A/N: Hello dear readers! Tis I again… I took a while this time because I could not figure out how to continue. I think I will just let my heart run wild, no plot necessary. I would like to dedicate this chapter to user: Las Letras de Elizabeth. I love reading your reviews and reactions! Después de terminar esta historia leeré la historia que tienes de Mansfield Park.


The sunlight glittered through the open glass, casting lovely reflections across the room. Fanny awoke to the light, feeling strange and confused. Taking a breath she realized why.

The head of Henry Crawford was on her chest, his weight contributing to her morning confusion. In a rush, she remembered the previous night. She felt her cheeks warm, although she told herself he was her husband. There should be no reason for shyness. Yet even know, with the man himself in her bed, she felt like a dazed young girl.

Against her will, her hand reached up to run through his hair. She discovered that she immensely enjoyed his thick, chocolate curls.

She was stroking his hair when he awoke. She knew he awoke because she felt his eyelashes flutter against her bare skin.

"Oh," she removed her hand quickly.

Henry moaned, turning his head, but not rising, to look at her. "Good morning, love,"

"Good morning, dearest," Fanny answered, yawning.

She looked back at him to find him grinning wildly.

"You have never called me dearest before," he said through his smile.

"Dearest," She repeated, daring a kiss on his forehead.

"Love," Henry's voice was serious for a moment. "Please feel in complete confidence with me." She gave him a questioning glance. He smiled. "I understand your character is shy, and I wish to respect that, but please know that you can ask anything of me. You may speak to me of anything you wish or do to me anything you feel."

"You wish to have my trust," Fanny was beyond in love with this man.

"Yes," He laid his head down again, but kept his eyes on her. "I know I am shameless. I was a fool, but I wish to have your trust."

Fanny reached and tangled her fingers in his hair again. She knew to what he was referring to. "You have it, dearest."

Henry closed his eyes and just enjoyed the feel of being in the arms of a heavenly creature.

Later that morning, Fanny was with Susan in the observatory, but both their minds was very far away.

"Fanny," Susan interrupted her sister's thoughts regrettably. "I must tell you something."

"Yes, Susan, feel free to speak your mind." Fanny said, bringing her thoughts to the present.

"I… I believe I will marry Tom Bertram…" Susan blushed deeply.

"Oh!" A hand flew to Fanny's mouth. "Susan, did he propose? William and Henry asked him not to."

"No," Susan smiled curiously. "At least, not yet."

"Susan, what has transpired between you two?" She had Fanny's full attention now.

"He spoke to me last night," Susan began. "When we danced. He said he was not allowed to propose marriage or court me until word returned from father or Sir Bertram." She giggled. "So he said that he would ask me to marry him in the future. And in the future he would tell me I looked beautiful and … I was the only human upon the Earth that he would want by his side…"

Fanny giggled with her sister at Tom's absurdities. Could he not keep those words inside of himself for a few days?

"Susan, he seems to be quite taken with you." Fanny said, she looked through the clothes she had been mending, determining them fit to be returned.

"I… hope… truly hope so," Susan sighed allowing herself to fall back onto the chair she sat in.

"It is true," Fanny smiled at her sister. "You are both so smitten with each other, you shall marry within the year. By this time next year, you will be returning to Everingham with a small babe with his eyes and your perfect skin and hair."

"Fanny!" Susan hid her face in her hands, hiding her smile. She looked through her finger at her sister. "Shall it be a beautiful babe?"

The women were laughing at their conversation when William joined them.

"I see my sisters are in high spirits," William noted, his face peculiarly unreadable.

"We are, William," Fanny smiled at him nonetheless. "I have my lovely siblings with me, how could I not be in high spirits?"

William sighed.

"I wished to speak with one or the other alone, but I assume speaking to both will be more efficient." William continued. The girls slowly straightened, taking a more serious stance.

"Do speak, William." Fanny said, she reached over to take her sister's hand. "Whatever it is we shall face it together." Susan nodded in agreement.

A smile twitched at the corner of his lips.

