or...what did Mrs. Croft know or suspect along the way? This is my focus for the GR, and I fear it may be an inconclusive one.

However...I found that I had completely overlooked something in chapter 4. The narrator quite clearly tells us that Mrs. Croft has never been informed of the spoiled engagement:

"The sister, Mrs. Croft, had then been out of England, accompanying her husband on a foreign station, and her own sister, Mary, had been at school while it all occurred; and never admitted by the pride of some, and the delicacy of others, to the smallest knowledge of it afterwards."

For some reason I focused on the fact that Mary had never been informed, but this clearly states that Mrs. C is equally in the dark. I also think it interesting that this saga has not been told due to "the pride of some" and the "delicacy of others". I had always read this to mean the pride of Sir Walter and Elizabeth, the delicacy of Lady R and Anne. However, I think we are being told that CW's pride prohibited him from sharing his heartbreak with his sister. So, she didn't know in the year '06.

Chapter 6 informs us that Anne is quite convinced of Mrs. C's ignorance...
"especially, as she had satisfied herself in the very first half-minute, in the instant even of introduction, that there was not the smallest symptom of any knowledge or suspicion on Mrs. Croft's side to give a bias of any sort."

I've decided to trust Anne's judgement on this one; I believe Mrs. Croft is truly in the dark and has no suspicions at this time. So, she still hasn't been informed; she didn't know when she moved to Kellynch. I don't think that she is suspicious even at the dinner at the Musgroves'. It seems perfectly natural that CW pays attention to the lively, adoring young ladies. Although Mrs. Croft has apparently warmed to Anne quite a bit, I don't think she would think it odd that CW is not pouring the charm on for Anne...