Am very happy to hear you liked this - and I grinned at the word 'elegant' as I think that's part of the charm of Jane Austen's writing, while not one I'm used to trying to emulate in some way! I like to think that Marianne would have discovered that a love which starts less romantically may be all the stronger and longer-lasting for it, and that that's a romantic thought in itself. Besides, I rather like the idea of the possibility of seeing all the potential and the things she didn't know about the Colonel reawakening all her energy and enthusiasm, as would seeing him filled with joy at marrying her...

Thanks for the thoughtful words!:D