A Modern Day Sense and Sensibility: An Adaptation of Jane Austen's Classic by Kaitlin Saunders Read Free Book Online Page A

at her mother oddly. “Why?” she replied with a frown, putting her hands on her hips. “I thought you couldn’t wait to get away from Francil.”
    “Yes, but this is so much more important,” Diane began, taking back the letter and replacing it in its envelope. “I believe that Ellie really likes Edward and that he likes her, too. And if we were to leave now. . .” Diane trailed off and Marianne took the hint.
    “Edward? She likes Edward?” Marianne was flabbergasted. “You mean
that
way?”
    Diane raised her eyebrows and tried to suppress a chuckle. “Darling, you can’t expect your sister to like the same type of men you do.”
    Marianne shifted, wiping her already dry hands on the apron as she digested this news. “I know that, but Edward?” she asked again. “He has no life. What does she see in him?”
    Diane smiled and took one of Marianne’s hands, “That, my dear, is a question you’ll have to ask your sister.” Marianne nodded, setting her mind to do just that later in the evening. “Promise me you won’t say anything to her about the apartment,” Diane pleaded.
    “Okay!” Marianne acquiesced as she backed toward the sink, raising her hands in surrender. Marianne might not agree with her mother’s motives or understand why Ellie was interested in Edward, but she would give them time and meanwhile pin down her sister’s exact feelings.
    Just as she had set her mind to do earlier, Marianne entered Ellie’s room later that night and found her sister warmly snuggled under the covers reading a book. Collapsing onto the bed with a purposeful thud, Marianne sent Ellie’s book tumbling to the ground.
    “Marianne!” Ellie complained as she bent down to retrieve the novel despite hearing her sister’s amusement. Normally, Ellie would have laughed herself, but she happened to be reading
A Proper Pursuit
by Lynn Austin and was half-way through the book’s climax.
    Settling back into bed and reopening the book, Ellie was determined to ignore her rude and immature sister.Marianne, in reply, rolled onto her back and looked up at the ceiling, pretending not to notice that Ellie wasn’t in the mood to talk.
    “So, what do you think of Edward?” Marianne began, startling Ellie, “Do you like him?”
    Ellie attempted to hide her flushed face from behind the book, but wasn’t able to avoid the scrutiny of her younger sister. How different the sisters were: Marianne relished an openly discussed romance, whereas Ellie was very private. Even as a child, she never liked to discuss crushes with her mom. “I don’t know. . .” Ellie began, her tone a bit squeaky as she shifted uncomfortably under the sheets.
    “I think you do know, you just don’t want to admit it,” Marianne pressured.
    Ellie couldn’t disguise her smile as she closed the novel and put it on the nightstand. She might as well get this over with as Marianne would not be giving up anytime soon. “Okay . . . so, maybe I do kinda like him. What’s your point?”
    Marianne smiled triumphantly, and after a moment added, “I think he likes you very much.”
    Ellie’s breath caught and her expression conveyed her doubts and hopes concerning her sister’s assurance. “You think so?” she asked wistfully.
    Marianne turned to face Ellie and gave her an incredulous look, “I can tell by the way he always singles you out.” Ellie smiled and glanced down, her cheeks turning a beautiful shade of pink. Marianne sighed and pulled herself up off the bed. “When you’re married, will you promise not to live too far away?” she asked with sincerity.
    “Married!” Ellie exclaimed, feeling as if the world paused while her mind began to race—okay, so maybe she had thought about how wonderful it would be to marry Edward before falling asleep almost every night since meeting him, but to have her sister voice it knocked the wind out of Ellie. How was it that Marianne was able to see right through her like that?
    Still not entirely convinced