Chapter 10- Meanwhile, Back on the Ranch

Marianne watched as the Colonel and Edward walked away, wondering if he might talk to Edward, or if indeed, they might become friends. She was hesitant to remain here, knowing that her sister was more than ready to have her spill every detail out to her. She turned hesitantly, to see her worst fears confirmed. Her sister was bursting at the seems, more than ready to drag out the details if necessary.

"So, dearest sister, how was your evening?" Elinor smiled and Marianne knew that for the happiness of her sister, that she would have to at the very least tell her sister the basics that had happened. Finding herself, slightly, relieved to have the advice and encouragement of her sister, she answered, "Honestly, I have no words to describe the evening. I have felt every emotion, had every doubt and every excitement. But, I believe, perhaps it is time for our dearest Margaret to go to sleep."

Marianne heard her youngest sister groan from the garden closest to the front window as she and Elinor laughed. "You should have known that I knew you would be here. You are no master of stealth."

Margaret drug her feet as she, Elinor, and dear Margaret went back into the cottage.

She wondered just how much her sister knew and whether the Colonel had confided in Elinor his feelings toward her. She didn't feel ashamed about the way that she felt or the progress that they had made tonight, but it was all so new that so wondered if maybe Elinor's opinions might sway her decisions.

Margaret went to bed and Elinor followed Marianne to their room, helping her to get ready for the night. As Elinor was taking down her hair, Marianne heard her say, "So, what happened at the party after we left?"

Marianne, surprised at the gentle tenor in the tone of her voice, sighed and tried to express her feelings.

"Elinor, before Willoughby, I loved parties. I loved to dance with people I didn't know or care about. Tonight, every man seemed to care about nothing more than flattering me, every man about the same parts of me. They thought that by telling me that I was smart or beautiful or graceful, that I would like them better, but none of these men knew anything about me. It all felt planned, everyone complimenting me in the same way. I wanted to get away, so after finishing the dance, I excused myself to get some water."

She breathed, thinking about what she had walked into, how it had made her feel.

"The Colonel had not been there tonight, so when I turned the corner, I saw him and decided to say hello."

Elinor smiled, "Yes, go on."

"I heard him say, 'I have no such intention. Miss Marianne Dashwood is a fine young woman, but to say that I have formed a friendship with her for the express purpose of asking for her hand is obscene. She is more than an eligible young lady, she is also a great friend and daughter.'"

Elinor gasped. "Surely, Mrs. Jennings had not asked the Colonel such a direct question."

"Later, he told me he had asked her such a question. On many levels, in the moment, I was appalled. Every one in the group, apart from the Colonel who had not noticed my presence, was looking at me like an auction item. Elinor, I have rarely ever felt so humiliated. I had no idea, honestly, why the Colonel would even bother defending me, or why they would have asked him such questions. I felt frozen, stuck in my place. I was just starting to regain my breath, and I felt the tears in my eyes, when the Colonel turned and saw me."

Elinor had finished taking down her hair and was intently focused, a gentle look in her eyes.

"I couldn't believe that he had been so nice and I had never been more convinced that he had no feelings for me in any capacity."

Elinor asked, "Did you want him to feel something for you?"

"Before tonight, I had thought that I only cared for the Colonel as a friend. Certainly, over the last few days, I have seen him differently than before, but when I heard him say such a vehement negation of any possibility of such feelings tonight, I realized how much I had come to hope that, perhaps one day, we might have a future together."

Marianne, while she was glad to say these things, to tell her sister how she felt and at the same time, she was almost in pain trying not to laugh at the conflicted look on her sister's face. Marianne could tell that her sister knew how the Colonel felt about her, as he had told her himself tonight, but it was amusing all the same to let her worry.

"So, I wasn't going to stand around and let everyone talk about me, while I could not find my voice to say anything in return." She paused and breathed. She wondered what might have happened had the Colonel not followed her into the woods. She would probably have lost her way and not been able to return home until morning, which would have definitely worried her family to no end.

