A/N: The inn mentioned in this piece is not tied in any way to an existing bed and breakfast establishment. When reading Austen's description of the charm of Lyme, my limited experience could only correlate it with St. Augustine, that old and beautiful city.

Chapter 25

Driving through the area toward the bed and breakfast that Harville and his wife ran, Anne looked out eagerly over the terrain.

"I hope they will not expect us to stay indoors, sitting around talking all day."

"Hmmm…" Charles responded and looked behind him at the cab that held Frederik and his sisters. Mary had insisted on reserving a driver and car for her husband and herself for the duration of the visit.

"Who?" he asked, after considering her words.

"Why, the Harvilles."

Charles laughed, mystified. "We will do what we please, Mary. It is our vacation. We can talk or not."

"Mmmm. Still it is very annoying to feel as though we should stand around and make small talk with strangers."

Her husband did not answer. Anne turned her head to the window once more, smiling to herself. If anyone was to importune others with garrulousness, it would be Mary.

"Oh, look, Charles! Isn't it lovely?" They had come to the shore at last, and just as it seemed that they would drive into the ocean, the chauffeur slowed and turned down a narrow lane.

Harville and his wife welcomed the visitors with a hospitality that was hardly expected. Once the guests had been shown to their rooms, they were invited into the family's portion of the house. It was very small, and the ceilings were low. The six guests crowded into the tiny living room with the family. Harville, with the assistance of his cane, continued to bring chairs from different rooms as he eagerly talked to them. He asked about their trip and if they had anything that needed attending.

"We bought the place six months ago. I didn't know how we would like it with our children still being young. But it is growing on us." The father patted his daughter's head as he spoke. She clung to her father's good leg shyly, but smiling. In the few minutes Anne had to observe Frederik's friend, she saw immediately how it was that Harville and he got on so well. The atmosphere in the tiny living quarters was such that no person could feel aught but welcomed. There was no false pretense behind the hospitality of the couple. Both husband and wife were delighted in the entertainment of their guests and made their home comfortable by their own unassuming warmth of manner.

"My friends," stated Frederik as he introduced each to Harville, who shook each hand sincerely.

"And you told me you had trouble making friends, Frederik."

"Oh, he's tried to play mysterious with me, but I won't let him," announced Louisa as she stood beside Frederik.

"Where is the Captain?" Frederik asked his friend, somewhat embarrassed by Louisa's forwardness.

"Ah, let me fetch him. He may not be in the mood for visitors, but we will see." Harville made his way haltingly out into the entry way of the house, returning shortly with a man somewhat younger than himself and Frederik.

Benwick entered the room and warmly shook hands with his newly-arrived friend. Frederik grabbed his shoulder in elation at seeing him. "Ah, Benwick! You and Harville are a sight for sore eyes. I feel as though I were back on the ship now."

"What fun were those days," recollected Benwick.

"Who is the Captain?" asked Louisa, confused. Frederik smiled at Benwick.

"May I introduce you to my friend, James Benwick, also known as the Captain."

"Are you a Captain then, Mr. Benwick?" Mary asked. The three musicians began to laugh.

"Not really," expressed Benwick with a sheepish expression. Even though he was smiling, there was something very sad in the look of his eyes.

"No, no. We just called him 'Captain,' because- Why did we call him 'Captain,' Harville?"

Harville laughed loudly. "I don't know. I thought you'd be the one to recall!"

Frederik was laughing now, and the rest of the party laughed also because they were in the presence of merry camaraderie.

"Please, won't you sit down?" asked Mrs. Harville. For, though chairs were present, the guests had not thought to do so before that moment.

The three friends talked for sometime regarding their time on the water, having entertained all sorts of interesting cruise-goers. Mrs. Harville called them to the table to enjoy a late evening repast spread upon the modest kitchen table. At times they sat in groups of two or three conversing, but by the end of the evening all had returned to listen to the stories of the three cruise musicians. The topic turned to practical jokes, and Harville asked, "Do you remember giving that pompous director a scare by pretending to have broken your nose?"

"And then, he took it off his face? Do you remember?" Benwick added, laughing.

Frederik, laughing and nodding, explained to the others, "I had just had extensive surgery on my face. I was scheduled to go in for more soon but had to wear a prosthetic nose during one of the tours. The director didn't know it was false. He was- wasn't he the one I had the run-in with-?"

Harville was nodding and continued the story, "So, Frederik decided to get even with the man and fake an accident. When his nose came off right in his hand, you should have seen the look on Braedon's face. It was priceless!"

