By Janice P.

Part Three

"Destitute!" was Henry's surprised reply. "Her family is not rich, but certainly not destitute! Her father is a very respectable clergyman. Yes, he has a large family, but he can care for them." He became disgusted with his father as he realized what had happened. "How rich did you think she was?" Before he could continue, his father interrupted.

"Respectable! I've heard they are the bane of the community. Yes, I had been told she was Mr. Allen's godchild and heir. I have since found out she is nothing of the sort. You will have nothing further to do with her - you can do much better!"

"Where did you hear this?" Henry retorted. "She never pretended to be anything but what she was - a pretty, sweet, and charming young lady. The Allen's must think highly of her - and her family - to keep her with them for an entire trip. Who told you her family wasn't respectable?"

The General had had enough. "It doesn't matter where I got the information. You will send her on her way, and have nothing more to do with her." He snorted - and prepared to sit down again, feeling he had finished with this topic. Henry had other ideas.

"No father, I will NOT send her on her way. She was INJURED, and you didn't have the common decency to have a servant with her. You may have no honour, but I do. I will take Eleanor with me immediately to help Miss Morland until she is ready to travel again, I will PERSONALLY make sure she gets home safely. YOU are the one who told me to 'make sure' of Catherine if I could. I believe I have, and I am now honour-bound to her - both by the rules of honour and by my own heart. I will have nothing more to do with your schemes for me to make a fortune with marriage. I have quite sufficient for the lifestyle I intend." Henry turned on his heel and left the room. He ignored his fathers shouts, making for the nearest door that would take him out by the stables. He hoped Eleanor had followed instructions and gone straight to the curricle. As he went out he saw she had. Eleanor had already been helped into the carriage and everything was ready. He climbed in, waved to the groom holding the horses, and immediately set off.

Eleanor was very quiet at first. Once they were out of the immediate vicinity of Northanger Abbey, she ventured her first question. "Was it very bad?" Her brother couldn't help it - the look on her face could shake a stone. He started to laugh weakly. "Yes it was. I've been wanting to tell the old goat off for years." He sobered up a bit. "I think, once he calms down, he will forgive me. Of course, that may be years from now!" At the look on his sister's face, Henry became more serious. "He can't take the living away from me now that I'm established, and when he dies, I will still get my share due to the marriage articles he signed when he married mother. But you Eleanor - we had better tell him a version of the truth - that I told you to pack and get in the carriage without telling you I didn't yet have the General's consent. He will still be upset, but he will forgive you." Henry looked forward for a minute, then continued. "You don't have to tell me how hard it has been for you, Eleanor. I know what living with him is like - I cannot imagine what it must be like to know it will go on indefinitely. You have been home from school for two years now, with no sign of getting away, as I have managed."

Eleanor thought about Henry's words. She had always known she could count on her brother. His opinions were very important to her, as hers were to him. She was quiet, as she imagined the scene her father would enact the next time she saw him - and for an indefinite period after. Then, Eleanor replied. "I knew the minute I laid my eyes on him something dreadful was going to happen. You know the look. He ordered me to send Catherine away. He had made the arrangements, with no thought as to our guest's comfort or even what was proper. I have seldom been so ashamed..." She thought a bit longer, then continued, "Father will shout, and be a bear, but he can't really do anything awful to me. He hasn't yet found anyone he considers 'suitable' for me to marry. I have my own inclinations, but the young man would never find favour with father. I have lived like this for years, my dear brother. I will be fine." She gave her brother a brave smile. He, on the other hand, was shocked. Eleanor cared for someone? Who had she given her heart to? When he asked, she shook her head no. "I shall not tell you, Henry. It doesn't matter. He is a fine young man, and I like him very much - but when he left we both knew he could not marry me, without a very material change in his fortunes. Leave it, Henry."

With all the other problems to deal with, Henry did decide to leave Eleanor's love life alone (for the time being). He started some small talk to while the time away. They were so comfortable with one another that silence was seldom oppressive, so both were happy to be quiet and remark occasionally on a passing scene of beauty.

Catherine had been provided with every physical comfort Mrs. Jones could devise. She had decided to wait in her room for the afternoon. She had a small nap (sure she couldn't sleep a wink) and woke quite refreshed. The gallantry she had received from Mr. Tilney had put her mind at rest - or as much as it could be with an agreeable young man paying her attention! When she got up, Catherine had a quick wash and changed into a fresh dress. She had resigned herself to staying and didn't want Henry to see her in her traveling costume (which was rather drab, and worse for the wear from the morning) when he returned.

There was still time, so Catherine re-did her hair in a style Mr. Tilney had once complemented. After her dreadful nerves had recovered, she found herself pleased with the situation. She felt a little more secure in Henry's affections - at least he was showing her every courtesy - even beyond what she hoped any respectable young man would do for her in such a situation.. Eleanor was hopefully coming to keep her company - a very agreeable prospect, as it would protect everyone's reputation. She also still valued Eleanor. Catherine recalled the abject misery Eleanor had displayed. She wanted to reassure her, as Catherine herself had so recently been reassured, that the General's odd behavior was not enough to spoil such a wonderful friendship.

