Captains Benwick and Harville

Frederick was happy to receive word from his friend Harry Harville. They had served together on four ships and Frederick could honestly say that Harry was the best friend he'd ever had. He was also the only person he'd ever told about how badly hurt he'd been by Anne Elliot's refusal of him.

He had talked about it for days and days until he'd spent his anger. It was a testament of how great a friend Harry was, he'd never brought up The Anne Elliot Subject again.

Harry had invited him to Lyme, come spend some time with me and the missus, she really wants to see you and the children missed their Uncle Freddie.

We should make a trip out of it, Frederick thought, let's all go together, he told the Musgroves. Charles, Louisa and Henrietta were very enthusiastic; they really wanted to go. Mary was also keen and much more so when the older Musgroves had offered to look after their grandchildren. She only had one problem left, how to convince Anne to join them. Anne was determined to remain and look after the children, failing that she would go to Bath and join her father and Elizabeth.

"Anne, when do I ever ask anything of you?" Mary asked her.

Anne did not even bother to reply. She was surprised at her sister's selfishness.

"Anne," Mary continued, "what if I fall sick? Who will help me? You know how Louisa and Henrietta are. They are the most selfish girls ever. No, I need you with me, to help me and talk to me when Charles is ignoring me as you know he will."

Anne finally agreed, not for Mary's sake but for a chance to travel, to see the water.

When Frederick heard that Anne was going to join them he really didn't know how to react. On one hand he was happy, a chance to show her that I am really over her; and I should be over her, it's been eight years. On the other hand he thought maybe it would be better for him if she stayed home. Her presence may interfere with my association with Louisa.

They arrived in Lyme and met the Harvilles and Captain Benwick who was staying with them. Benwick had recently lost his fiancée, Fanny, Harville's sister and was in quite a state. He read poetry all the time and was quite unhappy. Anne found herself drawn to him. They wore both mourning lost loves.

Frederick watched Anne talk to Benwick and he had to force himself to calm down. Earlier that day Harville had organised a trip for the whole party but Anne had declined preferring to stay and talk to Benwick. The whole trip was a disaster Louisa had stuck to him like glue and won't let him even participate in a single sport without her. She sat next to him, walked arm in arm with him and even gave opinions on his behalf. If this goes on, he thought, I may have to start hiding from the girl. The thought of Benwick spending the day with Anne was of the biggest factor that made the day such a disaster. Maybe, I should have stayed at home with them, he thought. He urged the others to make short work of it, he was wild to be back and find out how they had spent the day.

Maybe I'll find they can't stand the sight of each other, that they have had a falling out. Anne wasn't the most engaging girl ever and that was eight years ago, now she's surely worsened. As for Benwick, I have no words.

At the house, he found Anne and Benwick discussing the works of Shakespeare, the sonnets to be exact and they seemed to be in such good humour they had hardly noticed that they were all alone in the house. As if the sonnets are the most important thing in the world. Ha.

I guess she really wanted a bookish man which is why she really rejected me. Well, she's got it wrong again, Benwick may be bookish and well read in poetry but she will get tired of that. In addition to that Benwick is quite short and everybody knows that a proper English gentleman is distinguished by his height, and I am richer than Benwick can ever hope to be.

You'll pay for rejecting me again, you're getting a short, poorer man instead of me. That will teach you Anne Elliot.

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