So now we know what a blackguard Willoughby is. I suppose there is no reason to doubt Col Brandon’s story. Elinor does not doubt it, so why should we.

But if all this is true I cannot understand why Miss Grey marries Willoughby. She is smart, rich and independent. Surely she would be able to do better than W? She is described as “not handsome”, so does that mean she is so unattractive that she grabs the first attractive guy that comes along even though he has such an unsavoury reputation? Does the fact that she does not get along with one of her guardians have anything to do with it? Or does W have an irresistible, ahem, physical appeal?