Chapter 11: Resolve never to be taught
"Hum, you look pleased with yourself. Do you finally find your misplaced Miss Elliot then?" Fredrick still snickered at his sisters words to him earlier in the week. He had finally gotten word from both Benwick and Harville telling him the same thing, well almost the same thing. They both said that Anne was at Barton Cottage with the Dashwoods. Though Harville's also said he was still an idiot and if he had asked before storming off to Bath Harville could have told him that in Lyme. In retrospect he did feel very foolish for just assuming she would have been unwanted elsewhere and stuck in Bath. She hates Bath. He had immediately imposed on the Admiral's goodwill to ask his brother in Exeter if Fredrick might stay with him. When the permission came he dropped a short note off to Benwick letting him know he would like to see him, and followed it the next day. He had two particularly painful days in Exeter until Benwick wrote back cheerfully informing him he had relocated to Barton Park and would love to see him. Fredrick cleaned himself up and made his way there. Benwick was just coming in from a shooting party with a man who must be Sir John when Fredrick arrived. Sir John was introduced and stayed just long enough to insist Fredrick stay to dine before taking the dogs back to the kennels.
"Wentworth! My man, it is great to see you. You look much better than the last time we met. Did you figure out your little issue?" Benwick asked, Harville had been vague of what was going on with Fredrick, but there had been no announcement of a marriage to the Uppercross girl either.
"Benwick, it is great to see you. My issue? Oh, I have not talked to you since I left for Kellynch, what a mess. She refused me." Fredrick brushed off his concern.
"Oh, will you take a walk with me? Excellent views from the green over here. So is her refusal a bad thing. You did not seem overly enthused with her once the accident happened."
Fredrick explained all that happened between when he left and arriving today. Benwick had at first laughed at him finding it mildly amusing. As the story turned to his hunt for Anne, Benwick's expression turned stony.
"Well my friend. I do not even know where to begin. First good for Miss Musgrove, she deserves someone who will treat her better than you did. Secondly you might try pulling your head from your own rear once in a while and listening to your friends when they talk instead of just nodding and saying 'uh huh'. I told you Miss Elliot was staying with the Dashwoods when I left for Exeter. Last I am sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but you could have saved yourself a visit here as well.." Benwick was cut off by Fredrick, breaking in to reply
"What have I missed her, passing her on the road to Bath." He asked, suddenly alarmed.
"No but you most likely missed her fiancé on his way back from Bath to gain her father's blessings." Benwick snapped. Annoyed enough to give up on his plan to gently break the news to Wentworth.
Fredrick stumbled in his steps. Seeing a nearby bench Benwick steered him toward it in time for him to sink to it. Covering his face with his hands and letting out a wounded noise.
"Who? How?" Fredrick asked between his fingers, moving to pull at his hair.
"Colonel Brandon of Delaford. He is a good friend of the Dashwood ladies, and served abroad with Sir John. Miss Elliot met him when they returned here in February. He often stays with Sir John as he has no family at Delaford. He and Anne were much together. He is a fine man, and has become come a good friend to me as well." Benwick laid it out for him.
"My God, fate is cruel." Fredrick started with a weak chuckle.
"I don't think you can blame fate for this one friend. Fate was rather kind to you. It gave you a second chance most of us do not get. She was placed directly in your lap and all you had to do was take her up. Instead you cast her aside and paid attention to another to get your point across. That is on you Wentworth, not fate, and certainly not God. Just you, the entire situation of the last six months is on you. Well not to add insult to injury but you may want to pull yourself together. You agreed not a half and hour ago to dine here at the Park, with the Dashwoods and Miss Elliot as well." Benwick patted him on the shoulder. "Come on, I'll show you where you can get cleaned up.
Sir John had insisted Fredrick stay just as he had Benwick. Fredrick was a little thrown by how zealous the man was to host a new acquaintance, but finding out he was an Army man explained much for him. They were much like sailors in that respect, the constant movement among new places and new faces gave them an easy comradery with new people. It had seemed like another cruel twist to have to face Anne knowing he lost her, but he knew it would need to be done. The friends he had made at Uppercross, the way Anne had become entwined with the Harvilles and Benwick he knew she would continue in his circle. It was not as if eight years away from her had changed his want of her, or ignoring her and being angry. Maybe this was what he needed. To see her happy, there had been a moment when Sophia had mentioned Mrs. Musgrove being a former Elliot that he had thought Ann married and there had been some amount of peace in with the disappointment. It was truly the point of no return and out of his hands. It was time to start to move forward, and while he could not forget her he hoped he could reconcile himself to her loss.
