Captain Wentworth's Persuasion (25 page)

“Perhaps you should withdraw and see how things go once Miss Musgrove recovers. She is young and possibly it would be a matter of out of sight, out of mind. Should you not visit Edward, after all?”

Frederick looked at Thomas. What his friend suggested gave him a faint hope.“I would only be in the way here, would I not?” he said slowly, as if he needed to digest the idea himself.“Louisa has her whole family to tend to her, and you could send me word if I needed to return because of her illness. I should be off to Plymouth for a time to oversee the dismantling of the
Laconia
, and Edward has a new wife whom I must really meet.” He searched for permission to leave.

“If absence makes her heart grow fonder, I will send you word immediately.Take your leave early tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you,Thomas.You have seen what others have not.”

“Go with God, Frederick.”

—Percy Bysshe Shelley,“Love’s Philosophy”

 

“Is that better, Sir?” Lieutenant Avendale asked as he helped Frederick to a chair. It was the first time Frederick was on deck since the fateful day they had overtaken the French sloop.

Frederick took a deep breath, filling his lungs with sea air.“It is near perfect—thank you, Lieutenant Avendale.”The journey from his quarters to this chair propped against an outside wall had taken nearly ten days, but, at last, he could feel the mist on his freshly shaved face.

“I am to wait with you until Mrs.Wentworth comes. I believe she went back for a blanket.” The officer transferred his weight from one foot to another.

Frederick chuckled. “Women are the practical ones, are they not,Avendale?”

“I believe they are, Sir. At least, my Maggie seems to always know what is best.”The man smiled with his recollection.

“Is Maggie your wife?” Frederick asked, glad to hold a normal conversation with one of his men.

“I hope to make her my wife when we put into port. My term is up, and I will be going home.”

“We will be losing a valuable member of the crew when you leave us.”

“Thank you, Captain.” Avendale dropped his eyes. “The sea is not my life; I thought it would be, but I am not meant for this constant pull of Nature.”

“What will you do?”

Avendale stared off for a moment. “I would like to take my orders; I studied at the university. My father wished me to pursue a military career, but the life of a country curate would serve me quite well. My father will be disappointed, but a man must define his own life. Do you not agree, Captain?”

“For those not firstborn or for those whose family can offer their sons little, I am a firm believer in the power of choice. My brother, Edward, chose the clergy and is very happy, whereas I could think of little but the sea and the adventure.The Navy gave me opportunities I would never have otherwise.”

“Does your brother have his own parish?”

“My brother toiled for many years as a curate, but he, at last, took a position in Shropshire, near Shrewsbury. He married and will welcome his first child soon.”

“Then he is happy?”

Frederick nodded. “When I saw him last, he was. His calling serves him well, as I am sure it will you.”

“When we reach Plymouth, I will meet Maggie there; she travels from Bristol. I hope to make her my wife—and then I hope for a position near Hull.” Avendale stood as he saw Anne Wentworth approach.“Your wife approaches, Sir. When you are ready to return to your quarters, it will be my honor to assist you.”

“I will send for you.”

After Avendale saluted and left, Anne took the seat next to Frederick, but only after spreading a light blanket over his lap. “Is not the sea air glorious?” she whispered.

Frederick turned his head to look at her.“You love it as much as I do.”

“A ship is nothing like what I imagined. When I saw the sails from a distance, I thought a ship moves silently upon the waves; I was surprised that the canvas sails roar and snap in the wind, the hull breaks water like an explosive thunderclap, and the guns roll with a volcanic eruption. I was more surprised that in the mix of all this noise, there is a peace—a faceless gentleness that creeps into
my soul—into my veins.” Her voice trailed off. There was silence for a few companionable minutes, and then Anne said, “What do you ponder, Captain?”

“Hmm? Oh, I was thinking of Plymouth.The last time I spent more than a few days there, I was trying to forget the chaos of my life just after Louisa’s fall and trying to come to terms with my undying need for your love.” Frederick reached out and took her hand in his. He placed a kiss on the pulse of her wrist.

“What did you do in Plymouth? I know so little about what you did before you came to Bath.”

He chortled. “Do you mean before I threw myself at your feet and begged you to marry me?”

“First, you did not beg,” she began to protest, but then stopped suddenly.“Why do you enjoy teasing me so?”

“Because I cannot live without that spark of passion I see in your face when your emotions are engaged.” He traced his fingertips from her temple to her jaw line. “You mesmerize me; when you are near, I am spellbound—enthralled—captivated—just pick a word because none of them completely describe what I feel.” Love and need held them as they memorized each other’s features. After longing moments only those who truly love understand, he cleared his throat, needing also to clear his thoughts of Anne’s heat-laden eyes. Looking straight ahead, he began, “I have been to Plymouth many times.”

Walking along George Street, Frederick mused at the many changes he had witnessed in the Plymouth landscape over the years.When he had first made port there, back before his sailing to the Americas, George Street had been strictly residential. Now, the Theatre Royal II anchored a development, which also included the Royal Hotel. Between 1811 and 1813, every time he sailed into port, he made a special trip to the area, intrigued by the construction.

