Chapter Fourteen

Charles had fought his way through the crowd and finally caught up with a rather bristly Captain. "Captain Wentworth? I wonder if I may have a word."

Frederick turned at the now familiar voice with a stony face. "Yes?" All politeness on his part was gone, he knew deep down it was not Charles fault. He had done nothing wrong. How could Frederick blame him for falling in love with Anne Elliot? Hadn't he done the same? Hadn't he been helpless to resist? Yet Fredrick hated him for it. For loving her, for being able to be with her, for touching her, for kissing her. He also suspected from the way Musgrove had followed him, he was now aware of their history. "Are you wanting me to congratulate you? To shake your hand, wish you well, admit the better man won, to give you my blessing."

"What? What are you about? I came here to relay a message from Miss Anne, I don't know why you should want to congratulate me on anything. Surely you have heard the news, I do believe half the village knows now."

Frederick was confused, did he think he was jealous? That that was why he should not wish to congratulate them. Did he come here just to rub it in his face? "You're engagement to Miss Anne." he clarified. "What message?"

"My ... what? I am not engaged to anyone, least of all Anne. Have you not heard?"

Frederick stumbled, holding on to a chair for support. "What? I do not understand. She told me-"

"Anne told you we were engaged? To be married?" Charles said incredulously.

Frederick thought back to the conversation to her exact words, she had implied it, but had she actually said it? "She defended you, she flattered you. She-" he trailed off. She hadn't spoken the words. Neither had Edward, it had all been assumptions on his part.

Charles looked down at his feet a hint of a blush appearing high on his cheeks and tips of his ears. "I did offer her my hand. I care very deeply for Anne and I believed I could make her happy. To take her away from those who do not appreciate her," he glanced over at Elizabeth and Sir Walter. "I would have made her a good husband. However she … in her wisdom, knew we should not suit and she turned me down." He looked up at Frederick's startled face. "Surely you have heard?" The other man shook his head and Charles shrugged, "well now at least we have something in common."

Frederick's eyes flashed with anger, "No, we do not." He paused and Charles frowned in confusion, he had been sure. "For when I offered Miss Anne my hand she did not refuse." Frederick said defiantly.

Charles was all astonishment he could not understand, if that were true, why were they not married now? As far as he could tell, Captain Wentworth was a good man of good family, he obviously cared for Anne and she loved him, what were the parts of the story he was missing? He needed to understand. Neither of them seemed willing to divulge this information. "I apologise I did not know. But now you know the truth about Miss Anne and myself at least. We are not engaged, any flattery towards me on her part was probably sympathy for my poor wounded soul." He attempted a smile but Frederick remained straight face.

"What message?" he repeated.

"Oh yes, it is rather cryptic I am afraid. Anne said she meant what she said, she would find a way and that nothing is as it seems." He relayed the words carefully.

Before Frederick could ask the man more, Mrs Finch arrived. Both men groaned inwardly and glanced around for a possible means of escape, finding none they resolved that they were about to be accosted by the well-known matchmaker. "How do you do Mrs Finch?" asked Charles.

"I am well thank you Mr Musgrove. How are you?"

The slight incline of her head made Charles think she had heard the news about his proposal.

"Quite well thank you. Do you know Captain Wentworth?" Charles was well aware they had met back when he was last in the area, and at the Goulds', but he needed to push her attention off of him so he could be away and back to Anne. Using their greeting as an excuse, he slipped away, much to Frederick's chagrin.

"Mrs Finch," Frederick bowed his head. "My brother informed me you have been indisposed, I trust your appearance here tonight and at the Gould's previous, means you are on the mend?"

"Yes, yes, I am quite well thank you Captain. However a friend of mine is quite un-well and needs to go home. I wonder if you would do an old lady a great act of kindness and accompany her? I wish to know she is taken care of on the journey home. I had thought of your brother but… here you are."

"She? I do not think it would be proper for me to accompany an unknown lady home alone." He looked around anxiously for Anne, he needed to speak with her.

