] "The genteel read of the scandalous activities of London-based lords and ladies with an appalled and untiring fascination, but strongly defined themselves against such outrageous self-indulgence" .

This reminds me of Fanny's father's reaction when he reads about Maria & Henry in the newspaper: gleeful but disapproving. I know that the Bertrams/Rushworths aren't really aristocracy but probably to the Prices's they were close to it.