Disclaimer: Mansfield Park, all characters, places, and related terms are the sole property of Jane Austen.
There's a Place for Us (Somewhere)
Air
The air races out of Edmund's lungs as he reads Fanny's letter: "You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."
Apples
Thirteen-year-old Edmund sneaks into his sick cousin's room; without waking Fanny, he places an apple on the table by her bed.
Beginning
Once upon a time, there lived a lonely little girl in a vast, cold house; she was neither a Miss Bertram nor a servant, and had one true friend, a boy, a cousin...
Bugs
"Franks!" Henry Crawford hails the redhead, causing Ed's right eye to twitch; once again he swallows back the urge to correct, it's Frankie.
Coffee
Mary Crawford almost spills her coffee in astonishment when she sees her sister's text informing her of Edmund Bertram and Fanny Price's engagement.
Dark
Fanny had not imagined her first dance with Edmund would be like this: silent, his eyes pained, her heart breaking both for him and herself.
Despair
Tom is at death's door; how desperately Edmund longs Fanny was here to help him through this crisis!
Doors
The church doors open, revealing Fanny in the doorway dressed in white, her face glowing, and Edmund thinks she has never looked lovelier.
Drink
Ed shows up at Frankie's door with two steaming cups of tea (plus donuts) and she smiles, already starting to feel better.
Duty
"Yes, I will marry you, Mr. Crawford," Fanny says in a trembling voice, fighting the urge to burst into sorrowful tears.
Earth
Their story occurs time and again: under the hot African sun, among the sands of Israel, with the dragons of China; during the thirteen colonies' fight against the British Empire, in a sleepy English countryside...
End
Our heroine, her trials over, leaves behind the cinders, her hand is joined with her prince's, and they live the rest of their lives together happily ever after.
Fall
The air is crisp, the leaves a symphony of color as parishioners file out of the church; amongst the excitement and congratulations being given to Tom and Susan, Edmund steals a kiss from his wife.
Fire
The crackling fire is not loud enough to drown out the unspoken words hanging in the air as Fanny and Edmund stare at one another.
Flexible
For years the Bertram siblings secretly call Fanny little mouse due to her quiet, accommodating nature; later Edmund comes to think of her as a lioness, because she stayed true to her principles and self.
Flying
Everything passes in a blur to the woman, and she tightens her arms around the neck of the superhero holding her; he smiles reassuringly and she blushes.
Food
Fanny notices Edmund has barely touched his food, his attention instead on Miss Crawford across the table; the two share a joke, and Fanny gazes down at her plate.
Foot
Seated at opposite ends of the sofa, a foot separates Edmund and Fanny, yet it feels like a mile to the young man.
Grave
Nearly every day Edmund makes the short walk to the cemetery and prays at Fanny's grave.
Green
Fanny sees how Mary Crawford takes her old place by Edmund's side, that he is barely aware of her absence, and jealousy ties her stomach into a knot.
Head
Edmund does not awaken when his head comes to rest against Fanny's shoulder, nor when she hesitantly leans her cheek against his hair.
Hollow
There's a deep, aching hole in Edmund's heart, and he sighs to Fanny it shall never be made whole again.
Honor
Cousin, friend, sister Edmund has called Fanny, and she's honored to bear such names, yet this latest one...wife, she cherishes the most.
Hope
Ed overhears Frankie defend him to Mrs. Elliot, her voice strong and words full of conviction; for the first time he wonders if she might like him as more than a friend.
Light
Carefully Fanny rubs a salve over Edmund's burn, and he trembles under her light touch.
Lost
Walking with Mary, Edmund loses track of the time, forgets about Fanny waiting for them to return.
Metal
Fanny threads James's cross with Edmund's chain; it fits perfectly and her smile is relieved.
New
Mary Crawford arrives, very different from the other young ladies of the neighborhood; is it truly a surprise Edmund's interest is caught?
Old
Grey streaks Fanny's hair, her face and hands now wrinkled; all these decades later Edmund still marvels at how he won such a treasure.
Peace
Arriving to fetch Fanny back to Mansfield Park, without care of whom may see, Edmund embraces her for a long moment, and a sense of peace flows through him.
Poison
Toasting the bride and groom, Edmund's wine tastes like gall to him, burning his throat.
Pretty
Stargazing with Fanny after her birthday celebration, for the first time Edmund realizes she is a lovely young lady, no longer his little cousin.
Rain
Perhaps it is the weather, so wet and grey and dreary, that dampens Fanny's feelings of relief after she listens to Edmund's story of breaking things off with Mary.
Regret
Regret crashes over Edmund when he realizes how much grief he caused Fanny: frequently speaking of his feelings for Miss Crawford, and encouraging her to accept Henry Crawford.
Roses
Edmund gives a rose to Fanny, and her cheeks turn as red as the rose, and the clergyman smiles.
Secret
Mary notes how highly Miss Price regards Mr. Edmund Bertram, the way she looks at him; Miss Crawford chuckles to herself, "Why she is in love with him!"
Snakes
Tom laughs at Fanny's fear of a garden snake, but Edmund quietly moves it to another place; in the little girl's eyes he is brave like Saint George slaying the dragon.
Snow
Hearing her name called, Fanny turns away from watching the snow fall, and places a hand over her heart when she discovers Edmund kneeling before her.
Solid
Wonderingly, Edmund rubs the fabric of Fanny's sleeve between his fingers before caressing her knuckles; a bare whisper, "I'm real"; and he chokes on a sob as he pulls her into his arms.
Spring
Happily, Susan stands as bridesmaid at the wedding of Fanny and Edmund, a lovely, solemn ceremony (other than when she catches Tom winking at her and she glares at him in response).
Stable
Edmund brings Fanny to the stables, and feels great pleasure at her surprise, disbelief, and finally joy over his gift of the gentle mare.
Strange
Elevated to a position never intended for them, Sir Edmund and Lady Fanny Bertram hold on to each other and their faith as they enter high society.
Summer
Susan creeps into the room after a smiling Edmund opens the door; her nerves vanish when, reaching Fanny's side, her sister introduces her to her new niece.
Taboo
Edmund gently lifts Fanny's chin...her breath catches when his gaze flickers to her mouth...he leans in…her hand flutters upward, unsure to touch his hair or cheek; Tom groans, and the cousins abruptly pull away from each other.
Ugly
"'Tis folly!" – this is Mary's true nature; her prudence, kindness, and goodness (Fanny's character traits) were all Edmund's imagination.
War
Fanny's departure from the room does not lessen the tension between aunt and nephew: Mrs. Norris orders Edmund not to worry, while he repeats firmly, "Fanny must have a horse."
Water
Edmund squeezes his eyes shut for a long minute before looking into the wishing well, and is startled to see Fanny's face.
Welcome
The east room is Fanny's sanctuary, however, when Edmund visits her smile is welcoming.
Winter
Susan notices her sister grows pale and thin, the light in her eyes fade, and she mentions Edmund less.
Wood
Fanny blushes and Edmund smiles as he carves their initials on the tree trunk.
THE END