Free For Myself Alone: A Jane Austen Inspired Novel by Shannon Winslow Page A

the perfect example,” he continued for my ears only. “Without a doubt, two of the finest individuals you will find anywhere. Yet together they certainly qualify as one of the oddest couples I have ever come across: a domineering little lady married to such a big mouse of a man. It really is quite comical, you must allow.”
    “Truly, Mr. Pierce, you mustn’t say such things,” I scolded mildly. “I know you only jest, but I am afraid you go too far.”
    “Do I? Then I am sincerely sorry,” he said with comfortable grace. “I would not offend your sensibilities for the world. I suppose I shall have to find some other means of entertaining you, then, since you do not care for my style of humor. Perhaps we should keep to safer subjects. What shall it be, Miss Walker? Poetry? Politics? Social reform? What is your pleasure?”
    My pleasure was listening to practically anything Mr. Pierce cared to say. He had such an engaging manner, such a charming way of expressing himself, that whatever he said sounded uncommonly clever. The fact that he demonstrated equal regard for my opinions only heightened his appeal.
    Mr. Pierce set the tone for a refreshing openness between us by his relaxed attitudes. From the outset, no awkwardness hindered our conversational intercourse; ideas, wit, and humor flowed unreservedly in both directions. I doubt Mama would have approved our uninhibited discourse, had she known of it, but I found a private satisfaction in setting aside the undue restraint of artificial niceties. Yes, I saw a new world of delicious freedom expanding before me, thanks to Mr. Pierce.

 
     
     
    10
    Courtship
     
    After such a promising beginning to our acquaintance, there was nothing to hinder Mr. Pierce and myself from progressing on to what can only be described as the early stages of courtship. With my cavalier attitude toward men and marriage, I would have been hard pressed to admit it at the time, but so it was. He began with invented excuses to call on me, and I with contrivances to go out where we might happen to meet. When we encountered no opposition at home, these pretenses were swiftly discarded in favor of a more open acknowledgement of our mutual regard.
    I saw him nearly every day. On an even footing and without reserve, we talked about every topic under the sun. The more Mr. Pierce made clear his preference for me above any other, the more sincerely I began to return his affection. After knowing him a fortnight, it first occurred to me that I might be in a fair way of falling in love. He showed unmistakable symptoms of the same, and all without the promise of fortune to tempt him. He had not asked for, and I had not volunteered, any specific information about my financial status. The general means of our family he could approximate from our style of living and from my talk about Fairfield. It appeared that was enough to satisfy him, just as I would have hoped.
    Once it became clear that Mr. Pierce was developing serious intentions, my father made prudent inquiries into the gentleman’s background and character through our solicitor. According to all available information, Mr. Pierce hailed from a very respectable family, and no one had ever heard any harm of him. He had recently earned his degree from Cambridge and, as an only son, looked forward to the happy prospect of inheriting the prosperous estate of Wildewood. In the meantime, his allowance kept him in stylish comfort. With all his questions answered satisfactorily, Papa declared that he would not object to such a creditable match for his daughter.
    Mr. Pierce also won my mother’s approbation with little difficulty, partly on the strength of seeing her daughter made so happy and, I suspect, partly due to the working of the same manifold attractions which had fixed my interest. Being a woman herself, I suppose she was not entirely immune to these influences, even at her different age and station in life. Still, her maternal instinct had not