Captain Wentworth's Persuasion (32 page)

Wentworth heard Anne gasp. “Oh, Frederick, tell me I said something
intelligible
at this juncture! Please say I was not as
tongue-tied
as I usually am.”

“I am afraid, my Love, that I dreamed you as you really are—perfect—but often afraid to give offense to anyone.” He continued his tale as Anne stared silently at him.

“Before you could answer, I added,‘If you only tell me that the Admiral may address a line to Sir Walter, it will be enough. Pronounce only the words,
He may
.—I shall immediately follow him with your message.’

“I stood transfixed, waiting for you to speak the words, which would doom me to a life of loneliness. Finally, you found your voice.‘No, Sir—there is no message.—You are misin—the Admiral is misinformed.—I do justice to the kindness of his intentions, but he is quite mistaken.There is no truth in any such report.’

“There we were—hearts beating madly—held in a moment of exquisite agony. I was a moment silent, and then you turned your eyes toward me for the first time since my reentering the room. I saw all the power and keenness that no other eyes possess.‘
No
truth in any such report!’ I repeated.

“You gave me an amused smile. ‘No truth in any
part
of it?—None.’

“I collapsed in the chair I was standing behind, enjoying the relief of what you said. I drew a little nearer to you. We looked at each other with expressions that were silent but still a very powerful dialogue. On my side there was supplication, on yours, acceptance. Then I took your hand and said,‘Anne, my own dear Anne!’”

With this, he pulled her hand to his lips and kissed the inside of her wrists. “Was that the end of the dream?” She barely got the words out. He had taken her breath away.

“Not entirely.” Frederick’s eyes lit up with mischief. “You, of course, ended up in my arms.”

Anne rolled her eyes.

“We kissed passionately until Sophia finally made an appearance in the study. I am afraid that my sister quite understood the situation even without our explanation. Your lips were swollen from our ardent kisses.” Frederick chuckled in remembrance. “Beautifully swollen, in fact.”

“You would enjoy embarrassing me so!” she chastised him.

Frederick pulled her even closer.“I enjoyed holding you in my arms.You were finally mine. How could I not kiss you blind?”

“Then what?”

“Well, it began to rain, and my sister astutely invited you to stay to dinner. A note was dispatched to Camden Place—and you stayed—stayed with me until ten at night. Sophia contrived for her and the Admiral to be frequently out of the room together. Nature, or fate, took its course. The rest of the dream is very much like what happened in reality. I told you of my love, and we found each other—so rationally, but so rapturously, happy as any two people could be.”

“I agree.” Anne fell into his embrace. “Your version is nearly as romantic as the real thing.” She smiled mischievously. “Now, I was wondering if you would care to demonstrate how well you kissed me during this romantic dream?” Her lips came near to his.Wordlessly, he complied.

—William Wordsworth,“Sonnet”

 

Frederick knew he could not escape Sophia’s close examination when he returned, but he honestly wished he could simply slink off to lick his wounds and regroup for a new assault on Anne’s regard. He handed his hat and coat to a waiting servant before heading upstairs to the Admiral’s study.

“Frederick, you are home early,” the Admiral noted as Frederick stepped through the open door. “I thought you might join some friends after the concert.”

Frederick walked to where Sophia sat, bending to kiss his sister’s upturned cheek. “I left before the concert ended.” He crossed to the window to peer out at the darkness.
Just get through the civilities, and then you can withdraw
, he told himself.

“Was the concert not entertaining?” Sophia watched him to see his reaction.

Frederick clasped his hands behind his back. “I was disappointed—the singer was lacking.”

“Really?” His sister sounded surprised. “I would have thought that Lady Dalrymple would never lend her name to any entertainment that was less than stunning.”

Frederick paused before answering, not wanting to rehash the evening with his sister.“Some found the performance adequate.”

“But
you
did not?” Benjamin seemed as surprised as his wife.

“Miss Anne says that it is probably because I heard the arias while I was in Italy.These were poor imitations.”

Sophia set down her book. “You spoke to Miss Anne at the concert?”

“Indeed. Lady Dalrymple is a relative of the Elliots, and, of course, Sir Walter would want to preserve the connection. The whole Elliot clan was in attendance.”

“I see,” Sophia mused.“Were you received by the family?” He turned to face them.“Only Miss Anne.The rest treated me only as a bowing acquaintance, although Sir Walter thinks I am a ‘very well-looking man.’” Sarcasm dripped from his every word.

“And even though Lady Dalrymple agreed, she believes I have the air of an Irishman!”

The Admiral guffawed, nearly choking on his port, while Sophia stifled her smile.“That is better than being the best-looking sailor he ever met,” Benjamin countered.

“When one puts it that way, I suppose I prefer my compliment to yours.” He begrudgingly took the seat across from his sister.

