I had most of this chapter written months ago then, in March, I lost someone very close to me after a long eight year struggle against cancer. Since then life, let alone writing, has been difficult. Though I think I'm finally moving on a little from the funk I've been in, and now seems like a good time to try again with this.

I'll give you a fair warning. Things may be a little stilted (or crap) towards the end of this chapter. Or maybe the whole thing? Not my best work but I really want to get this finished so I can move on with this as its so close to being finished.

I'm not usually so open about my personal life on here but thought you guys deserved to know why I'd disappeared. Its never nice to be left in the dark.

Thanks for sticking with me. It means a lot.


Sitting, watching Frederick attempt to remain still and silent as they worked on his arm grew too much for Anne and with a quick, quiet "excuse me", she had left the room, walked through the front room and out of the door.

"Anne?" Frederick called out.

The Harville's exchanged a glance.

"I believe that will do," the surgeon said, finishing of the bandage, "I think the patient could do with that drink now, Captain Harville."

Harville took his wife's place which allowed Margaret to grab her coat and follow Anne out of the house.

Frederick tried to stand. "I should," he began, before the surgeon pushed him back down.

"I am sure Mrs Harville is more than capable. The poor girl probably just needs a moment to herself. The last few weeks have been a strain. A little time to herself and I am sure she will be well."

Frederick settled back in the chair with a frustrated sigh and accepted a small glass of whiskey from Harville.

"Be honest with me Frederick," he said quietly, standing close as the surgeon busied himself at the sink, "What happened?"

"I honestly do not know."

"Frederick."

"Truthfully Harville. I remember talking and then the kettle was falling."

Harville frowned. "I have never known you to be clumsy."

"There was that time in Lisbon," Frederick said softly, smiling at the memory, "When I misjudged the steps to an Irish jig and collided with the refreshment table."

"I think that might have had something to do with the number of visits you had made to that table before you took part in the dancing." Harville replied with a look.

Frederick looked thoughtful. "You think he caused this," he said in the same quiet voice, gesturing towards his bandaged arm. Wincing with the movement.

"You do not?"

Frederick shook his head before bringing the glass of whiskey to his lips and downing the remnants. He held the empty glass out to Harville and his friend refilled it.

"He has made no secret of his reason for being here," Harville said, leaning against the table by Frederick, "You and I both know what that reason is, and he sees you as a threat Frederick. Especially since Benwick's engagement to Miss Louisa became public knowledge. He obviously knows the history Anne and you share."

Frederick scowled. "He believes he knows all the details. I did have to correct one or two of his assumptions."

"What are you going to do about him?"

He shook his head. "I am not sure. I suppose it would be too much to hope that, if I clear things up with Anne, that he will just disappear."

"He strikes me as a man who would employ underhand techniques to ensure he gets what he wants. You also can not forget that he is known and liked within the family, and that, to them, he would be the better choice. A future baronet and an estate." Harville looked at his friend. "Not that you would be a poor alternative. Knowing what type of man you are, I should imagine you have made a tidy fortune in your time in the navy but a titled man must always be preferred I should think."

"Are you trying to make me feel worse my friend?"

"I am merely being honest Frederick. I want nothing more than for you to sort everything out with Anne and sail off into the sunset for a life together that is full of joy, love and happiness, but before that happens I suspect that you will face several obstacles. The main one being Elliot. He has already shown what he is capable of and I am worried you are not taking him seriously enough."

"I do not think you have to worry about that anymore Harville," Frederick said, shifting his injured arm against his chest before taking a gulp of his whiskey.


Anne felt like she was struggling to breath, trapped in the house. Out the door she took a left and headed along by the harbour and out onto the Cobb. The pleasant day had persisted and Anne found the gentle breeze cooling.

She came to the end of the solid stone walkway relatively soon and found a spot to sit on an upturned box.

The tide was slowly making its way into the harbour. Lifting the moored fishing boats from the sandy bottom to float, ready to go and harvest from the sea.

It took Anne a while to gather her thoughts into some semblance of order. She had wanted to stay at the Harville's, with Frederick, but in that moment it had all gotten too much and she had felt as though she was fighting through a strong current of water. It had been difficult to draw breath and she just had to get out of there.

