Hi, so here is another chapter, the final of this Christmas update and i can confirm that we have only seven more chapters to go and then we will have finished this story.

Again you all know what i say about my spelling and grammar and this period of language so any issues i apologise.

Hopefully i can update before 2021 so please enjoy.

Disclaimer-Nothing is mine just the character of Arthur.

Please Read and Review and let me know what you think.

Silver And Grey

Chapter 10-Limelight

William Elliot makes his presence known. Louisa Musgrove gets her happy ending and all Anne wants is an easy path forwards towards a pain free future that she wishes she could see in front of her. Again some changes in the events and the dialogue as always in this story.

The days that she spent in Bath felt longer. Anne had instructed herself to see Arthur settled though she knew he was itching to go home. She had promised him two weeks of this and then they would go home and she was forcing herself to stick to it. She had telegrammed her steward at her house and she hoped that she was polite and yet clear enough in her command that she wanted her house ready for it's Mistress and young Master to return and that she wanted her accounts clerk to begin steadily pulling back funds. It was not at a rate where her father and Elizabeth would be left destitute but she had to cross a line and seeing as neither of them would consider economising she was going to have to do it for them. She had a child whose future she needed to safe guard. Elizabeth was three years older than her and if she wanted to get on with a husband and children she would need to take a step into the big wide world now.

Soon they would know that she was no longer allowing them undivided access to her purse and that the strings were tightening around them and she rather would not be in the same house with them when she did. She'd had enough bullying from her marriage, she was not in the mood to have her father and her sister take their different approaches to make her bend or see her break.

And she knew what they would be. Anne had a lifetime of watching Elizabeth and her father work. They worked in such close tandem, in such perfect consort that she knew she would see and yet not see them coming. Her father preferred to shout, to demand and to insist that Anne not see them destitute. He would call upon her honour as an Elliot, their position within the community and then when that would not work (and Anne knew her own strength well enough to know it would not—it never had with George) he would become foul tempered and drop little hints into conversations. He would shame her in public and then once he saw her struggle with these actions he would call Lady Russell who would turn up full of stories about her 'Dear Mamma' and how she understood Anne's plight but one could not choose one's family.

Anne thought of this one morning as she took a walk around the square breathing in the sounds and sights of the big city. She had gone alone to think and perhaps to take in some tea as she read a book. Arthur amused himself by laying out his toy soldiers and ships and planning a big battle with them leaving Anne free to her own devices some days.

Anne had not seen Lady Russell since the day she had left her home and she found her feelings towards her godmother had hardened into bitterness. Anne knew that the woman had, had no inkling of the creature that was George and his true intentions—indeed if she had known she would be horrified if she had known but it was on her advice that she had jilted the one man she had loved over something that seemed (and had done even then) so stupid. What had she cared at the time that the man was not rich? She'd not wanted a huge house like Kellynch or diamonds in her hair or a new pair of gloves every day. She had wanted Frederick and for him to come home and kiss her when he came into the room and for their children to fall asleep tucked into their beds listening to his gentle voice tell them stories of the far off places he had visited within the navy.

And now all of that was to be Louisa Musgrove's. The way Frederick had reacted when she had fallen, the way he had spoken about her and certainly the way he had acted when she had practically thrust herself in his face like one of Arthur's childhood jack in the boxes told Anne all she needed to know when it came to the future.

Elizabeth on the other hand was easier to predict. She would turn to the same childhood antics she had gotten away with when they had been young children. Elizabeth had always cajoled for more, had always used compliments and pretty words and a simpering smile. It had worked with Mary most of their lives (which if Anne thought about these events explained a great deal) but with Anne it had been like water off a ducks back. Then it would be slapping and hair pulling and shaming and shouting. And Anne knew she would not be satisfied until she got what she wanted and if Anne had to descend to tears in the process then Elizabeth would consider it a good part of the bargain.

She walked back home again silently not caring that her dress was muddy or that she was cold. She would call on her friend from school, Mrs Smith who was still within the city. Anne had known her from school despite her being older and with both preferring books rather than showcasing their accomplishments to the class they had gotten on rather well. She had been reduced to ill health and poverty due to circumstances unknown but she had still written to Anne with her condolences, had come to the funeral with her dress self-hemmed and had been calm and quiet amongst Elizabeth (flamboyant in a black hat with half a bird in the rim) had tittered and giggled her way through three champagnes and a false sense of modesty.

She was just stopping to take damage of her hem (the gown simply must be washed she decided) when the carriage next to her opened it's window coming to a complete stop.

"Lady Paget?"

She turned to see Mr William Elliot stick his head out of the carriage window a smile on his face. He was Anne thought clinically not terribly bad looking, certainly his smile was genuine and she found her answering smile to be genuine as well.

"Good Morning Mr Elliot" she said dropping a small curtsey as he bowed his head.

"Lady Paget are we perhaps going in the same destination?"

"Just home" Anne replied.

