Chapter Summary,

Brandon finds out just how far Willoughby will go to destroy Marianne's reputation.


It was the middle of the day when Marianne spotted Thomas lugging the cart over the hill.

He abandoned his task upon seeing her calling, "A letter for you Miss Marianne"

"Already?" remarked Elinor, seeing her sister jump up. "The post is not due today!"

Unphased Marianne happily met Thomas who explained.

"I was walking through town to the market Miss when who should I see but your Colonel Brandon," he said. "So I called over I did, and he greeted me with pleasantness. I handed him your letter and he was very happy to receive it. He asked what business I had in town and I told him, he then asked if I would be good enough to meet again at the place we spoke in one hour, should me business take me that long and he would have a reply for me"

"Well I said, I would be pleased to be agreeable to him and we both went on our way. I returned at the time we agreed and I now have the letter for you Miss"

Thomas wiped his hand on his coat before lifting the letter from his pocket.

"That is most kind of you Thomas" thanked Marianne. "I am very grateful"

"It's no trouble Miss" smiled Thomas, lifting his cap before lugging the cart down towards the cottage.

Marianne could not wait to reach the house so she found a flat rock close by and opened the letter.

My dearest Marianne,

Your letter brought such delight to my otherwise dreary morning. I hope to finish my business in town over the next few days so I may visit you and your family.

Once my business is concluded I am determined to have you all visit my home in Delaford, we shall make quite the day of it. As you will recall the last attempt was not to everyone's pleasure. You may ask Miss Dashwood on my behalf to extend this invitation to Mr Ferrars, as I also wish to know more of my future brother-in-law. I will wait for you to name the date.

As you mentioned in your letter I see no living reason as to why the marriage of both couples cannot be completed in one day, I should enjoy the ceremony in whatever capacity, as long as you become my wife at its conclusion.

I should expect to call on Friday, until then my dearest.

Yours with affection, Christopher Brandon.

Marianne smiled and brought the letter to her chest.

She returned to the cottage and eagerly showed it off to Elinor.

"Well, what a fine gentleman," she remarked. "I am sure Edward would be delighted to join us"

"I will wait till Friday to ask for a date, I would not seek to hurry him," said Marianne.

"Do you know where he is staying in town?" asked Elinor. "Or has he returned to Delaford, it is close enough"

"No" replied Marianne. "He told me that he is staying in town, in some inn I imagine, quite improper for a man such as him!"

"Well" mused Elinor. "He cannot stay here and with Mrs Jenning's daughter in the house, they've all but run out of rooms!"

"I know" huffed Marianne. "I just hate the thought of him enduring unsuitable accommodation just to be near me"

"A gentleman's business does not always mean you" reminded Elinor. "He does not seem to be a man of high grace, I am sure a week in an inn will not harm him forever"

"Very well" agreed, Marianne. "Where is Edward staying in town? Surely he would have room for Christopher!"

Elinor sighed, "He had to return to London, to tell his mother what he shall do"

"And aren't you worried she'll confine him or rebuke him further!" cried Marianne. "If she disapproved of Miss Steel, imagine how she will react with you!"

Elinor gave a scoff. "My dearest, Yes she has disinherited him but he still has a duty to her, as will I"

"Oh tell me you will never have the cause to meet her?" exclaimed Marianne. "She was such a cold woman!"

"She shan't come to the wedding if that is what you are implying" replied Elinor. "But yes I shall have to see her at times, despite her newfound hatred of her son"

"I will never understand it" proclaimed Marianne. "If I were to have a son I would cherish him, not play favourites"

"Now my love" hushed Elinor. "You are going red, this is a burden for myself and Edward, please do not worry for us"

"As you wish" sighed Marianne.


Unbeknownst to Marianne, Brandon was not being subject to the loud and crowded inn.

He had taken up a small set of rooms with an old companion from his days in the military who took great delight in seeing him again.

The man's name was Colonel Henry Keats, a charming man, not dissimilar in age to Brandon or in temperament.

Keats observed Brandon reading over what appeared to be the same letter and called, "I can smell the scent of a woman Brandon. What are you reading pray?"

Lost in Marianne's words it took several remarks from his friend to warrant a response. "Forgive me," he replied, tucking the letter away.

"You are very political in your avoidance" teased Keats. "I asked if it was from a woman and you hide it from me"

Brandon smiled. "I confess, you are correct"

"Well" scoffed Keats. "Do not withhold information from me. Who is she?"

"The woman I am to marry" replied Brandon, a joy in is manner as the words left his lips.

"Marriage?" cried Keats. "You Brandon?"

"Yes, the notion came as a shock to my old bones as it does to yours" replied Brandon.

"I cannot let you marry just anyone," remarked Keats humorously. "Who is the girl?"

"Miss Marianne Dashwood" responded Brandon. "You must have heard of the family that recently took up residence with the Middletons"

He watched his friends face lose its smile. "Oh surely not"

"You know of the lady?" inquired Brandon. "I was not aware you have had cause to meet the family?"