Though pleasant for the time of year, it was not warm and as she began to shiver as she sat. She cursed her own behaviour in running out of the Harville's without a coat or, at very least, a shawl.

She started violently when she felt something draped over her shoulders. Turning she saw Margaret holding out her coat. Anne took it gratefully. The added layer restoring her warmth. Margaret sat down beside her and unfurled a woollen blanket which she spread across their laps.

"I did not think you would want to return to the house so soon, so I thought we might as well be comfortable while we wait." the other woman said kindly.

"I'm sorry," Anne said after a while.

"Do not be silly dear, you have nothing to be sorry for." Margaret said. "After all you have been through over the past couple of weeks, I am surprised you have not needed to escape before now."

Anne hung her head. Around them the harbour was coming to life. Fishermen where hauling carefully wrapped nets onto boats, lining up crabbing pots and standing together on the highest point of the Cobb to survey the clouds gathering out to sea.

"I always like to come out here when I have a moment to myself," Margaret said as she took a look about. "My favourite spot is right on the edge of the Cobb, right by the harbour mouth. On a clear day you can see for miles around. Once or twice I have even spotted a ship heading out into the Atlantic or round to Portsmouth. The breeze is lovely and cooling too. Especially during the summer months."

"It is beautiful out here," Anne said quietly.

"I have always found that, wherever I am, it is nice to have that one place to go to be on my own for a while. A place to take a deep breath and let out the frustrations of the life. Do you have somewhere like that at Kellynch?" Margaret asked, turning her head towards her companion.

Anne smiled. "Anywhere past the manicured gardens. My father, when he was outside at Kellynch, preferred the shaded patio or ornate stone benches under the willow trees. My elder sister would occasionally stroll about the flower beds. Mainly to ensure that the flowers matched the current "season" colours but she would never go any further than the gravel paths for fear of ruining her shoes. And Mary preferred being indoors, unless there was something going on outside. That left the majority of the grounds and surrounding countryside for my own pleasure."

"As much as I like the seaside, I would love to spend some time in the country. Perhaps when our lease is up on this house I could convince Harry to move to a small village somewhere, even for half a year."

"Now that I have seen the sea, I doubt I will feel at home anywhere else."

"It is mesmerising, is it not? And when you have a Navel man to share it with, it becomes even more fascinating." Margaret glanced at Ann then to notice the flush that appeared on her cheeks. "I do not mean to pry, and you can tell me to mind my own business if you wish, but what is going on between Frederick and you?"

The flush on Anne's cheeks intensified and Margaret thought she had maybe been too direct but as she went to retract her question Anne spoke.

"I do not know," she said so quietly that Margaret had to lean in closer to hear her. "Every time I think we have settled into a relationship, whether that be as strangers or acquaintances, an event occurs to change it all."

"What would you like it to be?"

Anne smiled ruefully. "I think that, to use a nautical term, that ship has sailed on what I would like it to be. We can never be what we once where. I assume…Captain Harville is such good friends with Frederick, I take it you know that we were…acquainted eight years ago?"

Margaret nodded. "I have heard Frederick's side of it," Anne hung her head before bringing it back up with curiosity as Margaret continued. "And I have also heard him speak recently, about you and his hopes for the future. Not to mention his self berating when he realised how idiotic he has been acting in relation to you."

"I can not blame him for acting as such."

"You should," came the very quick reply. "If not for your sake, then for Louisa's. The poor girl was nearly caught in a marriage that, though I am sure she would have been happy in, was not really meant for her. And Frederick. I am sure he would have been the dutiful husband, but there would have always been a small part of him wondering what might have been, if he had taken another path and he never would have been truly happy. When you meet the one you are meant to be with there is something in side of you that just clicks, and to not have that once you found it."

Margaret shook her head. "I almost married another man. He was my fathers apprentice and I have no doubt that we would have had a good life together but then I met Harry and everything just seemed…brighter and clearer. If left alone we could talk for hours and even if there was nothing to say then the silence was comforting. Though our life has not always been easy I am glad I made the choice that I did."