"Ah. Then please allow me to take you the rest of the way" he said opening the door with another smile. "I would be offended if you were to walk home especially as it looks as if it is going to rain imminently"

Anne chanced a look at the skies and knew he was right. Besides she was tired and she whatever she might think of his sudden resurgence within her family she did enjoy his company.

It was easy for her then to take his hand and settle herself down in the carriage for what was a pleasant journey home.

Frederick had gone for a walk with a heavy heart through the rain when Harville joined him. He knew he was running out of time. Soon he could no longer put of the inevitable and he would have to ask Louisa Musgrove for her hand in marriage. Surely by now the rumours swirling around her, around them and his lack of absence must have her confused and hurt. She was a child still, a girl barely out of school. She must be wondering why he was not there. And he could hardly tell her that he dreaded the very sight of her because he knew what he must do when he saw her.

"I thought you would be happy" Harville said as he caught up with him pushing his sopping hair out of his face. "This solves your problems at least?"

"What problems?"

Harville looked at him with an expression that told Frederick he was missing something of great importance.

"Benwick" he said finally. "He has developed an attachment it seems to Louisa Musgrove. He's asked her to marry him"

Frederick nearly fell over. For the second time in as many days he could not speak. Harville looked at him and then with a teasing sort of glint in his eye he said, "It turns out she has a better appreciation for his poetry than she does for yours. They are very much in love apparently and her father is delighted with the match. Within the year he will have both of his daughters married. I imagine that is enough for any man to put his feet up by the fire with a good glass of port"

Frederick still could not say anything and then he laughed. He could not stop himself from choking on his own laughter like some simpleton. Anyone watching him at this moment would think he would have gone quiet mad. Harville said nothing but allowed him to have this moment and for that Frederick was grateful. He had no concept of how he had started this morning feeling utterly miserable and now he was being given all that he had wanted.

It was hard to tell if the Good Lord hated him or loved him.

He stopped laughing eventually.

"Harry" he said using his Christian name. "Harry I am free"

"Yes" Harry said dryly with a quirk of a smile. "Some might say you do not deserve it you know. James deserves to be happy but you have made a terrible debacle of things my friend"

"Yes I have" Frederick admitted. It was the truth after all. He had made a terrible mess of it all and Anne and Louisa were casualties.

Behaviour not becoming an officer Wentworth. Not becoming a man in the Navy.

His old Captain's words had never become more appropriate than they had been right now.

"I should go" he said finally. "And see…go to Bath…I mean…"

"Yes you should" Harville said and now the smug bastard was grinning widely. "You should go and see her. Put us all out of our misery. Let us go and seek James and offer our congratulations and then I think you should go sooner rather than later. Lady Paget is a fine woman of good looks and breeding, she has a large fortune at her disposal and has a son proving her fertility. Soon she will be an interest to many a man if she is not already. And while you have not fooled me my friend I think you have fooled her into thinking that you do not care for her and that you do or did or…well that you cared for Louisa Musgrove. And if you lose this woman again I really will pitch myself of that wall and plummet to the ground in despair"

"You are right" Frederick said but it was a repetition of his earlier words he was hardly hearing what Harville was saying. And he thought he might be beaming in utter joy. Harville rolled his eyes heavenwards at the look on his friends face and reminded himself sternly that the Bible was right and that he would be rewarded for his good deeds (and putting up with Wentworth) in heaven.

And with friends like Benwick and Wentworth, both of whom knew nothing about women he sometimes considered the sooner the better.

Frederick paid his dues to the happy couple and then went back to pack. Sophy said noting out of the ordinary other than she had thought that Frederick was the one to marry Louisa. When Frederick had explained he had never really seen Louisa as a navel wife and that was why he had distanced himself (a little twist on a lie perhaps but not a whole untruth either) she had nodded and confessed she too had, had difficulties in seeing that eventuality which was Sophy's way of saying she had not thought a union between himself and Louisa Musgrove would be a happy one. Actually in Sophy's language that was a very tactile way of thanking God for the lucky escape but Frederick did not comment. He had long ago lost the desire to argue with his sister or attempt to understand any hidden meaning behind her words.

Time had taught him that if he did not understand something she would painfully spell it out for him.

She carefully did not mention the fact that business would not take him to Bath either only that she and her husband would follow and take in the season once they had chance to settle their accounts here.

"And do give our regards to Lady Paget and her son" Sophy added with a sweetness that Frederick knew to be teasing. He scowled at her but his sister kissed him on the cheek and watched him get in his carriage with a serene smile.

Every mile away from the county and towards the city seemed like another chance to breathe and Frederick leaned his head back against the plush padding and let the carriage rock him back and forth and thought only of Anne, of the path that had finally opened up for them and what he hoped was her smile when she saw him again.

And there you go, I hope you enjoy this chapter and all that comes with it. I will bring you the next one sooner rather than later.

And if i dont get a chance to update before the new year, i want to take this time to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a very happy and safe start to 2021.

Next Chapter-William Elliot meets Arthur just as Captain Wentworth arrives. Anne and her father have a conversation about family friends and Anne finally vents her past to the ever patient Mrs Smith.