Captain Wentworth's Persuasion (19 page)

“I spoil my children the only way I can.” Harville offered up a sheepish grin.“I take scraps of wood and give them a new life.”

Frederick spun one of the wooden hoops on his finger before placing everything carefully back into the box. “They are incredible, Harville.”

“The joy on my children’s faces when I finish another design is priceless. Children are God’s hope come to life—something set free—a fledgling—a seed drifting and taking roots.” Harville saluted his friend with his tankard as Frederick returned to his seat. “Someday I hope to see you blessed with children,Wentworth.”

Frederick picked up his drink and gulped down the last of the bitter brew.“With that,” he began as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand,“I will bid you a good night.”Wentworth located his greatcoat and beaver.

“You will break your fast with us before you return to your sister’s home?” Harville asked as he struggled to his feet to show
Frederick to the door.

“It would be my honor, Thomas.” Having donned his outer-wear, Frederick turned to his friend.They clasped hands.“I will see you early, my Friend.”

“Until the morrow, then.”

The next morning, Frederick reflected on his brief visit with Thomas Harville as he rode to Somersetshire. “He is blessed,” he murmured as he remembered the happiness he saw in the faces of his friend’s family. Contentment spread through him as he thought of finally having his own home—his own wife—his own children. Where would Anne fit into that picture? He never imagined anyone but her in his bed—at his side when he entered a room—taking meals at
his
table. Even after eight years, only
she
stirred his soul. “I must first distance myself from Louisa Musgrove. Anne must see my withdrawal for herself; otherwise, she will think I ill-used the girl to make her jealous. She must see I was never truly interested in Louisa Musgrove as a potential mate.Anne would never tolerate such abuse,” he reasoned aloud.

His thoughts returned to Harville’s financial straits.A seed of an idea began the previous evening as he lay on the lumpy mattress of the inn’s four-poster bed. Harville’s craftsmanship had been evident in each piece of furniture he had built and each toy he had made. Frederick had a plan, but he would tell no one until everything was in place. If he was right,Thomas could make a fair living with his hands. Frederick would send off a letter of inquiry as soon as he reached Kellynch.

“Wentworth,” Charles Musgrove exclaimed as Frederick entered the drawing room of the Great House,“you were missed, Sir!”

“I am sorry if I caused anyone at Uppercross a moment’s concern.” Frederick offered his new friend a polite bow.

“I am glad to see you again,” Musgrove added quickly. “I am sure the ladies will be pleased to see you as well.They are all at the Cottage. Come along.” He hastened the captain toward the door. “They will have my head if I let you get away without their receiving
your call.”

They walked the quarter mile to the Cottage, with Musgrove prattling on about a new gun he hoped to purchase soon from a dealer in Bath. Frederick only half listened to the man.Truthfully, as much as he enjoyed Charles Musgrove’s company, some days the man’s obsession with hunting bored Frederick completely.

Obviously, someone in the Cottage had noted their approach because the Misses Musgrove met them in the foyer. “Captain, for shame,” Louisa chastised him as she helped him to remove his coat. “You sent us no word of your withdrawal.”

“I apologize for any offense, Miss Musgrove.” He moved past her in his urgency to see Anne again. He could not explain it even to himself, but after viewing Thomas Harville’s domestic bliss, Frederick needed to see that Anne was still there at Uppercross.

“Mrs. Musgrove,” he acknowledged Mary; Anne should not feel her sister’s ire because he turned to her first.Then his eyes fell on her. “Miss Anne,” he said huskily as his gaze bid her eyes to meet his. “It is pleasant to see you remain at Uppercross.” He could say no more, but Frederick relished the slight blush overtaking her face as she stammered her thanks.

“Have a seat, Captain.” Mary gestured to several chairs grouped near the fireplace.

Frederick paused just long enough to determine where Anne planned to sit, and then he took one close to her.

“Will you tell us where you have been?” Louisa demanded as she poured tea for him.

Wentworth laughed. “My manners were poor, and I ask all of you to forgive me.” He took the cup passed to him by Anne, allowing his fingers to briefly touch hers. “My closest friend sent me a letter, and I rushed off to greet him.”

“One of your Navy friends?” He heard Anne’s soft voice ask the question before she looked away in embarrassment.

“Captain Harville served with me for nearly eight years; he was my second in command on both the
Asp
and the
Laconia.
His letter tracked me to Plymouth and then finally to Kellynch. He is living
in Lyme with his family and with another compatriot, a Captain James Benwick, who some time ago was first lieutenant of the
Laconia.
You may remember my mentioning them the night we dined with the Admiral and my sister.”

“Was it not Harville’s family who sparked your sister’s rebukes about women aboard a ship?” Charles teased him.

“It was indeed.” Wentworth made a point of catching Anne’s eye. “Obviously, there was a time, I believed that women should not travel aboard a ship, but now—just a short time later, I know—I thoroughly understand how a man needs his wife with him.” He hoped Anne would recognize his sincerity and would understand that his words served as a reminder of when they planned for her to sail with him as his wife; he also hoped—without much reason for the hope—that Louisa did not misinterpret his words as being meant for her.

“So you went to Lyme?” Henrietta asked as she reached for one of the apple tarts brought in by a servant.

“I did, Miss Henrietta.” Frederick turned toward her.“You see, Thomas Harville suffered a leg wound in a skirmish two years ago; he continues to languish from his wound although he never complains about his fate. I went to see for myself what I could do for my friend. He lost part of the fortune he accumulated along the way; I will not allow him to withdraw from society, and I will not tolerate his decline.”

