The second of two chapters. So exciting!


"You seem happier, Madam," Allie smiled as the brushed her mistress's hair for the night. Allie enjoyed seeing her happy.

"I am, Allie," Fanny smiled back at the maid in the glass. "I spent a wonderful day with my favorite cousin."

"That is wonderful," Allie pulled Fanny's hair into a braid to keep it from tangling in the night. Her mistress's hair was becoming quite long and needed more keeping.

"Allie, I heard from little Rickie that there was a Summer festival three days hence." Fanny studied her maid's face. Rickie was her younger brother that worked at the stables. "You have not asked for days off."

"Oh, Madam," Allie blushed. "Many of the servants have already asked for the day off, Everingham cannot be left vacant."

"Have no fear of that, Everingham will not fall if left unattended one afternoon." Fanny said thoughtfully. "Perhaps I shall ask Henry."

Allie did not answer, but she pressed her lips together in excitement.

There was a knock on the door and Allie went quickly to answer it. She had told Wendy to bring some soft lotions for her mistress.

"Mr. Crawford!" Allie jumped back, surprised. "Sir," she added. He was casually dressed, as he did nowadays that he spent time in his study before retiring to his rooms.

She regarded her mistress. Fanny's smile had faded, but she nodded at Allie.

"I believe I need to speak with him, Allie." Fanny uttered softly. Her body rigid with gathering bravery.

Allie gave a respectful nod, and tried not to look at the master with the disdain she felt. He had better not make her cry as he did before, or… she was unsure, but she disliked anyone that gave discomfort to her mistress.

She left the room, closing the door behind her. With a sigh she went to find Wendy. Those lotions would not be necessary.


Henry was in a turmoil of emotions. Edmund's meeting had been one of the worst talks he had had the displeasure of participating in. He was releasing his sister from their agreement which was a gentleman's way of indicating his disinterest. He disliked the man profusely and he might have allowed his rage to lash out but for his love of Fanny. Not only would she dislike the disfigurement of her favorite cousin, but Edmund had presented a passionate and logical argument in her favor. He disliked the man, but he could not accuse him of dishonesty.

Henry was the vile villain in the story, but the one clear spot in his mind that was not filled with rage and confusion understood that he had to give Fanny a choice. She deserved an escape. However, he was still the villain, not the hero, so he gave Edmund until noon, a small window he hoped would not be enough.

He had found himself angry the entire night, unable to sleep. The shape of his wife was a ghost that tormented his dreams. He rose early, only to watch the dreadful exchange in the garden the following morning. His rage turned to unbearable sadness and jealousy as he saw him pull her hand toward him. Something Henry yearned to do everyday since before his marriage to the woman.

He had remained in his room the entirety of the day. He did not know how Fanny had managed so many days in an enclosed space because he was going positively mad. It was until the night fell that he had emerged, his heart and mind exhausted. Edmund had presented his case, and now he had to attempt one as well. He had to go to Fanny and find where he stood or he would absolutely never regain peace.

"Fanny," Henry pronounced carefully. He was standing now at the entrance of her rooms. Her maid had left them and he had not missed the cautionary look she had given him, warning him. Since when did he allow such impertinence? He turned his attention back to his wife.

Fanny rotated from the glass so that Henry could see he had her full attention. She was willing to listen.

The problem was that now he did not know where to begin.

"Fanny, I hope to make my position clear to you," Henry at his hands. "About Maria."

The flash of pain on Fanny's face was all confirmation he needed. He was an idiot.

"I have never felt for her any more than I had for any other woman," That did not sound right. "What I mean is that I have no ties to her at all. She came to my room that evening, I told her to leave but she came and she-" Here he stopped. His was not being a gentleman, he sounded like a child. Also, Fanny seemed to be grieved by every word.

"Fanny, what occurred was a complete and utter mistake. I do not know if the servants related it to you or if you saw for yourself, but I did not want any part of it. I pushed her away, but I could not throw her from the house because she is your cousin." Henry began pacing as was his habit now. "No, I cannot lay the blame on her. My conduct at Mansfield led to this disaster. If only I had been a true gentleman. Perhaps I would even have your heart now."

The word fell from his mouth before he could take them back. He peered at Fanny's face, which was twisted in confusion.

"Fanny, you must know that I love you, when I say Maria means nothing for me, I am saying this because you have taken all the room in my heart and there is room for none other." At this, Henry paused, trying to control the emotion in his voice. Since when had he been one to be overcome with emotion? "But I understand your position." The words were becoming heavier. "Edmund explained it all to me." He gritted his teeth. "I must allow you a choice, because I am nothing more than a villain. Holding fast to you and not allowing you happiness."

