Edmund Bertram's Diary by Amanda Grange

Author:Amanda Grange [Grange, Amanda]
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Literary, England, Brothers and sisters, Historical - General, Diary fiction, Cousins, Country homes, English Historical Fiction, General, Fiction - General, Social classes, Historical, General & Literary Fiction, Fiction, Domestic fiction, Love stories
ISBN: 9780425223796
Publisher: Berkley Books
Published: 2008-08-14T22:00:00+00:00

NOVEMBER

Friday 11 November

And so it has happened at last. This morning Maria was married. The wedding went wel , with Maria being in good looks and elegantly dressed, attended by Fanny and Julia. Mama stood with her salts in her hand al the time, whilst my father looked dignified. Dr Grant performed the ceremony with feeling and then it was done.

‘I knew how it would be as soon as I saw her with him for the first time last year,’ said Aunt Norris this evening. ‘ “What a thing it would be for our Maria to marry Mr. Rushworth”, I said, and now, you see, with a little contriving, it has come to pass. How happy Maria looked this morning!

And no wonder. The mistress of Sotherton, with a house in London, and the added felicity of a few weeks in Brighton to enjoy. How lucky she is, to be going to Brighton! And it is just as lovely at this time of year as it is in the summer.’

‘Just so,’ said my father.

‘And how lucky Julia is, to be going with her, for she is sure to enjoy the amusements as much as Maria. And when they have exhausted the novelty of Brighton, they wil have London to look forward to.’

She continued in similar vein until at last she had talked herself to a standstil . A silence fel . There was no Maria at the pianoforte or Julia wandering around the room; no Tom, for he has gone to town, and no Crawford, for he has returned to his estate.

‘How quiet we are without them,’ Mama observed sadly after dinner. She turned to Fanny, who was sewing quietly, her needle flashing as her smal white fingers did their work. ‘Fanny, my dear, put your work aside and come and sit next to me on the sofa.’

Fanny did as she was bid and was soon sitting with Mama, who gave her Pug to hold as a mark of the highest approbation.

Monday 21 November

If my sisters’ departure has done one thing, it has given Fanny more chance of coming forward, and for this I am very glad.

She went into the vil age this morning on an errand and as it happened to come on to rain when she passed the Parsonage she was asked inside. Miss Crawford provided her with dry clothes and then entertained her until the rain ceased. It was just like Mary to be so considerate and I am sure Fanny enjoyed herself immensely.

I have seen little of Mary since the play. Perhaps it is a good thing, as the rehearsal brought forth feelings that should have been left buried, for I have nothing to offer an heiress and it would be fol y for me to think of her except as a dear friend. And yet . . . and yet . . . once I am ordained I wil have a house and an income, and I cannot help remembering her face as she said to me, ‘I’l marry.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.