*- These characters belong to Miss Austen. I am simply a humble admirer.
*-Based on the relationship between David Morrisey and Charity Wakefield in the 2008 Sense and Sensibility.
Jealous
It was a beautiful day as Marianne stepped into the garden to cut the flowers. The roses had begun to bloom into a pretty shade of blush.
As she finished her task, she could feel a set of male arms wrapping themselves around her.
Christopher had traveled to town for Navy business; he had left early yesterday morning and was expected to return in time for dinner tonight. He had proposed a holiday to Brighton next month, Marianne had promised to consider the idea while he was away.
“Darling you’re back early”
“Mhmm” came the response as he buried his face into her blonde curls.
“I think you are right, a holiday to Brighton would be a good thing. The children are eager for the sea, as am I. Perhaps mama could join us, she had been altered since Margaret married…”.
“Why don’t we leave your mother and the children at home, we can holiday just you and I?” Marianne knew then that the man behind her was not her husband.
“Willoughy!” Marianne exclaimed as Christopher raced toward her with two burly stable boys behind him. The stable boys held Willoughby back as Christopher fought to contain his anger.
“You, sir, will stay away from my wife and remove yourself from my land; otherwise I will set the law on you”.
“Are you hurt?” Christopher inquired, searching his wife for any injuries.
“No, I am uninjured”.
“Marianne, please, I love you, I’ve always loved you” Willoughby begged as he was dragged away.
Before he was forced back to where his horse was tethered, Marianne walked up to Willoughby, looking him straight in the eye.
“I am not the girl you once knew. You have made your choices and I have made mine. I suggest, sir that you forget about me and return to your wife. Good day, Mr. Willoughby”.
Though Willoughby had been forced out hours before, Christopher could not get the image of his wife and Mr. Willoughby out of his mind.
Mr. Willoughby and Marianne were of a similar age and temperament. Christopher was her second choice, she might still love him, a jealous voice inside of him reminded him.
“Darling, you were quiet during dinner. You mustn’t be jealous of Mr. Willoughby” Marianne sometimes thought back to those days, how blind she had been.
“He is handsome and charming….”.
Marianne put down her hair brush and settled herself comfortably on her husbands lap.
“Handsome and charming he may be, but Mr. Willoughby is also inconstant, thinking of his own desires before any one else’s. While you, my darling husband, are also handsome and charming, you are also constant, giving and one of the best man I know. You have made me a happy woman these past ten years and I wouldn’t have it any other way” She kissed him lightly on the lips, wishing to eradicate his anxieties for good.
They made love slowly that night, relishing their time together and forgetting the past.
The next morning, their children descended into the bedroom, eager to start a new day. Mr. Willoughby was no more.
Writergurlny 