Thank you so much for the lovely reviews! They brighten my day and are a source of inspiration. This is a longer chapter than usual and it took me a while to do, because I really wanted to bring in new characters (not mine) which you will meet.

I do hope the switching of POV is not too confusing. It's third person with different focus so we can see what's going on in people's heads. I could mark them more clearly, but when I read, I like to figure some stuff out for myself so I made it this way.

Enjoy!


"You are much too thin, Mrs. Crawford." Mrs. Hawkins fussed over Fanny. "You need more meat on those bones, with all due respect, madam. Why whatever will you do with such a small body if a babe comes along?"

"A babe…" Fanny head shot up. She was sitting in a chair in Mrs. Hawkins' dining room, feeding the littlest of the Baker children. The babe was transitioning from breast milk to solid food and she was cradling him, carefully feeding him a special sauce. All five of them were staying at with Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins while their parents recovered from a nasty bout of flu.

Fanny looked down at the tiny thing in her arms. He fit perfectly and he was laughing at the poking fingers of his brothers and sisters.

"That one can sit up now, dear, he is a big babe. No need to hold him like that."

Fanny set the babe on her lap and continued to feed him.

"Lady Crawford, are you going to the Summer Festival?" One of the children asked Fanny, speaking over the chatter of the rest.

The topic drew the children from their individual conversations to the bigger conversation of Summer Festival.

"Oh there is music and dancers!"

"Food!"

"The dresses! And Ribbons!"

Fanny laughed as the children raced forward with descriptions of the Summer Festival, not needing her to contribute, just listen.

There was a messenger that interrupted the family's merrymaking.

"There is a message from Everingham to Mrs. Crawford, ma'am." The boy told Mrs. Hawkins.

"Fanny it seems you are needed back at Everingham." Mrs. Hawkins called from the parlor. "Do hurry along dear, your husband sounds most distressed."

With a whip of fear, Fanny settled the child with its older siblings and departed at once.

The messenger boy was gracious enough to offer his horse back to Everingham. While she normally would not have accepted, the cold bite of fear made her accept. She did not think she could ride the horse on her own in her nervous state, so she settled behind the boy on the horse, holding his shoulders for balance.

Along the way she could not stop a rush of possible scenarios from invading her mind. She first believed Henry must be hurt. She knew he regarded his injury from the horse fall too lightly. Perhaps it was a new injury. As Everingham grew closer, so did her apprehension.

There was a foreign carriage in front of main entryway. The Crawford carriage was on its way to Mansfield Park, so this must be a physician or a surgeon.

Almost stumbling, Fanny hurried into her home. Andrew was going to announce her to the drawing room, but barely had time to open the doors in her haste.

Upon entering the room, Fanny zeroed in on a sitting Henry across the room. He raised his eyes to her, a soft smile on his lips. He stood up to greet her.

The anxiety building in her chest was released in one exhale. He was safe.

A second man stood and turned to her from the seat across from Henry.

"William!" Fanny gasped. A third person also rose.

"Susan!" A hand pressed to her heart.

Her siblings called her name and came to embrace her.

Fanny could not believe there would be a happier person than herself in that moment.

"Fanny, are you pleased?" William asked.

"How? When did you return?"

"I must see my sister in her new home." William said affectionately. "My dear sister, I must say, the married life suits with you."

"It would suit you better, my dear brother," Fanny teased.

"Now, Fanny, there is no need." William faked offense. "I am at the prime of my youth. I am married to the wind, the sea, and adventure."

"I hope you never find the wind, sea, and adventure to be unfulfilling brides." Fanny answered.

"Never!" William dramatically said.

"Dear Susan," Fanny took her younger sister into her arms again. "Were you long exposed to our brother's theatrics?"

"I am well, Fanny," Susan answered. Fanny's happiness came to a pause in noting Susan's subdued behavior, obvious with those words. Although she found much in common with her sister, Susan was much bolder than Fanny.

"I have heard you are now at Mansfield Park, sister." Fanny inquired, and she studied.

"I am," Susan answered, again in a subdued manner.

The trip must have exhausted her, Fanny concluded. She called for refreshments.

The conversation that ensued brought both joy and worry to Fanny's heart. Her brother spoke in animated gestures, bringing light and laughter to the dimming room. She was surprised and pleased to see Henry and William conversing with the ease of old friends. They both had natural charms that together shone brighter. Susan, however, remained uncharacteristically quiet.

"Mr. Crawford, you must see the true value of a hiring a bard for evenings such as these." William grinned openly.

"Why ever would we need a bard when we have all the entertainment we could ever need in our presence," Henry teased, gesturing toward William.

"Ah yes, the teapot does provide hours of amusement." William frowned at the tea things that were settled in between them, pretending Henry had been gesturing at them and not himself.

"But it does, Mr. Price," Henry was not to allow William the pleasure of winning at nonsense. "Notice it's rounded form and graceful spout."

"And behold it's aesthetically similar, yet different configuration of offspring." William picked up his teacup.

"Could you two cease your bickering until after dinner?" Fanny attempted a serious face, but her lips tugged at the corners.

"Now I see the true master of Everingham," William teased Henry.

Quite quickly, William had established himself as a harmless provoker to Henry. And vise versa. Fanny absolutely enjoyed their boyish jokes and teasings. They played off each other, their charm and appeal complemented perfectly.

Sobering, Fanny regarded her sister. Henry and William had drawn Susan out of her subdued state, but she was still not the bright young woman Fanny had seen at her wedding.

She did not have an opportunity to speak seriously to Susan until after dinner, when they made their way to the drawing room first.

