The Proposal — Sense and Sensibility

After final calls in Harley Street the parties leave London in early April, Mrs. Jennings and the Dashwoods travelling slowly with Charlotte Palmer while Mr. Palmer and Colonel Brandon ride ahead. Marianne grieves leaving the city where Willoughby remains, but Elinor is glad to escape Lucy and unseen by Willoughby since his marriage. They reach Cleveland in Somersetshire, a modern house near enough to Combe Magna for Marianne's tortured fancy. She wanders the grounds in solitary misery, then persists in wet twilight walks despite rain. Colonel Brandon and Mr. Palmer arrive; Elinor compares Palmer's selfishness with Edward's worth and hears Brandon describe improvements at Delaford.

Marianne's cold, denied at first, grows violent after imprudent exposure. Mrs. Palmer fusses over her child while Mrs. Jennings knits and Elinor watches the weather turn dangerous. The sisters move into the landscape of Marianne's heartbreak, and the illness that will nearly kill her begins here, romantic self-destruction turning into physical collapse. Cleveland's modern lawns and shrubbery cannot distract Marianne from Combe Magna's proximity, and her wet walks turn romantic despair into physical risk. Elinor hears Brandon describe Delaford improvements with painful interest while Marianne's fever begins the illness that will force the sisters to confront Willoughby one last time.