“Mrs. Rushworth will be very angry. It will be a bitter pill to her; that is, like other bitter pills, it will have two moments’ ill flavour, and then be swallowed and forgotten; for I am not such a coxcomb as to suppose her feelings more lasting than other women’s, though I was the object of them. (30)

I think Henry believed any pain he caused Maria would be temporary. Mary told Fanny that “very few young ladies have any affections worth caring for” (36) and it seems to me Henry felt that way as well. He did not believe Maria’s affection for him was lasting and so also thought any rancor against him for abandoning her would disappear (see above). Henry attributes her coldness to ‘anger on Fanny’s account’ (48) which illustrates he still believed her affection for him was neither real nor lasting. I think Henry probably did believe Maria would welcome him with smiles. I don’t feel he was actually in love with Maria but rather was in love with gratifying his vanity. After he regained the smiles of Miss Bertram he entered into the affair with ‘as little excuse of love as possible’ (48) which suggests to me very little regard for Maria. Also I think he was bored without his usual intrigues and he was too weak to resist temptation. (:D)