Captain Wentworth's Persuasion (5 page)

Sir Walter laughed. “May I ask, Commander Wentworth, what you believe you could offer the daughter of a baronet?”

“I assume, Sir, you mean something besides my constancy and my ardent admiration?” he responded coolly.

“Commander Wentworth,” Sir Walter’s voice took on a reprimanding tone,“one cannot eat constancy; nor will your ardent admiration serve as protection for my daughter.”

Feeling very much like a misbehaving schoolboy being called on the carpet by the headmaster, Frederick shot back, “I have a promising career in the British Navy; I expect to be given my own ship upon my return to my duties. As such, I foresee many opportunities to earn my fortune. I will eventually be able to provide for Miss Anne in the manner that she deserves.”

Sir Walter snorted. “You will pardon me, Commander, if I address my concerns over parts of your declaration.” Sir Walter motioned to Wentworth to sit in a chair across from him. He did not enjoy having the big man tower over him. “First, I am certain you will argue that the Navy has done much for us at home and that its members should have an equal claim with any other set of men.”

Frederick disliked this turn of the conversation.“Defending our country has always been an honorable occupation for men such as I, as well as many second sons of the aristocracy,” he retorted.

Sir Walter looked incredulous.“The profession has its utility, but I should be sorry to see any friend of mine belonging to it.Yes, it is in two points offensive to me; I have two strong grounds of objection to it. First, as being the means of bringing persons of obscure birth into undue distinction, and raising men of honors which their fathers and grandfathers never dreamt of; and secondly, as it cuts up a man’s youth and vigor most horribly; a sailor grows old sooner than any other man; I have observed it all my life. A man is in greater danger in the Navy of being insulted by the rise of one whose father, his father might have disdained to speak to, and of becoming prematurely an object of disgust himself, than in any
other line.When your brother came into the area, I inquired as to your family’s connection to the earls of Strafford, as you have the same family name. I found that your family has no connections; you are not a man of property. One wonders how the names of many of our nobility become so common.”

“Times are changing, Sir Walter,” Frederick responded fervently, “and although you may object, our country chooses to reward its servants handsomely for hazardous work well done. I will exit the war and be able to offer Anne a place in society.”

Sir Walter chuckled. “A place in society, you say, Commander? Where will Anne reside while you are off earning this handsome reward? Surely, you do not expect her to continue to live under my roof once she becomes your wife?”

“Anne will live with me aboard ship.” Frederick knew that to Sir Walter this would probably sound ludicrous, but he and Anne had previously discussed his expectations for their living quarters. “A ship’s captain is given adequate quarters for himself and his family.”

Sir Walter leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.“You expect the daughter of a baronet, who is used to living in the luxury of a house such as is Kellynch Hall, to live in rooms no larger than some of my servants’ quarters? You seem to believe that Anne is made of a firmer constitution than do I!”

“Miss Anne is aware of the conditions under which we will reside,” Frederick protested firmly. “She expressed no qualms regarding the changes she will face as my wife.”
Remember
, he told himself.
You are an officer of the Crown. Respond with honor
.

“My daughter agreed to such an alliance?” Sir Walter leaned back in his chair, attempting to discern what was not being said.

“She has, Sir.” Frederick tried to keep his composure as he awaited Sir Walter’s response.

After several infinitely long moments, Sir Walter played one more card with a sigh of resignation. “I do not expect that Anne will attract someone of better consequence. Her looks are too plain, and she is too compliant to earn a suitor worthy of her position.” His words shot through Frederick. He felt a sudden desire to
mar the perfection of Sir Walter’s face with a well-placed thwack. “However,” the older man continued, “I will not give my consent to such a union as you suggest, Commander.” A hard thud struck Frederick’s heart. Would Anne defy her father’s wishes? “Yet, neither will I object to your marriage,” the baronet went on. Frederick’s thoughts rushed about chaotically. “If Anne chooses to marry you, I will let her go, but understand, I profess to do nothing for her. She will receive no dowry from me; the marriage you propose would be a very degrading alliance. I will wash my hands of her.”

Stunned by this turn of events, Frederick forced himself to his feet. He bowed to Anne’s father and started to take his leave.“I will inform Miss Anne of your decision, Sir.” He paused and then said, “Sir Walter, I love Anne; I will make her my wife with or without your permission and with or without your money.” With that, he strode from the room.

—Robert Burns,“O, My Luve’s Like a Red, Red Rose”

 

He entered the music room only seconds before Sir Walter. The others gathered to hear Miss Elliot at the pianoforte took no notice, but Anne knew, when he stepped through the door, that Frederick Wentworth had been ill used by her father. She could see it in the tension in his shoulders and the set of his jaw. She watched him slip to the back of the group enjoying her sister’s performance. As the song finished, she excused herself from Mrs. Musgrove’s company and made her way to where he stood.

Frederick discreetly motioned to her to follow him. He slipped into the drawing room, and a few minutes later she did the same. Frederick eased the door partly closed to give them some privacy, while she took up a position in front of him. “Frederick, what is the matter? Did you speak to my father?”

