Henry Tilney's Diary by Amanda Grange

Author:Amanda Grange [Grange, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781101559024
Google: hSKspy0cfxUC
Amazon: B007SRXO06
Barnesnoble: B007SRXO06
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Published: 2010-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Tuesday 5 March

Having some business at the farrier’s, what was my surprise to see Frederick there.

‘I thought you were not coming to Bath until tomorrow,’ I said.

‘That is what I told our father but I arrived yesterday. I was determined to have some time to myself before I enjoyed his paternal affection,’ he replied.

His eyes wandered from me to something over my shoulder and he gave a sneer.

‘Now there goes a happy man,’ he said.

I turned round to see Miss Morland’s brother rushing past.

‘He is on his way to Wiltshire to see his parents and ask for their consent to his marriage. He was in here not ten minutes ago with one of his friends, talking excitedly about it. The fair lady has accepted him, he is beloved by all her family, he is the special friend of her brother – all he needs is the approval of his father and he will willingly slip the noose around his own neck.’

I opened my mouth and then closed it again.

‘What, little brother, no objection to make? That is not like you. You usually remonstrate with me when you hear me slighting the noble institution of matrimony. Have you begun to see the error of your ways?’

‘In general, no,’ I said.

‘But in this case?’

‘Let us just say, I do not envy him his choice of bride.’

‘Ah! So that is it. Well, we will not repine. I dare say he is a fool and not worth our regrets,’ said Frederick with a shrug.

‘He is, from what I know of him, perfectly amiable, and the brother of a friend of mine.’

Something in my voice must have caught his attention, for he said, ‘A friend?’ and looked at me penetratingly.

I had no wish to discuss Miss Morland with him and so I changed the subject, saying, ‘Have you repaid Mr Morris what you owe him yet?’

‘Morris?’ asked Frederick.

‘Yes. Thomas Morris, the man you invited to the abbey because you could not pay him what you owed him last autumn.’

‘Ah, Morris. No, I have not paid him yet,’ he said.

‘Then you must hurry up and do so.’

‘And why must I do so?’ said Frederick provokingly.

‘Because Eleanor is in love with him,’ I replied.

‘Eleanor? In love? I did not know she was in love with anyone, let alone Morris,’ he said in surprise. ‘I never noticed anything of it.’

‘I assure you it is the case, and he is in love with her. So you see you must pay your debt. And no, it is no use your protesting that you cannot afford it, you have your allowance,’ I reminded him.

‘It will not make any difference. Our father will never give him permission, you know that as well as I. The general is eager for Eleanor to make a grand marriage, and if she cannot attract an earl or a viscount, or failing that a man with fifteen thousand a year, then he will marry her off to a relative of one of his cronies. I only wonder that he has not found some friend with a single relative for you.

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