“Really, Captain Wentworth, you are to be praised for your loyalty,” Louisa insisted. “Yet, you must realize that Captain Harville’s fate is not your responsibility.”

Frederick bristled at her words; she did not understand him at all. He started to respond, but Anne found her voice first.“Louisa, I believe Captain Wentworth conveys the feelings of many men in the military.As we would rush to help someone in our own family, so would most soldiers and sailors help one another. In times of war, they learn to depend upon one another—very much like a family. Besides, as the ship’s commander, and as he did with your brother, I am sure Captain Wentworth feels responsible for all those
who served under him.” Frederick forced the smile from his lips. He always knew Anne would comprehend his need to serve others.
God!
He wasted so many years hating her when he could have been building a family with her.

“What is Lyme like, Captain?” Henrietta asked brightly.

“It is a port city. Holiday travel to the shale beach slacks off this time of year, but I found the Cobb breathtaking in its wildness. It makes one feel very insignificant.”

“I would love to walk along a beach,” Louisa interjected. “It would be very adventurous to have the sea roll in around my feet.” She turned to her older brother. “Charles, why do we not go to Lyme for a day trip? All of us could go, could we not?”

“How far is it to Lyme?” Henrietta questioned.

Charles Musgrove seemed to like the idea.“It is only seventeen miles—a few hours of travel—we could go in the morning and return at night.What do you say,Wentworth? Should we all go to Lyme together?”

“We would be honored to meet your friends, Captain.” Louisa looked hopeful, obviously thinking his friends could be her friends some day.

“I do not like the sea,” Mary grumbled. “I am sure the sea air will exacerbate my recent head cold.”

“Then remain at Uppercross.” Louisa’s boldness silenced Mary for the time.“I am ready for a holiday; are you not,Anne?”

Anne looked away quickly. “I—I should remain behind,” she stammered. “Lady Russell shall return soon, and we travel to Bath after Christmas.”

“That is nonsense, Anne,” Henrietta insisted. “Tell her, Charles; she must come with us.”

“Of course, you must, Anne. You have done nothing but help Mary and tend to Little Charles since you came to visit. I will not hear of your remaining behind.”

“It is not necessary—” she began, but Charles Musgrove would brook no dissent. Frederick let out a jagged breath. If Anne did not go to Lyme, neither would he.

Charles took charge of the arrangements. “I will arrange to use Papa’s carriage for you ladies, and Wentworth and I may use the curricle.”

“When shall we leave?” Louisa asked, looking pleased with herself.

Musgrove thought about what his days might hold. “I plan to shoot with Anderson tomorrow; he has a new bitch, and he wishes to see how she trees.The season is nearly over, and I do not want to miss the chance to go with him. We could go right after an early breakfast the day after tomorrow. How does that sound?”

Henrietta and Louisa loved the idea; Frederick mused that it was a good idea, but carried a large element of emotional risk. He would have a chance to speak to Anne more privately, to gauge her reaction to a renewal of his attentions. Sophia seemed to think Anne held him in some regard; he wanted to see that for himself. He would exploit every opportunity on this trip to approach Anne—to determine if she could accept him this time. If not, Frederick would be leaving for Shropshire soon; he would not offer for Louisa Musgrove.

Their first heedless scheme was to go in the morning and return at night, but to this Mr. Musgrove, for the sake of his horses, would not consent; and when it came to be rationally considered, a day in the middle of November would not leave much time for seeing a new place, after deducting seven hours, as the nature of the country required, for going and returning.They were consequently to stay the night there and not to be expected back until the next day’s dinner.This was felt to be a considerable amendment; and though they all met at the Great House at rather an early breakfast hour and set off very punctually, it was so much past noon before the two carriages, Mr. Musgrove’s coach containing the four ladies and Charles’s curricle, in which he drove Captain Wentworth, were descending the long hill into Lyme.

“Will we never reach this God-forsaken place?” Mary moaned as the ladies’ coach drew up beside her husband’s two-wheeled carriage
and paused before descending into the city.

Frederick heard Anne reassure her. “Not much longer; I could see the city as we circled around that last bend in the road.”

Entering upon the still steeper street of the town itself, it was evident they would not have more than time for looking about them before the light and warmth of the day were gone.

“Finally,” Mary grumbled as Charles helped her from the coach. Luckily, for Frederick, he accepted first Henrietta and then Anne on his arm as they entered the inn. The innkeeper rushed forward, surprised to see Frederick again so soon. “Captain!” he cried,“you returned and brought friends.” He bowed low.

“I did, Mr. Morris. I assume you can accommodate us for the evening?”

“It will be my honor, Sir. How many rooms might you require, Captain?”

Frederick quickly conferred with Charles. “Four rooms, Mr. Morris. Let us register, and then you may send your man to bring in the luggage and to tend to the horses.”

“Excellent, Captain.” The man ushered them forward. “If you desire anything else, you have only to ask.”

“We will walk down to the beach before we lose the light, but first, we shall order supper for later. Possibly, we could have a light dinner before our walk. I am sure the ladies would enjoy some tea.” Frederick beamed throughout this exchange. In reality, Mr. Morris should placate to Charles and Mary, but, he, obviously, saw Frederick as the superior member of the group. Even better, both Henrietta and Anne rested on his arms throughout the exchange. He could feel his chest fill with pride as he glanced down at Anne’s soft lashes, shadowing the crest of her cheeks. Did she realize how much he still admired her and how right she felt on his arm?