Chapter One: In a Cottage

"Sir Walter would quit Kellynch Hall; and after a very few days more of doubt and indecision, the great question of where he should go was settled, and the first outline of this important change was made out. There had been three alternatives,-London, Bath, or another house in the country." Chapter 2, Persuasion

For all of her disappointment at leaving the area and dislike of Bath, Anne was glad a residence had finally been settled on. Mr. Shepard, her father's steward, was able to arrange for a house in Camden Place. An address that suited Sir Walter and her sister Elizabeth's sense of dignity and importance. Kellynch hall had been rented to Admiral Croft and his wife. All details were finalized for the Crofts to take possession at Michaelmas. It seemed like a cruel joke to Ann. First, her father's debts and frivolous spending demanded she leave her home. Now for it to be rented to Fredrick's sister of all people. It was hard to think that Fredrick might soon be walking the very halls she had spent her childhood in. Staying in rooms he may have visited had she not had to break off their engagement. She tried her best not to think of it, to let the relief that came with knowing her families towering debts were being addressed become her consolation and main focus.

"This shall NOT be born! Do they not understand to whom they are dealing with!" Anne heard her Father's sharp voice as she approached the Library. She entered along with Lady Russel to find Sir Walter and Elizabeth standing with Mr. Shepard and his daughter Mrs. Clay.

"Whatever has happened?" Lady Russel asked as she rushed to their side.

Elizabeth jumped in to explain "The house in Camden has had a delay in the preparation, a small fire, it will not be ready for several weeks past when we are to hand over possession of Kellynch."

"I will not be seen to be staying for weeks in a Roadside inn like some traveling vagabond. It is ridiculous. A Baronet must be seen to live as a Baronet." Sir Walter fumed.

Anne's mind spun trying to avert the disaster she saw rising. It had been a battle to get her family to agree to take any responsible action. If her father and Elizabeth changed their minds, breaching the contract for lease, or worse stomped off to London in a fit, it would more than triple their expense projections compared to Bath. She blurted out the first words to come to mind "what about paying visits between now and your possession."

She immediately felt foolish, remembering that their family situation left few options for such visits. Mary had not the room to house them all, and to visit a daughter only three miles away, would be seen as the homelessness it was. Her cousin the presumptive heir had been cut from their notice over a breach when he married and could not be acknowledged. Their next closest relatives who were of a social standing Sir Walter deemed worthy of him were the Derymples, and they were also no longer speaking to them over an accidental slight. While this may be mended eventually, Anne knew there wasn't time now. Sir Walter had no friends to speak of, Elizabeth either.

"What about your Nephew James? You spoke last month about the lovely thank you letter and invitation to visit he sent you following your acknowledgements on his wedding?" Lady Russell made it through the same mental calculations Anne had, only faster.

Anne remembered James Elliot's letter telling of the humble yet spacious "cottage" he and his new wife had settled in near Dartford. James Walter Elliot was the only other Great-grandson of the Second Sir Walter, and next in line for the role of heir presumptive should William Walter Elliot fail to produce a son. With it being unlikely he would inherit the baronetcy her father had never kept a close relationship with him or risked him being around to "have designs on his dear Elizabeth." With his recent marriage to the only daughter of a Knight with a reasonable inheritance, he was more worthy of notice of Sir Walter and of no danger to his Elizabeth.

"But a cottage...what would people say." Sir Walter seemed to be at least considering it.

Mrs. Clay and her ability to say just what the elder Elliots wanted to hear once again seemed to steer him. "They will see it just as it is, a Respectable Family Head humbling himself to pay a necessary visit of notice. They will see you doing your duty despite the discomfort that it may afford you."

Anne would have been thankful to Mrs. Clay, if she was not so disturbed by the control she seemed to exhibit over her father. Despite Anne's discomfort at this show of manipulation, it seemed to be working.

"You are absolutely right, a Baronet must be seen to do his duty by his family. I shall write to James and see if a visit during this time frame would suit, and whether he can accommodate myself, Elizabeth and Mrs. Clay" Sir Walter returned. Anne and Lady Russel let out a breath they did not seem to realize they had been holding. Though Lady Russell's brow seemed to furrow with the idea of Anne still being excluded from their travels, even with a family visit to be paid. Anne merely shook her head at Lady Russell, a silent but clear "it is of no concern" being conveyed.

