Hello again everyone! It’s been a while! Life was crazy there for a while with various family health issues. It’s gotten a bit better, so I’m able to write again. Many thanks to the bloggers who filled in for me in the last few months!
I’m writing a new story: a spinoff of Sense and Sensibility. I’ll be sharing it in serial form on this blog. I hope you enjoy it!
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Miss Margaret Dashwood to Mrs. Marianne Brandon
My Dear Marianne,
I told you I would write to you first thing when we arrived at Mrs. Jennings’ London house, but it has taken me two days to find enough moments to write to you in. I am so glad Mama is staying with you at Delaford while I am away in London. Mrs. Jenning talks perpetually of the parties, routs, balls and concerts I shall attend, and I do not think I could enjoy myself if I thought of Mama sadly sitting at home alone without me. I have no doubt that her mind will be fully occupied with your little baby Thomas (how I miss him already!) and she will not be lonely.
When Mama said I might come, she told me it was so that I might be able to experience the joys of a London Season, although I daresay she also thought that I might make an Eligible Match while I am here. Mrs. Jennings thinks so, at any rate, for she told me so about three times on the journey here. She takes credit to herself for matching up you and the Colonel, which is as silly a notion as I ever heard. Of course the Colonel would have fallen in love with you no matter what she did! I greatly fear, however, that she will bestir herself on my behalf, thinking she has a talent for matchmaking.
We have seen Charlotte and Mr. Palmer once since we came, but they have promised I shall come and dine with them before long. It is a comfort to know at least one family here in the Great Metropolis! It is quite a lonely feeling to be unknown in this vast, noisy, and crowded place. However, I am determined to experience all I can of London, whether I make a match or not. You and Elinor did not find husbands here, after all, and I daresay there are better men in Devonshire. Therefore, I am not fretting about finding a husband, and I only hope Mrs. Jennings will not put all her energies into finding me a match!
I am, etc,
Margaret
Mrs. Jennings to Mrs. Dashwood:
My Dear Mrs. Dashwood,
Such an excellent thing! I had to write to you straightaway as soon as I received word. My nephew Walter Jennings is come to London! He would be the very man for Margaret! A second son, but a man of the Navy, which must always be acceptable. A captain, you know. I suppose he has made his fortune during the war. I shall have Charlotte invite him to dinner as soon as may be, and I will bring Margaret. He cannot fail to be captivated by her, and no doubt Margaret will like such a dashing fellow. I predict a wedding within a sixmonth!
Yours in haste,
Maria Jennings
Miss Margaret Dashwood to Mrs. Marianne Brandon
Dear Marianne,
I ought also to say “Dear Elinor” as no doubt you will show her my letters—and a good thing, too, as it will save me the trouble of writing the same things to her. I will write different letters to Mama—not that I mean to keep important things from her, but only such private thoughts as she might worry over.
Do you remember me saying that I suspected Mrs. Jennings of making it her aim to see me married? I was correct! She has discovered that her nephew, a Captain Walter Jennings, has arrived in London, and she is determined that I shall marry him. She told me all about him a few days ago, saying that he was the finest captain in all the Navy, etc, etc. Evidently he also is the most fashionable man in London, the best rider in any hunting field, and the rarest wit ever to reside in England. I am sure he is a perfect coxcomb, and am determined that I will not meet him, if I can help it. Surely, he has plenty of other young ladies to pursue (if indeed he plans on pursuing any!) and will not repine at the loss of my acquaintance. I have already managed to avoid him once: I pleaded a headache when we were to dine with the Palmers, knowing that he was to be one of the guests.
I may have to meet him at some time, of course—I cannot be indisposed every time we might meet—but I think I can make myself so dull and such a country miss that he will be glad to escape my company and woo more lively girls! I think I shall have to read some very tedious books which I can discourse about at great length—I daresay nothing could drive him off faster!
I am, etc,
Margaret
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