Edmund Bertram's Diary (28 page)

We walked and talked as the sun climbed in the sky, and had not exhausted our conversation by dinner-time.

After dinner, I told Mama the happy news. There was a moment of alarm when she first heard it, for she said, ‘What! Take Fanny from me? Oh, no, I cannot do without Fanny.’

‘But she must go with Edmund to Thornton Lacey when they are married,’ said my father.

‘But what wil I do without her?’ asked Mama.

‘You must ask Susan to stay,’ said my father.

Susan’s face was glowing. She, too, had found it hard to live at Portsmouth, where there was no order or discipline, and delighted in being at Mansfield Park.

‘Oh, yes, Sir Thomas, you are such a comfort to me, you always know what to do,’ said Mama.

‘Susan, my dear, you wil stay with us, wil you not? For I do not know what I would do without you.’

Susan said she would be delighted to stay, and by her attentions to Mama after dinner, made herself so indispensable that it seemed as though she had always been with us.

Sunday 31 December

How much has changed since last year’s end. Maria has left her husband and is now living in retirement with Aunt Norris, whilst Rushworth is suing her for divorce; Julia has married, and after an unpromising start, seems to be happy with Yates; Tom has been seriously il and recovered, and no longer lives only for pleasure but is taking an interest in the estate; Dr Grant has died, so that I have acquired the Mansfield living; and Fanny and I are married. We are the same, Fanny and I. As I watch her tending the flowers in her garden, or comforting one of our parishioners, or dancing at a bal , or sitting opposite me at dinner, I bless the day she came to Mansfield Park.

Amanda Grange lives in Cheshire. She has published many novels, including Lord Deveril ’s Secret, Mr. Knightley’s Diary, Captain Wentworth’s Diary, and Harstairs House. Visit her website at
www.amandagrange.com.

• Cover Page
  
• Table of Contents
  
• Praise for Captain Wentworth�s Diary
  
• Titles by Amanda Grange
  
• Copyright
  
• 1800 JULY
  
• 1800 JULY
  
• 1802 NOVEMBER
  
• 1803 APRIL
  
• 1805 MARCH
  
• 1806 AUGUST
  
• 1807 MAY
  
• 1808 JANUARY
  
• 1809 JANUARY
  
• THE END
  
• About the Author