Chapter Text
*Sarah POV*
Miss Sarah Middleton had been living with her Uncle, Sir John Middleton, about a month when news of the Dashwoods reached their home. She had come down to breakfast, overhearing Sir John telling Mrs. Jennings of his cousin, Mrs. Dashwood, whose husband had sadly died, leaving her and her three daughters with nothing to their name, barely 50 pounds a year to survive.
Sarah's heart ached for them with an understanding of how difficult it was to lose a father and to know you had no place in the world of men. Sarah knew how lucky she was to live the life she did, considering the circumstances of her birth. If it wasn't for the fact her Uncle, Sir John, was so excessively fond of her, she could very well have been in a worse state than the poor Dashwood ladies.
As Sarah entered the breakfast room, having overheard her boisterous Uncle, Sir John piped up even more once her presents was known.
"Sarah darling! I would like your opinion as well dear girl! I mean to offer my cousin and her 3 girls a home here at Barton."
"Here at Barton Park, dear Uncle?" Sarah asked, settling herself down at the table. She knew they had plenty of room, Barton Park being no small place, but their home wasn't exactly the perfect place for three young woman to find a life or husbands. Sarah knew this all to well, though it suited her. She wasn't in the market for a husband like most young ladies; she very much planned that she would never marry.
"No dear girl! I mean to offer them Barton Cottage! It is small, but there is room for them and their 2 servants. And they could visit us here often! And you know Mrs. Jennings would play the match maker for them all!" He laughed heartily, Mrs. Jennings joining him, laughing mischievously.
Sarah smiled at her Uncle warmly. He was not the most intelligent or articulate of men, but he was kind with a selfless and loving heart and she was as fond of him as he was of her.
"I think it's a wonderful idea Uncle, and I'm sure they'd be happy and grateful for it." Sarah replied. It would also be nice to maybe have some company with those closer to her own age. She'd never had many friends, especially young ladies with whom she could relate, so maybe these Dashwood ladies would be a welcome relief.
"Perhaps by then Brandon will have come home as well. We'll have more company than we'll know what to do with!"
Sarah had heard her Uncle speak of Colonel Brandon often, a friend who owned his own estate near Barton, and an old military friend. She had met him once, years ago while visiting her uncle as a child, but she hardly remembered him.
Colonel Brandon had been gone for sometime in London, having left before Sarah arrived at her Uncle's, so she had not had the pleasure of meeting the gentleman yet. She had no doubt that part of her Uncle and Mrs. Jennings plans of bringing the Dashwoods here was to marry one of them off to the Colonel. They often spoke of how lonely the man was, having never married.
"Well wonderful!" Mrs. Jennings bellowed. "It is decided! John, you must write to them at once!"
*****
A month had passed since that breakfast when the Dashwood ladies had finally arrived. Her Uncle and his mother in law had rode to the cottage as soon as they arrived, impatient to meet them. Sarah had stayed behind, content with meeting them once the ladies had settled. (She knew her Uncle and Mrs. Jennings could be overwhelming at times.)
She waited a few days to allow them freedom to settle in, sure that although her uncle had been most generous in giving them his cottage, it was far smaller than they were accustomed to. Their father had been a respectable gentleman of good fortune, but it seems their Half-brother and his wife who inherited the estate had been less than generous to his sisters.
She dressed before calling for the carriage, checking her appearance in the mirror once before leaving. Her dark chocolate brown hair was pinned softly around her face, tumbled into large curls. Her shockingly blue eyes stood out against her dark hair and slightly tanned, olive skin. A modest but beautiful dark green dress with brown ribbons lay a little tight but flattering across her body.
She was not one to usually wear such a dress, often preferring something more flowing and loose. Her body was far more curvy than was considered desirable in polite society, her dresses usually needing to be altered before purchased. But for the most part, she did not mind, knowing she was not in the market for a husband, so it mattered not who may or may not find her desirable.
