Fanny observed the very tall and dark young gentleman, raven-haired, soft-spoken, yet somehow seeming filled to overflow with something; with leashed energy, a power subdued, hidden, secret. What an odd thing it was, that neither Maria nor Julia paid him a second glance and resumed their enthusiastic conversation with Mr. Crawford! Here before them was a far more handsome, interesting, indeed, far loftier titled gentleman! An infinitely eligible young heir, by Heaven, with likely many a thousand a year! Even Edmund—her dear sensitive one—did not seem to be engaged by or discerned anything unusual in Lord Eastwind, he who had an intense piercing gaze of rather beautiful dark eyes, exotic and utterly fashionable.

What a moment of odd thrill and sudden fright Fanny had when these eyes alighted upon her own during the initial introduction. There was no touch upon her hand, no other intimacy, but the one look. It was almost a moment of recognition, a very long instant, before he looked away and conversed politely with the next introduction.

Fanny was not quite bewitched so much as alarmed and confused. And yet, excepting herself, the only other who paid him the least bit of attention from thereon was Lady Bertram—and she merely mumbled in her usual manner about Nile shrubbery and hieroglyphics (to which the exceedingly polite Lord Eastwind, surprisingly responded with thoughtful and educated facts of an Egyptological nature).

But Fanny was mistaken in at least one more thing. The Crawfords had noticed the new visitor, and indeed, a meaningful dark gaze passed between all of them within moments of meeting.

“What brings you here to the country, Eastwind?” said Mr. Crawford somewhat later that same first evening of acquaintance, employing a discreet moment of otherwise enthusiastic conversation between the others. “I venture a guess that you have come from farther than London. Why here?”

“Life,” replied the raven-haired gentleman with a very fine smile on his perfect sensuous lips. “I am newly brought to life, if you must know. Country air works wonders, even upon a very antiquated constitution. And the other thing that brings me here is a dear memory. Lady Bertram was kind enough to accommodate it.”

Across the table, Fanny overheard these cryptic remarks without much comprehension, but with much dread. She could recognize in it a play of double meaning.

“Very well,” responded Mr. Crawford. “But if you must enjoy life here in the fresh parklands, be aware that others with a similar nature and intentions are here to enjoy and reap of it also.”

“Don’t be selfish, Henry,” put in Miss Crawford, with a very dark smile upon her countenance, looking from her brother to the gentleman. “The delightful resources here are in plentiful abundance. Quite enough for all.”