Chapter 12 Discover your strength

Henry Crawford was woken up earlier than was his custom by the arrival of an express rider. The note held quite a lot of information and Henry read it with growing satisfaction. This information and the evidence of the facts would be enough to rid the Bertram family of the presence of Mr Rushworth. Fanny would be safe!

He decided to go and tell them at once. Without waiting for breakfast, he went out, took his horse and rode to the great house.
All was still quiet except in the stables. Two men had just arrived and Henry quite unintentionally overheard their quiet conversation with none other than Mr Rushworth. Henry made sure his presence went unnoticed and heard the following:

"He is getting quite impatient now you know. You have a week I believe and then it must be paid. What is taking you so long, Rushworth?"
Rushworth himself now sounded a bit stressed:
"I am sure I will manage, but I have to wait until the old man is home before I can get married. Only then can I access the dowry. My hands are tied. I have told him that, but he would not give me more time."
"That's because he's already given you much more time than you deserve," spoke the other man. "I am sure you will find other ways to get the money. Anyway, we are here now and we could help you with that; of course we will require something in return."
From where Henry stood, he could see the distressed countenance of Rushworth.

The three men now started to walk towards the doors. It seemed their meeting was over.
"So, have you had any luck yet with that girl, the cousin? I am sure you have had plenty of time now to get her into your bed." This was the first man speaking again.
"Ah no, I'm afraid not. I've tried, mind you. But she is too shy, behaves like a scared little rabbit. I have to admit that my own future wife is not as delectable as she, but she is much more willing. I am sure I will have some fun with her once we are wed."

"You know, I've tried it once, a few years ago. Unfortunately, I was discovered before I could get anywhere with her."
"Yes, and then we were both kicked out, just because of your stupidity. You should have been more careful!"
"Do not worry, I will be more careful. I might even succeed this time!"

The three were now out of the stables and out of hearing, walking towards the house.
Henry sat down on a pack of hay, rather shocked by all he had heard. It seemed this conversation verified the truth of the note that he received earlier. But it was all the more shocking to hear that these were the men who tried to compromise Fanny before they were sent away and prohibited to ever return.
How audacious to now just arrive here and act as if nothing had happened before!
He knew it was Tom who had invited them. He had probably long forgotten that his friends were not allowed at Mansfield Park. Henry did not know how long ago it all had happened.

He roused himself into action and walked to the house himself. When entering there was no sign of the three men he saw earlier. He addressed the butler. "Baddeley, could you tell me where I can find Mr Edmund Bertram? I have got a rather urgent matter to discuss with him."
"I believe he is in the breakfast room, sir. I will call him immediately."
Henry followed Baddeley in that direction and as soon as Edmund came out of the breakfast room, Henry started to speak. "Bertram, I apologise for being so early and disturbing your breakfast, but I have got news. I believe Miss Price should hear it as well."
Edmund looked at him. "You look agitated. Very well, I shall call her and we can go into my office." He stepped back into the room and a moment later he and Fanny reappeared. Henry greeted her and then the three of them walked the room Edmund was using as his study, since his father's study was used by the theatre team as their dressing room.

They all sat down and Edmund said: "Well Crawford, tell us your news. It must be very important for you to come here so early."
Henry began:
"This morning I received an express with information my contact in London has found out about Rushworth. I hope you will be alright to hear about him, Miss Price. Tell me if it becomes too much for you.
Wait, I think it's best if you read the note yourselves. Here it is."

He handed them the letter and they read:

Crawford, I have done as you asked and have found out a lot about this Mr Rushworth. Firstly, whenever he is in London he frequently visits a certain house in Covent Garden, about thrice a week. But recently he has not been seen there, but in a more unsavoury bit of town. This might be due to lack of money as you will understand from the rest I have to tell you.

He frequents some play houses and we found that he has run up debts with a certain Lord G-, who owns an estate in Yorkshire. My informant tells me the sum is substantial and Rushworth is expected to pay everything back in ten days' time. If he is not able to do so, some grave repercussions await him, but I received no details about what they might entail.

I will send you some letters of evidence in the next few days, so you can use them for your purpose.
Yours etc.

Both Edmund and Fanny looked up from the letter with big eyes.
"Well, that would certainly be reason enough to break off the engagement. I do hope my father arrives soon!" Edmund said.
Fanny asked: "What is Covent Garden?"
Henry blushed. "Ah I'm sorry that you had to read about that. It's a certain area in London with houses where ladies reside and men visit them."
Fanny herself blushed scarlet when she understood. She only managed to nod.

