You read my mind! I always thought Colonel Brandon more appropriate for Mrs. Dashwood.
We tend to forget that, since Regency women married at about 20, they were 40 when their daughters came out (Mr. Bennet teases his wife about attracting Mr. Bingley herself, but such a possibility wouldn't be too far from the truth). I agree with Suzanne, in a story where Mr. Dashwood died earlier and his widow went to Barton Cottage maybe a few years later (so she could have time to recover from her loss), I think a pairing between Col Brandon and Mrs. Dashwood would be very likely. Plot bunny, anyone?
We tend to forget that, since Regency women married at about 20, they were 40 when their daughters came out (Mr. Bennet teases his wife about attracting Mr. Bingley herself, but such a possibility wouldn't be too far from the truth). I agree with Suzanne, in a story where Mr. Dashwood died earlier and his widow went to Barton Cottage maybe a few years later (so she could have time to recover from her loss), I think a pairing between Col Brandon and Mrs. Dashwood would be very likely. Plot bunny, anyone?