] Mrs. Dashwood, however much she might be an attractive person, would very likely be past child-bearing age in that time, so could not provide Brandon (or anyone) with a family, sons or heirs, and has nothing in the way of a financial inducement that might make a younger man interested in a slightly older widow. We know that Brandon does not need her money, but it is not unreasonable to assume that a 35 year old man would like to have his own family.