Hi Guys,

Hope you enjoy the chapter.

Reviews follows and favourites are always appreciated!

Happy Reading,

Sarah x


Chapter Summary,

Mrs Dashwood and the sisters react to Marianne's good news.


"I knew it" gasped Mrs Dashwood, seeing Marianne watch Brandon leave. "I knew he would make you an offer"

"Mama" smiled Elinor. "It was never us who had any doubt over the Colonel's affections"

Marianne rolled her eyes. "He did not just make me his fiancee in his words, look"

Flaying out her hand she watched as her mother and sisters cried out in delight.

"Oh a ring!" squealed Margaret. "Oh, Marianne he must love you!"

Mrs Dashwood released yet more tears of joy, two daughters engaged before the sun had set was too much to comprehend.

"Marianne" smiled Elinor, "Colonel Brandon will make such an agreeable husband, I am so happy for you"

"As will your Edward" replied Marianne. "We have both made fine choices!"

"I wonder" added Elinor. "As we are engaged together, would it not fit to be married together?"

"A joint wedding?" cried Mrs Dashwood.

"Oh, how romantic" sighed Marianne. "I do not see a reason to oppose it"

"Edward promised he would write and visit in the coming week," said Elinor. "I shall speak to him of the idea"

"I will write to the Colonel...Christopher this very moment, Thomas can take it to the post office in the morning" replied Marianne.

Hearing Brandon's name for the first time their mother remarked, "He is a Christopher? I confess I knew only his initial"

"I knew nothing" replied Marianne. "He bid me call him Christopher now, naturally he may call me Marianne, no need for a Miss beforehand"

Mrs Dashwood smiled, "My only wish is that you dear father could be here to see you both married"

"Papa is watching over us Mama" encouraged Elinor. "I am sure of it"


Marianne climbed into bed with a contented sigh, watching Elinor climb into her own.

"This will not be a case for much longer," said Marianne. "We shall require a larger bed if so"

Elinor gave a gasp and scolded her, "You and I are only just engaged, I will not hear such talk"

Marianne laughed and sat up embracing a pillow. "What do you suppose Mama will do with our room?"

"Well," thought Elinor. "Margaret is getting older and I am sure would soon appreciate a larger room of her own. Or failing that, Sir John may allow Mama to have some lodgers for an extra source of income"

"Or if we find our husbands tiresome and intolerable we could always come home?" smirked Marianne.

Even Elinor could not hide her amusement, trying to hold back her laughter to little result.

Once their composure had returned, she asked, "Have you written your letter to Brandon?"

"Yes" replied Marianne, pointing to the neatly written envelope beside her bed. "Did Edward mention anything of where you are to live while he was here?"

"Nothing is sure" reminded Elinor. "But your husband to be has made a mention of a reasonable parsonage just five miles from his home at Delaford, on his estate. I am to understand that it does require some work but Edward is not shy in that respect. And to be so close to you and a day's journey from Mama and Margaret will be utter bliss"

"Oh, Elinor" cried Marianne. "I should adore that! An easy five-mile walk will keep Christopher and I in such good health"

"It is quite lovely," remarked Elinor, observing her sister.

"What is?" questioned Marianne.

"Your eyes and cheeks glow each time you say his name"

"Stop it" hushed her sister, now embarrassed.

"No" she cried. "You were never that way with Willoughby, always so excitable and loud. With Brandon, you have an ease in your manner which I did not know existed"

"I feel so-" breathed Marianne, pausing in thought.

"Feel so what?" smiled Elinor.

"Loved," said Marianne, "At peace and all manner of lovely things. He makes me feel so safe Elinor. Even now he is gone I am not afraid for I know he is to return to me."

"That is just what he should make you feel" agreed, her sister. "I pray he never causes the violent emotion that Willoughby did"

"Oh don't speak of it" groaned Marianne, her core shivering at the memory of her conduct. "I do not know how Christopher did not lose faith in me"

"He adores you" reminded Elinor. "That much is clear"

"Now that I know Willoughby's character I hope I never lay my eyes on him or that wife of his for the rest of my days" exclaimed Marianne.

"Brava" mused Elinor. "I believe that is the most spite I have ever heard you speak of him. I am not surprised in the slightest that you hate him. His behaviour is unforgivable"

"I do not hate him" sighed Marianne, "though perhaps I should. But he never showed that vulgar side of himself to me, we all witnessed it. Now, to think that I could have been just a rejected plaything of his...it does not bear thinking about"

"What does bear thinking about is your future" smiled Elinor. "What has passed is over, you can only look to what is yet to come"


Chapter 3 will be out at the end of the week :)