Captain Wentworth's Persuasion (28 page)

Frederick nodded and shuffled the pages in his hands. He cleared his throat, trying to stall for as long as possible, before reading.

Frederick looked up in disbelief to see tears streaming down Christine’s face.“You were right,” he whispered.

“Oh, Frederick!” she exclaimed.

Edward half laughed. “I suppose this is the end of your visit?” He slapped Frederick on his shoulder. “You are one lucky man, my Brother!”

“Can it be true?” Frederick still held the letter, afraid that if he moved, all his hopes would be dashed.“I must write to Sophie.” He turned wide-eyed to stare at his brother.

Edward’s smile grew by the moment. “Yes, write to Captain Benwick and offer him your congratulations. Send Thomas Harville words to ease his consternation, and then write to our sister. By the way, you do recall that Sophia and the Admiral traveled to Bath so that he might take the waters for his gout?”

The significance of what Edward said dawned on Frederick. “Benjamin’s gout? They are in Bath!” He started to laugh hysterically. Getting up and dancing around the room, he swept Christine out of her seat. “Sophia is in Bath,” he chanted as he twirled her around the furniture.

“Easy, Frederick,” Edward cautioned.“Those are my goods you swing about the room.”

Frederick spun his brother’s wife around once more. Bowing to her, he said, “I have so much to do.” Then he headed toward the door.

“What about your meal?”

“I will take it with me.” Frederick grabbed his plate from the table. “I can breathe again, Edward!” he nearly shouted on his way out of the room.“I can breathe at last!”

Christine sat down on Edward’s lap and snaked her arms around his neck as he adjusted her in his embrace. She laid her head on his shoulder. “Someday,” she said dreamily, “you will explain to me what just happened?”

“If things go the way I suspect, the next time we see my younger brother, he will introduce you to the love of his life.” He lifted her chin.“Frederick’s love will meet my love.”

Frederick Wentworth strode down the busy street, secure in the knowledge that he would see Anne Elliot soon. He arrived in Bath only the day before, nearly a week from the day he had received Milly Harville’s note—the longest week of his existence. In his letter, he had not told Sophia he planned to join her in Bath, even though Frederick knew she would be thrilled when he returned to her household. He simply told her of the developments at Uppercross.

Today, he would meet some acquaintances; if he were fortunate,
he would learn the latest gossip about the Elliots. Later, he would ask Sophia to help him meet Anne again. Sophia and the Admiral called on the Elliots previously, and Benjamin spoke of how often they saw Anne about town. In fact, the Admiral had escorted her home only three days earlier. If nothing else, he could make a call of respect on her to see how she fared. After spending so much time in each other’s company at Uppercross, such an act would be appropriate.

A little below Milson Street, he met his party, having agreed the previous evening to spend time with Lieutenant Harding, the younger son of the Marquis of Brookstone; his sisters, Ladies Amelia and Caroline; as well as their cousin Lady Susan Lowery.Yesterday morning, Frederick had encountered Buford Harding quite unexpectedly at a posting inn twenty miles north of Bath. They had agreed to meet for today’s outing. Frederick might have declined the offer, but he knew Harding’s family would move in the same circles as did Anne’s. He hoped to see Anne Elliot again without seeming to pursue her.

“Ah, Wentworth!” Harding called out as he approached. Frederick offered the group a bow.“Let me introduce you, Captain,” he said, clarifying the connections by explaining to his family that Captain Wentworth was the personal friend of Captain Benwick, under whom Harding recently served.

“Our brother tells us Captain Benwick recently became engaged,” Lady Amelia hinted for information.

“Only a fortnight ago,” Frederick assured her, “if my source was reliable.” They started walking toward Molland’s, a fashionable confectioner’s shop often patronized by members of the
ton
. Frederick assumed he could ask his companions about the Elliots soon enough.

“Do you know his betrothed?” Lady Amelia asked.

Frederick guarded his words, unsure what she might have heard. “The young lady is quite pleasant; Miss Musgrove should soften Captain Benwick’s need for solitude, and the Captain should
allow Louisa Musgrove to develop a deep love of learning.They are well matched.”

“My brother admired Captain Benwick,” Miss Amelia added quickly.“I do not believe I know the Musgroves.”

Frederick thought,
This lady wants to know the latest gossip
. He paused before answering. “The Musgroves are a wealthy family in Somerset.Their son once served under me, but Richard Musgrove passed away several years ago.”

“Ah, so they have no title?” Lady Amelia asked disdainfully.

Frederick could not resist, having felt the sting of such judgments before. “Perhaps I should withdraw.You should not be seen in my company, Lady Amelia. Like the Musgroves,
I
am among the untitled.”

“Oh, Captain,” she said and giggled,“I meant no offense.”