Fanny remained disturbingly silent. Tormentingly silent. Perhaps silence was her answer.

"Fanny, I knew you were hesitant to accept my proposal and I know you were forced by your uncle to accept me, but I had hoped." He rambled, mostly because he needed to fill the silence, but also because she deserved to hear this. "If only I had never indulged in such horrible pastimes. That is all they were to me, Fanny, pastimes. Can you believe what a wretched soul I am, that I had never been sincere? Never had I considered the hearts of the ladies but for conquest, for pastime. That is until I fell for you. The beautiful, serene creature that you are. Your trusting heart and your beautiful mind. I had at first only meant for you to be a pastime as well, but I fell Fanny. So quickly, I was in complete shock."

Here Henry was at her window, looking out. He could see her reflection on the glass from the candlelight. He could see she was listening, but he could not see the details of her face. He transferred his focus to the dark expanse of his grounds.

"I fell and I hoped that you would eventually feel the same way. I should have allowed you freedom to begin with, before I forced you into a loveless marriage, on your part at least. I was entirely selfish, a horrid monster. I hoped to have those caring gestures and lovely gazes to myself. I wanted to give you all that you deserved, a home all under your direction, a garden just for your pleasure, gowns, slippers, bonnets, necklaces. What are those sparkling gems ladies like to wear in their hair?"

At this, Henry cast a glance back at Fanny, but she was not in her seat. For a curious moment, he was startled. Then he turned back to find her at his side, not half a meter from him. She was looking up at him most curiously, her eyes large and sad.

"Why did you wish to be rid of me?" She asked softly.

Her voice washed over him and took him aback. She had never spoken to him so openly. In all the time of their marriage, she had been reserved and polite. At the moment, she was raw and open.

"Blasted be the day I wish to be rid of you, love," He said back just as softly. The endearment came naturally, completely unbidden and it was not lost on his wife. She blushed, evident despite at the edge of the candlelight, but she did not break eye contact.

"Why did you allow Edmund to speak to me of such things?" She restated her question unrelenting.

"Because I am a villain and I allowed a hero to attempt to save you." He said sadly. "If I were more of a man I would have let him save you, but I could only allow an attempt at your liberation."

"Am I a damsel in need of a hero?" She asked.

Henry was unsure of how to answer this. "I suppose you may feel you are…"

"I do not," She interrupted gently. "Henry."

The use of his christian name froze any words on his lips. She did not pronounce it with disdain or resentment.

"Henry," She began, testing the name again. "I did not love you when we married. But I married you, it was a promise I made. I respect and admire you as a man, kind to your tenants and such willingness to learn."

Henry's heart broke again for the thousandth time. He had known, but to have her say it reopened the wound.

"But Henry," Here Fanny tentatively rose a hand, her skin half in shadow and the other half glowing from the light. After a hesitation moment, she rested it on his chest. It was over his heart, weather on purpose or accidentally, and he felt it pulse deafeningly under the feel of her touch through his shirt.

"I am not sure of my feelings now," She said cautiously, her eyes on her hand. Perhaps she felt his erratic heartbeats. "I had… well … when you. I am happy when you smile, my stomach flutters when you sit at my side. Perhaps… I am not sure."

She could have been explaining her affiliation to the French circus and he would not have been more astonished. Her combined words and touch were too much. Perhaps he was dreaming.

"But that time," She looked at him then, her eyes pained and, quite frankly, angry. He knew immediately she meant the Maria incident. That accursed incident. The amount of self-loathing he had was like nothing before in his life.

"Please," He placed his hand over her hand on his chest. As afraid as he was of frightening her away, he was more afraid of letting her drift from him. "Allow me to prove my love for you." Her eyes widened.

"I know that it is shameless of me to ask. I beg of you. Allow me to repent for that time. I am a horrid villain to even think of such a thing, but please allow me to …" Henry was unsure of the proper word for what he wanted. "... court you. To gradually earn you trust and your love, please Fanny."

Fanny was silent throughout his speech, her gaze on their touching hands. Perhaps she felt a fraction of the electricity that he felt at her touch. To hope was more than he could bear.

"You," Here she raised her eyes to his face once again, this time shyly. "You are not a villain."

At her words, Henry acted without thinking.

He ducked his head and met her lips with his before either knew what he was doing. She gasped against his lips but did not pull away. He did not deepen the kiss, despite the fire that lighted in him and on his chest where he held her hand. Instead he kept it gentle and delicate, like a soft question. Fanny, for her part, for the moment, allowed him the question.