Letters were sent off to Dartford and preparations continued to hand over Kellynch. Anne tried to focus on the tasks necessary without worry of what a refusal would mean for the family. Within a fortnight it was resolved to her relief. "Dear Cousin James," as Elizabeth had taken to calling him, would be glad to host them at Windshale Cottage. His letter arrived full of flattering paragraphs of what it would mean to him to have them visit, and the honor it would bring the neighborhood. It included reassurances that his cottage was one in name only, being closer to a gentleman's residence with multiple visitor rooms. Which worked to their advantage as James already had a school friend staying with him.

Anne was able to see her father and sister off to Dartford several days prior to her own departure for Uppercross. She wished them the best and hoped they could manage to get along with their relatives and remember their lack of options until the residence in Camden Place was ready for them.

"Some people imagine that there can be no accommodations, no space, in a cottage; but this is all a mistake. I was last month at my friend Elliot's, near Dartford. Lady Elliot wished to give a dance. ' But how can it be done?' said she." Chapter 36, Sense and Sensibility

By November Anne had come to convince herself that no news was good news. She had yet to hear from her sister or father other than a single note telling her of their arrival in Dartford and the horrible conditions of the roads. Since her arrival in Uppercross she had more than enough of her own to focus on. The weeks watching Fredrick Wentworth bask in the attention of the young Musgrove girls was beginning to wear on her. Anne had reconciled herself to the idea that he had moved on, even though she had not. She was prepared to hear of his attachment and even marriage to another, but she had not expected to have to watch him courting the women in question. She needed only make it through one last trip to Lyme and then Lady Russell would come take her back to Kellynch village to stay with her. Then it would be a short few weeks before she would meet her Father in Bath.

A letter arrived before Anne was to leave for Lyme that upset this plan. She and Mary each received a letter from Elizabeth. Being the first to reach the breakfast table most mornings she was able to read hers first.

My dearest sister,

I write to you with the most delightful news. I am to be married in two months time. I know January is a dreadful time to marry, but I loathe the idea of having to wait until spring. I know this must come as a great shock to you, I truly meant to write sooner but have been swept away with the wonderful care shown to us by dear Cousin James and Susan. It is really Cousin Susan who is to thank for these wonderful events. Despite Windshale Cottage being fairly modest, Cousin Susan, forgive me Lady Elliot to you as you have yet to be introduced, decided to give a dance in our honor the week after we arrived. The welcome we received from our dear cousins was barely second to that we received from Mr. Robert Ferrars, James' school friend. He was perfectly necessary and so helpful to Cousin Susan in arranging for our dance, and was the honored guest of our host so I of course owed him opening the dance and my dinner set when he requested it.

Let me tell you, I have never met a man whose ideas were so correct and manners so pleasing. To see him with Father Mrs. Clay says "is like to see a father with his son." Mr. Ferrars having lost his own father, he understands the value of a man like ours. In the weeks since the dance he and I have come to a mutual understanding. He is a man of rank and respectable fortune, despite being a younger son. His brother inherits, as is correct, but a portion has been properly reserved for him. He also hinted that as the first to marry his mother may wish to convey a larger portion. He has no title of his own, but Father feels with his connections and grace he could be elevated of his own accord. It also does not hurt for one's husband to know who is the one bestowing honor into a marriage. Our children will still be the grandsons of a Baronet.

We were originally considering marrying from London, but as father is obligated to a house in Bath, gaining a house in London would be difficult. Knowing the crowding of Bath come January, we did not wish to marry from Bath. So Robert's sister has kindly offered us the use of her husband's estate in Sussex. Our wedding will be held at Norland park the second week of January.

I am sure you can arrange to travel with either Mary or Lady Russell. Mrs. Clay will be traveling with us first to London, for a short visit to meet his family and to gather my wedding clothes, and then to Norland with us. As she is the one doing all the work it only seems fair she be the one to stand up with me. I look forward to you and Sister Mary meeting your wonderful new Brother.

Yours etc.

