As soon as the sisters exited the room, Susan's tears came pouring from her eyes. Oh how childish she felt.
Her sister pulled her into a different room, it was a smaller and cozier drawing room. Susan found herself wrapped in her elder sister's arms.
At first she was surprised, but then she allowed herself to be comforted. She allowed her tears to be justified. She let Fanny's embrace to tell her she had a right to cry.
"Susan, you must tell me what you feel," Fanny stroked her hair from her face. "Please tell me."
"Fanny," Susan said between sobs, " I think I love him." Saying so out loud lifted a tremendous weight from her chest. "I thought he didn't care about me… yet he just said …"
"He declared himself to you, Susan," Fanny took her sister's face between her hands. "Are you not happy?"
"I am…" Susan sniffed. "I believe… I am. However… what if he was not truthful? What of William? Mr. Crawford and Sir Bertram? Father…"
"Susan, I will speak with each, do not concern yourself with them," Fanny said firmly.
At this, Susan looked at her sister. This was a different Fanny from the one that had visited their home in Portsmouth. She was the same, perhaps, but she was more solid now, as if she had been lacking a few lights on her face, in her eyes.
"What if he is as his reputation portrays him to be?"
"His reputation tells much about his past," Fanny smiled at her sister. "His actions tell much about his character. Has he been unkind?"
"No…" Susan's mind raced gladly to the past. When Tom was bedridden and they seemed to be the only people in the world. "He was kind. He shared stories with me. He liked to make me laugh. He …" She trailed off.
"Susan, I cannot assure you of his character, for I knew him in the past." Fanny released her sister and sat comfortably. "He did declare himself in the presence of your two brothers."
Susan laughed. It was true.
"Do you love him, Susan?" Fanny asked, her eyes happy.
"Yes," Susan said after a pause. "I do."
"Then you shall be happy," Fanny rose with determination.
Susan stood as well but Fanny motioned for her to stay.
"I will return promptly," She assured her sister. She did not need the men shaking her resolve. As she had learned, love was strong, but it was fragile at first for some, vulnerable to outside forces.
Walking back to the drawing room, she found the men absent. She redirected her steps to Henry's office, but not before giving Andrew instructions to enjoy himself the rest of the day.
Tensions were high in Henry's study and he was beginning to feel frustrated. Tom Bertram was not as much of an annoyance as his brother but he was extremely stubborn.
William and himself had moved Tom to his study where they argued and tried to talk sense into his thick head.
"You believe I am not privy to the reason you fell ill? Your sins line from Everingham back to Mansfield Park." William was arguing. "What brother would celebrate such a match for his sister?"
"None," Tom answered, but he did not speak more on the subject.
There was a knock on the door and Fanny stepped into the room. As always, his heart beat a bit faster at the sight of her. Her eyes met his first, ingered, then moved on to her brother and cousin.
"Please excuse my intrusion, the servants have taken a holiday," Fanny said, with an apologetic voice, yet still assuring them she had the authority to do so.
"Fanny, could we have a moment to discuss the matter at hand?" William ran a hand through his hair.
"Of course," Fanny nodded respectfully at him. "I would just like to give my blessings to Mr. Bertram." She turned to the stunned man. "Tom, I wish you and my sister happiness."
"Fanny, what is this?" Henry came to stand in front of his wife.
"After speaking with Susan, I have come to the conclusion that Tom is sincere in his pursuit." Fanny explained. "I give him my blessing, for what it's worth, to win her heart."
"Fanny, do you understand what this implies?" William asked from the window across the room.
"Perhaps I do not," Fanny looked up at her husband intently, so he understood her seriousness. "I only understand what will happen to my sister's heart if she is denied love. And I stand by her in all things."
Without a word, Tom stood and embraced his cousin. The cousin that he had disregarded all those years. He had been such a fool in many aspects, but even more so in his judgement of women. Here was his cousin, in full position and right to deny him, yet she was all kindness.
"Then you believe Tom should marry Susan?" Henry asked of her, not unkindly.
"No," Fanny shook her head lightly. "I believe Susan should decide if she wishes to marry Tom without interference. She must choose herself."
"That is what I want," Tom interjected. "A chance to court her properly, and be accepted or rejected by her." His eyes were pleading but he had regained much strength from his cousin's support.
Henry paced back to his desk. As the master of this house, he had the largest decision-making power at the moment, but he understood the power of fathers.
"William?" He looked to his new friend. He understood his position, having also a sister, but William must know that he sympathized with Tom. It was as if he himself was sitting in that chair, in love with a girl so different from himself.
He too had fallen in love with a beautiful angel, too clean for his sinful ways. Perhaps he would have had this same battle had the family known his past better, or he had not been as rich, or William had not been away. Regardless, he understood Tom, much more than he cared to admit.
William was watching him, as if he understood as well. He was young, but he knew what happened to matches that were denied. There were broken hearts or elopement.
"I shall write to my father and Sir Bertram," William finally said.
Tom let out a breath.
"This is not acceptance," He warned Tom sternly. "This is taking care of my sister before anything else."
"You will stay with us until we hear response from Mr. Price and Sir Bertram," Henry told him. "You may not have unchaperoned interaction with Miss Price, nor private audiences. Do not begin your courtship or pressure her in any way."
"Thank you," Tom said with a bow.
"Mrs. Allen arranged a room for you," Fanny motioned for Tom to follow. "All of your servants have gone for the evening so there will be noone to assist you. Dinner will be made promptly."
