‘And that is what it almost was, Edmund. all my life,’ he said to me. Instead, he has started to take an interest in his inheritance, as well as an interest in pleasure. I left him setting out to look over the home farm and went into town alone, where I ordered a string of pearls for Fanny.
Thursday 3 August
I asked Fanny if I might secure her as my partner for the first two dances of Julia’s ball and she agreed. As I did so, I remembered the ball at which I danced the first two dances with Mary, but it seemed almost as though it had happened to another person and not to me. To my surprise, it no longer hurts me, or angers me, or even interests me to think of Mary. She seems of no consequence at all.
Thursday 10 August
As soon as I had dressed for the ball I took the pearls to Fanny’s sitting-room, where I found her. She was watering her geraniums. She was already dressed for the ball and I felt as though I was seeing her, for the first time, as a desirable young woman. Her dress was new and its whiteness set off the soft gold of her arms and face. Her hair was piled on top of her head, showing the gracefulness of her neck, and I could not understand why it had taken me so long to see the truth: I was in love with Fanny. It was Fanny who shared my thoughts and feelings; Fanny who was like me; Fanny who was part of me.
She turned round and saw me.
‘I have brought you something,’ I said. I noticed she was wearing my gold chain round her neck, and William’s amber cross. ‘Would you wear these for me tonight instead?’
She smiled her acquiescence and, unfastening her chain, she turned round so that I could put the pearls round her neck. As she bent forward I was suddenly nervous. I fastened the necklace, telling myself that I had performed the same office for her many times before, but this time was different, for as I closed the clasp I felt my hand tremble. She straightened her head and looked at the pearls in the mirror, thanking me for them with her sweetest smile, then I gave her my arm and led her downstairs. all through dinner, I had eyes only for Fanny, and even when the guests began to arrive I could not take my eyes away. She greeted them all with a mixture of sweetness and intelligence, no longer tongue-tied in company, but setting everyone at their ease by talking to them of their own concerns and replying with the same ease to their questions about her own. As I watched her, I found myself wondering how it had happened, how long she had been like this. Had she suddenly blossomed? Or had I simply not noticed the moment at which she had turned from a hesitant girl into an assured woman.
The musicians began to play, and Julia and Yates took their places, ready to open the dancing. I saw my father watching them approvingly, whilst Mama looked on and smiled. I claimed Fanny’s hand with pleasure and led her on to the floor. I could not take my eyes from her.
‘You are quiet tonight,’ she said to me, as the steps of the dance brought us together. I roused myself.
‘I am not doing my duty. I am a poor partner.’
‘No,’ she said, ‘You are the perfect partner.’
And as she smiled, I knew. Fanny loved me! I returned her smile, and there were no two happier people in the room.
The first two dances came to an end, but I could not go to Fanny as I wanted, for I was committed to dancing with Julia. I could not pay attention to my sister, however, for I could not take my eyes from Fanny.
Julia followed my longing gaze and gave an arch smile.
‘Fanny is looking well tonight,’ she said.
‘Yes, she is,’ I said, for the candlelight was behind her, giving her a radiance that made her shine.
‘It was an evil day for us when Crawford ran off with Maria, but it was a good day for Fanny. It will not be long before she attracts another offer of marriage, and one from a man of far more worth.’
‘I hope so,’ was all I could manage.
After Julia, I was engaged to dance with several other young ladies, but just before supper I was free to reclaim Fanny.
‘You are tired,’ I said.
‘Too tired for dancing, but not otherwise fatigued,’ she returned.
‘Then will you take a walk with me along the terrace?’ She agreed readily, and we went outside.
‘Fanny...’
‘Yes, Edmund?’
‘Fanny, I have been a fool,’ I said ruefully. ‘Can you ever forgive me?’
‘There is nothing to forgive.’
‘Then will you do me the honor, the very great honor of accepting my hand in marriage?’
Her smile lit the night.
‘Yes, Edmund, I will.’
‘How long have you loved me?’ I could not resist asking her, as we walked on together.
‘I hardly know, but certainly before the Crawfords moved into the neighborhood,’ she said.
‘So long ago? I knew you worshipped me as a child, but I never, until this evening, knew that your feelings had turned to love.’
‘I did not notice the change myself, it was so gradual. But when the Crawfords came to Mansfield Park I came to know myself, for I envied Mary Crawford your attentions. I am ashamed to say it, but it was so. I could not bear to see you throw all your love away on someone who was not worthy of you. I tried to tell myself that, if she had been everything that was wise and good, I would not have minded, that I would have been happy for you, but I knew it was not so. I would have envied anyone who had your love.’
I thought of the events of the past year and knew how painful they must have been for her, and how lucky I was that, through them all, she had loved me. She had seen me with all my faults and failings and her feelings were unchanged. I did not need to make myself someone I was not in order to please Fanny; she loved me as I was. I had done with dazzle and sparkle, and had fallen in love with goodness, intelligence, beauty and true worth.
‘I would never have talked to you about Mary had I known,’ I said. I thought of the way I had gone to Fanny’s room, asking her to help me with the play, expecting her to prompt Mary and me as we spoke words of love to one another under the guise of drama.
‘That was not the hardest part,’ she said.
‘No?’
‘No. The hardest part was when you urged me to marry Mr. Crawford.’
‘I shudder to think of it. I cannot believe I was so blind. You would have been trapped with a vicious, shallow man, and I would have been left to rue the day I urged my Fanny to marry him.’
‘Not if Miss Crawford had accepted you.’
‘Yes, even then, for the scales must have fallen from my eyes eventually, and then I would have bitterly repented my blindness, and bitterly repented my loss of you. But let us not speak of such things. We have been saved from disaster, and now we can look ahead. We will be very happy, will we not?’
‘We will,’ she said.
‘You have been right about everything else, Fanny, and I know you will be right about this as well.’
We were disturbed by a sound from indoors, and Fanny said, ‘We had better go in to supper.’
‘If we must. I would rather stay out here talking to you, but duty must be done.’
We sat together at supper and, Fanny pleading fatigue afterwards and partners being plentiful, I spent the rest of the evening sitting by her side.
Friday 11 August
As soon as I had broken my fast I went into the drawing-room, hoping to find my father and ask him if I could have a private word with him, but the only person there was Aunt Norris.
‘I saw you,’ she said to me accusingly, as I was about to go. ‘With her, that interloper, last night. We have nursed a viper in our bosom. When I think what we have done for that girl, taking her in and raising her here at our expense, and this is how she repays us: first, by ruining Maria because of her own stubborn stupidity, and then by artful y throwing herself at you — hoping, no doubt, that your brother would die, and she would find herself the mistress of Mansfield Park.’