Thanks for reading, and special thanks to everyone who reviewed, favourited, and followed the story!

To the reviewers: Everyday Clumsy - Thanks for the review!; voodoomarie - haha, thanks for the review, I love your descriptions! DeedeeHDG - Thank you! I'm glad you like Sophia!;ebfiddler - I love your faith in Sophia! LovePersuasion - thanks! You'll find out about Anne's response soon!; Guest - Yes, sometimes she finds tact and other times she misses by a mile - but that's why I love writing this characterisation!; and Guest KL - Haha, yes it was terribly indiscreet of him! Thanks very much for the comments XD

Enjoy and thank you for all you support. Happy reading!

Last chapter:

Sophia looked torn between irritation and resignation, before she felt her lips twist in sardonic humour. 'Very well, I will offer her an apologetic smile from across the room, should she look my way, and content myself with that for the evening. I think I am going to now free my displeased brother from the Miss Musgroves and talk with those ladies myself.'

The Admiral gave her a knowing look, but excused himself to return to his discussion with the senior Mr Musgrove.

Sophia had indeed not had a chance that evening to even offer Miss Anne the apologetic smile from across the room as the lady had slipped away after being released and had never returned. So instead, she spent the remainder of the night surreptitiously watching her brother as he keep one eye on the door throughout the night, but to her disappointment he never made the attempt to follow Miss Anne from the party. Fortunately she was able to avoid the promise of her brother's continued conversation in the carriage as the others in the group exuberantly expounded on the party all the way home and she had immediately dashed off to bed with the Admiral in tow, as defence, upon their return.

The following morning Sophia decided it was best to break her fast in the privacy of her bedroom, however afterwards she was rather limited on occupations and finally resigned herself to leaving the safety of her chambers.

Sophia had not been in the position of purposefully avoiding her brother since she declared her intention to accept Captain (now Admiral) Croft's request of courtship, should he offer. At that time, Frederick had been concerned she did not truly understand what life as a naval wife would be like. He had constantly appeared from around doors and hidden paths to try and persuade her that life at sea with the gruff and strict manners of the much older man would not suit his wild and carefree sister. Frederick had been right in some respects, but fortunately her husband had learnt very quickly that he was not to speak to her like she was one of his crew and she actually enjoyed life on the ship: being the wife of a Captain making it much more comfortable and dignified than it otherwise would have been.

But Frederick's angry promise of a continued discussion, more likely fiery sibling fight after her actions towards Miss Anne, had her creeping along the servant passageway in Kellynch.

A thud and opening door into the passage made her jump.

I'm about to become cannon fodder!

A high-pitched shriek sounded from the entering person and Sophia felt her heart calm, not her brother, just a servant girl. I'm still hidden for now.

Running footsteps entered the room adjoining the passageway and Frederick voice sounded towards the servant girl standing in the passage doorway. 'What is wrong?'

'Please, forgive me, sir, I just had a shock,' the maid said, and then turning towards Sophia, she continued, 'I do apologise for screaming, ma'am.'

Oh heavens, she thought with a roll of her eyes.

Frederick's surprised face appeared around the door. 'Sophia?'

Sophia offered her brother a wane smile. To be caught skulking a servant passage and terrifying a maid. I doubt any of the previous inhabitants ever entered these corridors, no such well-bred ladies would dare! And Sir Walter might just collapse at the mere thought of such an action.

'Will you join me for a walk in the grove, sister?' Frederick asked politely, heels clicking together and arm raising to offer support.

It seemed her time for running away from this conversation was over. 'Of course, that sounds like a lovely idea.' She turned to the maid and continued, 'Could you please fetch my blue cloak and matching gloves and bonnet.'

'Of course, ma'am,' the maid said with a bob and scurried away down the corridor with deft navigation, given the limited light.

Once warmly dressed, Sophia and Frederick headed out to the privacy of the woods. Entering the private canopy of leaves, which rustled slightly in the breeze, Frederick began, 'I have been going over and over in my mind what you were up to last night, and I haven't been able to come up with a satisfactory answer that does not show you think incredibly poorly of myself or Miss Anne. So, I'm hoping you have another explanation, what were you up to last night?'

Sophia blanched as he spoke, he would be very angry with her answer, but honesty would be best in the long run… if spoken delicately. 'I did not intend to cause Miss Anne any upset; she is such a sweet lady that I think that no-one would wish to. I, unfortunately, spoke a little too bluntly on a delicate topic to the lady. I spoke with her, not you, because I thought she might actually answer my questions.' Sophia glanced at her brother to see a stony look staring back at her with rage simmering underneath.

'And what possible topic could you have that only Miss Anne or I could answer?'

'Since you have arrived in the area, I have noticed you have been out of sorts. Through various conversations with different people, it has become clear that you and Miss Anne were friends last time you were here, even engaged.' Oh dear, that was not nearly as delicate as I intended. Hurrying to soften the blow, she continued on the painful topic as Frederick's face darkened, 'But the engagement was broken on bad terms. I only want you happy-'

'I am a grown man who can take care of my own happiness, what right do you think you have that allows you to meddle in my life the way you are!'

'You still love her!'

'You're wrong,' he ground out.

'I'm not. Can you not see what your actions show? Yes, you avoid her, but the moment she is in distress you are by her side to alleviate it!' Sophia exclaimed.

