I like reaction 1 a lot better. It's a more conflicty conflict -- something that has to do with both characters, not simply one disapproving of a specific action of the other.

Now I just have to decide how to play it. It's not so much "How dare you?! Begone from my presence!" as "Marrying high, aren't we? Are you sure you're ready for this?"

I like number 1 too. It seems like a natural reaction that would also include envy. Maybe she doesn't believe that Lucy plans to help the other children. Maybe Portia told her that Lucy was just out for herself.

Deb, send it, please. I'll read and get back to you as soon as I can. It may be Monday, though.

Just back from catfeeding.

Susan, something that occurred to me: suppose Georgina's reason was a nice simple one? Suppose that, under the chilly good manners, Almont's formidable sister had been unable to hide her distaste for Portia, and for Portia's family? Suppose Georgina had felt herself snubbed, enough to where she'd come to hate the thought of having to deal with these people? Suppose she felt - on the kinder side of herself - that Portia would never be happy living in a family where she was so looked down upon?

Bev, sending. I'll attach the entire thing, rather than splitting it out; the new stuff is the last nine pages or so.

Suppose Georgina had felt herself snubbed, enough to where she'd come to hate the thought of having to deal with these people? Suppose she felt - on the kinder side of herself - that Portia would never be happy living in a family where she was so looked down upon?

Hmm. Would that take us back to her being angry with Lucy because she wanted James for her own daughter?

I think it would. Not the kind of over the top, crushing, unGeorgina-like anger she's presently displaying in that scene; if you do it in a particular way, it could be doubly illuminating, because a) Lucy could suddenly understand her aunt's reason and, even more telling, she could understand that Georgina herself isn't admitting the slap to her self-esteem the snubbing left her with. Does that make sense?

edit: not so much "I'm angry at you because I wanted my daughter to run off with the man you've just snagged", as "I'm miserable and upset and ashamed at being snubbed and I think I'll simply die if I have to keep dealing with these people, and how could Portia ever be happy here, but I don't even know that's why I'm upset, or at least I refuse to admit it to myself, so I'm going to transfer all the blame over to you!"

That makes sense. Especially if it's mixed with "I'm ashamed of my son for humiliating the family so much in front of this woman who's already snubbing us," and "My life is going to be so hard now, and here's Lucy getting her life made easy through marriage to a rich and handsome man." With even a small side of, "I meant to do such a good deed by finding Lucy some curate or gentleman farmer to marry, and here she manages to snag the most eligible bachelor in Gloucestershire all by herself! So now I feel useless as well as snubbed, ashamed, and bankrupt."

Problem is figuring out how to get all that across so that Lucy can pick up on it.

Bedtime for me. I should've been in bed half an hour ago. I have to get up extra early tomorrow. Rassen-frassen overambitious choir director picking ridiculously complex music requiring an extra rehearsal the morning we're to perform it.....

"I'm ashamed of my son for humiliating the family so much in front of this woman who's already snubbing us," and "My life is going to be so hard now, and here's Lucy getting her life made easy through marriage to a rich and handsome man." With even a small side of, "I meant to do such a good deed by finding Lucy some curate or gentleman farmer to marry, and here she manages to snag the most eligible bachelor in Gloucestershire all by herself! So now I feel useless as well as snubbed, ashamed, and bankrupt."

Yes and yes and yes. If I an help with the getting-across bit, suggestions, let me know; it's a thing I do well.

Bedtime for me too. Reeling with the tired.

So, how does this drabble thing work?