She stopped hear and faced Anne directly, waiting till the younger woman looked her straight in the eye. "You have to decide what you want. If you can forgive him, and he can forgive himself, I believe Frederick will be everything you want him to be and more. If you can not get past the faults in his behaviour towards you and the Musgrove girls, then perhaps it is time to tell him so. Give the both of you some finality to be able to move on. With Mr Elliot waiting impatiently on the side I believe you could have that accomplished within two months."

"Mr Elliot? What does he have to do with anything?"

"My dear Anne, why do you think he is here? He has not come for the cockles nor I should think the off season entertainment, of which there is very little. No, his attentions to you are clearly marked. He means to offer for you."

Anne looked away distractedly. She had believed her cousin was attempting to curry favour within the family, but as to offer for her. She could not quite believe it though the more she now thought about it, the more she saw it. The way Lady Russell had spoken of him for one and the way in which both he and Frederick postured towards each other. Frederick had clearly seen a rival in the Elliot heir.

With her head now spinning of all the little bits she had missed. The words, the glances and the small touches on her arm and lower back. The conversations about her favourite books and poems, the plans he had mentioned for the upkeep of Kellynch.

As Anne attempted to deal with it all, her thoughts suddenly came to a halt and she outwardly gasped, her hand shooting out to grasp at Margaret's arm.

"What is it?" the other woman asked. "Are you alright?"

"In the kitchen…Frederick…do you think?"

"Do I think Mr Elliot had something to do with it?" Margaret asked. Anne nodded. "I would not like to cast blame where I had no proof. But that kettle has never fallen before."

Anne shook her head. "I find it difficult to believe he would do something like that."

"Sometimes desperate men, do desperate things. What does he have to lose? What does he gain? They all factor in."

"I can not believe that obtaining my hand in marriage is something in which he can not lose."

"Maybe not your hand alone but everything that you come with and that is connected to you. If I may be blunt about it then perhaps he has realised that your family, and how they act now, will have implications on how he will live later on in life. Did you not say yourself that a marriage between your families was expected."

"Yes," Anne answered, "But with my eldest sister."

"Well, having never met your sister I can not say anything for or against her, but I do know you and I know that, if I where in Mr Elliot's position, you would be the more tempting of the two."

"But Elizabeth's beauty,"

"Is nothing against your charm and grace. Your kindness, intelligence and level head. Though he may seek them out at first, a man wants more than empty looks in his wife. Well, most do." Margaret smiled as Anne looked away bashfully, "And to top it all off you know nothing of your own self worth. Here I am telling you the honest truth and any moment now you will open that mouth of yours and publicly deny it all."

"I shall try and be silent."

"Good," Margaret said, reaching her hands out to take Anne's. "Anne please, think carefully on all we have talked about and do not make any hasty decisions. I believe that the next few days will decide the rest of your life and though it might not please everyone, I hope that you pick the path that makes you the happiest." With that she grabbed Anne and pulled her into a hug. "You understand of course, that I am rooting for Frederick."

Anne pulled away with a laugh and wiped at her eyes.

"Come now," Margaret said, standing up and folding the blanket over her arm. "If we do not return home soon then we will be eating a very, very late dinner."


Frederick was resting in Harville's room when Anne and Mrs Harville returned to the house.

The surgeon, who had long since departed, had left a satchel of bandages and instructions written neatly on a piece of paper, for their use. Harville, who had been sitting in his usual chair in the parlour, stood when they came in and cast a questioning look at his wife.

"All is well," she said, taking off her coat and helping Anne with hers before hanging them both up. "Anne just needed a little fresh air. You know how stuffy that kitchen gets at times." she looked over at him with a smile, "Then again, maybe you do not."

"I do more than my fair share," he said, dropping a kiss on her cheek as she came to him.

"Has Frederick?" Margaret started to say.

"He is resting upstairs," Harville replied, interrupting her. "If we take in any more friends my love, we might as well open a boarding house. What do you think Miss Elliot? Harville's Humble House, open to all."

"I would give it my recommendation Captain. I do not think I have ever had such a pleasant stay."

"Don't be giving him any more idea's Anne. He has more than enough to be getting on with, that net for Mr Maguire to be getting on with for starters. Then the wooden tops for Alexander's and the chair for Mrs Anderson."

As the Harville's stood together smiling Anne felt a tug in her chest. Of all the marriages she had seen in her life, the Harville's was the one that, should she marry, she most hoped to emulate.