The Walks

Chapter One: Walking to the Hayters

Anne Elliot walked behind her sister, Charles, Louisa, Henrietta and Him.

She watched Him flirt with the Musgrove girls and wished that she had stayed at home.

"How brave you are," Louisa told Captain Wentworth; he was relating yet another tale about his voyage on the Lusitania.

"The land is resting now," Henrietta was saying, "but later there will be flowers and fruits. It's really beautiful."

"This walk tires me so," Mary complained to Charles. "You should have borrowed your father's carriage."

"Do we have to do it so often?"

"So often Madam, you are mistaken. We last visited the Hayters a month ago."

"Yes," Mary agreed, "but they just came over last week."

Charles turned to his wife and explained as though speaking to a child, "since Henrietta and Charles have an understanding he has to visit a lot more."

"I wonder what Henrietta was thinking." "Oh well," Mary continued brightening, "at least now she's met Captain Wentworth she may change her mind."

Charles ignored her. She turned to Anne, "don't you agree?"

They had reached the little creek and He walked Louisa across it, while Charles helped his wife and other sister across.

Anne was left to cross by herself; she didn't mind at all. After all she didn't really matter to anyone.

She looked up and saw the Captain, Him – Frederick laugh with Louisa. She felt her heart almost burst, I had him and I let him go. She wanted to cry, to fall down and die.

It happened so fast she didn't even know how she fell. All she knew was that Frederick was holding her.

"Anne," he whispered, "O Anne please be alright."

He saw that her eyes were open and let her go very quickly.

"I am fine, really," she found a smile.

Frederick looked at Anne; he had almost fainted when he saw Anne fall off the log. He had moved towards her without even knowing.

Anne, my dearest Anne, he thought.

Her saw everyone looking at him and let her go.

Later he asked his sister to take her back.

His Anne looked so frail and weak. He wanted to carry her back home, the look in her eyes almost killing him.

Anne couldn't believe Frederick; he had asked his sister to take her home and all but carried her to the carriage. She looked at him, he looked as stern as usual yet he had cared enough, first when she fell then ensuring she didn't walk home.

Maybe he still cared.

Frederick watched Anne leave with Sophy, she hadn't rejected his touch, and she had looked at him and smiled – a little smile but a smile nonetheless.

Maybe she still cared.