Sarah took the carriage over to the cottage that warm Saturday morning, hoping to make aquantiances with the ladies of the home. She approached the front door, basket of gifts in hand. She knocked lightly on the door with her gloved hand, wondering if maybe she should have sent word before arriving. She would hate to interrupt their day.
The door was opened by an attractive young woman, her light blond curls framed her face well, small bangs complimenting her look. She wore a simple white gown with a leather apron across her front. "Yes, may I help you?" She said politely.
"I'm so sorry, I probably should have sent word before arriving. I'm Miss Sarah Middleton, Sir John Middleton's niece." Sarah smiled lightly, trying to remember how to politely speak to those used to society. She spent too much time with her Uncle and Mrs. Jennings and often forgot her manners.
"Oh! Yes. Sir John had mentioned you may visit. Please do come in and sit." She stood aside, allowing Sarah to enter the small but charming cottage. "I am Miss Elinor Dashwood." She continued, leading Sarah into the small sitting room. "Shall I call for some tea?"
"That would be lovely, thank you." Sarah replied, sitting on the small chair by a lounging coach, taking in the small, modest sitting room.
Elinor sat on the couch, close to Sarah after calling for tea. Sarah handed her the basket she'd put together over the last few days, hoping her small gifts may bring comfort to the Dashwood sisters. "A gift for you, to welcome you to your new home. There are lavender soaps, silk ribbons, crushed rose petals for coloring the cheeks, and fresh honeycomb from my bees."
"Well how wonderful! Thank you Miss Middleton, you are very kind. You keep bees on your property?" Elinor asked, looking surprised but pleasantly so.
"Indeed! It is a hobby of mine, my Uncle took great care in helping me move them to Barton Park when he invited me to live with him some 2 months ago. They were a gift from my father before his passing, he knew it would grieve me so to leave them." Sarah gave a small smile at the memory, her caring Uncle spending so much time and effort just to bring her joy, something many uncles wouldn't even do for their legitimate nieces, let alone their illegitimate one.
"Sir John is truly a kind and generous man." Elinor replied, looking around her home.
"Indeed. Are the other ladies of the house here? I would love to meet them as well." Sarah hadn't seen or heard any others present. Betsy, their maid, brought in the tea as Sarah was asking, laying it out on the table before them.
"My mother and sister, Marianne, are in the village, getting acquainted with the town. My little sister Margaret...well honestly I am not sure where she is. She disappears often to play or go on adventures. She is still young." Elinor smiled softly, a hint of sadness behind her eyes. Sarah could tell their father's death was still fresh, an open wound that hadn't healed.
"Well I hope she appears soon, I would love for her to take me on an adventure. I have always wanted to travel." Sarah's eyes sparkled as she spoke, Elinor softly laughing.
"Well I am sure Miss Margaret would be happy to oblige you."
The two ladies spoke for near two hours, quickly enjoying one another's company and becoming fast friends. Sarah liked Elinor. She found her calm and patient but quick witted and intelligent. A person she could have extensive conversations with and enjoy every moment of it. They had not realized how much time had past until the heard the front door open, Mrs. Dashwood and Marianne had come back from the village.
Marianne walked into the room, bursting through the doorway. She radiated energy and intensity, almost the opposite of her elder sister. She looked at Sarah with surprise, her look quickly changing into something slightly hard. Sarah could not account for the look at all and was puzzled by it, but said nothing.
"Ah! Marianne! This is Miss Sarah Middleton, Sir John's niece. She came to visit and bring us gifts." Elinor seemed to also appraise her sister's sudden change in attitude but chose to ignore it, or at least not engage in it.
"How kind of you Miss Middleton. If you will excuse me, I'm a little tired from the walk, I wish to go lay down." Marianne curtsied quickly and turned swiftly out of the room, gone as quickly as she came.
"My, is your sister always so...abrupt?" Sarah was sure it was impolite to ask, but was surprised by her behavior.