Henry then went on: "This is not the only news I have. I wanted to get here as quickly as possible and rode over instead of walking. When I was putting Storm in the stables I overheard a conversation. Part of the conversation confirms the information in the letter – and I was equally glad and shocked to hear it. One of the three men was Rushworth himself. The two others were those friends Tom has invited over. I take it you haven't met them yet?"

They shook their heads.
Henry told what the conversation was about.

When he was finished, Edmund said: "So, if I understand it right, Rushworth is marrying Maria so he can get her dowry to pay off his debts? And the other two will help him to find other ways to get money? We will have to be careful and I will have to alert the servants to keep watch so they won't get a chance to steal things of value. It really is unfortunate and dangerous that Tom has allowed the acting party to use my father's study. They will almost have free access and plenty of things for the taking."

"One more thing," Henry said. He did not want to tell them what exactly the men had said about Fanny, but he needed to tell who they were.
"When they walked away, they were talking about you, Miss Price. It seems those two men are the very two men whom you told about and whom Sir Thomas forbade to ever enter Mansfield Park again!"

Fanny turned white. Throughout the whole conversation she had been quiet and had looked very shocked. Now she looked as if she was about to faint.
"How dare they!" Edmund sounded very angry. "How dare Tom invite them again as if nothing has happened! And how dare they just turn up here!"

Henry stretched out his hand to steady Fanny for she was swaying in her seat.
"I am really sorry that I had to tell this, but it would have been worse if you had seen them entering the drawing room without forewarning. Bertram?" With one hand he pointed to the decanter on the side table. Edmund understood and filled a glass with a little bit of brandy. He gave it to Henry, who handed it to Fanny.
"Here, drink this. It will help you feel a bit better."
Without a word she took it and drank it. Then she coughed because of the strength of it, before starting to cry. For a while she seemed unaware of her surroundings.
Henry himself was unaware of the fact that he was caressing Fanny's hands. Edmund had started to pace.

"The good thing is that we now got information which will allow my father to end the engagement between Rushworth and my sister. But meanwhile, we are stuck with three unwanted and potentially dangerous guests – dangerous for property as well as for Fanny. I will have to speak with Tom. I have to try to tell him what his friends are involved in, to remind him of the fact that my father has banned these friends from this house."

Henry nodded. "I agree that you must try. I only hope that it would not make it worse. What if they find out we know what they are up to? We might get into far greater danger, and your family as well."
"You are right. We must be very careful. Do you think it would help if we waited for those documents you will receive in the coming days? This reminds me: that will only be information about Rushworth himself, not about Nicholson and Matthews. Could you send an express to your contact to investigate them as well? If we can prove what they are involved in, we might be able to have Tom at least sever his ties of friendship with them."

"I will write a note immediately." Henry turned his attention towards Fanny. "How are you? Can we do anything this moment to help?"
She shook her head. "I… just need some time to get myself together. I am very grateful for all the effort you put into getting these scoundrels away. That is a comfort in itself." Her voice was soft and she had some difficulty speaking, but she sounded quite determined.

"Good," he answered. "I will write the note now and then we see what we can do next."
Reluctantly he let go of her hands, meanwhile looking at her closely to ascertain she was able to sit without his support.
Edmund handed him a pen and paper and Henry wrote the message. "Could you repeat their names and other information you have about them please?" Edmund complied and soon the note was finished. Next, Edmund rang for Baddeley to get a messenger and soon the letter was on its way to London.

Edmund called Baddeley again. The man had been with the family for many years, was loyal and discreet, exactly what they needed.
"Baddeley, I believe we have two extra guests as of today. While I hope they will leave as soon as possible, this is not likely. I want you to appoint a few trusted footmen to discreetly keep an eye on them. I also need another one to do the same with Mr Rushworth. I want to be notified about any suspicious activity of the three of them and anything else that might be worth knowing about them. Thank you!" Baddeley nodded, bowed and left the room.

"I think at the moment this is all we can do," Edmund said. "As we already were, we must remain vigilant and again, Fanny you would do well to be with other people at all times, but you are already doing that."
He then walked towards her and embraced her. "Dear cousin, we will keep doing our best to sort this out so you will be safe again. Talk to me if you need to and I'm sure Crawford would say the same. You are not alone in this!" He patted her on the hair and then let go.
"I believe we should have some breakfast now. Fanny, you might want to refresh yourself first." Upon her nodding, he rang the bell. A maid entered.

"Sarah, could you accompany Miss Price to her room, help her to refresh herself and then stay with her until she feels well enough to come down for breakfast upon which you accompany her there?" Sarah curtsied and she and Fanny walked out of the room.
Before the men left the room, Henry said: "I will not tell her, but maybe you should know what I overheard them say about Fanny." He then told what he heard.

