Warning: Quite a 'grim' chapter today.

Chapter 7 Sotherton

Fanny looked out of the window of the moving carriage. Her companions were talking among themselves, but she didn't give their conversation much attention. As they had already for most of the ride, they talked about what they would see at Sotherton. Well, Maria talked and every now and then Mrs Norris added her comments. Mary was listening politely to them, but it was clear to Fanny that her friend held no real interest for the subject.
She could faintly hear the voice of Mr Crawford and Julia on the driver's seat.

Fanny sighed. She thought at how she came to be here, on the way to visit a place she had no wish to visit.
Edmund, and also Mary, had persisted she would come and nothing she said would change their mind. On one of their rides with the four of them, Mr Crawford had even tried. "As far as I can see, Miss Price does not really want to go. Why do you keep insisting?" But they didn't listen to him either.

She remembered the day after the date had been set. Mr Crawford had been agitated during their ride and when she had asked him what was the matter, he told her that he was angry at the way she was forced to go. "I know you dislike the place. Why can't they leave you in peace?"
She had smiled at him. "Mr Crawford, do not worry. I will survive."
"Yes, and I will make sure of it. I shudder at the thought of all the ways he might take advantage of you being there."
Quickly she had become serious again. "Please Mr Crawford, do not speak of it. I will not say it is not also in my mind, but I must try to stay away from him as much as possible and stay with other people all the time."
"And I will try my best to help you in any way I can."
Again she pleaded: "I thank you, but pray do not be obvious about it. It mortifies me to think what the others might say. Especially my aunt."

She still shuddered at the thought of her aunt Norris noticing Mr Rushworth's unwelcome attentions to her and herself being helped by Mr Crawford to defer those attentions.

A shout came from the outside of the carriage. "We are nearing Sotherton."
Mr Rushworth and his mother were waiting outside and welcomed their guests with civility. Fanny stayed near Edmund and Mary when they went inside and first they sat all down in the parlour to drink some tea and have something to eat. Then Mrs Rushworth suggested she give them a tour through the house.

Fanny began to relax a little when she saw that Mr Rushworth was too busy showing things to his fiancée which she hadn't seen yet the previous times she had visited. Mrs Rushworth mainly talked to Mrs Norris, but interrupted herself all the time to point out features, paintings and other art etc. to her guests. The tour took a great while and Fanny had to admit she enjoyed learning more of the history of the house. She had always had an interest in the things that happened in the past, ever since Edmund and she discussed history when she was younger.

They all ended up in the chapel which Fanny found a bit disappointing. It had not the charm she thought it would have.
Things got awkward when Miss Crawford made some disparaging remarks about church professions only to then discover that Edmund was to take orders soon. Fanny felt for Edmund. He had told her he liked Mary a lot and it must pain him that she thought so little of his profession. Fanny had already noticed, during their acquaintance that Miss Crawford was not one for serious conversation and seemed somewhat flighty in her opinions.
After the chapel was admired enough, Mr Rushworth declared they should go outside to see the grounds; even though his mother was of a mind to show their guests the first floor and all its rooms next.
Although Fanny quite liked the house, she was relieved to be in the fresh air again.

Soon the party split up. Mr Rushworth took Maria and Mr Crawford to show the latter what he had in mind for improvements. Fanny noticed a deep sigh coming from Mr Crawford before he followed the couple. She was sure he did not at all like to be in Mr Rushworth's company, but put up with it for the sake of keeping the man away from herself.
She was glad that so far Mr Rushworth had not given her much attention at all.

She found herself walking away from the house with Edmund and Mary. She was happy to listen to their conversation while taking in the surroundings. She felt more peaceful, being outside, surrounded by a beautiful garden, full of secret corners and see-through places. Her peace had also to do with the fact that she was out of the company of the two people she disliked the most, at least for a while.

Suddenly Edmund asked: "Well Fanny, are you glad that you came along? You seemed so against it at first."
With a sudden desire to be more honest than polite, she said: "I still wish you hadn't forced me to come. It pains me that you did not respect my choice. But I liked the house well enough and being in these gardens makes me nearly forget my objections."
Edmund looked contrite. "I am sorry Fanny. I thought it was your modesty that made you decline. I will listen to you the next time."

