One of the things we learn, through having Mrs. Jennings describe Delaford, is that she and Charlotte visited there--once. Mrs. Jennings's enthusiastic description of Delaford belies what Charlotte said earlier--about how Colonel Brandon would have been happy to marry her if her mother had not objected:

(Ch. 20>)
I believe," she added in a low voice, "he would have been very glad to have had me, if he could. Sir John and Lady Middleton wished it very much. But mama did not think the match good enough for me, otherwise Sir John would have mentioned it to the colonel, and we should have been married immediately."

"Did not Colonel Brandon know of Sir John's proposal to your mother before it was made? Had he never owned his affection to yourself?"

"Oh! no; but if mama had not objected to it, I dare say he would have liked it of all things. He had not seen me then above twice, for it was before I left school. However I am much happier as I am. Mr. Palmer is just the kind of man I like."

The contrast between that and the way that Mrs. Jennings describes Delaford makes me think that she and Charlotte invited themselves over there and Mrs. Jennings would have been quite happy to have had the colonel ask for her daughter's hand--especially if she thinks that Delaford is nicer than Barton Park. If Charlotte was still in school then, she would have been quite young--it might perhaps have been when Colonel Brandon first inherited the property five years earlier?

Colonel Brandon, who is always mindful of others' feelings, was probably a gracious host to them, but absolutely not the least bit interested in being set up with Charlotte.