Captain Wentworth's Persuasion (10 page)

“I never suspected as much,” Sophia replied. “I knew from our conversation when we returned the call at Uppercross some fortnight ago that Miss Anne was familiar with Edward; yet, I did not realize you also made her acquaintance. Had I known, I would have shared your recent success when I told her about Edward’s marriage. I am sure she would be interested to know of your moving up in the ranks.You were not yet given your first command, Brother, when you visited Edward all those years ago.”

“I assure you Miss Anne would not be interested in my career,” Frederick retorted, trying to keep the bitterness out of his words. “Then I assume Miss Anne is at Uppercross with her younger sister?”

“Mrs. Charles is of a delicate nature, or so she prefers to tell anyone who might listen. I suspect Miss Anne is the only one in the family with good sense; she appears to be the only one who can placate Mary Musgrove.”

“My wife has immersed herself in neighborhood gossip,” Benjamin Croft revealed fondly.

Sophia rolled her eyes before continuing her story. “Miss Anne will travel with Lady Russell to Bath before Christmas. Lady Russell is away in Hertfordshire at the moment. Although she lives in the estate lodge, we have yet to meet the woman. She left the area before we took possession of the house. It is common knowledge that she serves as a confidante to the Elliot family, but you may know that already.”

Frederick stiffened with the mention of Lady Russell’s name.As much as he blamed Anne for succumbing to her family’s advice, he blamed Lady Russell more. Anne trusted Lady Russell to aid her with Sir Walter’s objections to the marriage, and the woman sided with Anne’s father. He might have overcome the baronet’s opposition, but Lady Russell compounded the doubts Anne already held. The knowledge of Lady Russell’s absence from the country came as a pleasant surprise; he did not think he could face her without animosity. “Sophia, I suddenly feel very tired; if you would show me to my room, I believe I would like to rest before dinner.”

“Of course, Frederick.” She rose to lead the way.

“Until dinner, Sir.” Frederick offered his brother a slight bow as he stood. The Admiral nodded pleasantly and remained seated as Frederick walked to the door.

“Mr. Steventon arranged for his nephew to serve as your valet while you are here, Frederick. I know you are quite adept at handling your own ablutions, but the man is available if you need him.”

“Thank you, Sophia; you are a faultless hostess.” He followed her up the staircase to the private quarters. He wondered, as he
passed each of the closed doorways, which one had belonged to Anne. For years, Frederick had seen her everywhere he looked. Now he was in her home, or what had been her home; and his memories and his fantasies seemed to be stronger than the present, mundane as it was.

He sat on the edge of the bed; his heart pounding furiously, making him light-headed. He cursed himself for still being susceptible to even the remembered charms of Anne Elliot. Being in Anne’s house might prove overwhelming, after all.Why in bloody hell did she still have such a hold on him? “I thought I rid myself of feelings for her long ago,” he muttered, catching an image of his demeanor in the reflection of the window and trying desperately for a coherent thought. He moved to take in the view of the garden below, veiled in the last strands of sunlight.

“I’m a fool,” he admitted aloud. When Harville had written him of his latest child, Frederick found himself wondering what life with Anne would have held. When his friend James Benwick lost his love Fanny—Thomas Harville’s sister—he grieved for both his friends, but he had also grieved for his own loss. When his brother, Edward, had finally married the love of his life, Frederick fantasized about life with Anne Elliot. Each remembrance brought him new pain.“Maybe this is what I need to finally be rid of her—to truly start to live my life again.We will meet, and I will see that she really has no hold on me. I wasted my time loving her. Anne Elliot betrayed me; she ill-abused me.” Saying the words, he began to frantically pull at the knot in his cravat.“I will be her puppet no longer. Today I am cutting those strings that once bound me to her.” He jerked the shirt over his head and tossed it on the bed. “Yes,” he paused before pouring water into the basin. “This is exactly what I need—my chance to finally bid Anne Elliot farewell—on my own terms.”

With a new resolve, Frederick threw himself into the companionship of his sister and the Admiral. He rode out with them one morning as they took pleasure in examining their lands and holdings.
“It is beautiful here,” Sophia sighed, and her husband nodded in silent agreement.

One afternoon Frederick and his sister strolled arm in arm through the gardens. “You appear content, Sophie,” Frederick remarked.

“I admit I could become accustomed to the serenity that life at Kellynch Hall offers.” She smiled up at him. “Benjamin served Britain long enough; it is time he takes care of himself. I wish for the peace to last; I am weary of war.”

“Will the Admiral accept his half pension?” Frederick directed her to a bench upon which they could sit.

Sophia glanced furtively toward the house. “I will try to persuade him to do so. My husband might wish to return, but I fear that fate and luck could be against him. My intuition, as well as Benjamin’s, tells us he should not return. One cannot sail successfully as often as the Admiral without listening to one’s gut feelings. I will use all my powers of persuasion to get him to adhere to what his inclinations already tell him.”

Frederick reached out to pat her hand, but before he could respond, a servant interrupted his thoughts. “Pardon, Mrs. Croft,” the footman stammered.“Admiral Croft asks that you and Captain Wentworth join him in the front parlor. Mr. Musgrove attends your husband.”

“Which Mr. Musgrove?” Frederick asked before he could stifle the words. Only a few days earlier he had believed Anne had married the younger Musgrove.

“The father, Sir.”The footman bowed slightly.“The Admiral said to tell you Mr. Musgrove was most interested in meeting you, Sir.”

“Thank you, Landon,” Sophia acknowledged.