"What happened next?"

"Well, I couldn't bear to come home, because I didn't want any of you to worry about what had happened tonight, or if I would be okay, so the only place I could think of was the woods behind their manor."

"Marianne! You should have come here! Imagine if you had gotten lost or if you lost track of time!"

"Elinor, I'm sorry, but I know that you all worry more about me now. I don't want to be a burden."

"Oh, Marianne, you are never a burden to us. I miss you telling me how you feel. True, at times, it can be a bit overwhelming, but I never want you to feel like you have to change for me to love you or want to be with you."

Elinor hugged Marianne and Marianne couldn't believe that she had just been told to be more emotional by Elinor, of all people. Life was truly a mystery.

"So, the Colonel walked you home. Something else must have happened."

Marianne sighed. "Yes, to my chagrin, I was ranting out my feelings, processing everything and talking to myself, when I heard him say my name. I turned to see him, carrying a picnic basket and a shawl." She smiled, thinking about how thoughtful he was to have known that she might be cold or hungry, failing to have eaten at the party.

"He is so thoughtful," Elinor said, smiling. All of a sudden, Marianne remembered asking the Colonel if he had an interest in her sister and saw his rejection of that idea in a whole new light. She groaned and Elinor look confused.

"Yes, he is." Marianne laughed at herself, "I am so oblivious." She laughed and Elinor looked very confused.

She looked at Elinor and everything rushed out.

"Elinor, I am so blind. I started telling him that of course he didn't need to defend me if it was going to inconvenience him in any way and that I didn't truly deserve his friendship. It was obvious to me, I told him, that he did not have any affection for me. It seemed like he was about to walk away, when he confessed, Elinor, to me. He confessed that he had always wanted to court me, but had kept himself from approaching me, because he was certain that I had no feelings for him. He said that he was content merely to see me happy and to be friends for the rest of his life, and that, if knowing of his interest in me, I was uncomfortable, that he would leave and not bother me anymore.

I have never had a man be so generous to me, Elinor. I have never seen a man so willing to do anything that would make me happy. He was willing to do anything to make me happy, no matter the consequence that he would have because of it."

She paused. "Elinor, then and there, I knew that I may not love him now to the same extent that he loves me. I may not even be the best woman for him. But, regardless of that, he chose me, he loves me, and he is willing to do anything to make me happy, even if what makes me happy is not what makes him happy or content."

"Of course, he loves you, Marianne. How could he not? You are so caring, loving, passionate, and empathetic. You are such a great woman that he would be a fool not to see all that you have to offer."

"Elinor, he asked if he had my permission to ask Mother to court me."

"What did you say?"

"I said yes."

The door burst open with Margaret yelling, "Yes!"

Marianne blushed, "Margaret, why are you so happy?"

"The Colonel is such a good guy and I like him a lot."

"Well, I am glad that you approve."

Elinor smiled, from ear to ear, and Marianne knew that her sister approved.

"Margaret, you want to know something funny?"

"What?"

"Well, a few weeks ago, I asked Colonel Brandon if he was interested in Elinor."

Elinor and Margaret started laughing and Elinor said, "What would give you that idea?"

"Well, right before he left on his trip, he seemed so happy after talking to you, that I wondered if he had become my friend to get closer to you." Elinor was chuckling and said once she caught her breath, "He had made me promise that if you needed anything, that we could send a message to him, because he could not leave without knowing that he would be told if you needed help. I promised him and I could see how happy he was."

Marianne chuckled, but then became very serious. "Elinor, do you think he loves me, like he says he does? What if I trust him and it doesn't work out? What if he decides that I am not good enough?"

"Dear, the Colonel is over the moon for you. He adores you. I know that Willoughby hurt you, that he broke your heart, but the Colonel has cared for you for such a long time. I am certain that if he has cared for you so deeply and for so long that he is certain of his feelings for you."

Marianne truly hoped so.