Captain Wentworth's Persuasion (4 page)

“What happened to Miss Hamilton? I do not recall meeting her last night.” Frederick broke off a piece of the pastry and fed it to her. Anne giggled like a schoolgirl, and then, unexpectedly, she boldly kissed his fingertips. Charmed, Frederick then brought his fingertips to his own lips.

“Miss Hamilton was not from this area. She left school, married not long afterward, was said to have married a man of fortune.That is all I know of her fate.” Frederick’s attention increased and Anne looked away, reluctant to meet the intensity growing in his eyes. “I—I am sorry,” she stammered.

“Anne,” he whispered. “Look at me.” He reached out and gently caressed her cheek. She slowly brought her eyes up to his. “You will never have to be alone again. Do not feel remorse; I want to see only a smile on your pretty face.” She closed her eyes, and he leaned in for a gentle kiss, his mouth lingering over hers.Then he pulled away. “I do not wish to say this, but I should return you to Kellynch Hall before you are missed.”

Anne nodded. Frederick rose to his feet and helped Anne to hers.“May we meet again tomorrow?” His voice was raspy.

“Here, at the same time.” She moved into his embrace, wrapping her arms around Frederick’s waist.

He rested his chin on the top of her head. “Come, Anne,” he said at last. “I must not ruin your reputation.”With a deep sigh, he released her.“It will be a very long evening, my Love.”

Thus began Frederick Wentworth’s courtship of Anne Elliot. Unless it rained, they met daily; they walked the countryside, sharing conversations on nearly every subject possible. They had no idle drawing room chats. Instead, they spoke of the war, of crops, of family, of personal hopes and dreams, and of their growing affection for each other.

At least once weekly, they spent time together at a local soiree or enjoyed dinner out.When viewed by prying eyes, their behavior
was usually entirely proper, even distant.Yet, Frederick found himself often reaching for her hand or resting his on Anne’s back before catching himself. Likewise,Anne would lean into him when he came up behind her before realizing her error. The next day they would laugh about their actions and speculate on who might have seen them and what rumors they might face.

For well over a month, such was Frederick’s life. “Do you plan to offer for Miss Anne before you return to the sea?” Edward asked suddenly one morning.

“I do.” Frederick gazed levelly at his brother.“Do you object?”

“Heavens, no. I would be happy to see you finally content in your life. I simply wondered what you would do if she refused or if Sir Walter objected.”

Frederick raised an eyebrow. “Do you believe Anne will refuse me?” he asked impatiently.

“From what I have noted of the woman, Miss Anne will not refuse you. She is obviously besotted with your charms.Yet, I do not believe that she will defy her father’s or Lady Russell’s wishes. If they refuse, Anne may turn down your proposal.You will need to be prepared for such a situation.”

“Anne loves me,” Frederick said with some assurance.

“I am sure she does.” Edward replied. He said no more on the subject.

Frederick shored up his confidence. He planned to ask Sir Walter’s permission on Saturday. He and Edward would attend an evening at Kellynch Hall on Friday. Knowing Anne had secured the invitation for them, he relished the idea of finally publicly acknowledging his feelings for her. He knew many people chose a mate as part of a business arrangement, but the match of Frederick Wentworth and Anne Elliot would be a true love match.

When the butler announced the Wentworth brothers’ entrances into the drawing room, Frederick’s eyes automatically found Anne. The Wentworths bowed to the room. An elderly parishioner of Edward’s immediately engaged him in conversation.That left Frederick
free to direct his attention to his love. Surreptitiously, Frederick and Anne circled the outer layers of the group, stopping to speak to honored guests and others included in the evening party. Frederick overheard that the heir presumptive, William Walter Elliot, Esq., great grandson of the second Sir Walter, was to be in attendance at the night’s gathering. Miss Elizabeth Elliot, he noted, actually giggled nervously, almost like a schoolgirl; her eyes darted about the room in anticipation of Mr. Elliot’s entrance.

The room was splendid. Antique treasures graced nearly every piece of furniture in the room; rich works of art lined the walls; ornate fabrics hung from the windows. Deep shades of green and gold intertwined in the carpeting, and throughout the room freshly polished gold pieces sparkled in the candlelight. The warmth of the room stood in contrast with the cool marble foyer. For a moment, Frederick realized the compromise Anne would be making in giving up such grandeur to be his wife.

Finally, Anne and Frederick were face-to-face. He bowed, and she returned a low curtsy. “Miss Anne,” his voice held admiration, “you look fetching this evening.”

“Thank you, Commander Wentworth.” Her eyes sparkled with delight at seeing him in her home.“It pleases me that you were free to join us this evening.”

Frederick’s smile curved the corners of his eyes. “I understand we are to be blessed with the attendance of the elusive Mr. William Elliot.”

Anne laughed lightly; previously, she had disclosed the frustration that her father and Elizabeth felt with the reception they received from William Elliot. Mr. Elliot was reportedly a very fine young man, currently engaged in the study of law. Elizabeth found him extremely agreeable, and every plan in his favor was confirmed. Elizabeth imagined becoming his wife and assuming her mother’s former position as mistress of Kellynch Hall. The estate would thus remain in Sir Walter’s family. Consequently, Sir Walter invited Mr. Elliot to Kellynch to foster a relationship with Elizabeth and to meet the local gentry. “Father is all aflutter, anxiously
awaiting Mr. Elliot’s approval of Kellynch. After all, it will be his someday. Father is not likely to remarry; even if he did, he would have to produce a male heir from any such union in order for him to remain in his home. The most for which he can hope is an alliance between Elizabeth and Mr. Elliot.”

