Anne relished the quiet and solitary refuge next to the fire at Camden Place. The sounds of dull conversation and pretentious laughter drifted towards her from the adjoining room, as Bath's first set played card games at her father's evening party. Anne longed to attend the theatre or a concert, but after two weeks in Bath, she had yet to take pleasure in either amusement. Sir Walter and Elizabeth favoured private parties and Anne was a prisoner to their wishes. She therefore passed her time maintaining the minimum amount of civil conversation required before retreating to be alone with her thoughts. Thoughts of Frederick.
"I have loved none but you. Please say you will marry me, sweetest, loveliest Anne."
How often she had dreamt of a second proposal from him! And yet, he was not hers. She did not know how he would untangle himself; she must trust in Providence. That he would make post only two years after they met seemed improbable at the time, and yet he had done it. All his sanguine expectations, all his confidence in his profession had been justified. Might it not be so for this situation as well?
"I will find a way back to you."
"My dear cousin," a polished voice behind her spoke.
Anne turned to see Mr. Elliot approaching with a calculated smile on his face.
"I am afraid I interrupt your solitary reverie, dear cousin?" said he, as he sat next to her on the sofa.
"You certainly do, Mr. Elliot," she replied with a smile; "but it does not follow that the interruption must be unwelcome."
"I should be sorry indeed, if it were."
"Are you enjoying yourself this evening, Mr. Elliot?"
"Yes, very much so. I wish I could say the same yesterday evening - your company was greatly missed at the Dalrymples."
She heard the slight teasing in his voice.
"I doubt my anyone truly missed me. If my father and sister wished for my presence, it was only due to the embarrassment I caused by favouring a poor, sick friend over a viscountess and her daughter."
Mr. Elliot laughed. "I thought it quite delightful that you remained steadfast in your prior engagement to this Mrs. Smith, and I can assure you that one person in attendance last night regretted your absence with all his heart." He looked at her, hoping she understood his meaning.
"I must say," he continued, "I enjoyed making Lady Russell's acquaintance at the party. We had quite a lively and interesting discussion about you, though perhaps it would be wrong to divulge further details."
Now he hoped to raise her curiosity, but she would not be baited.
"No, Mr. Elliot, I would not wish you to betray a private conversation."
After a few more minutes of conversation, Anne declared herself overheated by the fire and excused herself.
Watching her pleasing figure retreat, Mr. Elliot congratulated himself on his good fortune. Unlike his first marriage, which had been solely for his departed wife's money, he wanted his second marriage to be for love. He highly admired Anne, and she would surely not refuse such an advantageous offer, especially at her age. Marrying her would also solve his other concern - securing his inheritance of the Kellynch estate by preventing Sir Walter from remarrying.
Until he could win Anne's affection, Mr. Elliot was aware of another danger to his dream of becoming a baronet. Having visited Camden Place regularly for almost two months, he knew that Elizabeth's companion, Mrs. Clay, desired to marry Sir Walter and become the next Lady Elliot. Her youth and assiduous pleasing manners were dangerous attractions; so fearful was Mr. Elliot of her ability to succeed that he decided he would tempt her with the hope of marrying him instead. Once he and Anne were married, he might even keep Mrs. Clay as his mistress and establish her in London while Anne remained at Kellynch.
With his strategy in place, Mr. Elliot departed Camden Place that evening in high spirits. Life could not be any better!
~~END OF CHAPTER~~