'I try my best to be a gentleman, of course I help if a lady is in need,' he ground out.

'You are the only one in the group who does. You insisted we take her home in the gig and lifted her into it, you searched for a missing child with her and then defended her against her overbearing sister, and last night you almost squashed my hand when you released her from my grip! Don't be so stubbornly blind, Freddie, the only way you will be truly happy is if you marry the person you love, and that person, my dear brother, that person is her.'

Frederick winced and then snapped, 'Well, that's not going to happen because I won't love a persuadable and weak-minded woman.'

Sophia couldn't contain her scoff.

'She is hardly weak-minded or persuadable. I have had many conversation with her and come away wondering how I changed my mind to agree with her, and she does an admirable job with her hypochondriac sister.'

'She is! She was persuade to break our engagement to make her family and Lady Russel happy!' he finally shouted, hands punctuating the air. Breathing deeply, he reined in his body and looked at his sister before continuing with a hiss, 'She didn't give a thought to me or what she wanted, just them. She didn't love me enough to withstand their disapproval and losing her oh so precious dowry.'

'Oh, Freddie,' she replied softly, and drew her brother into a hug, squeezing him as tightly as she could with her small arms. His ridged body relaxed with a sigh and his weight dropped into her, relying on the support of another for the first time in a long time. 'I'm not sure what happened all those years ago, but you do still love her, and her reaction last night makes me think that she still cares for you. She certainly seems fixed in her opinions and ready to defend them now. Let me find out if she does still love you, you have a chance to be happy, surely you wish to grab that chance with both hands.'

'Don't you understand, she said no.'

'But why exactly was she persuaded?'

'Because others did not want the marriage to happen.'

'But why?'

'No other reason, she was a dutiful daughter who did not wish to disappoint them.'

'Are you sure that was the only reason. It sounded like it would have been hard for you to support her with Sir Walter withholding her dowry and you yet to get a commission.'

'I knew I would get a commission and have good luck.'

'You certainly proved that you did,' Sophia said, and then pondered aloud, 'however would you have been so driven and focused if you had half your mind on a wife on shore, a wife with little money and no understanding of how to complete basic household tasks. She would not know how to cook or clean, she is the daughter of a Baronet.'

Frederick looked uncertain for a moment, before his face twisted into a stubborn look. 'We would have worked it out, she just needed to stay strong and not falter.'

Heavens help me with thoughtless, stubborn men!

'What if she thought she was not enough, brother.'

'Wha-'

'No, hear me out. The girl obviously lacks confidence, with realising she now had no dowry or family support to bring into the marriage, could she have perhaps been thinking of you instead of her family?'

'I didn't care about that!'

'I know you didn't! But, did she? Did you two discuss it?'

Frederick's anger wilted as he thought about the facts rather than his stifled emotions. 'No, I think she mentioned it vaguely on the day, but to be honest I don't really remember much of what was said that day.'

Sophia gave her brother a reproachful look and rose on her tiptoes to slap him lightly across the back of his head. Thump.

'Ouch!' Frederick muttered as he rubbed his head with a scowl.

Sophia dropped her hands to her hips and took on the Admiral's dressing down stance. 'You didn't listen to her and use her responses to try and fight for her. If she was as persuadable as you believe, you could have changed her mind back again.'

Frederick looked startled: as if such a thought had not occurred to him in, even during the vast number of times he had recounted what had happened and how different actions may have changed the circumstances. He quickly found himself hoping very much that she had indeed only broken their engagement for her family's happiness, otherwise he had made a complete muck of things - much like a landman attempting rigging.

Perhaps now he sees differently – silly, stubborn little.

'Well, what's done is done, now answer the question, what where you doing last night?'

'I was trying to find out why the engagement was broken and if she still loved you.'

'You clearly said something to upset her enough to flee.'

'I just asked why she ended the engagement!' Sophia exasperatedly exclaimed, tossing her hands in the air and losing her formidable posture.

'That's all?' Frederick asked, perplexed and disbelieving.

'That's all, I swear,' Sophia promised surely.

'And that upset her enough to cry in a crowded room? To try to tear herself from your grip with enough force as to probably leave a bruise?'

'Apparently.'

Frederick looked doubtful, but instead said in steely voice, 'Well, you have meddled quite thoroughly now and made us all uncomfortable. It will end now: no more questions, no more prying, and no more trying to dictate what I do and who I spend time with. I can and will make my own decisions.'

Sophia's eyes betrayed her disbelief in his abilities.

'I mean it. Stay out of this. The past is done and there is nothing but pain that will arise from anything to do with Miss Anne. If you continue to meddle, then I will visit with Edward and Catherine when they leave for their parish.'

Fine, be it on your own head, brother!

'Very well, brother: I think you are being foolish and that Miss Anne is an excellent lady who has a strong mind, which you would realised if you would just talk with her, but I will not interfere any further without your blessing. Now, I beg you go and shoot some birds, they woke me early this morning with their squawking.'

Frederick muttered something under his breath, but offered his arm to his sister to walk her back to the house, an arm that Sophia gratefully accepted: content that her brother had at least forgiven her and been surprisingly honest and open during the rather charged conversation.

AN: What do you think? A lot of emotions rolling around in this one, so hopefully I managed it okay! Thanks for reading XD