Henry Crawford meets his match
Henry Crawford was a dishonest and dishonourable man. He was also a very charming, handsome, pleasing man, usually a great favourite of any ladies in his vicinity. At first, it seemed things were progressing as usual when he visited his friends at Mansfield Park. He happily availed himself of both daughter's attentions and was most flattered when the two fought eachother for his attention and admiration.
If this tittilating game occupied all his thoughts, he must be excused. He walked out with Maria sometimes, and stole a few kisses. Or he turned the pages when Julia played the pianoforte, and let his hand slide over her thigh, ever closer to her most private place - the ultimate object of his enticing little games.
When Henry was about to reach the pinnacle of his slow seductions, both sisters were putty in his hand, he began to cast about for his next entertainment. After all, once he'd had both sisters and taken his pleasure in every conceivable way, he would inevitably get bored and wish for a new target to charm.
It was at this time, that Henry became aware of a most dissatisfying deviation from the usual, where his reception by females was concerned. For while he had assumed all ladies to be completely in his thrall, he was now to learn that the poor cousin, small, quiet, devout and pretty Fanny Price, did not pay him the slightest attention.
Henry reeled with shock upon this realisation, then set out to rectify this sorry state of affairs. It could not be that any female, especially a young one in need of a husband, would be impervious to his charms.
Fanny Price however, refused to fall at his feet. She defied all his pretty lies. She simply would not fall in love with him, she chose not to walk out with him and certainly never allowed him any liberties. She was so unlike her cousins, both in morals and in looks, that Henryhadto have her. He lived for the challenge, for the hunt, for the thrill, and Fanny would be the ultimate prize.
When she was his wife, he would not be denied. His need for her became urgent, he had to possess, to break, to own! No longer was a seduction enough, no more illicit affairs in backrooms or out of sight. No other woman would do, Fanny Price must be his wife.
Alas, he never won her heart, nor her body nor her soul. Fanny Price would forever remain the ideal, never the reality of his life.