Edmund sighed. "I cannot believe this is happening! This should be a safe house for her. She really must feel hunted. When will she ever have peace in her life?"
Henry did not know what to answer.

The two men made their way to the breakfast room.
By now the whole family and guests were present, with the addition of the two newest guests.

"Edmund, Mr Crawford!" was Julia's enthusiastic greeting. "You've just missed the introduction to these two fine gentlemen. Although, I am sure Edmund remembers them from some years ago."
Now Tom stood up. "Brother, I am sure you remember Mr Nicholson and Lord Matthews. Gentlemen, this is Mr Crawford, of Everingham in Norfolk. He is visiting his sister at the parsonage."
The men had stood up and now came and shook hands. With what Henry now knew about them, he had a hard time to act with some resemblance of composure.
They all sat down again.

"Where is Fanny? I was sure she must be down already," Lady Bertram said.
"I just saw Fanny," Edmund replied. "She will be down shortly."
Five minutes later, she entered the room. Henry was glad to notice she did not look so distressed; at least not so that someone else would notice it. He still saw it in her eyes.
She sat down near Edmund and himself and barely looked up.

It was Julia again who spoke up. "Fanny, do you remember Mr Nicholson and Lord Matthews? They have come to assist us in our acting." Fanny briefly looked up, inclined her head and said: "Good day." Henry could see she could do no more. He noticed how her hand trembled when she took up her cup of tea.

During breakfast he kept an eye on the three men. Rushworth was occupied by his fiancée, the other two were, between talking, openly staring at Fanny. Henry's blood boiled with anger.

After the meal they all dispersed through the house. Tom and Julia showed Matthews and Nicholson their theatre area.

"Are you coming for a ride?" Edmund asked Henry. "The weather is quite nice today."
"I would like to come, yes. But I think I must go to the parsonage first. My sisters won't know what happened to me. And Mary might want to be accompanied to visit here."
Edmund nodded. "By all means. Ask if Mrs Grant wishes to come as well? My mother would like her company I believe."
"I shall ask her. Then I will bring them here and we go for a ride afterwards?"
"Splendid! We will be ready."

Henry left the house, got his horse and rode to the parsonage. His sisters and Dr Grant still sat down to breakfast.
"Good morning Henry, you are late for breakfast! Where have you been?" Sophie asked.
"Good morning. I come from the great house. And I had breakfast there. I'm sorry. I left here really early because I urgently needed to talk to Edmund."
He sat down and poured himself a cup of coffee.
"Mary, are you going to the house today?"
Mary looked at him. "Of course. We are still rehearsing and will soon be ready for performance."

"Ah, about that. Tom's two friends have arrived. I remember you talking about changing your speeches and actions a bit. I strongly advise you to do that. If they have to participate, just be careful. I don't trust them."

"Why, what's wrong with them?" Mary looked curious.
"I can't say, but just promise me to be careful please."
"I will. I must say, I find Mr Rushworth sometimes creepy! Did you know that at first he went after Fanny, before he fell in love with Maria? Julia told me."
Henry was unpleasantly surprised. How did Julia know that? It must have been quite clear when it happened. But why would she tell others about it? He knew Julia could be quite careless with what she said.

"I was aware," he answered Mary. "Please don't spread something like that! It can damage Fanny."
"I will not, I promise," said Mary. "If she is to be my sister-in-law I would not want to spread gossip about her."
"Mary!" Sophie exclaimed. Henry rolled his eyes. "And that is another thing you should not talk about until things are settled."
"Are you going to ask her?" Sophie asked.
Henry sighed. "I hope so, one day. But I first want to be sure of her regard for me. Until then, I will not say anything."

After they had finished their meal, his sisters prepared themselves to go to the Park. They wanted to walk so Henry walked with them with his horse on the lead. When they arrived, he left them at the front door and walked to the stables. He found Edmund and Fanny waiting for him.
He greeted them and then asked: "How are you now, Miss Price?"
"I think I am alright. This morning it was the shock more than anything else. To be in one house again with those men! But I will try my best to bear it."
"You are very strong, Miss Price!" He smiled at her. "Now, with such a fine day, we can make a good long ride. What say you to some racing?"
She smiled back. "That sounds good."

They rode forward and Edmund followed them.

The sunlight was filtered by a soft haze. The temperature was quite mild and made it very pleasant. Soon they were galloping through the fields. Fanny once more forgot her troubles for a while and enjoyed the sense of freedom she always got when racing on her horse.
They went further than they had recently gone and then stopped on one of the highest hills in the area. They gave the horses a little rest.

