But another claimant was now to be taken into account: a
young female relation whom Lady Denham had been induced to receive into
her family. After having always protested against any such addition, and
often enjoyed the repeated defeat she had given to every attempt of her
own relations to introduce 'this young lady, or that young lady,' as a
companion at Sanditon House, she had brought back with her from London
last Michaelmas a Miss Clara Brereton, who bid fair to vie in favour with
Sir Edward Denham, and to secure for herself and her family that share of
the accumulated property which they had certainly the best right to
inherit.'
Lady Denham's character comes out in a conversation which takes place at
Mr. Parker's tea-table.
'The conversation turned entirely upon Sanditon, its present number of
visitants, and the chances of a good season. It was evident that Lady
Denham had more anxiety, more fears of loss than her coadjutor. She
wanted to have the place fill faster, and seemed to have many harassing
apprehensions of the lodgings being in some instances underlet.
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