Chapter Three
Anne Elliot had been beside herself all night, her heart racing with nervous happiness and her emotions in turmoil. She felt so happy she could burst, and yet she was being forced to remain calm and unaffected while awaiting her fiancé's arrival. Fiancé; how she loved that word. More so than she ever did before, for this time there was no one to prevent them from becoming husband and wife. She had made the heart-breaking mistake of trusting in those closest to her and their well-intentioned advice instead of trusting her own judgement and heart, and they had all led her to heart ache. She thought of the letter hidden in her reticule and held it tightly in her hands. She dared not be parted from it, it was her evidence that the wonderful events of this afternoon had not been a dream.
That was until the footman had announced the arrival of the Captains Wentworth and Harville. They were there. He had come. Elizabeth had been the first to greet them, as was her right as acting lady of the house and so Anne had been forced to remain where she was in the drawing room surrounded by their family and friends, all the time her gaze drawn to the handsome face of the man she was soon to call her husband. His broad shoulders and large frame filled the doorway the same way it had at Uppercross and Anne got the same fluttering sensation in her belly as she beheld him. He looked regal almost in his Uniform, he had removed his hat and it was seated in the crook of his elbow where her hand had been placed a good part of that afternoon, while they had strolled through the streets of Bath until propriety had forced them to part. Soon they would be able to do like the Crofts and spend all day together arm in arm walking and talking. She was so keen to hear about his travels, the sights he had seen, the different cultures. She hoped they would be in each other's company a great deal. She was so involved in her fantasy she failed to notice him making his way over to her and when he took her hand in his, it startled her at first.
Instead of being insulted at her less than warm reaction to his compliments, he smirked a little with a glint of mischief in his eye. He knew what she had been thinking about or at least he suspected. He knew her so well already. But then he always had. He held her hand and began lifting it to his lips before remembering himself and gently returned it to its reluctant owner. She found herself frowning at the lack of contact and then at him smiling at her frustration. How was he so restrained? So controlled around her. Charles was already requesting his attention, asking him to come join them at their table. Before he left her side he winked at her and smiled widely showing his teeth and looking like he did eight years ago. There was no trace of disappointment or hurt anymore, only love. Anne returned his with one of her own, laced with the same sentiments and they made their separate ways about the room, stopping independently to talk with others or just to admire the decoration.
It was during one of these seemingly unplanned innocent trips about the room, that they found themselves not an hour later, admiring the same shrubbery near the window on the far side of the room. She let her fingertips caress the leaves and inhaled the scent of the flowers before moving to the next display. A moment behind her, Frederick found his own fingers reaching out to touch the same leaves her small hands had held. It was very much the same as holding her hand; touching the leaves where she had touched. But it was not. Wentworth strategically maneuvered them so that a pillar in the room stood betwixt them, blocking their hands from the rest of the room. To anyone who was looking, it would appear they were stood a good twelve inches apart and yet undercover of the pillar he was able to take her hand once more. He saw how she tensed and then immediately relaxed, and when his thumb brushed her knuckles she blushed, he would give anything to kiss those blushes away, and encourage them back by kissing her full lips. He felt himself grow hot and uncomfortable, at the less than savoury thoughts he was having of his young innocent fiancée. He suggested to a puzzled Anne, they return to the rest of the party.
Another hour later they were able to administer another meet, this time to discuss the past and decision they had both made and the regret it led to. Wentworth had learned that should he have returned to her in the year '08 just two years after their doomed union, and renewed his feelings and his offer, Anne would have been his wife. He suddenly had an increased amount of forgiveness for Lady Russell, for it appeared she was not alone in assisting their parting. Although it had been her doing in the first place, it was his stubbornness and pride that had kept them that way. If he had only listened to his heart they would not have wasted all the years. But Anne would not hear of it, they had the rest of their lives to make up for it and that was more than enough. What had gone had gone. Having relived his past mistakes Frederick resolved to waste not a second longer than necessary in securing Anne's place with him. The next time Sir Walter excused himself from a game he spoke to him. Without reference to the reason, as to not draw the attention of those around him other than Anne and Harville, he discreetly requested a private meeting with his future father-in-law. Without mean of communication, the only assurance Anne had been able to offer him was a smile that ensured no matter what the outcome of that meeting, she was still his. However as little as it was, he seemed affected by her confidence greatly and strode after Sir Walter like a man on a mission.
Anne had felt the watchful eyes of Captain Harville on her from the moment Frederick had disappeared after her father. She warmed inwardly that his friend already accepted them as a couple, she had become his friend as well. She felt her lack of connections she was bringing to their marriage greatly, she only had two friends she could truly call her own; Lady Russel and Mrs Smith. It seemed unfair that he should be able to offer so much to her and she could not match it. Something she would have to talk to him about later. If they were ever alone. She had heard from both Louisa and Henrietta how being engaged seemed to mean you were never to be allowed a moment alone with your intended, even to talk. She was sure this could not be the case, and put both girl's plights down to an over exuberant mother rather than that was just the way of things. She thought of Frederick and how in the just the past few hours, they had already broken so many rules of social etiquette. He a single man had written to her a single lady and she had read the note. They had spent over an hour arm in arm as if they were already married, when in reality, he hadn't even approached her father. No, if she wanted to spend time with her fiancé, she was sure he would make it happen.
Mrs Musgrove occupied her for the next few minutes chatting merrily about having her two eldest daughters married and how she wished she could only find a match for Anne. Anne bit her lip supressing a smile, all would be revealed soon enough. No sooner had Mrs Musgrove left her side than Mr Elliot replaced her. After Mrs Smith's recent revelations regarding her cousin, Anne no longer had the time to waste nor inclination to speak with him. She wished he would leave their company for good and return to being their estranged cousin they weren't supposed to talk of. His attentions and well wishes were beginning to strain even the never ending patience of Anne Elliot. He had removed them to the refreshment table under the pretence of ridding her of an undeclared thirst, when in fact- as she had rightly guessed- he wanted to keep her away from a promising young Naval Captain. Anne let him lead her, but her eyes along with her heart, were fixed upon the door and wishing her beloved to return to her, hopefully with good news. As if her prayers had been answered the door clicked open and Captain Wentworth appeared, his eyes did a sweep of the room before resting on hers, holding her worried gaze he immediately assured her, he had done what he had set out to do, and now there was nothing standing in their way, with one smile he had reassured her all was well. She felt her worried body relax and the nervous energy from earlier return in abundance.
She watched as he crossed the room ignoring the looks from those around, he purposely headed in her direction. She felt rather than saw Mr Elliot drop back a few paces as if the Captains approach was enough of a realisation he had lost. Frederick came to a halt beside her but did not say or do anything to confirm things had gone well with her father, or if he had to battle for his approval. While she looked at him for answers Sir Walter had made his way back into the room and drew everyone's attention back to himself. Each person turned to face Sir Walter, using the distraction for cover, Frederick took Anne's now trembling hand in his own squeezing it tight before placing it back in the crook of his arm.
"Dowager, friends, it is my delight to inform you all of the engagement between my daughter Anne and-" he paused looking over at Anne, and with a sigh concluded, "Captain Wentworth."
Frederick straightened his back proud to have his love on his arm, and readied himself to accept the congratulations of at least his family and friends, and to protect Anne against anything other than that. Anne was unaware of people barraging across the room to greet them. She only had eyes for her Captain.