by both Jenny and Robbin. Jenny's comment on the precariousness of Elizabeth's situation made me think a bit more on it-- I add only a little to say that Elizabeth has a lot more to lose in a future marriage compared to what she has known. She has functioned as mistress of a noble house and this will be hard for her to give up in any situation, whether due to Mrs. Clay's incursion or an "unequal marriage." it is perhaps not surprising she is a little picky.

One also suspects that Elizabeth may have been a bit of a control-freak. ("Nothing could be done without a reference to Elizabeth.”)