The question was strange to Elinor. "I've naver met her," she answered coldly.
"Then,you couldn't say what kind of woman she is?" questioned Lucy.
"No," Elinor plainly replied, holding back her true opinion of Edward's mother. "I don't know anything about her."
Then Lucy looked at Elinor."I wish I could tell you about the difficult situation I'm in!"
"Well,I wish I could help you, but I don't know Mrs.Freears."
"Mrs.Freears knows nothing of me," Lucy said with a shy, sidelong glance at Elinor. "But we will be closely connected soon."
"Good Lord!" cried Elinor,"Do you mean with Mr.Robert Ferrars?"
She didn't like the idea of Lucy becoming her sister-in-law.
"No," replied Lucy, "not Robert. I've naver met him in my life. I mean his elder brother,Edward."
Elinor was silent with shock.
"You must be surprised," said Lucy, "because he naver mentioned our relationship to your family. I know Edward won't be angry that I've told you our secret. He trusts you so mush and looks upon you and your family almost as sisters."
Elinor forced herself to remain calm.
"May I ask how long you have been engaged?"
"We've been engaged for four years now," she answered.
Elinor couldn't belive it.