“I am sure Miss Anne did not treat you poorly.” His sister spoke the words softly, not sure whether Frederick wanted to hear them. “Miss Anne is not as anxious about class as the rest of her family.”

“No, she is not,” Frederick allowed at last. His time with Anne this evening had been superb; surrounded by concertgoers, he remembered none of them—only he and Anne existed in those moments.

“If the two of you do not mind, I think I will make it an early evening. After spending six weeks with Edward, I am accustomed to country hours.” He rose to his feet before offering them a quick bow.Then he headed to the door; he needed time—time to figure out how to fix the mess
he
had created.

The night seemed endless—little sleep came, and Frederick took some relief at leaving his bed, having had a thorough battle with the linens and pillows throughout most of the time he spent stretched out across it. Part of the time he thought it
best to abandon Anne to Mr. Elliot.As much as he despised the man, Mr. Elliot could offer Anne things of which Frederick could only dream. If Anne married Mr. Elliot, she could assume her mother’s position as the mistress of Kellynch Hall. She would be Lady Elliot—call Kellynch her home again—her home forever. Mr. Elliot was to inherit everything.—Anne deserved
everything
.—Frederick thought there would be every possibility of their being happy together. A most suitable connection everybody must consider it—but he thought it might be a very happy one also.

Yet, the thought of Anne sharing her life with anyone but him seemed to rip his heart from his chest. Anne—
his Anne
—was incomparable—beautiful—intelligent. His fascination with her had begun years ago, and it never waned, even though he had tried repeatedly to put her behind him.
Am I just a wishful fool—hoping against hope that something will change before Anne accepts Mr. Elliot’s troth?

Frederick spent the day after the concert walking about Bath in hopes of a sighting Anne. He visited the Pump Room, Victoria Park, the Royal Crescent, the shops, and Sydney Gardens; yet,Anne could not be found. Panic set in!—Could Mr. Elliot be applying for Anne’s hand while Frederick searched fruitlessly for her?
I was foolish—damnably foolish—yesterday evening. I left her in the company of Mr. Elliot, although she, obviously, wanted me to stay—to join her, even, on the bench. She asked me to listen to a love song, and I refused. “There is nothing worth my staying for.”What idiotic words! I should have told Anne she was worth staying for and then seated myself next to her. But I allowed her family to turn me away—to question my own worth—to retreat before being snubbed.What do I care if the likes of Lady Russell or Lady Dalrymple or Sir Walter Elliot do not approve of my relationship with Anne? Evidently, more than I thought! How could I let them ruin my chances to see Anne or to call on her again?

That evening, he took a tray in his room, unable to hold a conversation with his sister or Benjamin. His head throbbed, and he felt a prickling along his neck and spine, telling him that time was
short. If he did not reconnect with Anne Elliot by the next afternoon, he would call, unannounced, at Camden Place and plead for her to receive him. He would immediately pledge his love for her and ask Anne to make him the happiest of men.

He knew that he could not rely on the inspiration of the moment; he needed to carefully construct what he would say to Anne. He had missed a golden opportunity at the concert; now he must formulate a plan. He would prove himself to her. This gave him a focus for the evening—a way to pass the hours until he could search for Anne again.

“Wentworth!” Frederick turned quickly to search the faces rushing by him on the busy street. Finally, he saw the smiling countenance of Thomas Harville, who was followed closely by Charles Musgrove.

“I say, old man.” Charles laughed lightly as he extended his hand in friendship. “I never expected to find you on the streets of Bath.”

“Nor did I,” Harville joined in the greeting, “but I am pleased to see you, Frederick. You are looking well. How long have you been in Bath?”

“Only for a week.”They stepped to the side to let the pedestrians pass them by.“I came to join Sophia and the Admiral; he is here to take the water for his gout.What brings you two to Bath?”

Charles supplied the answer,“Captain Harville wanted to come to Bath on business.”

Thomas interrupted, “I wanted to see some of the offerings at the better shops—to inspect the workmanship. It would give me an idea of what Rushick might need.” Frederick nodded his understanding.

“Anyway,” Charles continued, “Harville began to talk of it a week ago; and by way of doing something, as shooting was over, I proposed coming with him, and Mrs. Harville seemed to like the idea of it very much, as an advantage to her husband; but Mary could not bear to be left, and made herself so unhappy about it
that, for a day or two, everything seemed to be in suspense, or at an end. But then, Papa and Mama took up the cause. Mama has some old friends in Bath, whom she wanted to see; it was thought a good opportunity for Henrietta to come and buy wedding clothes for herself and Louisa; and, in short, it ended being Mama’s party, making it easier on the captain here. Mary and I came, too—Mary to help Henrietta with the shopping.”