They found a door to a walled garden and, being of a mind to explore it, went through. Fanny was amazed at the beautiful flowers growing there. And, having separated from the other two, slowly walked around, every now and then stopping to smell at a flower or to examine it closer. She found a bench in a secluded corner, near a closed gate. She motioned to the other two to continue. She wanted to sit and rest for a while and take in her surroundings while seated. About five minutes passed in which she heard nothing but the birds singing and the breeze whistling through the leaves. It was warm, but the temperature where she was sitting was quite pleasant.

The peace was shattered when she heard footsteps coming nearby. She knew it could not be Edmund or Mary, for they had wandered off in the opposite direction. Suddenly she feared who it might be and unfortunately she was right. For from around the corner came Mr Rushworth. On his own.

"Hello Miss Price! What a pleasant surprise to find you here waiting for me! Are you enjoying my house and my grounds?" He came near and she tried to stand up to walk away. But he sat down and prevented her from getting up. "Not so hasty! Do not you love this perfectly secluded spot? I declare it is my new favourite, for its beauty is much enhanced by your presence!"
His hands were now running over her body and every attempt from her to get away was thwarted.
Oh, why did she leave Edmund and Mary? And where were the others?
"Leave me alone!" she said, but her voice was shaky and it came out as no more than a whisper.
"Not yet, Fanny Price. Let me enjoy this first."

Then new footsteps were coming, and voices were talking.
Immediately Mr Rushworth stood up and walked a few steps away.
From around the corner now came Maria, Julia and Mr Crawford.
The latter's eyes were immediately on her and she saw his worry.
"Ah, there you are, Rushworth," Maria said. Then: "I wish to see what's through that gate today! Last time you didn't have the key, but I really would like to see it."
"Me too," Julia exclaimed.
"Well, my dear, today I shall be happy to oblige you," was Mr Rushworth's response. "But I will need to get the key from the house. You can all wait here and I will go as fast as I can."
He was out of sight in a moment.
Maria took Julia to the gate and they both looked through.

Mr Crawford sat down next to Fanny. They were both quiet, as the two sisters were so nearby. Fanny was shaking and could not hide it. She could see Mr Crawford's concern.
"I do not think we need a key!" exclaimed Julia all of a sudden. "Look Maria, the wall next to the gate is so damaged that there is a gap big enough to go through. Come, let's go. We don't need to wait for Mr Rushworth."
Before either person on the bench could warn them off, the two girls helped each other through the gap and were soon out of sight.
Mr Crawford shook his head at their folly.

Then he asked in a low voice: "Miss Price, are you alright? Did something happen?"
She only could nod before she started to cry. He handed her his handkerchief, which she clutched between her shaky hands.
Then he held out his hands.
"Come. We should not stay so close to this gate. I don't know how long it will be until he comes back. Let us walk a bit."
She let herself be helped to her feet and took the proffered arm to steady herself.

While walking away from the spot which earlier had been so peaceful, but now was ruined by what happened after, Mr Crawford asked: "Do you wish to tell me what happened? I am so sorry that I let him out of my sight. But I thought you would be together with my sister and Bertram."
"I… enjoyed the flowers and fell behind. They set off while I took a little rest on that bench. And then suddenly he came around the corner. Oh I cannot bear his talk!" she still shuddered. "His words make me sick."
"Did he touch you?"
Fanny blushed and felt more tears from her eyes. Her body was shaking more violently. She nodded. "His hands…" she could not continue and would have collapsed if not for Mr Crawford's firm but gentle grip on her arm.
"Look, here is another bench. Sit down. You are not well enough to continue." He helped her sit down and stayed close. He started to pace back and forth in front of her.
"I wish I could call him out," he said angrily. "But then you'll be ruined. Oh I should have protected you better. I knew what he is! I should not have underestimated him!"
Her tears lessened slightly. "Sir," she looked up at him. "You are not to blame! I should have taken more care myself. I fear there is nothing to be done. Nobody must know. I need to continue to be careful."
She covered her face with her hands once more; the handkerchief in her hand proved to be inadequate to the task of drying her tears. She just couldn't stop crying or shaking.

"Fanny! What happened? Are you ill?" Without her noticing, Edmund and Mary had come back. They both looked at her with concern. Edmund sat immediately next to her. "Is it the heat? Are you fatigued? Or did you injure yourself?" He took her in a brotherly embrace.
She couldn't say anything for a while but continued to sob.

