A/N: Thank you all for your advice and I want you guys to know I took it all into consideration. In the end I decided to kind of go halfway and leave the outburst but take out the slap. This story has gone a long way from its original intent of being a one-shot and it also is my first story so bear with my insecurities.
Thank you all again! ヽ(  ̄∀ ̄)ノ
Dinner was a strained affair. Every member was silent for a different reason, barely able to mumble a comment and the rest barely able to mumble one in return. Fanny's throat contracted at every other spoonful, so she kept her gaze lowered, taking shallow breaths. Her hands felt cold and at one point she paused her spoon and took note of how her hand shook.
Bringing the soup to her lips was a chore and swallowing was even harder, even painful. The soup was taken away and a new course was brought forth as it did every night, but tonight Fanny stared uncomprehendingly after her replaced plate. She willed herself to reach forward and continue the meal.
The women separated and retired to the drawing room first, allowing the men a moment to replenish their masculinity. Fanny followed Maria slowly, finally taking a seat at an armchair. She gingerly picked up the tattered clothes in a basket at her side. She pulled out a small dress. It was plain and a thousand times remanded, but it was tiny and it tugged at something inside of Fanny.
"You have truly done well for yourself, dearest cousin." Maria's voice cracked the silence. "With such a house and livelihood as this who would wish for her former life as a companion of an old lady."
Fanny did not lift her eyes from the dress.
"It is common, however, to completely forget one's past when one's present is much more desirable." Maria paced the room as she had before, touching the books on the shelves, but not making a selection.
"Oh to be mistress of Everingham," Maria sighed. At this Fanny did send Maria a glance. "And of Mr. Crawford."
What did she mean mistress of Everingham and Mr. Crawford. A soft pulse of anger struck in the center of Fanny's chest.
"If only Edmund could see you now, his precious cousin Fanny." At this Fanny fully looked up, to find Maria staring straight at her. She knew. She knew of Fanny's sad one-sided love. How long she had know, Fanny was unsure. But she knew now.
"How is Edmund?" Fanny struggled to keep her voice neutral.
"Oh he is over the moon with love. He is absolutely infatuated," Maria smiled sympathetically, contrary to her cheery tone. "There is no other person on the planet but his Mary."
Why was Maria doing this? Her words scratched at a barely healing wound in her heart. She felt as all the pain and love she had tried to store and forget came tumbling out.
"Their wedding is soon in a few weeks. Have you forgotten?" Maria continued. "Ah, your mind must be so occupied, I wager you must have even forgotten about your family."
The cold from Fanny's hands spread all over her body.
"I have heard your mother has become ill and your siblings are begging on the streets for food," Maria shook her head, furrowing her brow. "Those poor creatures, their clothes must be so dirty and they must be so thin with hunger. Oh, Fanny and here you are in such prosperity…"
Fanny stood, taking no heed of the tiny dress that fell. She took a breath to calm herself and she was about to excuse herself when she noticed Maria's face. It was a face of concern, but it was her eyes that Fanny could not look away from. They were filled with triumph.
"You have said enough.." Fanny voice wavered, words locking themselves in her throat.
"Fanny, I-" Maria was surprised but cut off by Fanny's soft voice.
"I have allowed you into my home because you are family, not because I have any attachments to you or your husband." Fanny took a step forward, her voice becoming steadier. "Any obligation I had to you was washed away by your treatment of me and all those around you when I lived under your roof."
In all her years, Maria had never seen Fanny speak against another person, easily establishing herself as weak-minded and unassertive. Now, Fanny's eyes did not waver from Maria's and her voice, soft but with a dangerous undercurrent, kept her in place.
"I tolerated your rude behavior, and you repay me by attempting to beguile and seduce my husband. In my own home and in my presence." Fanny pushed on, with cold calm. "That is however, for my husband to address as he is master of himself, but I will not tolerate teasing of my past feelings or such a horrid insult to my family."
For this last part, Mr. Rushworth and Henry had opened the drawing room door and witnessed the scene. Fanny straightened and turned. She moved her steady gaze to Mr. Rushworth, making him flinch.
"Please, take your wife and leave my home. You have disrupted it long enough. Say nothing of what happened here or I will be forced to reveal the true occurrences of this past day. And you must know that it is always the lady and her reputation that are the most harmed in these types of situations. We wish to not see nor hear from you for six months, whereafter we will greet each other as friends and proper people as if nothing happened. Until that day, I bid thee farewell."
With that Fanny walked from the room taller and with more confidence than she had ever before in her life. Mr. Rushworth and Henry stepping quickly to either side to allow her to pass.