“Yes, Ma’am.” He left the area, exiting through the back garden gate.

“Well,” Frederick said, turning to his sister, “let us meet Mr. Musgrove.”

Frederick followed Sophia into the front parlor as Benjamin and Mr. Musgrove both struggled to their feet to greet her. “My
Love,” Croft’s eyes lit up when she accepted his hand.

“Mrs. Croft.” Mr. Musgrove bowed to Sophia before turning his attention to Wentworth.

Sophia introduced Frederick and the elder Mr. Musgrove and ushered everyone to seats before the conversation began again. Musgrove was in the old English style—a very good sort of person—friendly, not much educated, and not at all cultured.The man cleared his throat, seeming to stall before speaking. “Captain Wentworth, I cannot tell you how pleased I am to finally make your acquaintance,” he stated nervously.

“Thank you, Sir.” Frederick inclined his head in interest.

“Once Mrs. Croft told us of your return to England, my wife, Mrs. Musgrove, has thought of little else. It appears, Captain, our second son Richard once served under you. Mrs. Musgrove found in his letters where he spoke of his commander, Captain Wentworth. She wishes to thank you for your kindness to our poor Richard when he served under you on the
Laconia
.” The words gushed from him, nearly leaving him breathless and quite reddened in the face.

“And how is Midshipman Musgrove?” Frederick inquired. He remembered Richard Musgrove, who was known more familiarly as “Dick,” well, having had the ill fortune of adding Musgrove to his crew when he set in at Gibraltar in ’09. Musgrove was a troublesome, hopeless man. Obviously, he was unmanageable on shore, and upon reaching his twentieth year, his family sent Musgrove to sea.Wentworth despised anyone who did not pull his own weight on board. In his estimation, “poor Richard” was nothing better than a thickheaded, unfeeling, unprofitable Dick Musgrove, who never did anything to entitle himself to more than the abbreviation of his name.

“Unfortunately, we lost our dear son two years ago, Sir.” Mr. Musgrove sounded very out of spirits.

Frederick looked around and caught the Admiral’s eye.“Forgive me, Mr. Musgrove; I had no idea.”

“Thank you, Captain; we have many other children to fill our
home, but we maintain a place in our hearts for Richard. I came here today to invite you to our house to share our table. Mrs. Musgrove insists that she owes you a debt of gratitude for your personal attention to our dear boy.”

Frederick fought the urge to roll his eyes. “I assure you, Mr. Musgrove, I did nothing to earn such praise.”

“I am afraid, Captain, I will surely have a difficult time convincing my wife of such modesty.”

“Then I will meet Mrs. Musgrove and convince her myself; however, I am committed to previous engagements for the next week.Will you and Mrs. Musgrove be kind enough to accept me after that time?” Frederick offered up his best “captain” smile.

Musgrove beamed with delight. “Mrs. Musgrove will be sorry to have to wait so long to make your acquaintance, but the anticipation will enhance the experience.“May we say dinner at Uppercross for you, the Admiral, and Mrs. Croft one week hence?”

While Frederick waited for his sister to respond to the invitation, his thoughts drifted elsewhere. If he called upon the Great House at Uppercross, he would likely come face-to-face with Anne Elliot. How could he bear it? As much as he had told himself that he wanted nothing to do with her, he was not wholly convinced. But his curiosity still loomed. His sister’s words penetrated his thoughts.“It would be our pleasure, Mr. Musgrove.”

The man scrambled to his feet before the group might withdraw their consent.“I must hurry home,” he began,“and give Mrs. Musgrove the good news. She and my daughters will be thrilled.” He edged closer to the door.“Thank you for receiving me, Admiral. Mrs. Croft, please know how pleased we at Uppercross are to have you and your husband at Kellynch Hall.This is a most pleasant circumstance indeed.”

He was nearly out the door before Sophia could interlace her arm with his and show him to the entranceway. When left alone, Frederick laughed lightly at the absurdity of the scene.

“Mr. Musgrove is an amiable man,” the Admiral observed.

“He is,” Frederick could not hide his amusement.“To think the
Elliots aligned themselves with the Musgroves is a delightful diversion. Admittedly, I would prefer the company of the Musgroves, however,” he replied absently. Yet, his thoughts remained with Anne.
Am I strong enough to see her again? Is she strong enough to see me? Will she see me?

Croft’s eyes danced with humor. “So how bad of a sailor
was
Dick Musgrove? I observed how carefully you chose your words when speaking with his father.”

“He was several years at sea, and had, in the course of those removals to which all midshipmen are liable, and especially such midshipmen as every captain wishes to get rid of,” he responded succinctly.“Dick Musgrove spent six months onboard the
Laconia.
”

“Might you find something positive to say about the man?” Croft slowly got to his feet. “You have a week to think of something.” He chuckled as he patted Frederick on the shoulder.“I will see you at dinner; I want to take a look at the ledger book for the preceding month on the estate. I will be in the study if Sophie is looking for me.”

“Yes, Sir,” Frederick mumbled.

“Captain Wentworth!” Mr. Musgrove cried, “It is so good of you to return our call. May I present my wife, Mrs. Musgrove, and our daughters Miss Louisa and Miss Henrietta Musgrove?” Frederick noted the Musgrove parents made a fine pair, both jovial—both well rotund.

Frederick bowed politely. “I am proud to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Musgrove.” He saw tears mist her eyes as she took a close look at his countenance while he tried to mask his real feelings. “Misses Musgrove.” He bowed formally to her daughters.