Elizabeth Elliot

"Ugg Mrs. CLAY as a bridesmaid, how tacky. When she has two sisters of her own. I mean I am sure she would have asked me had I been unmarried, but it is a slight to you. A younger son as well, well not all of us can be the wife of an heir." Sitting silent for some time, struck by her own letter Anne had not heard Mary enter the room nor pick up her letter. Though Mary did pose a good point, the fact that Elizabeth was settling for a younger son was surprising. Anne was not oblivious to what her and Elizabeth's advanced ages meant to society, but to get Elizabeth to acknowledge it was previously impossible. So for her to give up social climbing and marry someone less than a Baronet himself, this Mr. Ferrars must be quite impressive. Well at least in the way that Elizabeth would be impressed. Contemplating exactly the type of personality that would impress Elizabeth to that degree had Anne shudder. It was a little alarming imagining her new brother-in-law.

It appeared Lyme would not be a last trip before heading to Kellynch village, but a last trip prior to leaving for Sussex. She would need to write to Lady Russell and further suss out Mary's plans to see with whom she could make such a journey. Hopefully one of them could accommodate her, as her father would not.

Fanny Dashwood was not happy. When her brother first told her of his engagement to the daughter of a Baronet she had been ecstatic. Now annoyance after annoyance seemed to be piling on, diminishing her happiness in it. She had just arrived in London when Robert brought the news. Her ideas of a wonderful wedding in town were immediately quashed by the knowledge that the bride would not be bringing anything to the marriage but her rank. Her father's grand estate was entailed to a distant male line, and currently lent out to tenants. His fortune was currently tied to his debt, so anything she received from him would not be until his death. While Miss Elliot's standing and family name was enough to keep Robert in their mother's graces, this did not extend to a place in town for them to stay. It would be seen as odd for his family to house them in London, where accommodations were rampant. That was only overlooked at country estates where no other respectable dwellings were at hand. So to avoid a wedding in Bath where Elizabeth's father had housing, Fanny's mother suggested she and John host it at Norland Park. So Fanny was to return and open Norland a week after leaving it for the season.

Having the wedding at Norland Park had originally appealed to Fanny as a way to show off her and John's good fortune. She began in her regular correspondence to prepare their common acquaintance and family connections for the need to travel for the wedding. As soon as the engagement had been announced, she told everyone of it. This is where the minor annoyance finally became true frustration. It appeared that everyone assumed they still housed Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters. Several of John's connections seemed to look forward to meeting his step mother as her morning would be up around the time of the wedding. This presented a problem for Fanny, how to explain that her husband's sisters and stepmother had chosen to live with a distant relative instead of with their brother. There was no way to spin it that at least some would not try to make it her and John's fault. The only way would be to avoid the conversation entirely. The only way she could think of would be to have them at the wedding. No one would ask how long they had been guests if they thought they never left.

Having the Dashwood woman to stay would remove another of her annoyances. She had nothing but difficulties with the staff of Norland since the Dashwoods' departure. She needed Norland to be seen at its best, and maybe the presence of their former mistress would speed along their compliance. It galled her to have her brother Edward back under the same roof as John's social climbing sister, but it could not be helped. Fanny and her mother would just have to do their best to keep them separate.

Fanny looked up from her letters to find her husband luckily still in the room "John dear, what do you think about having your step mother and sisters to visit while we prepare for the wedding? I know your promise to your father worries you, and the wedding would be a prime chance for the girls to be introduced around. Not to stay past the wedding obviously, but just to pass the season?"

John Dashwood, taking her lead as always, responded "What a kind offer my dear, I am sure they would love to visit Norland. Do you wish to ask when you write to them or should I send a note."

Fanny smiled reassuring him "I think they would be glad to hear from you this time." It would appear even her own husband held the delusion she remained in contact with the Dashwoods. Fanny resisted the urge to growl out her frustration.

Elinor awoke hearing someone moving around the kitchen. Worried it was Margaret up from a nightmare she went down to the kitchen. She instead found Mrs. Dashwood sitting at the table with her letters. She had seen the girls off to bed many hours before and sat at the worn polished table with papers before her as if it were a lady's desk. The only light was that cast by the basked fire beside her, she had not even allowed herself a candle. Elinor worried what had her usually serene mother up so late, and feeling so prudent to forsake a candle.

