If Sir Walter were to marry Mrs Clay, then Elizabeth would lose her present role as mistress of Kellynch Hall. The new Lady Elliott would have the right of "presiding and directing", and "doing the honours, and laying down the domestic law at home".

As Lady Elliott, Penelope would also move ahead of Elizabeth in the order of precedence, since the wife of a Baronet would rank higher than a Baronet's unmarried daughter. I think she would also rank higher than the wife(widow)of a Knight, so Penelope would then enjoy the right of walking in front of Lady Russell out of all the drawing-rooms and dining-rooms in the country, with Elizabeth tagging along behind them both.