The theater boasted a special vestibule, private boxes, a pit, and a gallery; it had once been isolated, but now the town met the site. Frederick had been in attendance for the opening program—
As
You Like It
and a farce titled
Catherine and Petruchio
. Some members of the unruly audience had interrupted portions of the performance. The building itself was something of an anomaly, using cast and wrought iron for fireproofing. Seeing the structure from a distance, he smiled with the remembrance.

He walked past the theater and took a room at an inn on Cornwall Street. Frederick had come to Plymouth because he was heartsick and anxious; he wanted nothing more than to escape the scenario playing out in Lyme. If Louisa Musgrove did not recover completely, he would be obligated to make her an offer of marriage. She had placed her trust in him, and he could not turn from her if she continued to suffer from her fall. He prayed daily for her full recovery; admittedly, this was partly an act of self-interest. Frederick hoped that with the distance, Louisa would forget her feelings for him. It was an act of a desperate man, and one of which he was not proud; but he could not control the dread he felt when he considered making Louisa his wife.

In town for just three days, Frederick spent his time walking the streets of Plymouth, visiting with clothiers and auctioneers. He purchased a new watch as a gift for Edward and several packets of seeds and bulbs for Christine, Edward’s wife.

He stood along the shore one day and watched for hours as barge after barge made its way from the quay at the Breakwater Quarry out to the sea, dropping stones and cable to form the Breakwater. The Breakwater was located at the mouth of Plymouth Sound, between Boyisand Bay on the east and Cawsand Bay on the west, and would eventually be one thousand yards in length and ten feet above the low water.

He recalled coming into the Sound the first time.The port was dangerous because Plymouth Sound was open to storms from the southwest, creating anchorage problems. On that particular entrance, he had stood on deck as a lieutenant, gritting his teeth as the crew navigated past a previous wreckage on the Boyisand coast.

One late afternoon, he drifted toward the shipyards in hopes of meeting some former crewmates. Shipbuilding and repair establishments
sprinkled the shores of Hamoaze, and Frederick sought familiar faces. Amazingly, he had been in town for nearly a week, and he had seen no one whom he knew, a testament of how much the war had changed the port city. As he turned toward the harbor off Exeter Street, however, he heard someone call his name.“Wentworth! Say,Wentworth!”

Frederick turned in the direction of the sound. He saw a man broad of shoulder, but also broad of hip, hurrying toward him. He had an iron jaw and intense eyes.“It that you, Hawker?” Frederick asked as the man drew near.

“What brings you to Plymouth?” Hawker said. He shook Frederick’s hand.“Is not your ship already in dry dock?”

Frederick could not explain his real reasons for being in town. “I came on business on behalf of Thomas Harville. He is struggling a bit right now.”

“I see.” John Hawker turned to acknowledge another acquaintance. In 1810, although it was apparently drying out at every spring tide, John Hawker had taken over the Sutton Pool.When the Prince Regent miraculously gave a ninety-nine-year lease to the Sutton Pool Company, Hawker went from fool to astute business-man. “Do you have plans for dinner? I would enjoy catching up.”

Frederick hesitated and then said,“I have no definite plans.”

“Then please join our party,” Hawker cajoled.

Frederick became suspicious.“Who else will be in the group?” Hawker looked about sheepishly. “Several business investors, of course, and Lord Grierson will be in attendance.”

Frederick rolled his eyes in exasperation. “I assume Lady Mary Grierson and her daughters will be among the party.”

“I would imagine,” Hawker said, trying to sound innocent.

“I thank you, Hawker, for the invitation, but I will decline.”

“Must you? I am sure Her Ladyship would approve of your company.”

“Although Her Ladyship is most pleasurable company, I will still decline.You might mention to Her Ladyship that I intend to make an offer of marriage soon.” It was not a lie; if Louisa did not
recover or even if she did and still expected a proposal, she would receive his offer; and if he were fortunate enough for Louisa to look elsewhere, he would seek out Anne once again.

Looking about as if he suddenly remembered a prior appointment, Hawker questioned, “Marriage? Really? Well, I will tell Her Ladyship, and I will wish you happy,Wentworth. I would be honored to meet your future wife some day.”With that, Hawker made a quick bow and took his leave.

Frederick snorted with the irony of the situation. Lord and Lady Grierson wanted Frederick to pursue one of their daughters, but Sir Walter Elliot had found the prospect of Frederick marrying Anne to be degrading to her. Frederick shook his head. If worse came to worse, he could turn to the Griersons in order to squelch Louisa’s plans. If he must marry someone whom he did not love, marrying one of the Grierson daughters would be financially advantageous, and no one would criticize his withdrawal from Louisa Musgrove for such a prestigious alliance.
What am I thinking? I don’t want a Grierson daughter! Nor do I want Louisa. I want Anne—for eight years, I have wanted Anne Elliot.

On the seventh day of his stay, his mail caught up with him, having been forwarded to him by Sophia. Actually, Frederick had nearly forgotten about sending a letter of inquiry on Thomas’s behalf. It seemed a lifetime ago when he had sent it off—in reality, it was only a little more than three weeks. He opened the reply and read what he expected. Aloud he said, “Well, I guess I will call at Lyme and stay at least long enough to speak to Milly and Thomas. If only I can find a way not to see Louisa or her family!”