"I did not say she was unknown to you, in fact she is rather well known to you." Frederick ceased looking and stared at Mrs Finch who was smiling. "I believe it would be in both your best interests to leave this place, and who knows, you may learn something during your carriage ride. What do you say Captain?"

Frederick couldn't know for sure, but if there was any chance at all Mrs Finch could be referring to whom he thought she was, he must take it. "Very well Mrs Finch. I will accompany the young lady."

Mrs Finch grinned and winked. "The carriage and its occupant are outside waiting for you."

He heard her voice before he saw her, but he knew it was her and felt a wave of relief wash over him. As he came closer, he realised she was arguing with the driver. The carriage door was ajar, her with one foot on the step, hands clutching the sides of the door, she was looking up and away from him. He smiled to himself as he approached her. "May I be of some assistance?"

She jumped so at his voice, she lost her footing and stumbled forward, in an instant he was in front of her holding her steady. They had not been that close in over two years. Trapped in the moment they both stood speechless staring in to the depths of the others eyes. Someone cleared their throat behind them and their trance was broken. Frederick looked up at the culprit; Mrs Finch's driver had been in her service for over ten years, he knew all about her meddling in the love lives of her friends and her obsession with match making them all. He was in turn known to her for his discretion. He knew if Mrs Finch had orchestrated this paring once more, it was for a reason, but he always – for propriety's sake – was aware of the surroundings and behaviour. They were still outside the assembly rooms and open to gossip.

Frederick realised his error. "Please Miss Elliot, go inside the carriage, it is cold. I will tend to the driver."

Anne, still so surprised and somewhat relieved at his appearance, could muster no counter argument and so did as she was bid. Sliding inside she sat in the corner of the carriage her head pressed against the window to listen.

"Now what seems to be the problem?" Frederick asked the driver.

"The young lady did not wish to be accompanied. She was anxious to depart, but I had my orders from Mrs Finch; to wait here with the lady for a gentleman to accompany her."

Frederick shook his head at the audacity of Mrs Finch, and for Anne for wanting to defy her. "Well as I am the gentleman, I suppose we can now depart." He smiled.

The driver knew it to be true, as Mrs Finch had discussed it earlier when she brought out Miss Elliot and informed him of his need to take a little detour before coming back for her. "Yes sir." The man readied the horses while Frederick returned to the carriage.

As he opened the door he heard a scuffling inside and suspected Anne must have been listening. "You know, eavesdropping is a bad habit, and most unbecoming of a young lady." he commented.

Anne's eyes widened and she sat up straight in her seat. "Am I to have no say in this ridiculous set up?" she asked, ignoring his comment. "Tell me, was it just Mrs Finch or did you have some involvement in this plan?"

"No, credit where credit is due, this was all Mrs Finch." He sat down opposite her and banged the roof to signal to the driver his instruction to proceed. "And why is this so ridiculous? We need to continue our conversation, do we not?"

"It is dark, and we are alone in a carriage, having just left an assembly – together- early, what will people think?"

Frederick frowned, one time not so long ago, they would have savoured the opportunity to spend some time together alone. "I doubt our presence will even be missed yet, and by people, I presume you mean your family and your fiancé."

At the last word Anne blushed, "did you speak with Charles?"

"So we are still pretending are we?" he mumbled leaning back. "Why is it I am accompanying you and not your fiancé?" he said louder.

Anne coloured more deeply. "It would hardly be any less improper."

"But still," he looked down avoiding her eyes. "I remember when we were engaged, and for a long time before, we were barely more than ten feet away from each other at all times, and had you left a party early then, allegedly indisposed, there would have been no one stay me from being by your side." He looked up and met her gaze full on.

His speech, his tone, his eyes, all brought a lump to Anne's throat and a solitary tear escaped her eyes, rolling down her cheek. The moonlight had kept her in silhouette for the first part of their journey but now illuminated her in a ghostly glow, the tear plainly evident.

Frederick frowned, "Why did you deceive me so? To let me believe you were to marry Musgrove." he almost whispered.