In short, she is good, amiable, and
sensible, but cold, prudent, and reflecting. Lord Byron makes up to
her a little; but she don't seem to admire him except as a poet, nor
he her except for a wife."
Again, June 2, 1812, she says,
"Your Annabella is a mystery; liking, not liking; generous-minded, yet
afraid of poverty; there is no making her out. I hope you don't make
yourself unhappy about her; she is really an icicle."
Miss Milbanke's unaffected simplicity attracted Byron; even her coldness
was a charm. When he came to know her, he probably found her not only
agreeable, but the best woman he had ever met. Lady Melbourne, who knew
him most intimately, and was also Miss Milbanke's aunt, may well have
thought that, if her niece once gained control over Byron, her influence
would be the making of his character. She encouraged the match by every
means in her power. It is unnecessary to suppose that she did so to save
Lady Caroline Lamb; that danger was over. At some time before the autumn
of 1812, Byron proposed to Miss Milbanke, and was refused. He still,
however, continued to correspond with her, and his 'Journal' shows that
his affection for her was steadily growing during the years 1813-14. In
September, 1814, he proposed a second time, and was accepted.
Byron professed to believe (Medwin, p. 59) that Miss Milbanke was not in
love with him.
"I was the fashion when she first came out; I had the character of
being a great rake, and was a great dandy--both of which young ladies
like.
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