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"My dear Mr. Suckling, have you a moment?"
Suckling looked up at the soft knock upon his open study door and the sweet voice of his beloved wife. He felt quite blessed to have gained the hand of the former Selina Hawkins. And he was also quite relieved to have avoided the attempts of the less-than-lovely and far-from-sweet voiced Hawkins sister Augusta to capture him in Selina's stead. Thankfully, his sister by marriage had at last managed to catch herself a husband. A husband who, also thankfully, was not only now shackled to Augusta, but to a vicarage many miles away. A most convenient distance away in Suckling's opinion. Peace reigned supreme at Maple Grove now that the domineering, pretentious, scold was no longer inviting herself to spend months at a time disrupting their household and attempting to insert herself into the running of his estate. "For you, dear wife, I will make time," Suckling told her as he rose.
Crossing to the door, he offered his arm to lead her to the pair of chairs near the window where husband and wife preferred to spend those few moments they managed to carve out of their busy days for just themselves. Mrs. Suckling gave him a winsome smile, shifting her letter to her other hand to take her husband's arm. Suckling sat his wife and looked down at her hand. "Have the Tuppmans returned to West Hall?"
"No. At least not that the Tuppmans have sent word." Suckling nodded. He really had not expected his neighbors before Saturday a week, however his friends were known to occasionally change plans at a moment's notice. "This is from Mrs. Elton," Selina sighed. "I won't bother you with the whole of my sister's letter. It primarily expounds on her last." He understood at once that Augusta Elton was the same idiotic woman she had been as Augusta Hawkins. The only improvement being the distance between Maple Grove and her new abode in Highbury. That the recently married Mrs. Elton would continue to boast of her --likely imaginary-- place at the top of her new society did not surprise Suckling in the least.
"What new news has the new leading lady of Highbury shared?" Suckling asked with a small chuckle.
"Augusta has invited--," which Suckling interpreted as demanded, "--us to visit with her and her Mr. E. in the spring, or summer at the farthest," Selina told him, glancing at her letter. "She has also determined that we are to bring the barouche-landau, as it is superior for exploring."
"Ah, schemes of pleasure, for which the Sucklings will surely be treating the Eltons, as is only right as we will otherwise be partaking of their hospitality. Or rather, the hospitality of others in the neighborhood who she has insisted wish to invite us into their homes." Suckling knew his wife's sister well. "Are you set on making this visit, my dear?" He knew his sweet mannered wife loved her sister. However, he also knew his wife often simply accepted Augusta's presence and pronouncements rather than argue with the annoying woman.
"Not particularly," Selina admitted softly. "I would far rather remain here with the children except when I am able to travel short distances with you." Suckling smiled at that. Their children had the best of mothers.
"What do you say to a reply that we will be unable to travel to Highbury before autumn?" Suckling suggested.
Selina, his clever girl, immediately caught on to his plan. "We can make it a shorter visit citing the weather," she said with a smile. "Yes. I shall write to Mrs. Elton and say that we could not possibly come till the autumn."