Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

HANOVER-SQUARE

T he sudden departure of Colonel Brandon from Hanover-square, and his declining to remain to see the Palmers and Mrs Jennings, continued as the topic for conversation for some days afterwards. Mrs Jennings in particular, considering herself to be on such good terms as to make his going away before seeing them almost inexcusable and certainly unfathomable, was quite astonished.

They were all most disappointed, and provoked beyond moderation not to know the reason the good Colonel could not stay, even for his wife! Out of desperation for her own peace, Marianne had been obliged to hide her own despair as well as she could, and prevent further painful conversation by finally telling them that her husband had been required most urgently at Delaford again or would have remained a week with them at least.

But even though the excuse was given, his not staying on to enjoy the amusements of town with his wife, did not cease to give cause for wonder by Mrs Jennings. She wondered at breakfast, she wondered at tea, and she wondered at dinner, and again at breakfast the next day. Three full days after the Colonel's visit, she was still wondering at it all, and Marianne was hard-pressed to find more excuses for her husband's leaving her in town, while all the time smiling as if nothing in the world was wrong. But she managed to hide her feelings well enough that any melancholy she suffered had been interpreted merely as disappointment.

‘But I hope this will not prevent your staying a full month with us, my dear?' bustled Mrs Palmer at breakfast about a week afterwards. ‘I should think the Colonel's not being able to give us the pleasure of his company will not prevent us enjoying yours? And you did promise us a month, you know!'

‘She did no such thing, Mrs Palmer,' interjected her husband irritably from behind his paper. ‘Don't palm all your abuses of language onto innocent bystanders, for I witnessed no such promise myself. I recall quite clearly Mrs Brandon said she would perhaps remain a month. "Perhaps" is far from being a certainty. Mrs Brandon must come and go as she pleases.' He returned to his newspaper, and did not even care to intercept his wife's laughing glance.

Marianne had been almost amused, and half-bewildered, at Mr Palmer's suddenly defending her. But in truth there was no need, for now Marianne assured them that she herself would be staying on longer before she returned to Delaford. After all, she thought forlornly, her husband had made it quite clear that she was not, for the time being, welcome in her own home! Her guilt at going behind her husband and confirming Willoughby's suspicions as to the boy's parentage had not subsided enough to render her entirely complacent, and she coloured a little as she added, ‘My sister Margaret is to spend at least two months here, and I hope to spend some time with her here before I return to Delaford. I am sure I shan't be less than a fort'night more with you all, at least, if you will have me.'

‘I declare,' cried Mrs Palmer, ‘I quite forgot it! Is not Miss Margaret expected in town soon?'

‘She is to arrive with my brother and his wife tomorrow.' Marianne had received a letter from her mother only two days ago, informing her of Margaret's impending visit, and she was glad to think she would have her sister to talk to, in private, for she could not share her burden with anyone else. Not even her Mama, for Mrs Dashwood had endeared Colonel Brandon to her heart as a son and, Marianne thought, news of their terrible breach would give her too much pain. When she knew for certain what was to happen, and how she ought to proceed, she would confide in her mother and Elinor. But for now, it would be enough to have a confidant in Meg.

‘Upon my soul,' continued Mrs Palmer cheerfully, ‘you will be glad to see her, since you cannot have your husband here. But what a good thing for us all! We must have your sister to dinner or to the theatre with us just as soon as she arrives, if she is not wanted by her brother. I dare say you will be vastly pleased to see her. And such pretty girl! I declare, I never saw such a pretty face as your sister! So excessively handsome that I cannot but surmise she will make a great match almost as soon as she is brought into the public. She will be snapped up with a certainty! Do not you think so, Mr Palmer?'

A grunt of studied indifference emanated from behind the newspaper.

Mrs Palmer went on unperturbed. ‘I do hope she and your sister-in-law call on us here, for you know we don't stand on any ceremony at all with such good friends as you and your sisters, do we Mr Palmer?' She did not wait for a reply, however. ‘Now if you wish, Mama and I will accompany you when you go to pay your respects at Harley-street—although I am sure Mr Palmer will not. He never likes to make calls, you know—he is so amusing, I should die of astonishment if he ever were to decide to come calling with Mama and me! He will, I daresay, go to his club. He always goes to his club on Mondays, don't you Mr Palmer?'

Mr Palmer, who had even less to say at breakfast time than any other time of day, now merely grunted again into his newspaper, while Marianne marvelled that such a marriage could survive as was built on one-sided conversation and so little understanding on the part of each other that they appeared as two strangers most of the time.

‘I have some letters to write, and so I hope you will forgive me if I don't accompany you to walk out today?' asked Marianne as soon as the breakfast had been taken away. She yearned for some time alone to think, and to be miserable without being obliged to conceal it.

‘By all means, my dear Mrs Brandon! Mama will be here soon, and we shall step out for some air, but do not forget that Mr Palmer has promised to take us to see Vaux Hall gardens this afternoon!'

‘I promised no such thing!' cried Mr Palmer, slapping down his paper so suddenly that Marianne started. ‘I said I would perhaps take you, this week or next, if the weather were fine enough! What is this infernal misuse of the word "perhaps". It must be the most excellent word in the world, because it does for everything!'

‘You certainly did promise me, my love, fine weather or foul!'

‘Foul is as foul does,' mumbled her ill-tempered husband.

‘You must not tease me, Mr Palmer!' laughed Mrs Palmer. ‘It is very cruel of you!'

‘Must not I?' replied he, taking up his paper again, while his wife laughed heartily again.

‘You did promise, and Mama is looking forward to it. You are so comical, my love! At any rate,' Mrs Palmer turned again to Marianne, ‘we shall all be quite entranced, for I hear there's to be a gypsy circus and there is the Turkish Tent, you know. I am quite wild for it!'

Marianne, however, was wild only to be alone, to write at once to Meg, begging her to come to see her as soon as Fanny and John could spare her. She must have time, also, to contemplate her possible rejection from Delaford. She thought with horror on her own actions, in letting Willoughby into her company, and yet for her husband to reject her, to isolate her from his affections, she felt was perhaps not the just and fair husband she had come to know.

The days would now drag interminably while she felt herself to be obliged to remain in town, forbidden to return until Brandon returned from the continent and invited her home. It was punishment indeed!

As soon as she could excuse herself she went to her room and pleading a headache, about which she did not have to tell untruths, she wrote to Margaret, and had the letter delivered so as to be waiting for her sister as soon as her brother arrived in town.