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Thanks Miriam1 for all your help.

000

Frederick stood near the swimming pool. He had tried to refuse – in fact he had refused thrice – but Sophy was having none of it. Frederick had to attend the impromptu gathering or she would stay in with him.

So, Frederick was forced to mix and mingle with 'real' people, as Sophy was calling it. He didn't understand why she was always making him go out. He had friends, okay one real friend, Harry, but surely that was plenty and he'd just been staying with Harry and his family for the past few weeks.

He had a home, a flat, in London, one that he'd just bought. Before buying that flat he'd been living in long stay hotels, refusing to put down roots. It was easier for him, because when he was researching a character he tended to immerse himself fully into the character's life, and so he was constantly moving from one place to another, in addition to the various book signings and promotional events which required his being on the move.

Two months ago, however, Frederick had begun a new story centered around a young female police sergeant. It was outside his normal range; he usually wrote about fantastical beings set in a fictitious world, but it had come to him one day as he was watching Miss Marple film adaptation on TV and he'd quickly pulled out his tablet, and began to see Melinda Sett come alive before him. He had tried to put off the visits to the Harvilles and his sister, citing the new book and new flat but both Harry and Sophy had refused to accept his reasons, so he'd spent a week with the Harvilles and was set to spend at least six weeks with Sophy and Rick in Bishops Lydeard.

"You're supposed to be mixing with the other guests."

Frederick looked up and saw Rick standing next to him.

"I just needed a few minutes alone," Frederick said.

"It's good you had those," Rick said, "because I have it on good authority that that's about to change."

"What do you mean?"

Before Rick could answer, Frederick saw two young women, girls really, half-running towards them.

"I can't believe it," one, a blond, said.

"I honestly thought Charles was having us on," the other, black-haired, answered.

"You're really him, aren't you?" the blond girl asked him. "You're FJ Wentworth."

Frederick smiled at her. "Frederick, please."

"I love you," the blond girl continued. "I really do. You're an absolute genius."

"Thank you." Frederick was blushing inspite of himself.

Charles Musgrove, whom he'd met earlier, joined them and introduced the girls. "These are my little sisters, Louisa and Henrietta."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Frederick told them.

"Enid is such a great character," Louisa told him, "most of my friends think she's conniving, but I love her."

"Yes," Henrietta agreed, "Enid is a very well written character."

"Thank you," Frederick said again.

"You must have based her on someone," Louisa said, "she's too good not to be based on someone real."

Frederick shook his head but didn't answer. It was a question he'd been asked many times before. Enid Thatchit was one of the main characters in four of his books, a very cunning and exasperating woman who did whatever was necessary, although sometimes not necessary, to get things done. The Thatchits were one family among survivors on a deserted continent that was overrun with pirates and overlords who were trying to take over the planet. Enid was the middle child in the family of three who used her wits and whatever else was available to save them; most of her methods were underhand unlike her sisters'. He'd never admitted it to anyone, not that they'd ever asked, but Enid was modeled on Anne Elliot. He had done it as a means to get her out of his system and he'd thought that no one would like her at all, but his editor had loved her and almost everyone who read the Ergoen series loved Enid Thatchit.

"Enid's great," Henrietta argued, "but Simone's better."

The sisters turned to each other. "You only say that because Simone's pretty," Louisa argued, "but everybody knows that Enid's the star."

"The books are about the Thatchits," Henrietta said, "but Enid gets more time, so we get to know more about her and understand her motives, but that doesn't make her better." She turned to Frederick. "Obviously you like Enid, but have you ever considered writing a series about Simone Thatchit?"

"No," Frederick shook his head. Angela, his editor, had asked him that once but Frederick had refused to even consider it. He was getting tired of Ergoen with all its battles for water, zinc and manganese oxide, which they needed to survive, which is why he was excited about his new character.

"But we'll get to see Simone and Archibald finally getting married, won't we?" Henrietta asked.

Frederick had introduced Archibald Mohan in second book and he'd fully intended to have him killed by the end of it but somehow, like it sometimes happened, Archibald had taken on a life of his own and had refused to die, and now two books later Archibald was as well-loved as Enid, even more so, although he was supposed to be the villain of the book.

"Who cares about Archibald?" Louisa asked her sister. "Raventell's the man; we should have a happy ending for Raventell and Enid."

"Girls," Charles interrupted his sisters who looked like they would come to blows over it, "why don't we leave the book writing to Frederick and wait for his next book?"

"Yes," Louisa smiled at him, "I heard that you're giving the Ergoen series a rest but that can't be true, can it?"

Frederick turned to Louisa, fully prepared to tell her that he was taking a break, that he wanted to write something new but he saw Anne Elliot standing by herself holding a drink in one hand.

