Expectations of Happiness Read Online Free PDF Page B

she had acquired the information she seemed to have passed on to others in the district. Furthermore, she knew not if Miss Clift was well regarded by Helen King and was therefore constrained in her ability to question or contradict her motives and assertions. Yet, she felt keenly the need to do so, for it would not do to have her sister’s reputation gossiped about in and around Delaford.
    Determined, however, not to reveal her disquiet to her friend, lest it signify a level of concern it did not warrant, Elinor remained silent on the matter until she returned to the parsonage, where with their two sons out walking in the park with their governess, she had more time to worry before her husband arrived home.
    Unaccustomed to finding his wife in a state of agitation—for Elinor, of all the women he knew, was by far the least likely to give way to such moods—Edward Ferrars was concerned, more so because he was privy to some information with which he had not wished to trouble her, fearing that she may be unduly upset. He wondered whether the same news may have reached her by some other route and sought to discover the cause of her concern. When they had dined and the maid had cleared the table, he asked, “Elinor, dearest, has there been any news from Barton Park? Have you heard from your mother?”
    Elinor looked up and indicated that she would prefer to continue this conversation in the parlour, into which they withdrew with their tea tray. Edward set about drawing the fire into a good blaze, while his wife poured out tea, and as soon as they were seated, she said, “I have had no further news from my mother, but Helen King said something that has disturbed me, Edward. I cannot explain it and I have been worrying about it ever since,” and when he looked at her, clearly puzzled, she continued quickly, “She says that many of the women in the district are already aware of the affair of Willoughby and Marianne. How can this be? Indeed, a Miss Henrietta Clift, who I suspect is the main source of the tale, has claimed that she has had the information from Willoughby himself and his late aunt, Mrs Smith of Allenham, whom she knew intimately. Edward, should this be gossiped about around the district, should it reach either Colonel Brandon or Marianne, can you imagine the damage it will do?”
    The arrival of their two sons with their dog, all determined to attract maximum attention, meant that Edward had not the opportunity to answer her query, for which he was somewhat grateful, for it would give him sufficient time to contemplate and decide if he should acquaint his wife with the information he had heard that afternoon. He loved her dearly and was loathe to add to her troubles, but at the same time it seemed to him, in the light of what she had just said, that it was imperative Elinor should know all the facts.
    After young Harry and John had been bathed and sent to bed, Elinor returned to the subject, and Edward decided he had to speak. She was wondering aloud who Henrietta Clift might be and how she had come by the information, when Edward said quietly, “I believe they are relatives of his—Mr Willoughby’s—and have recently moved to live here.”
    Elinor, who was braiding her hair in front of her mirror, swung round. “What? How do you know this?” she asked in a voice that betrayed her anxiety, and her husband came to her side and said in a quiet, matter-of-fact tone, “I am sorry, my love. I have been meaning to tell you, but I did not wish to add to your present worries. The family has been living in Somerset for some time, but have recently moved to Wareham—not within my parish, but near enough. I was introduced to Mr and Mrs Clift yesterday and heard them mention in conversation that their cousin, a Mr Willoughby, had a place in Somersetshire and was a particular friend of their elder daughter. I knew then it had to be the same man, but I was reluctant