Susan was looking through the clothing Fanny was mending with little interest, her mind elsewhere.

"Susan," Fanny took her sister's hand. "Pray tell what has your mind occupied."

"It is nothing, Fanny." Susan blushed slightly. "Or Mrs. Crawford, I should say."

Fanny smiled at Susan's attempt to change the subject. "Fanny," She corrected gently. "Susan, you have been distracted since you arrived at Everingham."

"It was a strenuous journey," Susan sighed. "William wished to take full advantage of his leave."

"I understand," but Fanny did not move from her position, leaning toward her sister.

A moment of silence passed and Fanny knew her sister was gathering her thoughts. It was a habit they shared, although Susan utilized it far less than she.

"Fanny…" Susan finally looked at her. With her sad gaze on her, she realized Susan had not met her eyes since her arrival. "Why did you marry Mr. Crawford?"

Fanny frowned slightly. "Because he asked and I accepted."

"What of Edmund?"

With a quick intake of breath from Fanny, Susan nodded.

"When you came home you spoke of him so warmly. When I went to Mansfield Park, you were his favorite topic. Even amidst his engagement preparations." Susan explained. "Why did you marry Mr. Crawford?"

Fanny guessed her sister wanted her to say she married for love, an incomprehensible bond. But she did not wish to lie to her.

"I married him because that was my fate," She answered vaguely. She did not understand why Susan needed these answers.

"Your fate?" Susan looked into the distance, somewhere inside her mind. "Your fate was an unpredictable man with a dubious reputation and untrustworthy future."

"Susan," Fanny said sternly.

"Edmund was safe. You would have loved and been loved in a clergyman's cottage, relatively close to Mansfield Park, within your own family." Susan continued, paying no heed to her sister's warning. "Instead you chose the unknown."

"Henry has been wonderful to me, Susan," Fanny stroked her hand, upset at not knowing what disturbed her sister. Was Susan worried for her? "I must tell you that he loves me. And I love him. It is true I once loved Edmund. He was kind and good to me. You are correct. Loving him was safe and natural. With Henry, it has been… dramatic and … yes, unpredictable."

Fanny watched Susan's face as she told her this. She also turned inward, finding truth in the words she voiced.

"Perhaps our trials has made our love all the more sweeter." Fanny pondered this. "I am confident I could have found happiness, wherever and with whoever I chose, Susan. But happiness with Henry has proved to be of the most wondrous kind. With him, I feel I have grown and learned so much. Please do not worry for my sake, lovely, dear Susan. Although it has not been very long, I am in love and completely happy with Henry."

Here Fanny noted the moisture in her younger sister's eyes.

"Susan?" Fanny reached and brushed the hair from her forehead.

"I am so happy that you are happy," Susan explained. She allowed small nasal laugher. "I was worried."

Fanny kissed the top of her head. Reaching over to the clothing, she explained to Susan her projects.

She had finished describing Mrs. Hawkins when the men rejoined them. They had taken more time than was customary and upon their entrance, Fanny understood why.

"Mrs. Crawford, I declare your brother the most excellent of men," Henry pronounced.

"I am glad to hear that," Fanny shared a smile with Susan. The two men had drank a bit more than one glass. They were not impaired enough to stumble, or be considered fully drunk, but just enough to accentuate their playfulness and make them the most delightful of companions.

"No, no, no," William waved away the praise. "Mrs. Crawford, I declare your husband the most excellent of husbands."

"Why, Mr. Price," Henry placed a hand on his chest. "I am beyond humbled."

"Nay, brother, call me by my Christian name, I insist."

"Why, William, then you must call me by my Christian name," Henry shook his head. "It is only natural."

"Absolutely not. Henry is not as pleasing a name as William,"

"How dare you!"

"I believe it is time to retire." Fanny cut off the conversation before they began fighting in earnest.

She summoned Wendy to take Susan to her room, and Andrew for William.

She herself lead Henry to his rooms. He was not drunk enough to cause trouble or need a butler as William did. He followed her, chatting the entire way. About her brother, the affairs of the day, what they should do the next day.

"I do prefer these relations of yours, love, than those from before." Henry said slipping from his day clothes casually "I mean no offense."

"You smell of alcohol. I take no offense." Fanny blushed.

He sat on the edge of his bed, reaching for her hand.

Her heart thudded against her chest as he brought it to his lips.

"Will you stay here tonight, love?"

Fanny's free hand flew to her mouth unbidden.

"No, not for that," Henry shook his curls. "I am drunk and I wished to have you when we are completely sober and…"

Here he looked as embarrassed as Fanny. He dropped her hand.

"But you are free to make your own choices."

Without a word, Fanny left the room. With increasing haste, she ran to her own rooms. Allie was waiting for her. She changing into her sleeping things and Allie braided her hair to keep it from tangling in the night.

It had been quite embarrassing for Henry, even in his state. The woman he loved and wanted most in the world had rejected him. He understood, however, he should not have been so forward.

He settled to sleep, almost blowing out his candle when a figure slipped into his room. Like so many nights past, it frightened him at first. He watched in utter fascination as Fanny stepped from the shadows.

She was gorgeous and angelic in her white nightgown. Her hair appeared glowing in the candlelight.

Just like her rushed exodus, she stepped to the opposite side of the bed wordlessly. She slipped under the covers and without thinking, Henry reached for her. It was a natural instinct. He brought her close in an embrace. He held her head on his chest, hoping she could hear his erratic heartbeat.

He buried his face in her hair, breathing her scent. Memorizing it.

He felt her arms reach around him, returning the embrace. The very thought almost broke his resolve. This beautiful angel was returning his embrace.