Thank you to everyone for the lovely comments, they make my day. This was supposed to be one or two chapters at most, a 'what if' that has now run totally out of control, thanks in large to me being spurred on by the reviews, and I am loving it! I hope I am fulfilling your expectations. Now to Lyme...

Chapter Twelve

Charles shouts that they were ready to depart interrupted them both. Anne rolled her eyes at her bother in law's unfortunate timing and Frederick chuckled, causing her to blush, and Frederick to believe he had never seen her look lovelier. She offered him a small curtsey and him a nod to her. Anne then quickly returned to the carriage, trying to control her happiness during -what was sure to be- the longest journey of her life. Frederick mounted his horse and joined Charles as they led the carriage out onto the road.

The first few miles across farm land meant the men were able to travel alongside the coach and Frederick found his eyes constantly drawn to the inside. Anne in turn could barely control her own eyes as they were repeatedly drawn to the window, seeking him out. More than once their eyes met and each was rewarded with a smile from the other. Anne desperately sought out a moment to inform the other ladies of the new development within their party, but was constantly thwarted by not only her own nerves, but their constant chatter. In the end she believed it was best left for another time. She did not wish to hide anything from them, that had been what had moved her so much about Frederick's speech - his wish for their relationship to be out in the open, however she believed there was a time and place, and maybe while she was trapped inside a moving carriage with her sister, and the lady who once hoped to be in her position, was not it.

In time they reached Lyme, and Wentworth was quick to assist Anne down from the coach, holding onto her hand as long as possible. Her eyes flicked to Charles with a silent question and he was quick to give her a swift shake of his head to confirm her suspicions. He had not thought it his place to inform Charles, without her by his side at least. Although he had made it a point of saying he wanted them to be open about things, he knew Anne, and she would not like to overshadow the reason for their visit with their news. He doubted she would have filled the other two ladies in on their change of circumstances either, so he weighed on the side of caution, acting as appropriately as possible in his interaction with Anne in front of the others. He noticed her boots on the way down the step and chuckled, drawing her attention. "No slippers today Miss Anne."

"No Captain Wentworth, I believed these were more appropriate."

"Yes. You do not want to get your feet cold and wet." Then he leaned into her and whispered for her ears only, "Although if you did, I would be on hand to improve your circulation." He winked at her and she felt her eyes roll as she bit back a laugh that was threatening to burst from her in very un-lady like manner.

After making enquiries at a nearby inn and changing out of their travelling clothes, it became apparent the ladies wished to see the sea. Therefore the happy party made their way down to the Cobb. Charles entertained Mary and Louisa, splashing in the waves and finding them pretty shells, while Frederick and Anne were left to observe.

They stood side by side; so close it caused her to shudder. She did not know why she was so nervous. If it was not for the fact they had been so close like this –closer- in their past, a period of several hours together alone in a darkened out building, should have been enough to dispel any self-confidence issues, however they were not in the dark now, and things always seemed harder to say in the daylight. Frederick's fingers brushed her own, and captured her attention immediately. The waves crashing, seagull's overhead and laughter of her friends all died away until all she was aware of was the sound of her own heart beating wildly.

She looked up to find him staring down at her. His eyes seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. She gasped, it was then that she realised how truly handsome he was. Age had only affected him in the way that it had improved his physique. Otherwise, he was as striking as he always had been. To think this man wanted to court her.

"You have been very quiet."

"Have I?" she exhaled and looked out at the ocean trying to compose herself. "I was simply taking it all in. I am so little travelled, this is all new to me. I was busily trying to commit it to memory."

"I would not trouble yourself so, I am sure we will visit again."

There he was again talking about a future together, as if it were already settled. She wasn't sure if the thought pleased her, or terrified her. She felt her lips lift at the corners. Pleased, it definitely pleased her.

"I wonder if I could ask you a question."

"Another one?" she chuckled. But as she said it, the laughter died away, when she thought there could only be one question left to ask. She straightened her dress and glanced again at their companions who were happily ignoring them. "Go ahead Captain."

He offered her a half smile. "I wonder, if, while we are alone, since we are officially now courting," he smiled around the word and she smiled back. "Would you permit me to call you Anne? Just Anne."

"I would." she answered without pause.

Spurred on by her answer, he pushed on. "And if, while we are alone, you would be prepared to call me Frederick."

"I would." she replied, again, without hesitation.

He took a deep breath in, letting it out and standing straighter, he looked out at the landscape, his face full of pride and relief.

Could something so simple, mean so much to him she wondered. "May I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"What do we do ... that is, should we make our change in circumstance known to our friends? I have not done so far, as I wished to discuss it with you first."

"As did I you."

"But surely, the more time we spend together – alone- they will start to guess. I do not know what is to be done or said," she looked away. "Having never been courted before." She finished quietly. He looked at her sideways and raised an eyebrow. "Not officially anyway." she added before smirking at his reaction.

"Is it important to you that we make an announcement; that we tell people? It is none of their business after all."

"It is you who said we should do this the proper way, not hiding, all out in the open!"

He flushed. "I did not … I meant-"

"What?" she interrupted his rambling, "Are you ashamed of our situation?" she joked.

"What? No! It is just I..." he looked down and Anne suddenly felt herself grow uneasy, she had meant to tease him but now he could not meet her eye. She bit her lip trying hard to remain steadfast, as he continued. "I am worried, Anne. I find myself … I am ashamed to say it… but ... afraid." He picked at a piece of grass growing out of a rock and twisted it between his fingers, as if needing the distraction. "I am afraid that once your father and your god mother learn of our reconciliation, they will waste no time in actively seeking a way to destroy it once again." he threw down the discarded piece of grass and looked out to sea. She wanted to gather him up her arms in the way she should would either of her nephews. Hold him to her and whisper that everything would be alright. She could not believe he still had doubts regarding her feelings, her constancy. Did he really think she could still be persuaded against him? As if reading her thoughts he confessed his own. "I do not think I could survive being parted from you again Anne," he looked at her then, his piercing blue eyes into her warm brown and time stood still. "I know I could not."

During their conversation he had added distance between them and she was keen to vanish it once more. She side stepped towards him so that they were almost touching, before reaching down and holding his hand in hers. Even through gloves, she could feel the heat from his body meeting with hers, and she swallowed down hard before she spoke. "Frederick, do not be so ready to doubt the strength of my character and our connection. We have come back together after all these years apart, faced many obstacles, the least of which were time and space, and yet here we are still. Standing side by side. Has it crossed your mind that I should not wish to be parted from your either? That I could not survive that fate, any more than you could?"

"I am fool."

"Yes." She grinned. "But so are we all at one time or another."

He transferred her hand to the crook of his elbow and they walked along a little further.

"You can tell anyone you want, and I will do the same. I confess when you agreed to our courtship this morning," he looked up at the sky, "oh how long ago that seems, I felt like shouting it from the roof tops. How I ever imagined I would have the restraint to keep it between ourselves, I do not know." He confessed cheerily.

"Well, I do not think we need to go quite that far." She leaned into him to reassure him. "This is all still new to us, there are many things we have yet to discover about each other and our time apart. I believe that we should only reveal it if, and when, we find it necessary."

He nodded, and then she felt him tense. "That time may be upon us sooner than you thought." He gestured to two gentleman walking towards them. "Here are Harville and Benwick."