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To the reviewers: Everyday Clumsy - I agree, they are fantastic characters; Rachetg - Thanks! The answers lie within; Weave the magic - They are rather bull-headed in my story :) Must she?... ; Honey4020 - Your wish has come true; AustenFan - Ekk, I'll check that out, thanks! ElisaK - Thank you! I'm glad you are enjoying it; Alyslee - an update has arrived!; Obstinate Headstrong Girl - Thanks! DeedeeHDG - A longer one for you; ebfiddler - You'll find out XD and Guest KL - I always hate it when I manage to delete what I've written! Thanks for your comments, in friendship works :D
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Last chapter:
'I have been picking flowers for quite some time, so I had best return to Uppercross, thank you again for your kind offer, Mrs Croft, I do appreciate it most sincerely. I hope you enjoy your walk home, good day,' Miss Anne said with a curtsey.
'Good day, Miss Anne,' Sophia replied quietly as she watched Miss Anne disappear onto a side path she had eyed earlier.
It was a few days later that Sophia received a note from Miss Anne who was once more thanking her for the generous offer of a seat in their carriage to Bath, but advising that Lady Russell would take her to Bath as initially planned.
Two days later Sophia, the Admiral, and Frederick were on their way to the Musgroves for dinner and to take their own leave from the area: the frequent shooting trips having made the Admiral's gout worse and the doctor had suggested the healing waters of Bath. Edward and Catherine had left for their own parish earlier that day, so right now she was listening to the Miss Musgrove ladies.
'We shall be quite bereaved without your company, Captain Wentworth!' Miss Louisa said sweetly.
'I am sure such intelligent ladies as yourselves will quickly find alternate things to do than keep a boring Captain entertained,' Frederick replied genially.
The ladies laughed in response and then Miss Louisa's face lit up. 'Mama, do you not think we should go to Bath to order Henrietta's wedding clothes?'
Miss Musgrove and Mrs Charles immediately clapped their hands together and exclaimed that it was an excellent idea and certainly necessary. Sophia paused as she was taking a sip of her drink when she noticed Mr Musgrove and Mrs Musgrove shared a knowing look as they agreed to the plan.
'There, I used my intelligence, Captain, to find something to ensure entertainment for us both, just as you suggested,' Miss Louisa said proudly.
Frederick looked mildly alarmed at the pointed comment and politely excused himself from the group to join Mr Charles and Mr Musgrove's discussion.
Miss Louisa's confused voice said, 'How strange the Captain is behaving today.'
'Captain Wentworth,' Sophia stressed, 'is foreseeing a conversation turn towards ladies clothes, no doubt, and is allowing us freedom to continue the discussion as ladies.'
'Oh, of course! He is such a considerate and clever gentleman,' Miss Louisa sighed.
Sophia cursed her brother, not for the first time, for being so amiable and then cursed herself for not being able to say a bad word about him. Miss Louisa was as enamoured as ever, hopefully the distractions of Bath would reduce that. She enjoyed her time with the Musgrove family very well, but given Miss Louisa's attachment to her brother, and her brother's feeling on the subject of said lady, she had no desire for them to become, or to try and become, family.
The carriage ride to Bath was long and unpleasant: the rain poured on the carriage with a constant thudding, the squelching sound of mud on each corner as they slid nauseatingly sideways, the smell of horses from outside, and the stuffy space of the interior vied all to be the issue Sophia most disliked.
By the time the coachman announced their imminent arrival, she was looking forward to the trip end with the anticipation she would feel when returning to England from a long sea voyage.
Once they had arrived in their new temporary home, the plans for the Admiral taking to the waters and general entertainment, began. They already had an engagement with the Musgroves in two days, however Sophia looked forward to having some freedom to see her naval acquaintances who were living in Bath.
The next morning, Sophia was walking down the busy street with the Admiral. The two were on the way to the waters for the Admiral.
As they discussed their navel friends in Bath, she spotted Miss Anne, Miss Elliot, and another lady walking with a gentleman towards them on the street.
'Mrs Croft, Admiral Croft, how lovely to see you both again,' Miss Anne began with a light curtsey that she and her husband returned with genuine smiles.
'Miss Anne, delightful to see you again. Miss Elliot, we are very happy to see you again too. I hope you are well?'
'Naturally, I thank you,' Miss Elliot replied with clear superiority, before glancing into the adjacent shop window.
Miss Anne blushed lightly and offered a pained smile. 'Please allow me to introduce you to Mrs Clay, my sister's companion while I have been visiting Mary-'
And still here despite your return, I see.
'and Mr Elliot, my father's heir.'
Mr Elliot eyed them calculatingly as Miss Anne finished the introductions. The man glanced at Miss Anne and when he returned to face them, a false smile was plastered on his face.