Elinor gave her a small shy smile, looking back out the doorway where her sister had been. "Unfortunately Marianne hardly knows when or how to behave. She is very strong headed. So, yes, she is always like that."
Sarah politely decided it was time to part, grateful for all the time Miss Dashwood had bestowed upon her. "Thank you for your hospitality Miss Dashwood, I look forward to seeing you all again."
"Please, do call me Elinor. We are family are we not?" Sarah smiled at her new friend, grateful for her kindness. A small voice in the back of her head wondered if that kindness would remain if Elinor learned the truth about Sarah, but she quickly dismissed the thought.
"Then you shall call me Sarah and we shall be like sisters, you and I." Elinor smiled in return as they parted ways. Sarah spent the entire ride home pondering the cold nature of Marianne. She had never met the girl and knew very little of her, so she couldn't account for her hostility at all.
*Elinor POV*
Elinor sat back in the parlor, picking through the basket of gifts from Sarah Middleton. She had enjoyed Sarah's company very much, grateful for a connection to someone close to her age, though she supposed Sarah was slightly older than her. Elinor was nearing her 20th birthday, causing her mama to push her to find a husband. She guessed Sarah was closer to 24 or 25 from her looks, surprising to Elinor that she was yet to find a husband. She was more exotic looking than most ladies in English society but she was very beautiful nonetheless.
Elinor was admiring the ribbons when Marianne walked back into the room. "Is she gone, Elinor?"
"Yes, Miss Middleton just took her leave."
"Thank God. I did not want to hide away in my room for much longer." Marianne commented, a slight sound of distain in her voice.
"What cause have you to think so little of her? You've never even met until now. She seems very kind, pleasant, and welcoming. I'd be glad to call her friend."
"Elinor. Were you not in the garden yesterday when Mrs. Jennings was telling mama about her? About her...past?" Marianne looked almost excited to share the gossip, having no one really to talk to other than her sister. Marianne was young, just 17, and still very much like a child in many ways.
"No. What of her past?"
"Well, according to Mrs. Jennings, Sir John is her father's brother. But her mother is NOT her father's wife."
"She was born out of an affair?" Elinor gasped slightly. Often children born out of wedlock, especially to the mistress of a gentleman, are rarely accepted or a part of polite society.
"Yes. Her mother was apparently a childhood friend of her father, with whom he later had an affair with, resulting in the birth of Miss Sarah Middleton."
"But Sir John brought her into his home, seems to love and respect her."
"Well apparently she still lived with her father and his wife until he died 3 months ago. His wife immediately dismissed her from her home, no longer required to provide for her since her husband was dead. But apparently Sir John is quite fond of her, and offered her his home to live in as he has no children of his own."
Marianne was smiling slyly, obviously enjoying the gossip. Elinor was taken back, but also felt sorry for Sarah. No wonder she was unmarried. She was a child born out of wedlock and probably had no dowry or fortune of her own. No man would want a girl so disgraced. But Elinor felt for her. She seemed a kind and good soul. It was not her wrong doings that put her in such a bad place, and she should not be judged for it.
"Well that may be, but Sir John and Mrs. Jennings support her and treat her as an equal. As will I. I like her Marianne. She doesn't deserve such judgement from you. It is not her fault she was born into the life she was, and I expect a bit more kindness from you in the future. We are Sir John's guests, as is she. You will treat her with some sort of decorum. "
Marianne rolled her eyes slightly, her arms crossing her chest. "Fine, but I will not engage with her more than is required. If I am to marry well and for love, I cannot associate with those who may keep me from decent society." Marianne left the room in a huff, leaving Elinor baffled. Marianne rarely cared about society or marrying well. It felt more like an excuse to judge the poor girl. Elinor sighed, unsure of how to deal with her sister, as usual.
*Sarah POV*
Sir John had invited the Dashwoods for lunch a couple of weeks later. He had finally heard word from Colonel Brandon, who was meant to arrive that same day and had written, promising to meet them for lunch as well. Sarah was excited, mostly to spend more time with Elinor and to meet Colonel Brandon again.