Anne was amazed to hear Frederik speak of his surgeries in such an open manner. She now perceived that she had been mistaken about how he viewed himself. Within the circle of his friends, he was truly at ease. It was interesting to watch the three men as they reminisced. The dark-haired woman turned to look on Louisa to see how she took the story and found that she was smiling brightly. She and the rest of the party seemed very entertained by the antics of the friends.

Mary, having first looked around her with secret disdain at the less-than-pristine surroundings the Harvilles called home, now seemed quite delighted with their company. There was an easy openness in this home of the Harville's that Anne had never found in any home before. Mrs. Harville would turn her attention to the care of her three children at times. They quietly occupied themselves with games in a corner, coming to the table occasionally out of curiosity or for an affectionate pat on the head from their father.

It was very late before any of the guests contemplated retiring. Once they did, Mary whispered to Anne as they took the stairs, "Didn't I tell you? I hope they won't be expecting us to sit and chat with them every night."

Anne did not share her feelings. Something in the tranquility and harmony of the Harville family made Anne long to return, wishing that she might one day know of such unaffected sagacity of thought and conversation. For, though the Harvilles were not of her family's social sphere, Anne felt a true bond with these friends of Frederik's. Their intellect and spirit of conversation was quite similar to the woman's own thought and disposition as to make their society very enjoyable.

A late breakfast was eaten in the formal dining room of the renovated house. It was not the usual policy of the inn to serve late meals, but Harville saw to the comfort of his friend's party as each member came down independent of the rest. To the room joined a small sitting area which faced the side of the house. Anne, after walking a short distance in the early heat of the day, found the nook very welcoming. She sat down to read for a short while, when Mary entered the dining room. Mary replied to Harville's offer that she had no need for sustenance that morning. The woman looked about her, espying Anne in the corner quietly reading. "Anne, let's go and explore now, while they are all still asleep."

Anne put down her book somewhat disappointedly. The thought of walking the streets and pathways singly, unfettered by the presence of another, was a very appealing one. Yet, she had waited, unsure if some other outing was planned for which she might be needed. For, she could ascertain that Henrietta was without her sister for a companion when Frederik was about. Anne wished to ease that discomfort in the girl's position, if she could do so.

"What about Charles, dearest? Will you not want to wait for him?"

"Oh, he was not interested in walking. He will join us later. Are you ready to leave now?" Her desire to remove herself from any necessity requiring her to be company to her sisters-in-law during the visit was making Mary quite impatient to be gone.

"Very well," Anne assented. The sisters had journeyed out the front door when the excited voices of Henrietta and Louisa could be heard in the dining room. "Quickly," Mary whispered, hunching over. "I don't want them to see us. Let us go around to the back of the house."

Anne felt quite foolish making her way around the building in a clandestine fashion, but she followed her sister to a gate leading out of the inn's small yard.

"There," expressed Mary, triumphantly. "And isn't it a beautiful day for a stroll? But, before we get too far, I do want to get a coffee and some little snack. Do you think we could find a bakery serving quiche at this hour?" Anne felt a need to laugh aloud at her sister's antics. They had just left a haven where, she had no doubt, had Mary spoken her desire, her sister would have been presented with an entire carafe of coffee to take with her.

They walked with a purposeful gait for some time as Mary sought out an eatery that might meet her standards. Finally, they ended up in a small establishment serving an early lunch, for Mary could not continue until she had consumed some nutrition. She perused the menu as Anne waited beside the window which overlooked an enclosed courtyard. Through an opening in the wall, she could make out a group of men shaking hands on the threshold of some place of business. One of the men was Frederik Wentworth. Another man, to whom he was speaking, was fair-haired and held himself very superiorly. She did not recognize any of them, save Frederik. The meeting was just adjourning, and Anne could not help but be curious what business it was that the man might be attending to in the town. Could these men be the producers to which Frederik had alluded during the dinner at the Musgroves'? Why would they make a trip to Florida to discuss the song? It was all very mysterious to her.

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Ana-Misa: I considered adding the "dun, dun, dun!" after the "monster of this ship" remark. So, that was cool when you got it. Yeah, I don't think you are the only one that was hoping to get to Florida before another flashback (and a big one). But, it just fit there. I have never been to a single live opera performance. I'm so uncultured… You don't remember the music?! And, I was hoping you'd be my R&J advisor. Oh, well.

full0fgrace: Okay, you're saddened by the flashback 'pause,' too. Bummer. I absolutely love musical theater. I've been surrounded by music all my "vapor" of a life. Truly, it is a language all its own.

followthestory: To what Persuasion-esque words of resentment do you refer? Knowing that will help me revise my story. Thanks for continuing to critique.