"Crawford, what happened?" she heard him ask. Immediately she got out of the embrace and looked at Mr Crawford. He had stopped pacing and was standing in front of them. She was afraid. She did not know what he would say. Or what she could tell. She knew Edmund was genuinely concerned and she would hate to lie to him. But she couldn't tell him.
Mr Crawford looked at her for guidance as to what to say.
"She… suddenly felt unwell. I was glad that I happened upon her. I think she should not be left alone."

She felt grateful. He had not told lies, but he had also not divulged what had happened. They seemed to take the explanation without question. Now Mary sat next to her on her other side.
Fanny could not talk yet, but her three friends stayed by her side, while she slowly came to herself again.
Mr Crawford's face remained grim, while the others – to distract her - started to tell her what they had seen further into the garden.
After a while, Fanny felt calmed down enough to walk back to the house. Mr Crawford took her arm and they followed Edmund and Mary back past the bench and the gate. Neither Maria and Julia nor Mr Rushworth were to be seen so they continued.

When they arrived back at the house, Edmund asked Mrs Rushworth for a glass of water for Fanny, as 'she felt a little unwell'. Mrs Rushworth fussed over her, which made Fanny even more uncomfortable.
The rest of their stay seemed to drag on for they would still stay for dinner.
Fanny sat down in a corner and kept as far away from Mr Rushworth as possible. For once, instead of keeping his distance, Mr Crawford seemed determined to not leave her side for a moment. And she herself could not care less for her aunt Norris and what she would have to say about it. She needed his support and even if they could not talk about it, it was a comfort for her to know that he would protect her and also that her horrible secret was safe with him.

Henry was still fuming when they went on their way back to Mansfield. Edmund had managed to talk Fanny into taking the seat next to him on the box, as 'she needed the fresh air and sitting in such a confined space would do her no good.' Fanny herself seemed too exhausted to object and he himself was glad of the opportunity to sit next to her.

His mind kept going back to that moment when he had found her. He was glad that Miss Maria and Miss Julia hadn't seemed to notice anything.
He had immediately perceived that something was wrong. The fright in Fanny eyes had told him that something had happened. He also saw a sort of smug look on Rushworth's face.

Henry had clenched his fists behind his back, to prevent himself from knocking the scoundrel off his feet. Then, when everyone else was away, she seemed to collapse. He had so wished he could take her is his arms, wished that he could do more than just offer his handkerchief. But all he could do, was stay close and offer comfort in the way of his words and presence.
When he had told her it should be better if they get away from that spot, she had accepted his arm without speaking. He had felt her shaking and she had difficulty staying upright. He had supported her as best as he could and had been grateful to see another bench where she could sit.

Without realising what he was doing, he had started to pace, trying to think of how this could be solved. He could not call the man out and he could not tell anyone else. For the first time in his life he realised how unfair and unequal women were treated in their society. If this would come out, Rushworth would be able to walk away from all of it without any troubles. Fanny, on the other hand would be shunned and likely never find someone to marry. And nothing of it was her fault!

He had been startled by the sudden arrival of Mary and Edmund. The latter straight away sat next to Fanny and embraced her. He envied the man for being able to do so. However, his attention had gone straight back to Fanny and he saw that she was unable to speak. When Edmund asked him what had happened, he didn't know what to say. Fanny looked up at him to see his reaction. If she didn't want to, he couldn't tell them about Rushworth! So he kept his answer vague and just told them she had become unwell.

The rest of the afternoon had been very uncomfortable. Fanny had held herself remarkably well, but he had seen a few times she was on the verge of tears. His blood boiled when he saw Rushworth's unconcerned behaviour. He must know it was his doing that Fanny was upset, yet nothing changed in his behaviour.

Henry was very glad that they were now on their way home.
"How are you feeling now?" he asked her.
She seemed startled out of deep thoughts.
"I… don't really know. I resolved it's best that I forget what happened, but I find that very difficult. Perhaps I should turn my mind to other things."
"I might be able to help with that," he said, with a little smile. "Have I told you yet about how me and Storm used to fool the stable master, when I was younger?"

Fanny turned a little towards him and he then was able to entertain her with his stories. When they nearly reached Mansfield Park, he was glad to see she looked a bit more relaxed and he had heard her quiet laugh a few times during his tales.

"You're a very strong woman, Miss Price!" He said before they had to say goodbye. "And remember that you have got friends who support you!" She blushed and thanked him and then walked towards the house.