The two times since her first visit that she had seen the Dashwoods, Mrs. Dashwood had been extremely welcoming and kind. Margaret had finally come out of hiding and was quickly delighted to learn that Sarah was more than willing to play adventures and practice sword play. Marianne however, though polite, was still cold and aloof. She made it quite obvious she had no desire to befriend Sarah.
The Dashwoods arrived shortly before lunch. Elinor and Sarah embraced and quickly fell into conversation as usual, but not before Margaret challenged Sarah to a duel.
"I accept young scoundrel, but I insist we must eat first, a final meal for one of us, for it shall be a duel to the death!" Sarah reaches for Margaret, tickling her side as she speaks, causing Maragret to squeal with delight, running off down the hall.
Elinor smiles. "You indulge her. My father would be mortified if he saw her running the halls like that."
"I always say, the young should be allowed to live, for the grown must be the ones to deal with life." Sarah responds. Margaret had lost her father and her home at only 13 years old. She needed to escape.
They made their way into the dining hall, lunch already laid out in front of them. They begin their meal though the Colonel was yet to arrive. As usual, Sir John and Mrs. Jennings overtook much of the conversation.
"Where can Brandon be, poor fellow? I hope he has not lamed his horse." John remarks.
Mrs. Jennings pulls apart some of her food, addressing the Dashwoods. "Colonel Brandon is the most eligible bachelor in the county. He is bound to do for one of you. Mind, he is a better age for Miss Dashwood." Elinor looks up at Sarah, an uncomfortable expression about her face. Sarah knew from a few of their conversations that there was a man Elinor desired, but she had never told Sarah who he was. "But I dare say she left her heart behind in Sussex, eh?" Sarah was shocked. It was as if Mrs. Jennings could read her thoughts.
Marianne flashes a glance of alarm and concern at her elder sister, which Mrs. Jennings and Sarah both notice.
"Aha! I see you, Miss Marianne! I think I have unearthed a secret!" Mrs. Jenning giggles with delight.
"Oho! Have you sniffed one out already, Mother? You are worse than my best pointer, Flossie!"
"Oh Uncle, leave poor Miss Dashwood be! Every young lady deserves to keep the secrets of the heart to themsleves." Elinor flashes a grateful smile to Sarah.
Mrs. Jennings ignores Sarah's comment however and continues her investigation. "What sort of man is he, Miss Dashwood? Is he butcher, baker, candlestick- maker? I shall winkle it out of you somehow, you know!"
"She's horribly good at winkling."
"You are in lonely country now, Miss Dashwood, none of us has any secrets here."
"Or if we do, we do not keep them for long!"
The two continue their interagation, Margaret popping up, making matters worse by giving them hints to his profession and name. Sarah simply extends her hand under the table to Elinor, a secret hand of comfort as she is embarrassed over and over.
Marianne finally jumps up, to everyones surprise, addressing John. "Sir John, might I play your pianoforte?" Sarah can only guess she was as tired of the guessing games as everyone else at the table and wished to distract them.
"Of course, yes. My goodness. We do not stand on ceremony here, my dear." The distraction has worked. Sir John leads them to the sitting room with a modest but beautiful pianoforte. One that Sarah was delighted to find when she first moved to Barton Park and often played at. Piano and singing were a passion of hers, but for today, she would let Marianne shine.
Marianne began playing a simple but beautiful song, a sadness to her voice. Sarah thought her voice to be a pleasant one. Nothing of great talent or beauty, but pleasant enough to listen to. And she sang with true feeling, a rarity in the young ladies of society.
As they all sat enjoying the performance, Sarah next to Elinor, she noticed Elinor look to the doorway, a curious expression on her face. Sarah's eyes followed hers, leading to a man standing in the doorway. Sarah silently gasped at the sight of him. He was the most handsome man she had every seen.
