Chapter 4 Don't pry in family matters

Fanny walked quickly up the steps and into the house. She knew she was later than usual and was quite sure that her aunt Norris would scold her.
In the hall she met Edmund and Miss Crawford.
"Fanny, you're back!" Edmund greeted.
"It seems you have had a good ride!" Miss Crawford said. "Your cheeks are still glowing."
Fanny blushed. "Yes, thank you. It was lovely."
"I do hope my brother wasn't too harsh on you in his speed."
Fanny lowered her head. "We… did go fast, but it went well."
She didn't see the looks on her companions' faces.
"Well Fanny, my mother asked for you. You should change now."
"I will, thank you Edmund," she said quietly, and then walked up to her room to change out of her riding habit.

She really had enjoyed the ride. Mr Crawford was often too frank in his speech, but he seemed good company. And he truly knew a lot about horses. It was refreshing to be able to talk with someone about horses. She often enjoyed talking with Edmund about many different subjects, but he was not really interested in horses. It was good to know someone who was.

Then her face fell. She really hoped Aunt Norris wouldn't scold her. And she must never find out that she went riding with Mr Crawford!

"I declare I have never seen such a hot summer in my life. I must say I was quite fatigued after our ride this afternoon!" Henry thought Julia had some inclination to being dramatic. It had been a warm day surely, but their ride had mainly been through shady lanes.

That afternoon he had gone out riding with the two sisters Bertram, his own sister and Edmund Bertram. It must be obvious that Henry regretted the fact that Fanny had not come with them. But as the horse for Mary had not arrived yet, it would not have been possible anyway.

Such a different ride it had been, from his rides with Fanny.
The day before he had ridden out on his own and had met her on the way, upon which they had continued together. Like the first time, they had enjoyed a good gallop and Henry rejoiced in the fact that she seemed to be less restrained and shy. Their conversation had been delightful, he thought.

The company today had gone for quite a distance, but as his sister was still a novice, they took breaks on the way. She would likely be very sore on the morrow.

They were now all gathered in the drawing room at the Park once more and the sisters told their mother and aunt all about their afternoon.
Henry was distracted, for Fanny appeared not to be in the room. He wondered where she was.
Then he could see some movement from the corner of his eye and he saw Fanny stretched upon a sofa in a darker corner of the room. He doubted if her aunts knew she was there.

He subtly nodded in her direction and received a nod in return. From what he could see, she looked pale and tired. Raising his brows as to ask what was the matter, she put her hand on her forehead to indicate a head ache.
He couldn't help but worry for her, but she slightly shook her head as if to say he should not. With some reluctance he refocused his attention to the conversation.

Lady Bertram was telling that in the morning she had seen such beautiful roses in the garden that she wished to have some inside. She pointed at the faintly scenting flowers in a vase on the mantelpiece. Then she went on to tell how happy she was to have sent Fanny to pick the flowers, as she always knew to pick the best ones.

"You sent Fanny out in the garden?" Edmund sounded a bit indignant. "In this heat? Mother, your flowers are beautiful, but you should not have let Fanny go to pick them. Speaking about Fanny: where is she?"
"I am here," came that soft, lovely voice from the other side of the room.

"Why Fanny. What are you doing, idling about? Have you not seen how much work there still is to be done from the workbasket? You better come here and do something useful." Mrs Norris voice grated on his nerves.

"I am sorry aunt, but my head aches a little," Fanny said.

"Why, that must be from being out in the heat, cutting those roses. See mother, you would not have gone out in this hot weather yourself, yet you sent her!" said Edmund crossly.
"Well Edmund, it was not just for the roses for me. Your aunt also asked for some and then sent Fanny to bring them to the white house. Then, I believe, she forgot to lock a door and had to go back and forth once more. For me she might have been out for merely half an hour, but the errand for your aunt took much longer." Henry thought Lady Bertram sounded a bit childish, as if trying to defer the blame away from herself.

Edmund spoke up once more: "I am ashamed of both of you, mother and aunt. I wish you would consider Fanny's health. You know she is not strong."
"Well Edmund, that might be true, but exercise has never done anybody harm. I myself walk all the time and without the slightest inconvenience. Why should it not be good for her? She is riding that horse all the time after all, while she had much better walk," said Mrs Norris.

Henry saw Fanny's face red from mortification. They were talking about her and about what exercise would be good for her, as if she was not there. He felt for her. Poor girl.
"Fanny, you might feel better if you went to bed. You truly look unwell!" Edmund went to her and held out his hand to help her up.
"I will, thank you, cousin," she said graciously and after a curtsy, she left the room.

After she had left, the conversation continued about her for a while. Henry saw the exasperation on Edmund's face. He truly tried to help his cousin and Henry liked him the better for it. But it seemed he was the only member of the family to do so. While he could see Lady Bertram held a certain fondness for the girl, he expected she would hardly spend a thought on the girl's feelings. Her other cousins seemed to be indifferent to her and Mrs Norris seemed to delight in humiliating her. Why that was, he didn't know.

He felt a little embarrassed that he and his sister had to witness what should clearly be family business. But as he cared for Fanny, witnessing this scene strengthened his resolve to find ways to help her.

"I really felt ashamed on their behalf, I must say. Don't you agree Henry?" They were back at the parsonage and Mary was telling their sister all about the evening. She was shifting uncomfortably on her chair as if in pain.
He couldn't help but laugh. "Feeling it already sister? I wonder if you will be able to get out of bed at all, tomorrow morning."
He received an annoyed huff in response.

Then he sobered up again. "It was certainly awkward to witness, but it makes me think that this was likely not the first occasion. I think Fanny Price suffers a great deal under her aunt's hands."
He missed Mary rolling her eyes towards Sophie, as if to say: 'See? Totally besotted.'
He continued: "She told me that when her old horse died, Edmund had to use a lot of persuasion with the aunts to be able to get her a new horse. I believe Sir Thomas had already left and, while Mrs Norris thought it a completely unnecessary purchase, Lady Bertram preferred the business to be delayed until Sir Thomas' return."

"I see you haven't lost your skill yet of getting secrets out of people, brother. I doubt she would have told me all this," was Mary's remark.
Henry did not reply.

"Since we came here, I have always found Mrs Norris an odd person," Mrs Grant said. "I have heard stories of the servants and of parishioners about her ability to make a little money go a long way. She is well known for her frugality. But other than that, people seem to be reluctant to say more about her. Or her late husband for that matter. I wonder if something happened." She sounded thoughtful.

"Well," Henry said. "It seems we all dislike Mrs Norris. But I am wondering if we can do something to help Fanny, without making it more awkward for her, or too obvious. Would you invite her for tea perhaps, Sophie? I think it will do her good to be out of that house."

Sophie nodded. "That sounds like a good beginning. I do not want to pry in the family affairs at the great house, but I don't believe there would be any harm in being friendly to the girl."

Henry smiled gratefully at his sister. "Thank you Sophie."

Then he turned to Mary. "I forgot to tell you earlier on, but late this afternoon I received a note, that your horse is on its way here. So in about two days' time you will have your own horse to ride."

"That is good news brother! I presume this is also an advantage to Fanny? Then you will be able to ride with her whenever you choose." Henry ignored her teasing. "It will mean that she can go whenever she wants, without having to wait for you. I am glad I could be of help in this. And now, I wish you a good night." With this, he stood up and left the room.