'Any friend of my dear cousin's, is a friend of mine.'
Sophia felt her hackles rise immediately at his glib introduction. She scanned his mourning clothes and watched as he angled his body towards Miss Anne.
Clearly not mourning too grievously.
'You are too kind, Mr Elliot. Please allow me to give you my condolences for your loss.'
He blinked for a moment, brow furrowed.
'Were you close?' she prompted.
'Mr Elliot is in mourning for his wife,' Miss Anne explained in the silence.
Mr Eliot jumped slightly and a pained look crossed his features, but the delay did not fool her.
'Yes, my darling wife, she was an excellent woman, and I will miss her. But I must look to the future to continue on, as much as it pains me to do so.'
Yes, clearly it pains you atrociously, she thought sarcastically, as he glanced towards Miss Anne's body.
'Cousin Elliot,' Miss Elliot interrupted, 'I see some slippers I quite admire, will you escort us into the store?'
'I am at your service, cousin,' he replied with a bow and excused himself. Mrs Clay gave a curtsey and scurried behind them, fawning over how excellently Miss Elliot's notice was.
'I do apologise, but I must attend with them. It was truly lovely to see you both again,' Miss Anne farewelled with a curtsey.
'Good day, Miss Anne,' the Admiral replied.
Sophia adding, 'I do hope to see you again soon.'
Miss Anne blushed lightly and then drifted away after the distancing group.
Sophia could see that the Admiral had taken an instant dislike to Mr Elliot and Mrs Clay, and Sophia knew why: the two reeked of the slick ability in pleasing others while angling for their own selfish motives. It was a trait that was easily distinguishable after been involved in the navy for so long: a profession which had its share of such creatures who were spotlighted shortly after a voyage began due to the harsh nature of sailing. A good leader was quick to identify and avoid signing on such people, it was unfortunate when the occasional ones slipped through the screening and actually made their way up the ladder: politicians got along with these creatures very well and once they had their attention, their ranking would skyrocket to the detriment of other worthy sailors.
With one last glance after the group, she saw Mr Elliot offering his arm to Miss Anne.
I do hope Miss Anne has not been taken in by the man's practised manners, for such a sheltered lady they would undoubtedly be hard to untangle. Sophia smiled as another thought occurred to her. Of course, Mr Elliot could be the most excellent catalyst I need for Frederick to finally listen to his heart, as this new man must be considered an eligible suitor for Miss Anne.
Sophia smiled when she saw Frederick enter the parlour.
'I heard the most interesting news about Miss Anne today, Frederick. I met her while she was walking with a Mr Elliot-'
Frederick gave her a baleful look.
'I must say I think he is rather fake, I am extremely glad that my years of observing so many different people on land and ship have given me the ability to realise it. I do hope that Miss Anne has realised his true nature, but given her limited society exposure I can't help but doubt it,' Sophia sighed. 'Anyway, I was thinking we should go to the theatre tomorrow night, will you join the Admiral and I?'
'It would be my pleasure to join you both.'
'Excellent, although having two men escorting me might become somewhat dull for me, a distinct lack of discussion on lace. Maybe I should invite a lady to join us and keep me company while you two discuss the deficiencies of the ship in the play.'
Frederick raised his brow in speculation and decided to head her off. 'I promise that while I cannot talk about lace, I will refrain from discussing the deficiencies of the ship.'
Sophia muffled her frustration and decided that enough was enough.
That's it! I'm done. He clearly wants to be miserable – hard-headed idiot. Why should I bother matching two foolish individuals when I can be having a much more enjoyable time talking with my friends! Perhaps later I will have the energy to try again, but right now, no more! He can jump off a boarding plank!
'No, I don't believe you. I will invite a lady to keep me company.'
'I daresay I can guess who you will choose,' Frederick said in a bitter voice.
Sophia narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips.
'If you guessed Mrs Partridge then you are correct,' she sniffed. 'I'm going to call on her now and see if she would like to join us. I wish you a good day, Frederick, I will see you at supper.' With that parting comment, Sophia left a shocked and disorientated brother behind as she called for a carriage to be prepared.
Sophia had glad she had chosen Mrs Partridge, the woman was a vault when it came to secrets and she was able to vent about the ridiculous situation her brother had created without fear of a word slipping out.
'I think you have chosen wisely, my dearest friend, just leave your brother to work out the situation, he will just fight you and his feeling if you try and push them together.'
'I know, and I am quite sick of being at odds with my brother and trying to manipulate things, I prefer to be honest and straight-forward.'
Mrs Partridge patted Sophia's hand and then offered a refill of tea, steering the topic to lace.
AN: Hope you enjoyed the update!