Chapter Ten
Charles was looking at Anne in shock and then he pulled his eyes away shaking his head and turned back to Mary. He appeared to be having an internal struggle with himself. Frederick almost laughed out loud. Surely this man could not be comparing the two? Anne was far superior to both her sisters, to all the young women he had met. This man Musgrove had Anne and he was drawn to another. Charles noticed his companion watching him and withdrew his eyes. "I suppose you are acquainted with the Elliots'?"
"We have met, yes," said Frederick. As he spoke, Anne looked over at the pair of them and smiled. Frederick would have liked nothing more than to believe she was smiling at him, but he had to reason with himself; she was smiling at her fiancé. With a mumbled excuse he walked over to his brother.
Anne's smile dropped, she had expected him to come over, to compliment her on her attire or at the least to return her smile. Perhaps it was her party. He did not want to be entangled with all those who had caused him such distress. She looked to her father and Lady Russel, too involved in their conversation with the Goulds' to have even noticed him. Anne however was not as lucky in her plans of avoiding others, Charles was on his way over to her, only to be side tracked by Mrs Finch who over took him and made her own way over to the young lady. Anne was not sure who she wanted to speak to less.
The elderly widow meant well, and Anne did like her, but she was sometimes overwhelming in her determination of match making everyone, she could be a little over powering. Mrs Finch knew of their history and Anne was sure news would have already reached her of Charles' proposal and subsequent refusal. She would want the details, would want to know why and if it had anything to do with return of a young Captain Wentworth. Anne swallowed her frustrations and prepared to greet her friend. Almost at the same moment as Anne met with Mrs Finch, did Lady Russel turn intent on checking on her God Daughter's whereabouts, and came face to face with a ghost from the past.
Frederick had no intentions of even acknowledging the woman who had singlehandedly destroyed his hopes and dreams almost three years past. He had been attempting to move past her when she addressed him. "Commander Wentworth?" she almost shrieked in shock.
All conversation in the room ceased and every pair of eyes landed on the unlikely pair. Frederick smiled tightly. "Actually, its Captain Wentworth now Ma'am."
Lady Russel showed no interest or signs of even having heard him. Her eyes were flickering to Anne and back to the man in front of her; no longer a young man easily dismissed, he was quite a presence in the uniform he now filled out. He gave her one last reluctant smile before continuing past her and going to stand beside his bemused brother.
Slowly the conversation returned. Lady Russel instantly sought the company of her God Daughter. She required answers and the presence of Mrs Finch would not deter her. "So, he has returned." she said pointedly in Anne's direction.
Anne swallowed her fears. "I did not know."
Her God Mother looked at her in utter disbelief. She was just about to question her further when Mrs Finch spoke. "It is my understanding he has only lately returned, yesterday in fact, and no one- not even his brother was aware of his intentions." The lady smiled at Lady Russel, and winked at Anne. Anne smiled back grateful, even if she felt guilty for lying to her God Mother.
"Well I see he has the same bad manners as before, no amount of success has rid him of those traits. Really, is this what our Majesty's Navy has become? Letting miscreants like him make it to the status of Captain. No doubt one of the Admiral's daughters has an understanding with him."
Anne could listen in silence no longer, she would not let anyone dispute the accomplishments Commander Wentworth had achieved in order to gain his Captaincy. It was through his hard work, efficiency and merit that he had made it to the status of Captain, nothing less. "Lady Russel!" she interrupted. "Please desist in this deformation of Captain Wentworth's character. He has done nothing to deserve such insult."
"Nothing? Did you not see how arrogant he was in his address of me? The way he walked away without excuse. It is despicable."
"He had every right to!" declared Anne surprising them both with her defence. Mrs Finch stood back ready to intervene if necessary but this was Anne's time to finally find her own voice. "Do you not imagine after all we put him through, he –anyone- would be uncivil in their address? We caused him pain. He remains aggrieved and injured because of us." Anne half sobbed. Mrs Finch placed a comforting hand on her young friend's arm seeing the pain in Anne's eyes, and suspecting not for the first time, that he was not the only one still injured by the events in the year Six.
Lady Russel only chuckled. "Oh my dear you cannot possibly suppose he still thinks on all that … unpleasant business. He is a man, they think nothing of it. I assure you he will not have given you a second thought since that day he left here." Her God mother said icily.
Anne was seeing her trusted advisor in a whole new light, suddenly she wished to be far away from her. "If you would excuse me." she said quietly. She nodded to Mrs Finch and then walked to the other side of the room where Elizabeth was bending the ear of the Goulds.
Charles had witnessed the altercation between Wentworth and Lady Russel, and observed how the latter had repeatedly looked to Anne, could it be? Was the Captain the one? The unsuitable suitor from Anne's past she had given her heart to. He made his way over to the Captain once again, eager to learn as much of the man's back ground and time in the area as possible. However, just as he reached the man, Mary interrupted him. "Miss Mary." Charles greeted her, shooting the Captain an apologetic look. "I do not believe you have been acquainted with our new neighbour, Mr Wentworth's brother the Captain.
Frederick studied the young girl he had only ever seen in portraits. She had some of Anne's features; her dark hair and eyes, she was small and petite, but her facial expressions matched those of their eldest sister and father. She looked down her nose at Edward and only briefly acknowledged Frederick. "Miss Mary." Frederick greeted her with a bow but by the time he had straightened, her attention was already back on Charles. Frederick's eyes swept the room for Anne. He did not think it very appropriate for her younger sister to be flirting with her fiancé. But Anne was nowhere to be seen.
"Tell me Charles, do you like my dress? It is new, specially sent for all the way from London."
Exactly like her father thought Frederick.
Charles blushed, "it is very nice Miss Mary."
"I have asked Mr Gould if, when they are finished playing cards, we can have dancing, and he has agreed!" She was almost bouncing on her feet.
Frederick was reminded of how immature she was and he thought of Anne at her age – how different she had been at just nineteen. He could not imagine her ever being so whimsical. She looked pointedly at Charles, and Frederick concluded she was expecting the man to ask her to dance. Charles however did not take the hint.
"That's nice Miss Mary," but he was looking past her, with a slight shake of his head he brought his attention back to the girl. "How is it we are seeing Miss Anne tonight?"
Frederick and Edward exchanged a glance at the mention of her name. Mary rolled her eyes, "I do not know, she suddenly wanted to attend."
"But An-Miss Anne does not play cards." queried Charles.
Fredrick realised the man was intimately acquainted with Anne to know things that he had believed only he knew, and felt the need to walk away.
"She must have had a special reason for attending tonight." observed Edward bluntly.
Frederick looked at Charles as Charles looked at Frederick, each believing the other to be the reason, causing Edward to hold in a laugh.
"So, will you be dancing Charles?" pouted Mary, keen for the attention to be back on her.
"I do not know Miss Mary," he snapped and then realising his error he smiled at her. "I mean, who else will be dancing? It will only be us. Sir Walter and Lady Russel will refuse, as will the Goulds', my parents and Mrs Finch. Elizabeth would never lower herself. That will leave you with the choice of three partners."
Mary huffed "I will be dancing with you." she clarified.
Frederick frowned, were they really all so self-obsessed they had forgotten Charles betrothed. "What of Miss Anne?" he said suddenly. All the pairs of eyes landed on his, pulling a face.
Charles spoke first. "Miss Anne does not dance. She never dances."
Frederick could hardly believe his ears – Anne did not dance. What? When they had always danced, and her so well. He turned towards Edward, looking for answers. The curate only shook his head in silent recognition. Edward then turned away from the others and added quietly. "I told you, speak with Miss Anne. There is a great deal that has changed and things you need to know."