Louisa and Henrietta made their return to the Great House, accompanied by Charles Hayter; the latter took the opportunity to ask for Mr. Musgrove's consent to marry Henrietta, which was readily given. Such happy news brought even higher spirits and cheerful gaiety to the dinner party that evening.
Captain Wentworth was seated next to Louisa. She tried many times to start a conversation with him and was perplexed to find him distracted and less talkative than before. He inquired politely after her health and then only gave brief answers to her questions, with no attempt to pursue further conversation despite her many smiles and compliments to the Navy. Several times throughout the meal, Anne was sensible of Captain Wentworth looking at her instead. His gazes were earnest and steadfast, but she doubted whether there were much purpose to them, and sometimes it seemed nothing but absence of mind.
After dinner, Mrs. Musgrove made her usual proposal for some dancing. Henrietta immediately agreed, eager to stand up with Charles Hayter. The two of them began walking to one end of the room, while Louisa remained seated unhappily on the sofa with her sprained ankle. Anne stood up out of habit to take her place at the pianoforte, but before she could take even one step, Captain Wentworth cried out, "Mrs. Charles Musgrove! I have not yet had the pleasure of hearing you play. I have been told you are a great proficient."
Mary's eyes brightened with delight. Everyone else looked around in surprise; none of them could imagine who would have said such a thing about Mary. She, however, was quite flattered and gladly made her way over to the instrument. Anne sat back down to watch the dancing when she found herself suddenly addressed by Captain Wentworth.
"Miss Elliot," he said in a low voice, "may I have the honour of your hand?"
Anne was so surprised that, without knowing what she did, she accepted him. She immediately fretted over her own want of presence of mind, not knowing how much more talk of weather and roads she could endure.
The rest of the party watched in amazement as Anne took Captain Wentworth's arm. They began dancing, each of them careful to maintain the proper distance at all times. There was not the slightest hint of standing too close, or hands lingering too long, as had been done long ago.
For Anne, it was a new kind of agony. She felt Captain Wentworth's gentle hold on her hand, his eyes steadily fixed on her face, the warmth of his body next to hers. It took all her strength to not close her eyes and allow herself to be carried back to the past, to that distant summer when she had danced till her feet ached and then danced some more.
The sound of Henrietta's laughter brought her back. Henrietta and Charles Hayter could barely contain their joy. Captain Wentworth looked at them and said to Anne, "The visit to Winthrop seems to have had some happy consequences."
Anne smiled. "Yes. I am very pleased for Henrietta and Charles Hayter."
"Such excellent parents as Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove do everything to confer happiness, I am sure. They seem totally free from all those ambitious feelings which have led to so much misconduct and misery, more than perhaps -"
He stopped, realising what he was about to say. Anne's cheeks reddened and she fixed her eyes on the ground. He cleared his throat and said,
"How much longer do you remain at Uppercross?"
"I will leave in one week."
"So soon," he whispered, as if he had been talking to himself.
"Now that Mary is feeling better and little Charles is gaining strength apace, I have nothing else to stay for. I will soon join my father and older sister in Bath." She decided not to mention the part about staying with Lady Russell at Kellynch Lodge; he would shortly find out, and her name would only bring them both pain.
"I am glad that you came to Uppercross," he said earnestly. "And for your father to let Kellynch Hall, and my sister and the Admiral to take possession of it - such extraordinary circumstances occurring at the same time!" He smiled slightly and gave her a look of meaning. "Perhaps it was the arrangement of Providence, that you and I were reacquainted after all this time."
Anne was struck by his words; to speak to her with not only great civility, but a degree of intimacy! Could she have believed it a day ago; three hours ago! She knew not what to think, or how to account for it. Why was he so altered? She did not believe that Louisa's minor injury could have effected so great a change.
After waiting a few moments he said, and as if it were the result of immediate feeling, "It is a period, indeed! Eight years is a period."
She saw a glow in his face and a tenderness in his eyes, which seemed almost restoring the past. She colored deeply and looked away, thankful that the two dances were over. His present feelings confused her greatly, and she required a period of solitude to reflect on it all.
He escorted her to a chair and, before leaving, said quietly as he pressed her hand, "Thank you, Miss Elliot. I had been told that you had given up dancing, but I am very happy that is not the case."