"What is it Mama?" Elinor asked as she placed a kettle over the low coals to heat.

Mrs. Dashwood seemed reluctant to share. After a pause she gave up once again confiding in Elinor "Your brother John has written to me. It appears they will be hosting a wedding for Fanny's brother in January." Seeing Elinor stiffen she corrected "oh dear, not Edward. Her other brother, the younger."

Elinor composed herself and asked "What of this news has you awake at this hour?"

"Your brother has asked us to come and stay, a fortnight from now until after the wedding. He hints around wishing to do 'something' for you girls, also that he fears Fanny is feeling overwhelmed and could use an experienced hostess to guide her." Mrs. Dashwood smiled as a slightly unladylike sort escaped from the usually reserved Elinor. "What has me concerned is placing you and your sister back in that house with the indignity of Fanny and John's treatment of you. Though it will put you back with Edward. However, I also believe that it will cost you the chance to spend a season in London. Mrs. Jennings has been hinting at wanting the company of you elder girls for the winter. So I am placed with choosing between your chance to be with Edward and Marianne's to be with Willoughby."

Elinor braced herself with a deep breath before speaking. Knowing that she could not share with her Mother the news she had recently received from Lucy Steele of her secret engagement to Edward she still wished to deter her. "I think you are putting the wrong issue to the forefront. I know you wish to see me and Edward together, but I have told you that I do not believe he is at liberty to marry as he would wish." There that was vague enough to allow her mother to still think it was his mother's wishes keeping him, not his own youthful imprudence. She took an even deeper breath and continued, knowing this would be the tougher conversation "I also do not think that the issue of Marianne and Willoughby is something so simple that it may be remedied by a trip to London. I know you have every faith in him, and a blind person could see their love, but I fear that there is much more going on than what we are privy to. If it was just getting her to where he was I think he would have written by now to ask her if she could make her way to someone to visit, or sought the help of Sir John."

"Do you not think that maybe that is what drives Mrs. Jennings hints." Her mother looked at her hopefully. Still refusing to believe there was anything untold to Willoughby's swift departure.

"No, Mama I do not. Were that the case Mrs. Jennings would do more than hint, she is incapable of a secret or surprise such as that. I think it is no more than the same hope that drives you." Elinor sat down with the tea she had made them.

Mrs. Dashwood looked stricken at the sight of her daughter making tea in a kitchen. A harsh reminder of how much their situation had changed. "So what then, do you think the issue at hand is?"

"Whether you think John is sincere in his intention of doing something for us. Also whether you can bear to be back under Fanny's roof. Also can you be asked to do the work of Mistress of Norland while given none of the rights of Mistress. If John does mean to do something for us it might do more for Marianne and her ability to marry where she wished, than a year in London would." Elinor watched her mother's expression become more resigned as she came to see the possibilities.

"You are probably right my dear, but then you always are. John suggested we could travel to him via post to Lyme, then on to Portsmouth and he could send for us from there. I am sure Sir John will allow us his carriage until the Post route. I will write in the morning accepting his invitation and letting him know to make the arrangements." Resigned, Mrs. Dashwood finished her tea and stood to retire.

"Though it may be best to not mention to Marianne that London was ever an alternative option. She is not going to like returning to Fanny and John's company as it is." Elinor suggested. Her mother just smiled and kissed her good night.

Now Elinor was the one left to ponder the future from the kitchen with cold tea. She sincerely hoped John meant to follow through on his promise. Keeping Mama and Marianne polite to Fanny was going to be a trial. Almost as painful as the barbs she would have to field from Edward's family. She could scream for the situation he had placed her in. She was to suffer as his unapproved fiancé without ever reaping the rewards of it. There was nothing to be done about that though, not unless she wished to break a confidence and out Edward and Lucy's engagement. She would suffer through worse than rude comments to see their fortunes rise enough to allow her sisters and mother have security. It would be nice to see Norland again as well, to see how her favorites among the staff were fairing under Fanny's regime. She had also heard Lyme was lovely this time of year and not too crowded. So it was the small joys she would have to cling to.