Fanny felt invigorated and strong. It made her feel like she could conquer anything.
Including the 'villains' at home.
While her two companions were talking, she let her mind wander and thought about how much had happened already only that morning. Her shock had been great to hear that those two had dared to visit them again. She shook her head in an attempt to get rid of her thoughts, for thinking about them made her feel scared again.

She was very grateful for Edmund and Mr Crawford for their care and protection. But she still felt very vulnerable. Being dependent on them and the feeling of always having to be alert when in the house was very tiring.
Would she not be able to defend herself if it came to it? She knew she was much stronger than before. Her riding in the past few months had given her much more energy. And she was now secure in the knowledge of having two friends who looked out for her and who shared her secret. With these two things – having friends and possessing more strength – her situation had certainly changed. She was not so vulnerable as before.
Even though she would do as much in her power to prevent being alone with any of them. She felt better now and was determined to be strong.

She was interrupted in her musings by Edmund.
"Are you ready to go back?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yes, I am! And Ariel looks like she is ready too."
They mounted their horses and turned homewards.

When they were nearing Mansfield Park, her courage began to sink again until she admonished herself for giving up so quickly. She realised that she had to keep reminding herself to be brave.
When they walked to the house, Mr Crawford laughed at her: "You look very determined, Miss Price!" He winked and she blushed but then smiled. "I have decided to not be fearful anymore. I know there is still danger, but being afraid of what may never come, is useless."
He patted her on the back. "That's the right way of thinking!"

"Where have you been, Fanny?" asked Lady Bertram when they came in.
"We went riding, aunt," she replied.
"Ah, yes, I remember now. Well, Mrs Grant has kept me company and we have had a very pleasant time visiting."

"I am going to see how the theatre is going," Mr Crawford announced. "If you will excuse me."
"And I need to do some work in my office," Edmund said. "Will you be alright, Fanny?"
She nodded. "I will, thank you."

For tea everyone gathered in the drawing room.
Maria and Julia told how their acting was progressing and they were assisted in this by Mr Rushworth, who truly seemed to enjoy the acting.

Mary asked if someone who was not acting, would be so kind to help her rehearse her lines. Edmund – who seemed to have felt so deprived of her company – immediately consented to help her.
"Could you help me please, Mr Crawford?" Julia asked that gentleman. He nodded.
Tom was regaling his friends about what he had seen at the horse races and Maria and her fiancé seemed to have a private conversation. Mrs Norris was frantically stitching something and meanwhile talked to Mrs Grant.

Fanny was nearly finished with her current embroidery project, a handkerchief, when Mrs Norris suddenly spoke to her.
It had been very pleasant in the past days to not see so much of her aunt.
"Fanny, I have finished this curtain. If you could bring it to the billiard room and take the other one back to me here. It will be on a chair in the corner near the door."

Without waiting for an answer she put the curtain in Fanny's hands and all but shooed her out of the room.
The curtain was rather heavy and a bit awkward to hold. When she was nearing the billiard room, she heard a voice behind her.

"Miss Price, allow me to carry it for you." It was Mr Nicholson.
Fanny's first internal reaction was fear and the wish to run away. But then she remembered her resolve to be brave.
"No thank you, Mr Nicholson. I am quite capable of doing it myself." She kept walking to her destination.
As she had expected, he stayed by her side.
"Can I help you, sir? If you are looking for my cousin, he is still in the drawing room."
"Ah no, I just left there. I needed to pick up my copy of the play and hoped you could help me practise my lines." He sounded very insincere, a bit like Mr Rushworth, but smoother. It made her cringe internally, but she managed to not show it.
"Why me? I am not participating in the play and have no inclination to get involved."
"Ah, Miss Price. You are very severe. I truly hoped we could get reacquainted."
Fanny felt her anger rising.

"Sir, I have no wish for that. And now if you will excuse me. I have to get the other curtain for my aunt."
She now entered the billiard room but was followed by Mr Nicholson. While she lay the curtain down on a chair, he closed the door.
Now Fanny walked towards the other door to leave, but he was quicker and blocked her way.

"Come, come Fanny. Last time we were interrupted by your cousin, but I am sure you would have enjoyed it. Can't you see how I'm suffering? I have been hankering these past years to lay my hands on you again."

The nerve of that man! He didn't even take the effort to conceal what he wanted to do.

Instead of fright, Fanny felt anger boiling inside her.

She looked around and saw the billiard table next to her. Reaching for a cue, she spat: "For the last time sir: leave me alone! Or you will rue the day you ever set foot in this house!" With this she firmly grasped the cue and pointed it towards the man.

A.N. nice cliffhanger. I was tired of Fanny always being dependent on other people's protection - no matter how important that is (and good that there are at least two people looking after her). Time for her to show some spirit. What do you think?