Without thinking, he took her hand and brought her wrist to his lips. Keeping his eyes locked on hers, he found the peace he needed.“You are exquisite,” he whispered.

She smiled.“I feared you had spoken to my father this evening. Lady Russell says he will travel to London tomorrow.”Anne’s voice caressed his being, and Frederick tried to shake off the disgust he still felt from the encounter with Sir Walter.

Taking a deep, calming breath, he confided, “I did speak to Sir Walter.”

“And?” She touched his lips with her fingertips.

The words burst out of him, “And your father is an ass!” He turned away quickly.

“My father can be difficult,” Anne admitted. She drew in a quick breath and lifted her chin. “Then he refused to consent to our marriage?”

Frederick did not turn to look at her.“Sir Walter did not refuse to allow the marriage to proceed.”

“Then what makes you turn away? Do you no longer wish our union?”

Frederick turned quickly to find Anne sobbing silently a few feet away. He strode to her and took her into his arms, pulling her head to rest upon his chest. “I apologize, Anne. I thought only about how your father’s words affected me; I did not consider how they would affect you, my Love.” He stroked her back as he spoke. “Sir Walter will
allow
the marriage, although he says it would be a poor alliance on your part.” Anne started to protest, but he clasped her tighter to him.“If you choose to marry me, your father will not honor you with a settlement; you will come to me with nothing.”

Anne gasped and tried to pull away from him, but Frederick held her closer still. “I do not care for myself, Anne; I am used to what is adequate for my own survival. But I fear I cannot give you what you deserve.The only thing I can give you is my love and a promise that our way of life will not always be as it is now. I will make my fortune, and you will look back and be able to say you knew from the beginning that you would have your own estate.” He loosened his hold on her, and then lifted her chin to look at her tear-stained face. “Anne, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

She did not hesitate.“Oh yes, Frederick,” she assured him.“Yes, I will marry you.”

He lowered his head to kiss her lips gently.“Let us return to the music room,” he said. “Meet me tomorrow. We will plan our life together.”

“Yes,” she whispered and then kissed him once again.

Frederick waited at the river birch. He slept little, but he never felt more alive. Anne had agreed to marry him; life was perfection. Finally, he spotted her coming across the field. She wore a light green muslin gown and a shawl over her ivory shoulders. Frederick found himself breathless just anticipating her presence. He went to meet her and spoke her name as she rushed into his arms. They stood entwined for a long time and then walked back to the blanket and the stream.“I am glad you are finally here,” he whispered as he helped her settle on the coverlet.

She pulled her knees up, straightened her skirt, and encircled her knees with her arms.“With Father’s departure, Kellynch took on a state of disarray for a few hours; I apologize if you waited for long.”

“I would wait a lifetime for you.” Frederick chuckled as she blushed.“Will you always blush when I tell you how much I desire you?” he teased.

“No.” Her face flushed again.

He smiled at her denial.“How did I manage to win your heart, my Sweet? I ask myself that every day. Providence smiled on me when my eyes first rested upon your face.”

“You saw me when others could not.” Anne searched his weathered face, taking in the lines, each one so dear to her.

“Then may I assume you have not changed your mind about our marriage?”

She smiled.“I have not changed my mind. I love you, Frederick.”

“And I love you, Anne.” He cupped her face with the palms of his large hands. “I have barely a month left of my leave, but it will give us enough time to call the banns before we marry. We may start for Dover once we say our vows. I drafted a letter this morning to the Admiralty to inform them of our impending marriage, so accommodations will be made, and you may travel with me aboard ship.The question is, what will Sir Walter do once the banns are read for the first time?”

“I am only nineteen; without my father’s permission, I may not marry. However, I was thinking about his doubts. I will speak to
Lady Russell and ask her to champion our cause with my father. She knows how to deal with him better than anyone else does. I am sure Father is just testing my determination; he will see more reason once he returns from his visit to his tailor in London. Lady Russell wants only my happiness.”

“Will Lady Russell help us? Would she speak to our alliance? I truly do not care for myself; your father’s money is of no significance to me.”

“It is
my
inheritance, Frederick. It should not…he should not withhold it. If he does not object to our union, then I deserve the same consideration my father would give to Elizabeth or to Mary. That is what I will have Lady Russell argue.”

“Then let us make our plans,” he said softly. “We have much to decide.”

Each day that they met added depth to their plans for the future.All his sanguine expectations, all his determination, and all his confidence would make him successful. He would prove it to her and to her family; he would distinguish himself and early gain another step in rank.Those were his guarantees to Anne.

The day after Sir Walter’s return, Frederick waited for her, a rose in his hand.As usual, he met Anne by the lake.The moment he saw her coming across the field, he knew to expect trouble. Normally, Frederick went to meet her, but today something told him to wait—to wait for what was to come.A shiver of cold shot down his spine as she approached. Her eyes were red and swollen.

“Anne?” His voice was barely more than a whisper. His breath stirred a wisp of hair dislodged from her bonnet as he took her into his embrace.