How insufficient are all my pretensions to please

by vlammetje1

Collection of drabbles, scenes, shorts, odd bits, that do not currently fit anywhere else. Inspired by all of Jane Austen's works, but the cross over menu seems to allow only two. Since the majority will be based on P&P, I chose to post here instead.

13. The sacrificial lamb

When an order, cleverly disguised as a 'helpful gesture', was received in Portsmouth, the Price children knew one of them would have to obey. It became clear very soon that a girl child was meant to be the sacrificial lamb and be sent off to their aunts and their families.

Neither Fanny nor William expected this so-called boon to come with no conditions, and both realised things would never be the same again after one of them would be carted off to far away Mansfield Park. Little baby Susan had no opinion on the matter.

Susan was declared too young to go, William was quite obviously not a girl and besides, he was expected to start work as soon as he could, to earn wages and help his family. Fanny was in fact a girl, and as such a costly extra mouth to feed, while not able to contribute much financially herself. Sending her away would free the cost of her upkeep as well as the cost of dowering her, to benefit the remaining Prices.

Therefore, it was deemed a sound decision all around, and it was decreed that Fanny would answer the summons.

Fanny and William spent as much time together as they could, both worried they may never see the other again. Fanny was quite apprehensive about leaving behind all that was dear to her. William was sympethatic and commiserrated with his dearest sister. He would not trade places with her for the world though, and when she couldn't overhear, he mumbled: "Better you than me."