At this point in the novel, I think that Edward is meant to illumine Elinor's personality to us, setting up the contrast with Marianne. Obviously, Elinor is not looking for the same things that Marianne is. Elinor and Marianne are the focus of the novel, not their love interests. I agree with CarolB that Jane is merely setting up the rest of the novel. She makes us enough acquainted with Edward to know that we like him, and to make us wonder why he hasn't declared his love.
And to be even more contrary, I distinctly disliked HG's portrayal of Edward, even though I usually like HG. He just seemed to have the wrong mannerisms to me and seemed weak rather than shy or introspective or conflicted in any way. JMHO.
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