Persuasion
Prologue
Walter Elliot was just reaching 60 and already retired. His job at Stevenson and Chaney, although it paid well had been of great aggravation to Walter- he had realised from an early age that he was not cut out for hard work. He had first entered the business of share holding at a very young age, and it was almost entirely through his young wife's influence with her father that he had risen to such a high status as to afford his early retirement and a large pension. Sadly, within a few years of his retirement, his pension had been squandered on frivolous pleasures, and his eldest daughter Elizabeth. The Kelynch Manor house on the outskirts of London, which his wife had inherited before her death and was now his had already been re- mortgaged twice to cover debts.
Thus, drastic action was to be taken.
Pride of place in Walter Elliot's library was the Rich List 1977. Two hundred and thirty- two pages in was a large book mark, and, if you scan down the page to the 240th entry you will see a coloured- marker. The short paragraph that this marker indicates reads as such:
James Stevenson Esq. 1932- present
President and founder of Stevenson and Chaney
Worth 6.2 millions and shares in the company.
One Son- Charles Stevenson
One daughter- Elizabeth Stevenson recently married to one Walter Elliot of London.
Beneath the inscription, was a slip of paper covered in Walter's ornate script reading:
Walter and Elizabeth Elliot-
Elizabeth Elliot- June 1st 1978
Anne Elliot- August 9th 1980
Mary Elliot- Nov. 20th 1984
Elizabeth Stevenson Elliot- died December 4th 1990
James Stevenson- died 1991
Walter Elliot although distraught over his wife's untimely demise, could still find it in himself to muster much indignation over the matter of inheritance. All the fortune and business had gone to the son, Charles who, never having approved of his sister's marriage severed all ties with the Elliot's shortly after the will was settled.
Walter Elliot really had no right to complain. He retained Kelynch Manor house, which held an impressive collection of paintings, collected over the hundreds of years that the Stevensons had inhabited the house, and was a matter of some national interest. The parks surrounding it are now owned by the National Trust. Walter was amply provided for through his pension- although he had never once worked for it.
Walter Elliot was so upset by the inheritance debacle that he happily stopped all communication with his dearly departed wife's family and friends. All accept one, Mrs Russell, a widower of some social standing, remained close to the family through her connection to Anne. As Anne's godmother, she felt it fell to her to act as surrogate mother to the three girls, and especially Anne. Anne was very like her mother in personality and temper so she felt it deeply when her mother passed away.
Mrs Russell had returned to Kelynch to offer her support in this time of upheaval.
The previously mentioned, Anne Elliot sat quietly in the 'Drawing room' of the Manor. She sat quietly and contently sorting through boxes and packing and marking them. Her things had been packed up long ago and there were only a few. Her flat in London had been the first thing to be sold when the debts began to mount. She had moved into a small spare room near the top of the house and had been living there surrounded by the boxes of things for many weeks now. It had taken Anne a good deal of time to persuade her father to allow the house to be rented.
Mrs Russell entered the room in a hurry, clutching her large carpet bag to her chest. She rushed over to Anne, a hurricane of perfume and good intentions, and, kissing her on the cheek collapsed onto one of the old ornate wooden chairs across from her.
"Goodness me Anne" she cried glancing around the room "You should have called me right away! I didn't realise it had come to this." A gesture of her manicured hand seemed to encompass the entire situation.
"Well, we need to deal with it as soon as possible." Anne smiled up at her old friend. "And I didn't want you to cut your holiday short on our account."
"Tish, Tosh. Don't be so silly my dear- now you must tell me what is being done."
Anne then proceeded to tell her how, she had persuaded her father to rent the house, and he had engaged a solicitor, an old friend Mr Sheppard, to find a suitable tenant. Anne had hoped they would not move too far, somewhere within London, so that she could be close to her work, however, Elizabeth and her father had settled upon Bath.
At this point Mrs Russell cut in-
"Bath! But what on Earth for? Bath indeed. What a load of stuff and nonsense!"
With a slight smile Anne continued, "Yes, Bath- both Elizabeth and Father feel they would do well on the social scene in and around Bath, so it would seem that is where they are to go." Anne paused momentarily to seal up another box, and then continued:
"I am going to stay with Mary- there is not enough room at present in Bath, and she would like help with the children. I will be able to work in some peace whilst I am there. Of course, if I am needed it is only an hour train journey back into the centre of London."
"Hmmmmmmm" Mrs Russell leant forward and took one of Anne's hands. "I don't know if I like this, but it would seem your minds are made up."
"It is the only course of action available to us, if we are careful, father will be free of debt in no more than two years. Then we can happily return." Anne finished, smiling at her old friend. She hoped that if she seemed positive, everyone else would follow suit. They wouldn't, and Anne new it, but it was worth a try.
At that moment Walter Elliot and Elizabeth swept into the room, followed by a dusty looking old man, the solicitor Mr Sheppard.
"Ah! Mrs Russell, how are you" without waiting for an answer he turned to address the solicitor. "Mr Sheppard, you have a proposal?"
"Indeed" the little man gave a slight cough and then turned back to the door.
As if on cue, in walked a young woman, tall, with dyed blonde hair, and a dress that looked more expensive than it probably was.
With a little shriek Elizabeth ran towards the young women and through her arms around her neck.
"Penelope! My goodness! You are back. I heard your husband was dead." Here she made a little grimace but recovered quickly. "But I am so glad you are here- you must come and stay with us in Bath." At this she turned to her father and grinned.
"But of course, you must come." cried Walter Elliot returning the smile.
Mrs Russell made a move to speak; it was unfair that Anne had to find alternate living arrangements, when Mrs Clay could stay with them. Anne shook her head emphatically at her friend and muttered that really it was no trouble.
Walter Elliot, oblivious to this exchange, turned to Mr Sheppard and nodded, a cue to continue.
"Well, it would seem the best offer by far is that of a Doctor and his wife-"
Mr Sheppard could not continue once more, as Walter Elliot began to speak.
"Doctor! No. I will not stand for it! A Doctor in my house! They are unbearable; think themselves a cut above the rest of us, just because they save lives! Pah. And they never pay any attention to there appearance- frights all of them!" This outburst was followed by stifled laughter from Elizabeth and Mrs Clay.
"Well" said Mr Sheppard "They will pay handsomely, and they have no children, so the house will be kept in good order. I am sure Doctor Croft and his wife are perfectly respectable.
Anne dropped the china glass she had been busily rapping in bubble wrap.
"Doctor Croft?" As the affirmative was given Anne stopped breathing. This information filed her with a sense of dread. Her body leapt into action. Starting up from her chair she hastily apologised and left the room in search of a dust- pan and brush.
Once outside the room she rested against the wooden panelling. She could hear the exchange through the wall. Her father had apparently agreed to rent Kelynch to the Crofts, and that was that. They would leave for Bath tonight.
The last thing Anne heard as she hurried up the stairs to her room was her sister open the door and call,
"Oh, Anne, you will visit the neighbours and say our goodbyes once we are gone."
This is really just setting the scene. I tried to get a Jane Austen sounding narrative running, but the story will of course be different, since it is modernised. More fast paced story to come. First go ever.
Not sure if I should continue so,
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