William Elliot was really beginning to wonder if a Baronetcy was worth all of this. He had managed to rid himself of the Clay woman in London, through a mixture of bribes and threats. Which was no easy feat. He had then spent a week convincing Sir Walter to take him back into the fold. Though the news of Elizbeth's marriage was a huge relief. He had never wanted the woman and the idea of having to pretend otherwise sounded exhausting. It was double good news as it seemed to open up some nice contacts among the first circles. Ferrars were important within themselves but he had dinned with the Rushworths and Bertrams and were now considered an acknowledged acquaintance. In addition to the Dalrymples they had encountered here in bath he was moving in the best circles. He was also keeping Sir Walter in them, and well away from the matchmakers desperate enough to look to an old widower. He also needed to remember that the title and estate was not all he stood to lose. If Miss Anne Elliot was half as lovely as Mrs. Smith had always made her out to be, he also had a fine new wife lined up. He had already been warming Sir Walter to it, though he had to express sadness at "missing out on Elizabeth'' when he did. She had yet to return to her father but it was only a matter of time and at her age she would hardly refuse him.
They were just waiting to head out this afternoon to the pump rooms. A Colonel Brandon of Delaford had left his card yesterday seeking to speak to Sir Walter when they were out. He had told the butler he would return today seeming surprised to find him not at home. Sir Walter had a stack of letters he had been neglecting so it was anyone's guess who had introduced and announced his visit. From what he knew of the man it was not to presume on their social standing for a help up. Though not titled he was still a Colonel and of an old Landed Family of considerable respect, he also served in parliament and was in the voting block of the Earl of Fitzwilliam and his Son Viscount Milton.
"Colonel Brandon for you Sir." The announcement came.
"Yes, Yes, show him in." Sir Walter folded the paper placing it aside to greet his guest. "Colonel Brandon, delighted to meet you. Do have a seat. Fabulous to meet you, I am not sure to what I owe the honor though."
"Excuse me...Sir Walter I understood Anne had written to you." Brandon responded
At William's' cough Sir Walter seemed to remember him. "Oh yes, allow me to also introduce my nephew and heir, William Walter Elliot."
"A pleasure." Brandon responded awkwardly.
"Now what business was this about Anne. I am sure she wrote but I haven't the time. Is it some business venture she seems to think I need?"
"No Sir Walter, nothing of the type. I have been accepted by Anne and came to offer my respects and seek your blessing. She is well past the age of permissions, but as a gentleman I would not feel right in failing to address you as well." Brandon having chosen to remain standing the others had to as well.
"Anne, really? Well I guess she is the only daughter of mine left." Sir Walter responded seeming to think his association was the real item sought. "Alas I fear she already has an understanding with my nephew." Making a brushing motion as if to shoo Brandon away.
William felt the hair on the back of his neck prickle at the look that Brandon gave his Uncle and then turned to him.
"I do admit myself to be quite confused by this profession. Anne not only accepted my offer, but made no mention of you making one. In fact she made a point of telling me she had never laid eyes on you, let alone spoken to you." Brandon's voice had gone stony and cold.
William knew when to back off and keep his silence but it appeared Sir Walter did not. "Well he has not had the chance to speak with her, hold up in some backwoods, well wherever she went. But he approached me as her father and I approved of his suit, she will be a baronet's lady. I am sure that is what she will want when she hears of it. I am also sure you do not want to cross what our purposes and wants are. We have very powerful connections. It could end quite badly for you."
Brandon stared silently at Sir Walter for a moment as if considering something particularly unpleasant "What would you do. Call in my debts? I have none. Deny Anne her portion? I have no need for it. Go to my allies and tell tales? Good luck gaining an audience with the Earl of Fitzwilliam, let alone swaying him against the man that took a bayonet to the shoulder to save the life of his second son. Slander my name and honor? I met the last man who did so with pistols, my challenge so his choice, yours would be mine and I prefer swords. I fence and have killed with a sword, can you even lift one? So consider your choices. I leave here your son with your blessing, or I leave here your enemy and you lose a daughter, because make no mistake she will choose me over you, and unlike you I love her and will fight to keep her."
William, always the rat to flee a sinking ship, knew when to cut his losses. "You misunderstand Sir Walter. He is just surprised not knowing of Anne and your courtship ahead of time. He is just concerned that at Anne's age she has accepted believing it would be her only offer. As a caring father he just wants her to know that I would do my duty to my family, especially hearing what a fine woman she is, and take her as my wife, if that were her choice of course. If she has made a love match with you, then by all means I am sure Sir Walter is delighted for his daughter and will give his blessing as soon as he has a chance to catch up with her letters and hear the wish from her directly. He would never threaten someone such as yourself, he just wanted you to know her wishes would not be unsupported by her connections. Is that not right Sir Walter."
