'She has done with her son, she has cast him off forever, and has made all those over whom she had any influence, cast him off likewise'
Elizabeth set out for St. James's Street within ten minutes of receiving Elinnor's communication of her arrival in London. She'd sent a note to the Brandons' townhouse begging leave to call upon Mrs. Edward Ferrars at her earliest convenience, and in turn had been invited to come immediately. She
hoped the Delaford party would not consider her eagerness ill-mannered, but the more she pondered the questions surrounding Harry's Devonshire visit, the more quickly she needed to have her puzzlement abated.
Elinor greeted her warmly in the drawing room, where Edward also waited. After hearing Elizabeth's apologies for intruding on the couple so soon, and dismissing them as entirely unnecessary, Mrs. Ferrars immediately introduced the subject of Harry.
'The exigency of your call relates, I presume, to our nephew. Has something further occurred since your letter to us in Delaford?'
A twinge of conscience admonished her for allowing her own impatience to cause them undue anxiety. 'Not to my knowledge. Mr Dash wood is, however, so unpredictable of late that one can never be certain when another tale of his exploits will circulate.'
'I sensed in your letter that you hesitated to disclose all the information in your possession.'
'I did not know how you would respond to the intelligence. And, indeed, Mr Darcy knows more particulars than I. Many of Mr Dash wood's alleged transgressions, I am given to understand, are so very shocking that my husband will not describe them to me. Merely from what I myself have witnessed, I would caution anyone who takes benevolent interest in Mr Dashwood to prepare for a distressing next meeting, for you will find him
much altered from the gentleman who entertained us at Norland. But you said in your letter that you have seen him since then?'
'He called upon us a month ago,' Elinor said. 'It was a very sudden visit — he arrived so soon after his letter stating his intention to come that he might have saved us the postage and delivered it himself.'
'Do you recall the date of his arrival?'
Elinorand Edward exchanged glances 'It was a Sunday — the sixteenth, I believe,' Edward said. 'I had just finished services.'
'May I ask what errand brought him to you?'
'He wished to talk about Norland,' Elinor said. 'People and things I remembered from the period I lived there, or that I might have recalled others mentioning. He had recently explored Norland's attics and wanted to know the origin of some of the items he had discovered. Many were pieces that graced Norland's rooms until my father passed away, but that Fanny did
not care for. Others I had no memory of, and referred him to my mother.'
'Did Mr. Dashwood call upon your mother, then?'
'Yes, and Marianne, as well.'
'On the same business?'
'Yes. He also asked numerous questions about my father and our uncle Albert Dashwood — their temperaments and deportment, their voices and manners of expression, their interests and amusements — the essentials of their characters, I suppose. He enquired, too, about Sir Francis Dashwood, and whether Papa or Uncle Albert had spoken of him.'
'Had he ever expressed curiosity on these points before?'
'Not to me, but of course we have had little previous opportunity for such conversations. I do not know whether he asked my brother about any of his Dashwood relations before John's death. At the time of Harry's visit, I thought my nephew had merely developed an interest in the estate and lineage he inherited, and I was glad of it. But seen in the light of your report
about this Hell-Fire business he's become involved with, I think we instead witnessed the infancy of an obsession with our notorious ancestor'
'In your letter, you said that he seemed different from what he had been at Norland just a fortnight earlier?'
'He did not look altogether well to me — tired, which I presumed to derive from the rapidity of his journey. Would you not agree, Edward?'
Her husband nodded and sat forward. 'The fatigue left his nerves frayed. More than once, I startled him simply by walking into a room. I believe he also did not sleep well while he was with us. One morning at breakfast, he complained of a bad dream having disturbed his rest.'
'Did you enquire into the nature of it?'
'No, nor did he offer it'
Running footsteps above drew their attention ceihngward. Several pairs of feet, small from the sound of them, sprinted across the room above. Peals of laughter followed.
Elinor smiled apologetically. 'That would be Marianne and the children. They have been too long confined in carriages these past few days.'
Elizabeth arched a brow 'Marianne included?'
Elinor laughed. 'Actually, yes. My sister possesses as much energy as any of them, and as little natural inclination to suppress it Though she comports herself with the dignity and temperance one would expect from a lady of her station, I think the hours when she dismisses the governess and plays with the children herself provide Marianne one of her greatest joys each day.
Elizabeth thought of the quiet, broken only by Georgiana's rehearsals on the harp or pianoforte, that encompassed the houses in which she herself lived. 'It is welcome noise,' she said 'Are your own children among the party?'
'No, they are with our neighbors, the Careys. With Marianne's five, we were already so numerous as to require two conveyances; to bring our own children with us seemed unnecessary, especially given the additional trouble and expense of transporting ourselves home by public coach once our business is concluded.'
'We also were not certain what demands might be placed on ourselves and our time in assisting Harry,' Edward said.
Regardless of what had transpired between Harry and Kitty, Elizabeth sincerely hoped Elinor and Edward Ferrars might exert a positive influence on their nephew — for the good of everyone he came in contact with, if not for himself. 'You said he enquired of you about Sir Francis. Were you able to satisfy him on any particulars?'
'No,' Elinor replied. 'Sir Francis died over thirty years ago. By the time I reached an age where one has memories of anything my father and Uncle Albert never spoke of him, or had any reason to. I suggested Harry ask my mother, since she would be able to recall a period when Sir Francis was still alive. I do not know the outcome of that interview, but Mama is upstairs. Shall I call her? I am certain she would be pleased lo make your acquaintance.'
Elizabeth wished very much to speak with Mrs. Henry Dashwood but hesitated to impose on the older woman. 'I would not wish to disturb her if she is resting following your journey.'
A team of horses galloped across the ceiling.
'I somehow doubt my mother rests just now,' Elinor said.
Edward left to retrieve Mrs. Dashwood As the ladies waited, Elinor advised Elizabeth that she had not informed her mother of the extent of Harry's transformation or made any mention of the Hell-Fire Club. I did not wish to alarm her until I had spoken with Harry myself,' she explained.
'I will not reveal anything that might distress her,' Elizabeth promised
Mrs. Dashwood was a pleasant woman of about five-and-fifty, with grey hair turning silver and laugh lines around her keen eyes. She greeted Elizabeth warmly upon their introduction, expressing genuine delight at finally meeting her.
'Elinor has spoken so favorably of you, Mrs. Darcy, that I have looked forward to knowing you since Harry
