Expectations of Happiness by Rebecca Ann Collins Page B

their lives, while their children seemed to be of a different bent altogether. Their elder brother, it was said, had enlisted in the navy, inspired by Admiral Nelson, and his family were excessively proud of him on this account, but no one was certain if he had or had not seen action in the war with Bonaparte. At the end of that conflict, he had attached himself quite firmly to the social circle of the officers and their followers in London and rarely ventured into the West Country. As for the two youngest—Misses Maria and Eugenie Perceval—they had little formal education but had acquired sufficient information from their string of governesses to engage in wide-ranging social chatter and would profess themselves keenly interested in anything new or fashionable.
    Marianne’s account of the history and legends of Glastonbury had been heard without interruption for scarcely ten minutes, before the mention of the romance of Guinevere and Lancelot distracted them from the realm of history and plunged the conversation into a romantic fantasy. Each of the girls had her own personal preference as to how King Arthur should have dealt with the matter of his betrayal by his dearest friend and his loving wife—and there was no bringing them back to mundane matters of archaeological evidence and historical fact. Despite her devotion to the philosophy of passionate love, Marianne was irritated by their inability to concentrate upon her recital of the story of Glastonbury. Deciding to hold back on some of the more interesting information she had discovered, she hoped there would be someone in their party who would appreciate it more than Maria and Eugenie, once they had actually visited the site.
    After supper, the two sisters escorted her to her bedroom, smiled roguishly, and wished her “sweet dreams,” and when Marianne looked a little bemused, they giggled and said, “Well, don’t you want to dream of one of those handsome Knights of the Round Table sweeping you up onto a beautiful white horse? We certainly do!” and fled down the corridor, giggling uncontrollably as they went.
    ***
    Waking early the following day to a crisp autumn morning, Marianne experienced a distinct feeling of excitement stirring in her. For the first time in her life, she was away from home—alone, without any member of her family beside her to watch or to counsel. She had an intoxicating sense of freedom as she dressed and went down to breakfast. She found only Mr and Mrs Perceval in the breakfast room and learned from them that Maria and Eugenie had been up and about even earlier, had breakfasted already, and taken the carriage round to collect two more members of their picnic party from a house just two miles away.
    â€œThe four young Hawthornes are joining our party, Mrs Brandon,” Mrs Perceval revealed as she buttered her toast. “Their father is a most distinguished gentleman, a former commander under Lord Nelson,” she proclaimed, adding, “I think our son Stephen once served under him, but alas, Commander Hawthorne suffered an injury that renders walking or sitting for long periods most painful, so he is unable to join us, but I am sure you will find the two girls and their brothers very agreeable companions. They are very fond of society, and the girls have been out a few years, although neither is as yet engaged to be married.”
    Marianne heard all this information, agreed that she was sure she would, and went on to say what a good day it was for the expedition, seeing the weather was so fine, but her hosts had returned to their breakfast and made no reply. She then finished hers and was about to excuse herself and leave the room when the carriage arrived, with Maria and Eugenie and their guests—the two Misses Hawthorne, Hannah and Harriet. Their brothers, they said, were riding and would arrive soon. They appeared a little older than the Perceval girls, but, to Marianne’s eyes,