Revelations an adaption of Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 118

Frederick is very pleased to find Anne seeking him out, and after talking to her cousins and uncle, Anne is very conscious of the advantages a match between the two of them would offer her. She feels as safe with Frederick as with her male relatives, and on top of that she knows he takes her even more seriously. Frederick respects her choices, even if they are not proper for a woman of her class. For any woman, frankly.

'Meeting family is always good for a few disturbing realisations, don't you think? Which is why I have more or less avoided mine ever since I discovered certain unacceptable preferences in myself. Are you all right, Anne?'

'You are so right. I love them and I want them to approve of me, but I want to be taken seriously as well. You give me so much respect, Frederick.'

He merely nods in acknowledgement, but she can see he is a little affected. To lighten up the mood, she is in an excellent humour after all, she asks, 'Who is the tall woman no-one seems to like?'

Apparently that is just the right thing to say, for his face almost splits in a broad grin. Then his expression changes to shrewdness and he says, 'That, my dear Miss de Bourgh, is the brand-new Mrs Grenfell.'

And of course everything she has heard the last weeks falls into place instantly.

'Bingley's sister? Married to the..' and she whispers, 'rapist? Your college friend?'

He nods, a little guiltily, but not very much so. Mostly, he seems pretty satisfied with the outcome of the marriage he more or less arranged.

'Prepare to be insulted, I'm going to introduce you. She does not like me, but her husband's respect for me borders on fear so she will try to be polite. And fail, most likely. She cannot be anything but mean these days. How intimate may I be? We're reputed to be engaged already, but I suppose you don't want to confirm that to a compulsive gossip?'

'You be as familiar as you always are, Frederick, she knows you, doesn't she? It will make her wonder how much is your usual familiarity, and how much is love. Or eagerness to inherit Rosings. Let her ponder.'

Frederick is very, very pleased with her reply.

'I am yours to command, Miss de Bourgh, I admire you so much. I can't wait to see what fault Mrs Grenfell will find with you.'

He takes her arm and marches straight towards Mrs Grenfell, who is trying not to look forlorn in a group of people who either don't like her or don't know her. For a very short moment, Anne feels sorry for her. And then a haughty gaze comes bearing down on her, looking for faults no doubt, and looking again. Anne does her own share of looking, if it comes to haughty behaviour she has had the best example all her life, and she knows she outranks this woman. Mrs Grenfell is at least her own age, and dressed charmingly and expensively, but something about her dress is off. Is it too revealing for her status as married woman? No, Anne doesn't care about propriety that much. It's not her dress, it's her figure, Mrs Grenfell is starting to grow a little heavy on top, like Anne's mother only less so, of course, she's half her age, but still it is not flattering in today's fashion. Without the low waist and heavy skirts of her mother's time, a heavy bosom and a little extra weight are difficult to hide.

'Mr Manners, such a pleasure to see a familiar face! And if I may believe what the paper says, this must be Miss de Bourgh.'

Well, if she wants to make an impression in London she will have to brush up on her etiquette. There is no excuse for addressing a gentleman of Mr Manners' standing before spoken to. Despite his familiarity, Frederick is always treated with the utmost respect by his peers.

'I would advise you to always treat what you read in the society pages of any paper, not just that one, with a certain reserve. But in one thing you are right, this is indeed Miss de Bourgh. Anne, this is Mrs Grenfell, Bingley's youngest sister.'