Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
iamisaac
Fandom 16
Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
PG
Catherine/Eleanor, Catherine/Henry
She thought that Henry was mad, that first time she danced with him. Appealing, but definitely mad. Eleanor, by contrast, seemed terrifyingly sane. Cool, collected, well-bred; everything that was least like impulsive, enthusiastic Catherine. She found herself biting her lip, casting nervous glances at both Eleanor and Henry to try and gauge whether she'd said anything more than usually stupid.
And then - slowly - Eleanor's barrier of reserve was lowered, little by little, until Catherine saw the gentle, loving heart that resided in her friend. Saw, too, that she herself was loved just as she was - straightforward, honest, vital. In her dreams, she saw a future where she, Henry and Eleanor lived together in harmony and mutual affection - almost as they did at Northanger Abbey in General Tilney's absence. She never once questioned herfeelings or dreams, just accepting that she loved both Tilneys and believing that they loved her too.
It was not to be. Catherine was too generous hearted to begrudge Eleanor her happiness with her Earl; too steeped in contemporary conventional ideology to realise even the nature of her feelings for the other woman. If they were unusually close for sisters-in-law, why, so much the better: Henry and Eleanor were also, after all, exceptionally close.
And if it had occurred to Catherine to think of Eleanor with any different emotion, then what? Her usual happy nature would have led her to the belief that she had all a woman could ask. For Henry was nearly Eleanor; she loved him also.
Catherine's long marriage was happy and peaceful. Her love for her husband never changed. And nor did her love for Eleanor.
Fandom 16
Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
PG
Catherine/Eleanor, Catherine/Henry
She thought that Henry was mad, that first time she danced with him. Appealing, but definitely mad. Eleanor, by contrast, seemed terrifyingly sane. Cool, collected, well-bred; everything that was least like impulsive, enthusiastic Catherine. She found herself biting her lip, casting nervous glances at both Eleanor and Henry to try and gauge whether she'd said anything more than usually stupid.
And then - slowly - Eleanor's barrier of reserve was lowered, little by little, until Catherine saw the gentle, loving heart that resided in her friend. Saw, too, that she herself was loved just as she was - straightforward, honest, vital. In her dreams, she saw a future where she, Henry and Eleanor lived together in harmony and mutual affection - almost as they did at Northanger Abbey in General Tilney's absence. She never once questioned herfeelings or dreams, just accepting that she loved both Tilneys and believing that they loved her too.
It was not to be. Catherine was too generous hearted to begrudge Eleanor her happiness with her Earl; too steeped in contemporary conventional ideology to realise even the nature of her feelings for the other woman. If they were unusually close for sisters-in-law, why, so much the better: Henry and Eleanor were also, after all, exceptionally close.
And if it had occurred to Catherine to think of Eleanor with any different emotion, then what? Her usual happy nature would have led her to the belief that she had all a woman could ask. For Henry was nearly Eleanor; she loved him also.
Catherine's long marriage was happy and peaceful. Her love for her husband never changed. And nor did her love for Eleanor.