Mrs. Jones came upstairs to check once again on Catherine. Seeing she was up, Mrs. Jones suggested that Catherine come down and stay in the sitting room until supper. She felt that Mr. Tilney and his sister would be famished when they arrived and wanted to give them supper as soon as they arrived and had refreshed themselves. Though Mrs. Jones didn't personally know the General, she knew enough ABOUT him to realize that any change in his plans, or any plan he hadn't developed, was unlikely to be popular. Therefore, she had correctly assumed that the young Tilneys would be ready for some pampering when they arrived.

No sooner did they get Catherine settled in the sitting room with a novel from Henry's own collection, then the curricle pulled into the parsonage lane. Mrs. Jones immediately went to greet them and inform the master that supper would be on the table directly. Mr. Jones took the curricle and promised to bring Miss Tilney's bags. Henry took his sister's small bag in himself, so she could tidy herself for dinner with no delay. As he came in the door, he glanced at the sitting room, through the open door. He couldn't help but notice Catherine there, with her book, looking back at him. Eleanor swooped past him to hug Catherine and see for herself that Catherine was not seriously injured. The idea that her friend had (literally) had injury added to insult had been almost more than Eleanor could take.

Catherine reassured the jubilant Eleanor that a few days rest would see her fully recovered. Her look and manner comforted Eleanor more than her words. With them, Eleanor knew she was forgiven for her father's behavior. Henry carried Eleanor's bag up to her room, then (after a quick wash and comb) ran down to spend a few minutes with Catherine before dinner. He wasn't fast enough. Eleanor was already sitting with her. Both ladies rose as he came down, so he escorted them in to the dining room.

It was a very merry meal. Henry was in fine form. Eleanor gently rebuked him when she felt he was getting too smart with them. Catherine soaked it all in, and sided with first one friend, then the other. After it happened a few times, the Tilneys realized that Catherine was doing it deliberately, for the enjoyment of listening to them top each other. Henry had realized before that Catherine was clever, just not experienced. She was evidently making up for lost time. He capitulated the next time Catherine joined Eleanor. "Either of you ladies is my match - the two of you together is more than an honest man can handle!" He was serious for a moment, then laughed with them. "Nonsense Henry!" said Eleanor. "You are just waiting for us to let our guard down, and then you will hit us with a new sally! We will not fall for that old trick, will we Catherine?"

Catherine was still laughing. When she settled down, she said, "It is most unfair of you Mr. Tilney. We were depending on your view to guide our own. Particularly as we are ignorant females - would that not make you more fond of us?" Her remembrance of his comments on the beauty of the ignorant female mind coming back at him made him laugh again. "No one would suggest you did not have a good memory, even if you are not the font of all knowledge Miss Morland. I am impressed that you remember our Bath walk so well."

Mrs. Jones had come back in to the room to clear the table. Henry escorted the ladies back to the sitting room and waited for Mrs. Jones to bring their tea. The conversation continued to be light and enjoyable until Mrs. Jones came to clear the tea cups. Eleanor mentioned that Catherine should retire early, after such an eventful day. Eleanor herself was very tired. She had slept very little the night before. The guilt of complying with her father's wishes had stolen any peace she had until Henry had arrived in the afternoon. The ladies went upstairs to retire and Henry went out with the dogs for a short walk.

He had seldom been so contented. His father had deserved the disrespect Henry had shown him. It was not just anger, it had been coming for a long time, he decided. Being alone with Catherine would have been awkward. Eleanor was discreet, yet still helped him balance himself. Without his sister, he doubted Catherine would have been so comfortable. As he wandered through the warm night, he thought about how happy he was. Eleanor had always been wonderful company, but Catherine... Catherine had won his heart. He knew he had been honest with his father, even if his father had not been open with him. He truly loved Catherine. Therefore, the only thing to do was to accompany her home when she left Woodston. He would take Eleanor along for propriety's sake. When they arrived at Fullerton, he would ask to see Mr. Morland alone and would ask for his consent. Surely his own and Eleanor's care of Catherine would win them over, even if they were upset about his father. He knew he could not get his father's consent, but that would not be a serious problem - he hoped.

Looking up at the night sky, he realized how late it was getting. He had absentmindedly thrown a few sticks for the Newfoundland puppy to chase, but he hadn't seen the terriers in a while. He whistled for the dogs, who came tearing through the bushes to land in a panting heap at his feet. He smiled at their enthusiasm. It reminded him of Catherine. Once again he had a reason to laugh - both at her sweet, puppy-like behavior and at himself for being so charmed by it. Still, there were far worse reasons to love someone. Enjoying being with them seemed, in fact, a very good reason to want to be with a young lady.

He went in to the house and settled the dogs for the night. He climbed the stairs and wondered what the next day would bring.

Continued in Part Four

Back to Cult of Da Man Fan Fiction

Home • Contact • T&T