Captain Wentworth's Persuasion (43 page)

Looking down at her, he began to unbutton his jacket. “Your beauty stuns me,” he spoke reverently, enthralled by her appearance.

Anne stretched her arms out to him, and Frederick leaned over and blew out the single candle—only the glow of the fire showed
in the room. Then he slid into bed with her. “I love you, Anne Elliot Wentworth. I have loved no one but you.You are my life.”

“This is our first night together,” she whispered in his ear.“The first night of thousands to come.” She kissed him then—and after that, no more words were needed. They knew from the first day they met—from the first time they danced—from the first time they kissed.This was where they were meant to be.

On Saturday, they took the landaulette out for a ride about the countryside, taking in the beautiful vistas. Frederick ordered a picnic lunch packed by the innkeeper’s wife and laid claim to extra blankets for the drive.The sun shone brightly, although the air still held a brisk coolness.

Choosing a rocky outcropping overlooking a panoramic glade and orchard, he spread the blanket on the flat ledge and then he helped Anne settle there. She sat with her knees pulled up and her arms wrapped about them. Watching her intently, he relished the image of Anne tilting her face up to the sun.“It is such a beautiful day,” she said.

Frederick leaned over to kiss her upturned lips as he placed the picnic basket beside her.“
Perfectly
beautiful,” he murmured. He laid the extra blanket to her left in case she needed the additional warmth, and then he stretched out his full length, lying on his back and covering his face with his hat.

After ten minutes of silence, Anne’s voice broke through. “Did you bring me all the way out here so you might catch up on your sleep?”

He removed the hat and rolled to his side, propping himself up on one elbow. “I enjoyed the warmth of the sun, and I admit it could easily lull me to sleep. I got little rest last night.”

“Neither did I,” she asserted.

Frederick laughed before taking her hand in his. “I recall,” he murmured and flashed a wicked smile. “Would you like a repeat performance?” He moved up to kiss her earlobe.“I would be willing to service your needs, Sweetling.”

“Why do you not serve the food instead?” Anne suggested, a little scandalized.

“Ah, Sweetheart, you wound me greatly, but I am here to please you.” Frederick sat up to open the basket. “Now, let us see what Mrs. Francis has created for us.” He removed the contents of the basket and then piled roasted chicken, dark bread, cheese, and fresh fruit on the plates. “What do you think, Love? Is this not a grand meal?” He poured them each a large glass of wine.

“It is, Frederick.” Anne leaned in to kiss his wine-touched lips. “It is the best meal ever served to me.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “Do you love being married as much as I do?”

Anne turned to sit back against him after feeding Frederick a mouthful of cheese and bread. “Married life is very satisfying, Mr. Wentworth.” She wiggled up next to him, and he automatically began to kiss the nape of her neck. The freedom to touch each other became more intoxicating with each new exploration.“Will it always be this way?” she asked.

“I would hope so,” he spoke next to her ear.“Twenty years from now, it will not be so adventurous, but I guarantee the passion and the desire will still be there.”

“Can you imagine us twenty years from now?”

Frederick traced his fingers up and down her arm. “I see us in an estate—near the sea, of course—where we will entertain our neighbors. Our children will be strong as their father and as beautiful as their mother, and they will accept only love matches—the same as their parents.” This was a defining moment; he and Anne actually had a future. Speaking of children and of a home out loud seemed very prophetic—almost mystical.

“How many children?” she asked.

He encircled her in his embrace.“Two—maybe three.”

“Two,” she decided.

“Two it is, Mrs.Wentworth.”

The afternoon passed too quickly, but they spent their time together speaking of commitment—to something greater—something
beyond them. They planned their life—talked of where to live, how to arrange the house, what qualities to instill in their children, and what role each would play. They learned about each other intimately the night before; they learned how to make the marriage work during that impromptu Saturday afternoon picnic.

On Sunday, they joined the villagers at the local church to give thanks for their love and to pray for the safety of all the men with whom Frederick would sail.

When the Admiral’s coach rolled into the inn yard early Monday morning, the reality of what would change when they reached Plymouth gripped them.“Frederick, I am frightened,” she whispered once they were on their way.

He took her hand in his. “I would be telling a lie if I told you there is no danger. Of course, in war there is always danger.” Frederick lifted her chin to force Anne to look at him.“There are dangers even when there is not a war. Women die regularly in childbirth. Poverty claims hundreds daily. Men lose their homes and property to gambling and overspending, sending their families into bankruptcy. A gentleman can easily greet death simply by stepping into a busy street and meeting a runaway carriage.We cannot control our fate, Anne; all we can do is exercise caution and reason. I am known for those qualities. I will never put you or the men on my ship at risk simply to win a government prize. I value human life too much.”

“I know,” she spoke the words softly but with a degree of determination. “Change is frightening, though.”

“I understand, my Love. It is more of a change for you than it is for me.You are giving up your way of life, all you knew.You must promise, just as you did on our first night together, you will tell me when things are too much—too much change at once. There is
nothing
you can say to me that will lessen my love for you.”

