A bit of a long one here, but it is shared with the confession I may not be able to upload for a few days as the kids are off school, and the next chapter I wanted to give a lot of time to. I envision this being wrapped up in the next two or three chapters, so for now I hope you enjoy.

Chapter Thirteen

Captain Harville observed the young woman talking to his wife with a keen eye. He was sat in his favourite spot. In an otherwise crowded house -even when they were not joined by guests- he preferred to tuck himself away in the corner, carving something out of wood, or fixing a net of a local fisherman. Today, despite visitors, he was inclined to do the same. Benwick seemed in good company with Mrs Charles and Miss Louisa, Musgrove was busying himself examining things in the small parlour and looking out at the landscape. His own wife Connie, was in deep conversation with Miss Elliot.

Harville had of course known exactly who Miss Anne was upon introduction, even before her name was uttered, simply by the way in which Wentworth had beheld her. As he and Benwick had made their way over to their Sea Fellow, they had been both amazed and pleased to find Captain Wentworth; a once confirmed bachelor, with a fine lady on his arm. Upon closer inspection, it was obvious to anyone who had known their history -and Harville was aware, there were not many who did- that this was no ordinary lady, she was the famous Anne, he had heard so much about over the years, and not all of it favourable. It was however obvious there was still a level of tenderness for her, despite his friend's assurances over the years to the contrary. He did note to himself that something was different to the last time he had seen his friend, something had changed about his person to lead him to believe times were changing, and opinions once formed, may have changed.

Deep in thought, he failed to notice the appearance of the man he was so busy thinking about, make his way to his side, until he was beside him. Although Harville attempted to draw him into conversation, he could see the man's eyes were fixed on another point in the room. "So," Harville began, finally gaining Wentworth's attention. "Miss Anne?"

"Yes."

"Is she?"

"Yes."

"And have you?"

"Yes."

"And are you?"

"Yes."

"I see." Harville put the net down and smiled.

"Actually Harville," Frederick lowered his voice further. "I wondered if I could speak with you, somewhere less … occupied, I have some matters on which I need your advice."

Captain Harville could think of nothing that such a man would need advice on from an old retired Captain such as himself, but he granted his friend the favour none the less, and led him outside the kitchen in to the little yard.

"I am here for your advice." Frederick repeated.

"My advice?"

Frederick nodded. "Now that Anne has agreed to our courtship, I find I am at a loss as to how I should go about the …the..." Frederick waved his hands around in front of himself aimlessly.

"Courting?" Harville suggested. Wentworth nodded, and Harville fought to control his urge to laugh at his friend. "What exactly do you need to know?"

"I am in need of ideas. Places to visit, activities ladies enjoy." He began to pace back and forth in the small space. "What did you do when you were courting Connie?"

Harville rubbed the back of his neck searching his mind, he was still finding it hard to believe he was having this conversation with a grown man. "I suppose we walked quite a lot, in parks and such. I took her to the seaside once, took her down to the dockside." He smiled. Frederick's eyes widened almost in horror and it dawned on Harville how his friend had perceived his last few words. He started laughing loudly. "To see the boats! My, my Captain Wentworth, you need to get your mind out of the gutter."

"I apologise, to you and to Connie, I find I was not thinking." Frederick stuttered.

"Not with your head anyway." Harville scoffed, and Frederick let out a frustrated groan. "It is really that important to you that you do this right, is it not?" Harville asked. Frederick nodded again. "Then my friend, you are speaking to the wrong person."

"I cannot ask Anne."

"I am not speaking of Anne. If you want to know what sort of things would please Miss Anne, I believe you need to ask yourself that question, at least, the 'yourself' of eight years ago."

"You talk in riddles. I do not know what is best! How could I, after such a disastrous attempt last time?"

"I do not think it was as disastrous as you believe."

"We are not married now!" Frederick cried.

"No, I am not talking of what came later, I mean at the beginning. You, a general nobody full of nothing but-" Frederick moved to interrupt, but Harville held up a hand signalling for him to let him finish. "Charm. You managed to capture the attention of a young lady, the daughter of a Baronet no less, and become friends. Later your friendship blossomed into more, you courted her, in secret, for a number of weeks –not many, if I recall- before you were convinced it was right for you to ask for her hand, an offer that was accepted. How is that not a successful outcome?" he looked at Frederick to contradict him, and when he didn't, he continued. "Whatever you did in the beginning was enough to convince that remarkable young woman to want to marry you, what happened later, is no concern right now, you want to know how to make her happy, what did you do last time?"

Frederick was silent for a while, letting the sound advice of his friend sink in. He was right, of course he was. They hadn't had any trouble getting along with each other last time, every activity he had suggested had been met with happy compliance. "There was a picnic." He admitted out loud. He smiled at the memory but couldn't bring himself to share anymore details of that particular afternoon. Harville being a gentleman in his manners if not in status, did not push the man for specifics and after a few minutes left him alone with his thoughts.

Once Harville left, Frederick was able to sit and smile to himself openly as he reflected on times gone by. His friend had been right. Past the hurt and heartache there had been happy times, moments he had tried hard to forget – maybe too hastily. With his mind made up with what he should do next he rose and began to make his way inside when he found the lady of his dreams stood in the doorway watching him closely.

"We find ourselves alone again Captain."

Being still trapped in his own mind, and unprepared for her banter, he was hesitant with a comeback and Anne grew embarrassed.

