‘I do like your Mary, my dear.’ Miss Austen was speaking to Fanny. ‘I was just saying, Mother.’ Yet again, she was forced to raise her voice, which was becoming increasingly strained. ‘I do like this little Mary Dorothea.’

Cassy shot Mary a look of wide-eyed pride and delight. And Mary herself could not but feel pleased.

‘Do you, Aunt?’ they heard Fanny reply. Mary could tell from the note of surprise in her tone that her face had that familiar, quizzical expression. Cassy looked cross.

‘Oh, very much indeed.’ Miss Austen was emphatic. ‘I was particularly struck by her instantaneous affinity with our beloved Chawton. It is not to everybody’s taste. Indeed, I remember the first visit made by your beloved late mama, God rest her soul. Sad to say, the Great House was not to her liking, yet Miss Knatchbull loves it at once.’

‘Does she?’ Still, Fanny seemed rather puzzled.

Mary nodded at Cassy with vigour.

‘And furthermore,’ Miss Austen went on, ‘she is so taken with our beloved Knights, which I do love to see. Miss Knatchbull is very fond of your grandchildren, Mama!’

Mary blew a silent kiss towards Cassy, who placed a hand to her own heart.

‘And they her, if I am not mistaken. She certainly seems to have caught our George’s eye. George, Mother! I was just saying he SEEMS RATHER KEEN …’

Cassy was now doubled up, and clutching her sides. Mary bade her hush, desperate to hear the Mother’s reply:

‘Aunt, pray forgive me.’ Fanny sounded sharp now, and firm. ‘But I think you must be mistaken. Mary is such a timid, plain little thing.’

Cassy clamped a hand to her mouth to stop the scream of amused outrage.

‘The poor girl can hardly say boo to a goose, let alone flirt with a gentleman.’ She gave a shrill, confident laugh. ‘And as her mama, I do keep her under quite tight control.

‘So no, my dear Aunt. There is nothing like that going on and nor will it ever. Of that I am perfectly sure.’

CHAPTER XIX

The Chawton visit was over, and Fanny felt a little bereft. Even after four years, she still found it unsettling to leave her dear family and return to the Knatchbulls and Hatch. And to make matters worse, Lady Banks had demanded Sir Edward’s presence elsewhere. Fortunately, Fanny’s favourite sister was kind enough to come and keep her company for those few, difficult days.

The first evening, they had dined out at the Finch-Hattons, and even taken the younger girls, Mary and Cassy, with them. On the second, though, they were home and alone and able to coze in the drawing room – which came as a relief to Fanny, who for some reason felt uncommonly tired.