"Such sweet sisters." William said almost to himself. "How tragic to be separated from them in a few days." The sisters' faces hardened at the mention of the end of William's leave. "And they will not even be able to spend time together, what with one married and living in Everingham and the other married and living in Mansfield Park…"

"William?" Susan asked, eyes wide.

"Susan, last night, Mr. Bertram danced with you as if you were the only woman on earth. For my prospects, I sure hope you are not. Then this morning Henry took both of us on his rounds to see to the tenants and properties. Mr. Bertram proved himself to be very apt at business and negotiations, yet he followed Henry about, asking questions and pulling advice from him. I saw not the foolish boy I had believed him to be, but the man that was trying his best to grow into his title."

"William, I am not in the business of spreading gossip," Fanny said, gaining his full attention. "I was going to deliver some clothing to Mrs. Hawkins before breakfast, Tom insisted on making the trip for me. Mrs. Hawkins sent him back with a letter describing in detail his every wonderful trait. She had many people for breakfast and he fast became commendable in each of their eyes."

Susan was positively beaming now.

"Dear brother, I mean no disrespect, but Mr. Bertram has showed tremendous improvements since his accident. There is something that changes in a man when he is delivered to death's doorstep and makes his way back. Perhaps not all men, but good men yes. Men who were destined to change, and be greater."

"My mind has been made up," William said. "Even without those narratives." William turned to Susan, his beautifully young sister. His choice could ruin her or rise her to the happiness Fanny now had. "Do you love him Susan?"

Susan blushed at the directness of the question. With a look to her sister for courage she answered "Yes," firmly.

"Then you have my blessing." William said, rising.

Both women rose as well.

"Sir Bertram and father will receive a letter from me, but I have a strong notion they will end their resistance when they hear I have ended mine."

Susan ran to her brother, embracing him.

Happiness could not be contained in Fanny and after a few more minutes with her dear siblings, she went off to search for her husband.

He had left unfortunately early that morning, having to visit his properties. He must be in his study.

After she had climbed the stairs and was almost to his study, Fanny was suddenly pulled into a room.

With a gasp, she found herself in the arms of the object of her searches.

"Dearest," She greeted him with a smile.

"Love," He answered with a quick kiss. Her lips tingled with pleasure at his touch. "What are you doing running through the halls?"

"Searching for my love… Have you seen him?" She smiled at him playfully.

"Nay madam, but perhaps I can be a replacement?"

"I suppose you will do," She laughed taking his face between her hands. "I have splendid news!"

"There are no wars and your brother can stay?" He suggested hopefully.

She released him, took a step back and crossed her arms, "You love my brother more than me,"

"Not so!" Henry reached for her again, despite her stubborn position. "You are my wife and he is my favorite person in the world."

Fanny cried in protest, but they both erupted in laughter.

"I love your laughter," Henry said, bringing her close.

He trailed the shape of her face with his thumb. She was silent as he explored her face, she studied his face in return. His dark brows, his gentle nose, and soft cheeks, the insistence of a stubble and the pink of his lips.

He leaned forward, closing the space between them. He captured her lips in a slow and dangerous kiss, that pulled his wife closer. They paused for breath, barely a few inches from each other. She could see the hunger in his eyes, and she lowered hers so he would not see the same hunger that she felt.

"Could we have a special dinner tonight? A party of sorts?" She asked, still breathless.

"Are you using your feminine charms to seduce me to do your bidding?" He asked, his voice husky with desire, yet a bit amused.

She had not thought of it like that.

"Please?" She looked back at him, meeting his eyes. Any resolve of his melted when he saw the same craving he felt reflected back to him in his wife.

"Anything you desire, love" He said. This woman could ask for his entire fortune and he would give it to her. Anything to keep this woman as in love with him as he was of her.

She did not desire his fortune, just his love, but she smiled mischievously at her success.

His wife, acting mischievous, was too much. He pulled her so close, they could have been a single person and kissed her with all the passion he had held since he met her. All those days of holding back from touching her or invading her space. All those lonely nights he wanted to erase with the feel of her. He had a feeling that this was just the beginning.