She blushed and then cleared her throat. "Captain Harville asked me to find you – Mrs Harville is serving more tea and wondered if you wanted any or-"

"Anne."

She gasped at the sound of her name so clearly and easily, as if he had been calling it her all of her life.

"I wonder, if we were to find some time during our visit here, if you should like to join me for a picnic?"

"A picnic?" she frowned and his heart sank.

"It is a bad idea, I should not have suggested it. Please forgive me and let us forget all about it." He gave her a half-hearted smile and attempted to move past her and into the house.

She moved with him, putting herself between him and the door. "Frederick." The one word halted him in his tracks. "The thought of a picnic with you is a wonderful one – however- it is November." She raised an eyebrow at him. "I thought only it may be the wrong time of year for such an activity. I was not dismissing the activity itself. It was a lovely thought."

"I recalled we both enjoyed ourselves – last time." They exchange a glance; a blush and looked away. "But you are correct of course. I had not been thinking rationally." He narrowed his eyes deep in thought. "Then again, maybe."

She looked at him puzzled.

"Leave it with me, all I would ask of you, is to indulge me with a little of your time and I shall do the rest." He asked.

"Very well, now you have my curiosity piqued. I shall be sure to contrive someway of us spending some time together."

He offered her a wide smile. "Let us return before we are missed."

The Harville's had wanted their guests to remain for dinner, but as they had already made plans at the Inn, they returned, much to Mary's pleasure. Mrs Harville had however been very sad to see her new friends leave. Although they had only just been acquainted, she had got on fast with Miss Elliot and would be sorry to see her return home. She missed female company. Even in the little time they had spent together, she had been able to see a glimpse of the lady's true character and would love to spend more time with her, getting to know her better.

She could tell immediately she was different to the other two ladies. Baring no similarities in character to her prideful sister, or the silliness of the young lady miss Louisa. The latter did however appear to be having a profound effect of their house guest Captain Benwick, and for that she was grateful. It was nice to see him smile again and hear him laugh. It had been too long. She only hoped her husband was prepared for his sister's memory to remain as that, and for the young man to move on at last.

As for Frederick, she was beyond pleased to have him back under their roof and talking with her husband once more. She knew they would have much to discuss as they had not seen each other in an age, and much had changed. On both sides. For instance, she would be keen to learn from her husband Harry if there was anything fixed between her new friend Miss Anne and the Captain. There were little things; subtle hints that most people probably would not pick up on, but signs which she had always been gifted in the ability to see, where others ignore. And she had not missed the blatant excuse her husband had made for sending Miss Anne out to find Wentworth. Anyone could have gone, herself included and yet he had asked Anne. Did he suspect something also, or had he already inside knowledge on such matters? The little trip the two men had taken about their yard earlier, had also not gone unnoticed by her and she would be speaking to Harry about it later.

With all this in mind, she was quick to agree with her husband's suggestion that they take some air and accompany the party -at least half way down the Cobb- towards their inn. She was at Anne's side in an instant wanting to gleam anymore hints she could, before making her opinion. It was with great surprise that her next not-so-subtle clue, came in the form of an almost absolute admission from the lady herself.

"Mrs Harville. I wonder if you might be able to help me with something. But first, I find I need to take you into my confidence regarding something. Pease assure me I can count on your strict secrecy regarding the matter. It is not that it is a secret, and it will no doubt be common knowledge throughout our party very shortly, but for now it is not, and we, I have decided, we would rather keep it that way, at least for the time being." Anne rambled on.

"Miss Anne- I am sorry to interrupt you my dear, but we shall be sure to part soon and you still have yet to tell me your secret or how it is I may be of assistance to you."

"Yes, I am sorry. I have never, that is I have never had someone with whom I can share such things my sisters ... well I digress," she took a deep breath in letting it out. "Captain Wentworth has asked to court me, and I have agreed."

"I see." She smiled knowingly.

"That is the point on which I need your discretion." The other lady nodded and so Anne continued. "As part of our courtship, Frederick, Captain Wentworth, has asked that I devise some way of us spending some time away from the rest of our party so that we can–"

"Court?"

"Yes, and I have to confess, despite me informing him I should find it no hardship, having wracked my mind for the past hour, I have no notion of how such a feat might be managed."

"And that is where I step in? You wish for me to come up with a clever way in which you two may have time to yourselves without arising suspicion from the others."

"Please."

"Leave it to me." She nodded and cleared her throat. "Mrs Charles, Miss Louisa?" the other two ladies turned to face them. "I was just asking Miss Anne if she would be free to spend some time with me and the children tomorrow while Captain Harville runs his errands, would either of you like to join us?"

Mary turned up her nose and then mumbled some excuse about spending some time with her dear Charles, while Louisa looked at Benwick sideways and said something about wanting to spend some more time reading at the Inn. With the other ladies taken care of, and Anne now with the perfect excuse, she turned to her second part of the plan. "Harry?"

"Yes my dear?"

"Weren't you saying that you were going to ask Captain Wentworth to join you tomorrow with some of your errands?" she glared at him in a certain way only a wife could, which had him nodding before he even realised what it was he was agreeing to.

"Yes. That is, if he is free." He turned to his friend who, with a look a puzzlement on his own face risked a glance at Anne who only nodded once while looking at the ground. "Yes Harville of course."

"Well then Captain, you will be able to escort Miss Anne here in the morning will you not?"

Frederick grasped the idea the ladies had, much faster than Harville and found himself smiling happily. "It would be my pleasure Mrs Harville."