He stared at her and couldn't remember what he had been going to say. She was wearing dark blue jeans with a white top that seemed to be floating around her body. Her hair was loose, falling softly to her shoulders in curls and waves, and he couldn't remember ever having seen anything as beautiful as her in his life.

She caught his eye and quickly looked away. Frederick bit his lip and turned to Louisa; she was holding onto his arm and he didn't know how that had happened. Usually, Frederick didn't like to be touched, but instead of pushing her away gently like he usually did, he smiled at her instead.

"You're really taking a break, aren't you?" she asked him.

"Yes," Frederick replied, "I figured it was time to take a break, to recharge the old batteries."

Sophy walked over to join them with Anne in tow.

"I know you said you met earlier," Sophy said, "when Anne picked you up but now you can be properly introduced. Frederick, this is Anne Elliot. Anne, my brother, Frederick Wentworth."

Frederick and Anne smiled tightly at each other.

"He's FJ Wentworth," Louisa added. "Can you believe it?"

"Yes," Anne replied. She knew exactly who Frederick Wentworth was.

"I can't believe you didn't tell us that your brother was FJ Wentworth," Louisa told Sophy.

Sophy smiled at the younger girl; Louisa and Henrietta had only arrived the evening before, and they'd only met Sophy and Rick that evening.

"So, you're here just to take a break?" Henrietta asked, "you're not writing another book?"

"I'm on holiday," Frederick replied, "and besides, according to Sophy, it's time I got out of the fantasy world I created and lived in the real world."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Sophy asked him.

"Why not?" Frederick laughed. "Now's as good a time as any."

"Frederick, be serious," his sister begged him.

"I'm serious," Frederick replied, "I do believe you were right, Sophy, it's time I settled down."

Sophy hugged her brother. "You don't know how happy I am to hear this. So, do you have anyone in mind?"

Frederick couldn't help himself, he stole a glance at Anne; she was staring into her glass. "No, no," he forced a laugh, "any woman of marriageable age, with a great smile and a few compliments for my work will do; I'm just a humble writer and I don't have any demands of any sort, and certainly I have no right expect any more than that."

"No right to expect anymore," Rick laughed. "What utter nonsense."

"My dear," Sophy said, "I've only been here a little while but I'll see what I can do about finding you a wife."

Louisa and Henrietta laughed.

"What's this I hear about finding a wife?" Mary asked. She'd been in the kitchen finishing up some work, but now she joined the group. "What did I miss?"

"Frederick's getting married," Charles told her.

"Congratulations," Mary told Frederick. "Is she anyone we know?"

"He doesn't know yet," Charles said.

"I see," Mary nodded. Now that Frederick Wentworth was available and in need of a wife, maybe she could convince Henrietta to give up her foolish idea of wanting to marry Chuck Hayter. She had never understood what Henrietta saw in him; he was a youth pastor at a nearby Baptist church. A pastor. He certainly wasn't good enough for anyone related to the Elliots, and she had told her husband so on numerous occasions. Charles had never taken her arguments seriously, but now that another man, and one as successful as FJ Wentworth was in the vicinity, she was going to make Henrietta see some sense.

000

Anne hadn't wanted to join in the impromptu gathering that evening, but it had been better than staying in the house with Elizabeth and Frances who had opted not to join the others – they were going to catch up on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" instead. Her father and Mrs. Russell had driven into town for the evening.

She had stood at the periphery watching Frederick stand by himself and wondered at it. He had been shy and withdrawn when she had known him, but she'd thought that success would have made him more outgoing. She had thought of joining him, but she doubted that he would have welcomed her company – he hadn't been happy to see her earlier that day.

Louisa and Henrietta joined him and although she couldn't really hear what they were saying, she knew that they were discussing his novels. Louisa had been so excited to hear that FJ Wentworth had come to spend the summer with his sister. She loved his work, she reminded Anne, and she knew that she could offer him some inspiration for his next books.

When Sophy had joined her and insisted on introducing her to Frederick. Anne had reminded her that she'd already met him, but there was no refusing Sophy; she would make sure Anne and Frederick were properly introduced.

Anne's heart stopped for a millisecond and then went to thunder murderously when Frederick said that he was looking for a wife, and that anyone would do, she could feel his gaze on her but refused to look up. When she finally looked up she found Frederick and Louisa smiling at each other. She must have missed a bit of the conversation because suddenly she saw Louisa laughing hard, resting her hand on Frederick's chest.

000

As Anne prepared herself for bed later that evening she pulled out diary. It was such an outdated practice, keeping a diary; moreover at her age, but she consoled herself because she hadn't written in it in years. Today, however, she would write something. She needed to write something.

Dear diary, she wrote, I saw him again today. I must confess I never thought we would meet again. I thought I was over him. I am not over him. What am I going to do?

000