"Well" breathed Keats, rising from his chair. "Her fall from grace is known by all in this town"

Brandon brow creased, "Fall from grace?"

"That whole attachment to John Willoughby, surely you are not unaware of it" replied Keats. "The rumours of such are-"

He cut his sentence short when he remembered to whom he spoke.

Henry Keats was one of the few people alive who knew of Beth's seduction by Willoughby, in intimate detail. This provocation stopped his speech in its entirety.

Brandon sat forward on his chair. "Do not let me stop you"

Keats ran a hand over his hair. "I would not wish to offend the lady"

"Not in my presence" snapped Brandon. "What would you say to others I wonder?"

"It is not I who wish to speak ill of her" reminded Keats. "I have heard such tales from the townsfolk who each seem to take a side. Some pity Miss Dashwood and others shame her"

"You will tell me of these tales immediately" demanded Brandon. "Then you will inform me of those who wish to tarnish her name"

"Come Brandon" cried, Keats. "She is just one young woman"

"To whom I will marry" exclaimed Brandon. "I do not wish for anyone to slight her name which will soon be my own"

"I do not know what purpose it will serve to tell you, I am sure Miss Dashwood has heard the rumours for herself" added Keats.

"She has been recovering from a serious bout of illness" explained Brandon. "She has not entered town since last Autumn"

"Then I do not feel it to ask you to burden her with them," said Keats.

"As her fiance, I believe I understand her emotions far better than you would" retorted Brandon. "It is not for you to decide"

Keats returned to his seat. "If you insist"

"I do" replied Brandon resolutely.

Keats sighed, "It is a rumour that apparently originated from John Willoughby himself. He obviously cared for her to some degree, but he is not so careful with her feelings anymore"

"Go on," asked Brandon.

"All I have heard is that he proudly states of an intimacy to their so-called 'engagement'. He claims to have not only bedded Miss Dashwood but that her seeming urgency to marry must be due to the seed of his child in her belly"

Brandon's dark eyes widened. "This-this is a public statement?"

"In London at least" replied Keats. "Word travels, as it does. I am shocked that you have heard nothing"

"Once I announce Marianne and I's engagement I am sure I will hear enough" replied Brandon. "If he speaks a word after that I must act"

Keats sensed his actions. "You are not fit to duel him, Brandon"

"I will duel him with a pistol or a sword" exclaimed Brandon angrily. "He has already harmed Beth, I will not tolerate his mistreatment a second time"

"Christopher," said Keats. "I feel I must ask. Are you certain that Willoughby remarks may not be as damning as they sound? Perhaps even a small truth lies behind them?"

Bradon could not control himself, he rose from the chair and with an explosive passion he shouted, "How dare you!"

"Come" pleaded Keats, following his friend who had charged from the room. "I care about your well-being!"

Brandon would not be stopped.

"For God's sake, don't be a bloody fool" cried Keats. "I know you love the girl but I cannot bear to think you would be saddled with another of Willoughby spawns"

He finally halted his friend by the door, physically preventing him from entering the street.

"Brandon, I only want you to be happy. I know how much you suffered from the loss of Eliza, but you must think rationally. If you marry Miss Dashwood, your once noble reputation would be as tainted as hers"

Brandon took a steadying breath. "You will understand this. Your concern for me is honourable and I appreciate your blatant honesty. But I warn you, I will not allow such remarks concerning my future wife to leave your lips ever again"

"Miss Marianne Dashwood is one of the finest women I have ever laid my eyes upon. I would dare say I love her more than I did Eliza, and you know the feelings I bore for her very well. She is as pure in my eyes as the first day I saw her. I see no taint against her character"

"But Brandon" pleaded Keats. "Could you honestly, in your heart, love her knowing that she had been bedded by another man? Or worse, that the event occurred and she has not told you of any of it?"

"That is what leads me to believe that the rumour is sheer folly" replied Brandon. "I know that Marianne would not have withheld such information from me, it is not in her character"

Seeing that Keats looked at him with such confusion he added,

"But even if such an event took place it will not change a thing"

Keats face changed colour. "You would marry her regardless?"

"Without hesitation" replied Brandon swiftly. "My love for her goes beyond what flesh can offer me"

"Brandon" protested Keats. "You are a man of values. Surely you cannot do this"

"If Willoughby somehow seduced Marianne my only wish is that he did not do so through violence" retorted Brandon. "The idea of that brings me more pain than the thought of the event occurring with love as his motive"

Retrieving his hat Brandon called a servant for his horse, before opening the door.

"Where are you going?" called Keats.

Swinging onto his horse Brandon replied sharply. "I am going to the newspaper to order a publication of my engagement and then I will go and visit my fiance and tell her this rumour for myself. It is best she hears it from my lips than through unkind whispers"

Keats could not stop his friend, only shaking his head as he rode away.