He was tall, towering at least 6 feet, with a broad chest and shoulders, the buildings of a soldier. His hair was a flowing golden brown, light and shining in the sunlight that cast through the window. His face was manly and sharp, but his look was so soft and intense all at once. His light hazel eyes were warm and welcoming. She guessed him to be between 35 and 40. Sarah could barely pull her eyes away from him. She instantly knew it was Colonel Brandon, vague memories from her childhood piecing it together, but she had not remembered how beautiful he was.
Her eyes finally pulled away from him as she realized he himself was staring intently. Her gaze followed his, realizing he was in rapture, watching Marianne play. Immediately her heart hit her stomach. She knew the look of a man falling instantly in love. She'd seen it before. Her heart ached slightly at the thought, quickly followed by confusion. She'd first laid eyes on the man not 15 seconds before, why did that make her heart ache?
Marianne finishes her song, leading to applause from the audience. Brandon ventures out into the light and Sir John springs from his seat. "Brandon! Where have you been? Come, come and meet our beautiful new neighbours! And my darling niece!"
"What a pity you are late, Colonel! You have not heard our delightful songbird, Miss Marianne." Mrs. Jennings remarks.
Brandon bows to the company and smiles slightly. "A great pity, indeed." He replies, his voice deep and warm. Sarah thought it to be one of the most delightful things she's ever heard.
"Mrs Dashwood, may I present my dear friend Colonel Brandon? We served together in the East Indies and I assure you there is no better fellow in the world!" Brandon smiles at the compliment, clearly flattered by his good friend.
"Have you really been to the East Indies, Colonel?" Maragret asks in earnest.
"I have."
"What is it like?"
"Like? Hot." John responds, not the type to be very descriptive.
But Brandon seem to knows what Margaret wants to hear. He bends down to her ear, "The air is full of spices." He says, a mystery and intrigue to his voice. The sound sends a shiver up Sarah's spine. But she sees his eyes immediately turn back to Marianne, a small smile upon his lips.
"And may I also introduce my niece, Miss Sarah Middleton. Though I believe you met once before but it was many years ago."
"Colonel. Its wonderful to see you again" Sarah responds, almost breathless, as she curtsys to the man.
"Little Sarah Middleton. I can hardly believe it. Look at you all grown up." Brandon responds, a small bow as he says it. "It's a pleasure to see you again as well." He seems genuinely happy to see her but his attentions are quickly pulled back to Marianne.
"Sarah! You must play for us now! What a delight it would be!" Mrs. Jennings bellows.
"Another time I think. Miss Marianne has delighted us so much already, I couldn't possibly play after."
"How about you Miss Dashwood?" John asks pointingly at Elinor.
"Oh no, Sir John, I do not-."
"And I think we can all guess what key you will sing in! F major!"
The two fall into a fit of laughs while the Dashwood ladies, especially Elinor, look embarrassed. Sarah notices the Colonels confused expression so she leans to him quietly. "Unfortunately my Uncle and Mrs. Jennings are poking fun at Miss Dashwood for an apparent mystery suitor in her life." Brandon turns his head towards her, their eyes meeting, a nod of thanks. The moment is gone as quickly as it came, but Sarah felt her heart stop when his eyes met hers. She'd never seen such beautiful brown eyes, flexed with shining golden spots and dark brown rings.
The afternoon ends quicker than Sarah would have liked. Brandon excused himself first, wishing to return home after a long journey. She noticed he paid particular attention to Marianne as he said his farewells. But Marianne seemed to make no notice of it, simply bidding him farewell with a quick curtsy and wave.
That evening, after the Dashwoods had left and she'd bid goodnight to her Uncle and his mother in law, Sarah attempted to read, her current favorite, A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare, but she found her mind wandering. All she could think of was golden brown hair, hazel eyes, and a deep rich voice that never failed to send butterflies to her stomach. She finally gave up and crawled into bed, blowing out her candle before staring up at the ceiling.
"Brandon." She whispered into the night air before falling into dreams. Dreams of desires she was yet to understand.
