Free Searching For Captain Wentworth by Jane Odiwe

the grate, which at
that moment seemed to be the dearest sounds in the world for their domestic familiarity. The gilt clock,
with its painted pastoral panels,
was the very same clock left behind in that other time. At that precise second, it prettily chimed
the hour with four silver strikes
of the bell, as if we’d all paused to hear it.
    ‘Father is quite
right,’ said the young woman seated in the winged chair by the fire. This must be Emma, I
thought. ‘If you are seen
going out and about with the Miss Austens, your ability for attracting suitable attachments will be negligible.
I am sure they cannot help
being so very poor, but they already appear to be very much left on the shelf. Spinster sisters for
company will do you more harm than
good if you wish to find a husband. You should not be in such a hurry to ruin your chances of
matrimony.’
    She was
obviously worried about what effect Sophia’s friendship with the Austen sisters might have on
her own relationships,
and it was clear that this was really behind Emma’s defence of her father’s outburst.
    ‘I am certain
that being friends with two such pleasant young women cannot have any detrimental effect on your
ability to attract the very best of
suitors,’ I began. ‘No young man truly interested in marrying you is going to be concerned with anything
or anybody connected with
me. Besides, you know yourself, whenever we are in company, heads turn to stare at you. You must
have more partners at a
ball than any other girl in the room.’
    I did wonder if
this was entirely true, but I guessed Sophia was probably doing her best to soothe her sister.
    The lady sitting
opposite on the chaise longue had remained silent during these exchanges, and although her
eyes were sometimes
averted from the conversation, she didn’t look in the least embarrassed. She was obviously used to the
confrontation and knew them all
well.
    Mr Elliot stood
in front of a pier glass set between two windows and tweaked a curl into place on his
forehead before admiring his
reflection in profile, first one way and then the next.
    ‘Mrs Randall,
may we have your opinion on the subject?’
    She looked up
and gave me a smile, making her vivid blue eyes sparkle. I knew straight away that she loved
Sophia as a mother loves her
child. I had the sense that I knew her well, but could not explain it.
    ‘I think that
the Austen girls are fine companions for Sophia, Mr Elliot. I understand your concerns, but intimacy
with a respectable
gentry family who have aristocratic relations, as you stated yourself, cannot be harmful. Perhaps they
will be visited by some of their
distinguished connections, who may have sons on the lookout for a pretty wife. Let us not be persuaded
against the acquaintance
just yet by reservations that cannot be justified.’
    Mr Elliot turned
from the glass to address Mrs Randall. ‘I suppose there can be no real objection to you
seeing these people occasionally,
but you must understand, Sophia, that I only have your best interests at heart. You and your sister
are not getting any younger and
suitable husbands must be found.’
    Something about
the way he made this last pronouncement, as if his real concern was ridding himself of the
daughters he clearly thought
were a burden, produced a shiver all over to make every hair on my body stand on end. That was his
priority, to see the girls married
and as soon as possible. Their happiness seemed secondary, even an unnecessary consideration.
    ‘We have
shopping to do this afternoon, do you remember, Sophia?’ Mrs Randall rose, fixing me with a look
that suggested if I should like to
make my escape, here was a chance.
    ‘Of course,’ I
answered, feeling for the first time that I had actually spoken for myself. ‘I will be ready in a
moment.’
    I remembered
just in time to curtsey before I left. All the bobbing up and down, the formality of behaviour and
the strain of being so
attentive to everything, not to mention feeling that