The book is really about the differences between Elinor and Marianne. And the focus largely is on them and their mother's responses to all that has happened. (There is an entertaining bit too, where we learn of the true characters of John Dashwood and his wife). I thought Austen was rather deft at building the story and assuring the reader of Elinor's attachment without letting the reader experience Edward themselves. How many authors can do that??? And do it well? The story develops very adroitly, even though Austen tells Elinor's love story differently than one would usually expect.