Frederick frowned. “The prospect of such a marriage does not appeal to me.” He began to search her face, hoping to find a confirmation of what he thought to be Anne’s feelings for him. “I have always wished to marry for love.”

Anne flushed, but his soft words caressed her heart. She leaned toward him, and Frederick resisted the desire to stroke her face. “I am sure, Commander,” she barely whispered, “that whomever you choose will love you in return.”

Turning his back so the others could not see, his hand sought hers. For a few fleeting seconds, he clasped her fingertips in his. “Miss Anne,” he began. He was so close to her that he could feel the warmth of her breath on his cheek. “With your consent, I would speak to your father tomorrow.” Frederick waited. His heart seemed to be frozen in hopeful expectation.

He watched as Anne fought to make her words come. “Frederick,” she murmured,“I would be pleased to entertain your entreaty.”

Frederick’s breath rushed out with her words. “Anne,” was all he could get out. But what his mouth could not say, his facial expression did.

Before they parted in the drawing room, Frederick wanted to pull her into his arms and clasp her to him. Anne Elliot had welcomed his address. She returned his feelings for her with those of her own. His life seemed to grow more complete by the moment.

At supper, Frederick could scarcely keep his mind on the mundane conversations going on about him. All he could do was to fill his eyes with images of Anne. Although Sir Walter and Elizabeth Elliot barely hid their dismay at the absence of Mr. Elliot,Anne, obviously, felt none of their alarm. Frederick’s heart leapt each time he heard her laugh. She sat between his brother, Edward, and Mr. Musgrove, giving both her attentions.With some effort, he caught
her eye at last, and they exchanged a secret smile. Frederick closed his eyes and imagined his hands cupping her face, his fingers removing the pins from her hair to let it fall softly over her shoulders, and his thumbs tracing the outline of her bottom lip. When he opened them again, he found both Edward and Anne staring at him. Edward chuckled before turning to the lady seated on his right, but Anne held his gaze for a few seconds. Then she pursed her lips before touching them with her napkin. Frederick felt the heat rush to his body. Before she could look away, he winked at her and enjoyed seeing the color increase in her cheeks. Such romantic teasing was a new sensation for him, and he discovered he quite liked the results.

Sitting quietly, waiting for the next course, he began to imagine the life they would share. Frederick chastised himself for not economizing. He earned funds each time his ship did battle with a French one. Legally, as a British officer, he shared in the prizes of the French captures. He could win more; he
would
win more—for Anne. He currently held half of what he had earned in the victory at San Domingo. Looking at her, he knew that Anne deserved a fine home. He would give her all that she should have.

They would purchase an estate once he left the Navy. Soon, he would have his own ship, and Anne would sail with him, as his sister, Sophia, did with her husband. Fondly, he reflected on a conversation from the preceding morning. Her surprise when he had told her of the accommodations and food found on board ships had taken him aback. “Miss Anne,” he had teased her, “surely you cannot be supposing that sailors live on board without anything to eat, or any cook to dress it if there were, or any servant to wait, or any knife and fork to use?” She had blushed profusely and Frederick lightly touched her lips with his. Happiness spread through his body with such musings;Anne would be his.

Later, Frederick lingered behind when the gentlemen left Sir Walter’s study to rejoin the ladies in the drawing room.When only he and Sir Walter remained, he boldly approached his host. Frederick had not noted Sir Walter’s growing anger as the evening progressed.
The absence of Mr. Elliot—the man’s obvious snub of Sir Walter’s family—took its toll on Anne’s father.

“Sir Walter, may I speak to you privately?” Frederick asked before the man could leave the room.The smell of port and half-smoked cheroots drifted Frederick’s way.

Sir Walter offered his first cut. “I cannot imagine, Commander, that we have anything to discuss.”

Frederick swallowed his irritation and tried another tactic. “I apologize, Sir. I would not intrude on your graciousness this evening. I simply request the honor to do so tomorrow morning.”

“I will be to London tomorrow morning, Commander; your request is impossible.” He started to make his way past Frederick.

Instinctively, Frederick reached to stop him physically but then thought better of it.“Sir Walter, I implore you,” he begged the older man.“What I have to say is of great importance.”

“Very well, Commander Wentworth.” Sir Walter motioned to Frederick to follow him back into the study.

Sir Walter settled himself once more in his favorite wing chair, which faced the embers of a dying fire. Frederick began to pace, trying to right his thoughts. He had planned to approach Sir Walter on the morrow, but circumstances changed, and now he found himself frantically trying to find the right words to persuade Anne’s father of the merits of his suit. The clearing of Sir Walter’s throat jarred Frederick from his turmoil. He forced himself to take a stance beside the fireplace mantel. He swallowed hard and then spoke.“Sir Walter, since coming into Somersetshire, I have had the great honor of meeting your middle daughter, Miss Anne, on numerous occasions. During those times, I found my affections for Anne increasing. I am now of the persuasion to admit I think only of her and, with your consent, I wish to make Miss Anne my wife.”

Sir Walter’s eyebrow shot up.A smirk spread across his face.“You aspire to become a member of my family?” Sir Walter barely hid the sarcasm laced through his words.

Frederick stiffened, but he pushed away his anger, thinking only of Anne’s need for her family.“I aspire to make Miss Anne a worthy
husband.” He controlled the contempt in his words. “The fact Anne is your child was never part of my decision.”