“I promise.” Anne brought his hand to her mouth. She kissed his palm and then followed his lifeline with her index finger. “You will have a long life,” she predicted in a voice that was husky with emotion.

Frederick took the glove from her hand and examined her palm.“And you, too.”Then he aligned their palms, so their lifelines touched each other. “We will have a long life
together
.” His fingers interlaced with hers. “As our hands are linked together, so is our fate.We belong to each other—you and I.”

“You and I.” She smiled, more serenely now. “Our fates predetermined.”

“Yes, our fates have brought us full circle, back to each other.” He wrapped his other hand around their two and squeezed them together.“We are bound together, and nothing will pull us apart. I need you near me,Anne, and then I can do anything.”

“Captain, we are coming into the Sound,” Harwood reported.

His assistant helped Frederick to finish dressing. “Thank you, Lieutenant; I will be ready.”

“The crew are pleased to have you up and about, Sir.” Harwood began to straighten the quarters.

“My recovery was difficult for a while, and I do thank you and the other officers for the part you played; I am doing well.Yet, four and a half months at sea are long enough. I do not know about you, Harwood, but I am ready for some dry land.” Frederick straightened the cuff of his uniform’s sleeve as his assistant brushed down the back of the coat.“Are the prisoners ready for the transfer?”

“They are, Sir. Our men will sail the French sloop into the bay behind us. That one, plus the frigate we captured earlier, should serve us well.”

“I admit to looking forward to this payout. I promised Mrs. Wentworth a place of her own when this action is over.” Frederick wrapped the belt from his saber around his waist.

“How much longer do you think we will be, Captain?”

“The war, you mean?—It cannot last much longer. When we took on supplies at Gibraltar,Wellington had Napoleon on the run. That was nearly a month ago: I cannot imagine Bonaparte can hold out much longer.That is one of my first tasks when we are in port—we need an update as to if we go back out again.” Frederick
slid on his gloves.

“What will we do with the American—the one who shot you?” Harwood opened the door for Frederick.

“I will turn him over to the Central Office as soon as we dock: I am sure they will be most eager to question him.” Frederick nodded to both men. “Let us greet England.” They followed him to the main deck.

Anne stayed in the background, allowing Frederick to lead his men home to England. His was the most serious injury of their journey, but they made it home safely because he had trained them to operate efficiently without him.A month into their orders, they had captured a French frigate, which was already disassembled, and the prisoners were on one of the many ships anchored off Plymouth’s coast.Today, they brought in the sloop as a second prize.

Frederick led Anne to one of the railings so he could speak with her privately. “You will wait on board with the men until I return for you. It may take several hours to turn over all the records to the Central Office.”

“I understand. It will give me time to finish packing.”

“Shall I send one of the men to help you?”

“No, my Love, I can handle it. I would be mortified if one of the crew saw my private papers or, even worse, my undergarments.” She flushed with embarrassment at the thought.

He smiled at her.“Only I am allowed to make you blush.”

“That is your prerogative,” she taunted. “Now, go about your duties; I will be fine,” she assured him.

“We will dine at the Royal Hotel tonight.You enjoyed staying there when we first came to Plymouth.”

“That sounds delightful. Now, off with you.” With that, Anne walked briskly toward her quarters. Frederick’s eyes followed her—if she only knew how essential she was to him!

Returning to his officers, who were gathered on deck, Frederick addressed them: “Gentlemen, without your devotion to duty, we might be coming home to England with news of our losses; instead, we enter this port with everyone safe and sound. I salute
your efforts. I will note them in my official report. I take Avendale and Harwood with me.The rest of you see to securing
The Resolve
. I will return with our new orders and leave for everyone.”

“Yes, Captain.”The men dispersed to do his bidding, knowing in a few hours, they would see loved ones again.

Strolling down the gangplank, seeing Benjamin waiting surprised him. “Frederick, my Boy, Sophie will be so happy to know you are safe! She worried so. As soon as I heard it was
The Resolve
coming in, I hurried down to see for myself.” He started to give Frederick a warm hug, but Frederick backed away.

“Forgive me, Admiral. I suffered an injury in our most recent encounter. I am well now, but still a bit sore. Is Sophia in Plymouth, too? Anne will be happy to see her.”

“Your sister is still at Kellynch. I am traveling back and forth, mostly between Bath and here, but occasionally to Bristol in support of the Central Office. I am only at Kellynch a few days a week, but I cannot leave Sophie there alone for very long. I
should
wait for your sister to tell you, but I will not. Sophie, after all these years, is with child. Once I found out, I could not subject her to a return to the sea; that is why I am acting as an adviser to these various groups.”

“Sophia? You are to be a father, Benjamin? How magnificent! And how are Edward and Christine?” Frederick’s mind rushed through the many things he wanted to ask his sister’s husband as they walked briskly toward the Central Office for Naval Affairs.

“Christine is in her confinement. Our brother is distraught if his letters are any indication. Of course, in six months Edward will be able to return my ridicule. Let us get you clearance, and then I want to see that wife of yours. We have not laid eyes on either of you since you rode away from your wedding breakfast. How did Mrs.Wentworth take to the sea?”