He nodded.

They sang together and enjoyed themselves. When they played the last note, their hands brushed and they looked at each other.

'If we do not want Mrs Jennings to comment endlessly on our choice, maybe we could try another one,' Marianne suggested.

He smiled and nodded.

At that moment, they finally heard Margaret's quiet sob.

The Colonel flew to her side.

'What's wrong Margaret?' he asked, worried.

As he was kneeling by her chair, he could see that she had been crying for some time now and he wondered why.

Marianne had reacted as fast as the Colonel, but she was now sitting on the armrest, and she was caressing her younger sister's hair.

'Margaret?' the Colonel insisted.

Between sobs, she managed to tell him that the song was beautiful and she begged him not to say a word to Elinor or her mother about her tears.

'I won't say a word, Margaret, but are you certain you are fine?' he insisted.

He looked at Marianne and there was something in her eyes that made him remember exactly what she had said the day they had agreed to be honest and share their thoughts.

Suddenly, the Colonel understood what had happened to Margaret. Another glance at Marianne and his conclusion was confirmed.

'Miss Marianne, there is a liquor cabinet in the room down the corridor. Would you fetch some sherry for your sister?' he asked.

She nodded and left the room.

The Colonel took Margaret's hand and asked, 'Will you accept some sherry?'

'Because I'm sick?' she said, tears rolling down her cheeks.

'You are not sick, Margaret, but a lady I once knew taught me that a small glass of liquor could do some good.'

'Mama said...' she did not finish her sentence.

'Yes?'

She was still crying and he understood that she might need some encouragement.

'You can tell me anything, I swear that I will never say a word to your parents.'

'Mama and Elinor said that I should never mention that curse in front of a gentleman.'

The Colonel realised why Marianne had been angry. 'This is not a curse, Margaret, but something that is a part of your nature. It happens when you grow up.'

'Then I don't want to grow up!' she exclaimed vehemently. 'Mama and Elinor forbade me so many things that life has become boring!'

'This is a part of life and we have no choice. I guess that explains why you are supposed to embroider so much.' She nodded. 'Well, maybe I could convince your mother that a young lady should know how to ride and I could teach you.'

'Would you, Colonel?'

He smiled for it seemed that he had found the way to stop her tears.

'Of course! And I promise that you will always be Captain Margaret, even when you are an old lady of one and twenty,' he added.

'Really?' she said, a smile illuminating her face.

'It will be our secret,' he murmured.

They heard Marianne come back into the room and Margaret slowly drank a small glass of sherry.

'Were you in so much pain that you were crying?' Marianne wondered.

'No,' Margaret answered, blushing.

'What made you cry then?' the Colonel inquired.

'You,' the young girl confessed.

'Me?' he asked.

'No, you and Marianne. You were so perfect together,' Margaret paused, took a deep breath and asked, 'Are you going to propose to Marianne?'

'Margaret!' Marianne cried. 'I will not lecture you because I know how sensitive you must be today, but this is not a question you can ask the Colonel!'

'I observed you while you were playing. You both totally forgot that I was here. You like each other. It would be normal that you get married,' Margaret insisted. 'Then I would have two wonderful brothers.'

'Ferrars is not yet Miss Dashwood's husband, Margaret,' the Colonel said.

Margaret observed him as if she could read the answers to her questions on his face, and then she added, 'But when Edward is my brother, then you can ask Marianne, can't you?'

The Colonel cleared his throat. How could he tell Margaret that Marianne might not want to hear that particular question from him?

He thought it was a strange thing that he was still kneeling when Marianne said, 'It would not be proper to ask before Elinor and Edward's wedding.'

'But right after, it will be possible,' Margaret said.

'When Elinor has become Mrs Ferrars, the Colonel can propose to me if he wants to,' Marianne said in a quiet voice that was unusual for her and betrayed her emotions.

Christopher forgot Margaret and looked at Marianne.

'Would you...?' he could not finish his question.

She nodded, unable to speak as well.

'After Miss Dashwood's wedding, then,' he said.

'Yes,' Marianne answered.

'May I go and weep in my room?' Margaret asked.

'You may go and rest a bit if you want,' Marianne said.

'But there is no need to cry,' the Colonel added.

'Now I know that I will have another brother soon, so I'm happy.' And with tears of happiness theatening to spill anew, Margaret left her sister and the Colonel alone in the room.

'Marianne?'

'Yes, Christopher.'

'When your sister,' he started, but she interrupted him.

'Yes is, and will be, my answer next month. Elinor and Edward are getting married on a Wednesday, I hope to see you on the following day at Barton Cottage.'

'Why? I mean, why are you accepting me?'

She slowly sat in the chair, took one of his hands in hers and declared, 'Because you liked me even when I behaved like a fool, because I like to spend time with you and my taste for your company increases with each visit and because...'

'Marianne?'

'Because my heart trembles each time you say my name in a way I had never experienced before and I don't want to waste more time without the pleasure of your company. I heard you speak with Margaret and you made me wish I had opened my heart to you sooner.'

He slowly rose and sat on the armrest in his turn. 'What happened with Margaret?'

'I was convinced that either Mama or Elinor had warned her, but they hadn't. The day it happened, she thought she was dying. I've had an argument with Elinor. I'm glad that you agree with me.'

He smiled.

From the open window, they heard the unmistakable laughter of Mrs Jennings, which signalled that the visit of the park was over.

'Next month, Miss Marianne?'

'Next month, Colonel,' she confirmed.





No other word was said on that topic. Margaret kept their secret as her most precious treasure, and nothing in her behaviour could have allowed any of the other guests to even think that Marianne had agreed to be asked the question.

Colonel Brandon's guests enjoyed the splendours of Delaford and the company of their host, who, for some unknown reason, seemed extremely cheerful and almost completely transformed.

Yet, from time to time, Mrs Jennings and Lady Middleton were making suggestions about the Colonel's life or Delaford.

The Dashwoods thought that they certainly had known him for so long that the Colonel must have been used to their interfering with his affairs.

During the third day of their stay, on their way back after their picnic, Lady Middleton told her mother and the Dashwoods what she thought the Colonel ought to do with his ward. She explained in length what she would do.

Marianne quietly made her remark that it was inappropriate to discuss the unfortunate ward of their host while he could not even defend the lady himself since he was entertaining Sir John and Ferrars, fishing with them in the lake.

Lady Middleton agreed with Marianne, which slightly surprised Elinor and Mrs Dashwood.

They walked quietly back to the manor.

'Mother, I think we witnessed the birth of the mistress of Delaford,' Lady Middleton whispered when she was certain that none of the Dashwoods could hear her.

Mrs Jennings chuckled and nodded. 'Your husband is not the only one who can plot for Brandon's happiness.'

'Indeed, Mother, indeed.'

Both women giggled happily.





To Be Continued...