Disclaimer: Jane Austen is the genius behind Persuasion etc etc.

Warnings: OOC, AU

I hope you all enjoy this story! It will be about 35000 words all up and I'll be posting updates regularly as Sophia manipulates the original plot.

Along with her husband, Admiral Croft, and youngest brother, Frederick, Sophia Croft had been enjoying the charming company of the Musgrove family for the last week; having been asked by the elder Musgroves to dine regularly and join the shooting and walks since their arrival in the area.

They were, at this moment, sitting in the Musgrove family's music room after enjoying a delightful and rich meal. The warm colours of the walls and furnishings made everything seem more intimate and friendly; an intimacy that caused her intuition to persistently prickle. The roaring fire to her right – keeping her skin warm and cheeks rosy – crackled and hissed under the never-ending flow of animated conversation. But the pleasant atmosphere did nothing to soften her frown as she watched her youngest brother from her comfortable seat.

During these meetings, her handsome brother had quickly been gifted with the admiration of the two young Musgrove ladies who determinedly vied for his attention – and he was diligently obliging their efforts. Indeed, it was the focus he gave them that was disturbing her now. While her youngest brother was always courteous and charming among acquaintances, he was also usually slightly aloof with the unmarried ladies and careful to allow only an acquaintance level of attention; never flirting or giving undue hope to the ladies who flocked around him.

Now, however, he was intense. Determinedly so.

If his attention was focused on just one of the sisters, she would have presumed he was attracted to the lady – despite the obvious immaturity of the two Miss Musgroves – however, it was both sisters he responded to equally. If that were not disturbing enough, there was the addition of doing this while ignoring a young lady of greater family status and substance.

Sophia had spoken with all three unmarried ladies over the week and knew that Miss Anne Elliot was the clear superior among the three. All were pretty and kind, however Miss Anne was something more. She was intelligent, extremely compassionate, and exceedingly patient. Which is why the question of her brother assiduously avoiding Miss Anne to dote his attention of these other two ladies had become such a perplexing and disturbing mystery.

Sophia watched as Miss Anne sat silently on a chair between two turned backs, her unmoving hands were folded in her lap and her eyes held a blank look while her head was slightly bowed. The elder Mrs Musgrove, who was sitting on Miss Anne's right, was focusing her concentration on the Admiral next to her. Miss Louisa, who sat on Miss Anne's other side, was listening to Frederick regale some thoroughly enhanced sea story with rapt attention.

Sophia watched the unending display for a full half-hour from the corner of her eye as she gave attendance to Mrs Mary's gossiping next to her. During this time, she noticed that Miss Anne barely moved and was never included. Despite this snub, Miss Anne did not appear disheartened, indeed she simply sat quietly and seemed to be listening carefully to Frederick; given her expressions were a less exuberant version of the Miss Musgroves.

Why is Miss Anne being ignored in such a manner? She is an attentive and intelligent conversation partner. Is she simply overlooked because she does not demand attention like some of these other younger ladies? Still, this is quite beyond the pale: the moment Mrs Mary finishes speaking of the vicar's wife, I will ask Miss Anne for details on her favourite walks around Kellynch Hall.

As Sophia prepared to extract herself from Mrs Mary, she was interrupted.

'Oh, we must have some dancing!' Miss Louisa exclaimed. 'We so rarely have enough numbers for such a joy that it would be such a shame not to take advantage of the opportunity tonight.'

'An excellent idea, daughter,' Mrs Musgrove agreed.

'Charles, it has been so long since we danced together,' Mrs Mary added.

Sophia raised an eyebrow at the demand for precedence over the unmarried ladies and guests, not that she herself was in the mood for dancing.

'Dearest Anne, you will play for us, won't you?' Miss Louisa asked with her hands pressed together in a pleading motion as her eyes danced brightly with anticipation.

'Of course,' Miss Anne replied with a mirthless smile, standing and moving towards the sheets of music scattered over the gleaming piano.

Mr Charles stood and extended his hand to his wife and was immediately accepted with an unladylike giggle. The Admiral stood stiffly and bowed towards Miss Musgrove; doing his duty to his host's unmarried daughter despite his old joints.

'Miss Musgrove, will you oblige an old sea man in this dance?'

'I'd be delighted, Admiral Croft,' Miss Musgrove replied sweetly, although she cast a disappointed look towards Frederick, who was now offering his own hand to Miss Louisa.

Mrs Musgrove moved next to her, taking Mrs Mary's previous seat, and they began to talk while a lively tune filled the room and the partners began to skip, spin, and glide across the floor in intricate patterns.

'Louisa told me yesterday that this is your brother's second visit to this area,' Mrs Musgrove began.

'Oh, yes, he first came here in the year 06 to visit our brother, now Reverend Wentworth, when he lived nearby,' Sophia replied, recalling her discussion with her brother when he had first arrived at Kellynch Hall.

'It is a pity that we didn't meet him then, but I suppose it is for the best, my daughters and Mary were still in the schoolroom then.'

Sophia nodded to show her attention.

'Indeed, only Miss Anne would have been out at that time. My, it had been a long time since she entered society!'

Sophia tried to school her face to hide her surprise at the thoughtless demeaning comment and the unexpected new information.

If Miss Anne was in society when Frederick was here in 06, then they would have to have encountered each other, yet they act like they do not know each other. They must have attended parties together; Frederick being the brother of a reverend and Miss Anne being from a prominent family of the area. And they were of similar ages, so it was likely they would have talked… Miss Anne does not seem so prideful that she would not acknowledge an acquaintances with Frederick, and he would not be hurt by such an association. Why would they hide it?

Sophia eyes narrowed as they darted from her brother and Miss Anne.

I am missing something...

She watched as he turned in the dance, spinning passed the piano, and saw him stumble slightly as his eyes flickered over the piano and its talented musician.

Something is most definitely going on that I have missed. Frederick's behaviour this week is too aberrant; swinging from overly attentive to almost slighting. And now this concealed acquaintanceship that causes a sure-footed seaman to stumble! Hmm… Well, solving this mystery will, at least, keep me entertained for the duration of our stay.

A/N: Please review to let me know what you think! Also, if you spot any Oxford English mistakes, please PM me so I can fix them up XD