Sir Walter, not usually one to catch on quickly, had reached a point of fear he was very unfamiliar with and simply nodded "Of course of course. Whatever Anne wants."
"Wonderful. I am glad we have come to a clearer understanding of each other. I am sure Anne eagerly awaits your letter with all of your blessings and well wishes. I will take my leave. I am returning to Barton to check in with Anne then must return to Delaford. Sir Walter, Mr. Elliot." Brandon bowed slinking from the room like a jungle cat momentarily giving up on prey it deems no longer worth its time.
"Well I never" Sir Walter huffed after he had departed.
"And hope you never do again." William responded, helping himself to a stiff drink despite the early hour.
Dinner had been a trial, but no more so than those of last fall. He and Anne, Miss Elliot, he really much think of her as Miss Elliot, had fallen back into their polite indifference of Kellynch and Uppercross. Though it was a little more difficult without his smug anger. Anne really was happy. There was a bloom to her that he had not seen since he left almost nine years ago. She practically glowed. Fredrick tried to remember what she had looked like in love with him. He remembered how he felt, but was hard pressed to remember if she had ever been that happy with him. She was never that content and self possessed. They were so young then, like kittens awkwardly pouncing about.
He had been proud of himself and his composure until Anne had played for them after dinner. He had seen her play when they were young, even sometimes for him alone. He had seen her play much last fall. This, this was something entirely different. It was of another world. He could not help but be somewhat bitter at the knowledge that she was happier now than she had been in his love.
His bitterness slipped out some in muttered words meant for himself but sadly Miss Dashwood was next to him. "What does she see in him, what do they even have in common." ignoring his own eyes that told him of their shared love of the music.
Elinor, clearly seeing the same thing but exasperated with him replied. " I would say they share the feelings of lost love. He lost his Love when she trusted men she should not have. She lost hers when she would not trust one she should not."
Wentworth, offended at the implication, replied. "And I...he is a man she can't trust."
Elinor considered him for a moment as if the fates themselves were weighing him. "The man she may have been able to, though judging by his recent actions not likely. But the boy who eight years ago would have married her and rushed off to war with only the hope that his reckless nature would bring glory and fortune instead of death?. Risked that he left her possibly with child to live off the kindness of relatives that resented her in the meantime? No, trusting him would have quite possibly been her ruin."
Wentworth finally saw the situation as it was. So young he had been assured of his success to come, and when it came he felt vindicated. It was easy to forget there had ever been a risk. So many close calls had happened along the way. He had reconciled himself to them at the time but he had been a single man with no one else at risk. He may have never taken that first ship that made him if he had been being more careful. Thinking of that first windfall two years in he asked "And if that foolish boy had put his wounded pride aside and returned two years later freshly made, with a reasonable sum to settle on her and the ability to place her in a small house?"
Elinor laughed lightly, surprised that it was not obvious "Then she would have rejoiced in finding it was her he loved and not the possibility of her name and connections. She would have lived humbly and happily, basking in his love until he next returned."
Fredrick just stared open mouthed at her. She smiled sweetly and excused herself to talk with her sister. He had thought about returning a thousand times those first years, but he could never put his pride and hurt aside. He now had his answer. There was no one to blame for his loss but himself. And it was truly his loss alone. It had been Miss Elliot's as well, but no longer. She had found a place she was truly loved and appreciated. A family that embraced and protected her, most fiercely from the sharp tongue lashing he had just received from Miss Dashwood. A man who could love her without reserve or baggage. He spent the rest of the evening just basking in the glow of the room. The happiness of everyone here radiated through it. Anne with her Colonel, Benwick and his lively and sweet Miss. Marianne. The kindness of Mrs. Dashwood and her younger daughter curled up listening to the music. The welcome fatherly attention of Sir John. It let him finally let go of what may have been. She lead him once again. This time in showing it was possible to move on.
As the evening dwindled he found Miss Dashwood again nearby. Analyzing the change in his demeanor with the look of a disapproving patron at a shop. He could not help but smile at her fierceness so much like Sophie's "My dear lady disdain, are you still here?"
Miss Dashwoods expression changed to one of suppressed laughter before she composed herself enough to place a look of false severity on her face raising one eyebrow. "Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such meet food to feed it."
Fredrick could not help but genuinely smile. Maybe the merging of this group with his circle of friends would not be so unpleasant after all.