Chapter Four
After a few days, it seemed as though Frederick Wentworth and Frank Mosley had always been part of Anne's life. Louisa and Frederick had become an 'item' apparently, and spent all their free time together. Charles and Mary entertained all the time, and they invited Frank along to be Anne's date.
Anne watched Louisa and Frederick and was dismayed to discover that she actually felt slighted when he didn't talk to her. He could surely spare a few miserly comments, anything.
One day, after a date with Frederick, Louisa came over to the Elliots' house.
"Anne, why didn't you tell me you knew Frederick before?"
"I didn't think it was important," Anne replied, wondering why that topic had come up between them, but she couldn't resist asking, "Did Frederick mention it?"
"Yes, well, I brought it up and he made a comment like 'You had changed so much since he last knew you.' So of course I had to ask when he'd known you."
"Oh." He thought she had changed so much, was it for the better or worse?
"You changed so much he wouldn't have recognized you. Apparently, you used to have longer hair," Louisa continued.
Anne was silent. On one hand he remembered that she used to have longer hair and he had noticed that she had changed, but she thought he decided that she was probably bad different. Anne, get out of your head, she told herself. It's a scary place, get out.
Frederick Wentworth had bought a house by the seaside, and he invited his new friends for a weekend. When Frank heard from Charles that they were going away, he invited himself. Frederick was too polite to refuse especially since Charles hinted to him that Frank was Anne's boyfriend, soon to be fiancé.
Frederick couldn't believe it, Frank and Anne, it seemed impossible. What did Anne see in him, he was not bad looking but he was loud and boorish and liked to talk about the things his family owned. How could Anne like someone like that? According to Mary, they were sure to be engaged very soon. "We're sure to have at least two weddings in the family this year," she had told him with a suggestive smile, "possibly three. I love weddings; I wish they would all take place in spring or early summer."
Frederick hadn't thought much about her comments until the weekend at his house. Louisa Musgrove was acting like she was the lady of the manor, like she was his wife, or at the very least about to be. She insisted on showing everyone to their rooms, in spite of the fact that they arrived together and acted as though she had chosen the furnishings with him, which she hadn't. The Harvilles also joined them that weekend, and they came over with Harry's cousin, Matt Benwick who was staying with them.
Anne was happy to see Harry again; they both agreed that it had been too long. At first it was awkward, given what had happened the last time they had seen each other, but they soon got past it.
"I could never understand what you did that was so bad; Fred could never mention your name without throwing things."
"Well, I can only hope that age has made me wiser," Anne told him.
Harry watched her face. "So you're not going to tell me, either."
Anne shook her head. "It was a long time ago, it doesn't matter now, water under the bridge and all that."
"I've never seen Fred as happy as he was then, never, not even with his ex-wife Angie."
"Frederick was married?" Anne couldn't help the shock in her voice.
"Oh yes, and what a piece of work she was. Did a real number on him, cheated on him and then took all his money, almost took the law firm as well."
Anne felt deeply for Frederick and her eyes sought him out. He was standing with Louisa, laughing, her hands were on his arms and they were gazing into each other's eyes. Without warning, as though he could feel her gaze, he looked up at her, she quickly turned her eyes.
I wonder what Harry is telling Anne, he thought. He said something to Louisa and made his way to where Anne and Harry were.
"The years have been very kind to Anne, wouldn't you say, Frederick?"
Harry was smiling, teasing his friend.
"Yes," Frederick said, "They have."
Frederick was really happy to see his friends, and for the first time in a long time, he had a whole weekend off. The first night went very well, apart from Louisa's over-clinginess.
On Saturday, they took a walk to the beach. Mary walked with Charles, Louisa with Frederick, Harry with his wife, Anita, while Anne and Henrietta walked with Matt. Frank had opted to stay behind to take a conference call.
Frederick had an indoor pool, and after the walk, the girls decided to swim. Louisa and Henrietta were the most enthusiastic, while Anne sat by the pool with Matt, watching them. Frederick was with Harry in the next room, watching the people at the pool.
"She seems like a nice girl," Harry began. Frederick looked at him questioningly.
"Louisa." Frederick nodded.
"But now, Anne, she is a great person," Harry said.
Frederick looked at his friend. "Harry, don't start again."
"You've been given another chance, another go at it to make it right."
"No, she's with Frank. And who says I want another go at it?"
"Frank Mosley, no one can be with him, especially not Anne." Frederick didn't say anything.
Harry smiled. "Unless this Louisa thing is serious."
Frederick nearly choked. "What Louisa thing? There is nothing between Louisa and I, we're just having fun, a little harmless fun."
"Anita told me that she was sitting with Louisa and Mary yesterday, and they had all but planned your wedding. Apparently, it's to be a double wedding with Henrietta and her bloke, in summer. They are only waiting for you to ask for hand officially."
Frederick was shocked, but before he could react, they had a shout coming from the swimming pool.
Louisa had hit her head on the diving board and had fallen into the water. Matt and Anne got her out but she'd had a huge blow to her head and was unconscious.
Frederick called the doctor, and they all sat waiting for him.
The doctor said that Louisa would be fine, but she needed to rest for at least twenty four hours. Her accident put a damper on the rest of the weekend and they stayed indoors most of the time.
On Sunday evening, they drove back to London. Frederick had arranged for an emergency helicopter to take Louisa back to a hospital closest to the Musgrove's home, in Leedsand she travelled with Henrietta and Charles.