“None taken,” he muttered, but the lady’s words so incensed him that when his party stepped into Molland’s, and he found the one person in the world he most wanted to see, every word he had planned to say upon finding Anne Elliot flew out of his mind. He stood there transfixed, feeling himself turn quite red. God! She was more beautiful than he remembered, and it was all he could do not to shout for joy at being in her presence once again. Obviously equally struck by seeing him, Anne took a slight step back, and Frederick, automatically reached out to steady her. Just touching her sent a shock through him. All the overpowering, blinding, bewildering, first effects of strong surprise were over for her, but Frederick still could not conquer his sensibilities. It was agitation, pain, pleasure, a something between delight and misery.

“Miss—Miss Anne!” he stammered.

Still a bit confused by the sight of him,Anne managed to curtsy. “Captain Wentworth.”A smile turned up the corners of her mouth as Frederick searched her face.

“Miss Anne,” Lady Susan interrupted their conversation, “it is pleasant to see you again. May I inquire as to the health of the rest of your family?”

“My father is well, thank you, Lady Susan.” Then Anne gestured
toward one of the tables.“My sister and her companion, Mrs. Clay, as you see, are with me. We took refuge from the rainy weather.” Lady Susan and Elizabeth acknowledged each other with a nod.

“I assume with your cousin Lady Dalrymple’s patronage of the arts, your family will be in attendance for Madame Tresurré’s premiere concert performance?”

Anne shifted her weight.“My family shall attend.”

“Then we shall see you there.” Lady Susan and her cousins started to move away, and, after a nervous bow, Frederick followed suit. He neared the table Harding had located for them before he realized he just walked away from Anne—the one thing he swore he would never do again. For nearly two months he prayed daily for the opportunity to rekindle Anne’s desire for him, and he just walked past her to sit with Lady Amelia, a woman who not three minutes ago made him so angry he reacted in a very non-gentlemanlike manner.“Excuse me,” he said to his group and went back to where Anne still stood, looking out at the street.

“Miss Anne,” he spoke softly as he stepped up beside her,“I am happy to see you well.”

“Thank you, Captain, and are you well? I understand from the Admiral that you were with your bother in Shropshire?”

“I could do little in Lyme to help the situation, so I took the opportunity to visit with Edward and his new wife. He took a living with Lord Calderson and is very productive.” Frederick barely noted his own words; he simply wanted to be there in her presence and to look into Anne’s eyes.

Anne lifted her chin to engage his stare. “Then Mr. Wentworth has his own congregation? I am ashamed to say I lost track of him after he left the country. It gives me pleasure to know he is doing well.”

“His story is even better than that. Edward and his wife, Christine, will welcome their first child in mid-summer.”

“Indeed!” Her eyes sparkled. “Your brother is blessed to find such happiness at last. Please convey my best wishes to both Edward and Mrs.Wentworth.”

Emboldened, Frederick said, “I would be pleased to do so. I have not asked of your own family, Miss Anne.Are they in health?”

Anne motioned toward where Elizabeth sat. “My family does well in Bath, Sir.”

Frederick caught Elizabeth Elliot’s eye and nodded, but the woman turned away with unalterable coldness. Momentarily stunned by her casual cruelty, Frederick pretended to be indifferent to the social cut, saying, “I was—I was concerned—concerned for how the situation at Lyme affected you.” He gazed into her eyes.

“I knew agitation for several hours when Louisa first suffered her injury, but I cannot compare my angst with what you endured,” she said softly.

“I am deeply sorry to be a part of any affliction Miss Musgrove met that day. I, foolishly, in my pride and conceit, paid her too much attention; she, obviously, misinterpreted the extent of my interest. Miss Musgrove’s desire to act impulsively—to act in an independent manner—led to her accident, but it was I who often encouraged her free spirit,” he said somberly. He looked down at the floor and took a deep breath. Looking up at Anne, he said,“And I am pleased that Miss Musgrove has now found happiness with Captain Benwick and he with her. He has known grief at its lowest depth, and if Louisa Musgrove gives him a new focus in life, then things have worked out better than any one of us could have imagined.”

“I wondered if the change would affect your relationship with Captain Benwick. I hoped you would not feel ill used by your friend. I should be very sorry that such a friendship as has subsisted between you and Captain Benwick should be destroyed, or even wounded, by a circumstance of this sort.”

Frederick smiled and shook his head.“Miss Musgrove is a pleasant companion, and any man would be blessed to have her in his life, but I believe she chose the man who is best for her. She is an affectionate, outgoing girl, and her warm heart will heal James Benwick, as is proper.”

A servant in Dalrymple livery interrupted their exchange.
“The Lady Dalrymple’s coach for the Misses Elliot,” he called in a clear voice.

Elizabeth Elliot haughtily stood. Meanwhile, her companion scrambled to retrieve their packages. Seeing Elizabeth and the woman exit, Frederick offered Anne his arm:“May I escort you to your carriage?”

Anne dropped her eyes in embarrassment. “I am much obliged to you, but I am not going with them.The carriage would not accommodate so many. I walk.” She added quickly,“I prefer walking.”

Frederick realized that nothing had changed for Anne; her family still treated her worse than they would treat a poor relative. He looked out the window and exclaimed,“But it rains!”