Chapter Seventeen
The maid arrived, drawing Frederick's attentions and putting an end to Charles and Anne's conversation. The Captain attempted several times to draw Anne into discussion, or the very least her gaze, but he failed and as Mrs Musgrove appeared he was beginning to feel at a loss.
"Miss Anne. I am so sorry to have kept you waiting, shall we go through to my sitting room?" Anne nodded her agreeance and followed the lady out.
Mr Musgrove had gone to find his son Richard, so that they could speak to Captain Wentworth, leaving the other two men alone. Frederick spoke first, conscious of how little time he now had. "Does Miss Anne appear to you out of sorts today?"
"Out of sorts?" Charles looked towards the parlour. "No, not in my opinion. She is quite well as usual."
Frederick frowned.
"Although," continued Charles. "She has mentioned you two quarrelled."
"Quarrelled?"
"Last night?" Charles was conscious he was piecing together the snippets of information he had, and that he could in fact be completely incorrect, but he had to learn more to help them. "She said you were not on speaking terms today."
Frederick cursed under his breath. "What am I to do?"
"I do no claim to know what is between you, or what has passed or what there is to come, but I do know time is a great healer. Maybe if you leave her for a while, things will right themselves."
Frederick grunted. "Time is the only thing I do not have at my disposal. Just this morning I received a reminder I should already be inspecting the Laconia and overseeing the preparations." Charles was gaping at him vacantly. "Musgrove?"
"I do believe I have just had the most marvellous thought."
"About?" Frederick sighed.
"About how you can spend more time with Miss Anne while not neglecting your Captain duties."
Suddenly the Captains attention was very much on Charles begging him to continue.
"Father wishes for Dick to join the Navy, but ma'ma has concerns about the lifestyle. Well what could put her mind at rest more, than a visit to the Laconia? You can inspect the ship and give my parents and brother an insight into life in the navy."
"That is all well and good Charles, but I fail to see how this would help me spend more time with Miss Anne."
He smiled widely, "we invite her along of course!"
Frederick shook his head as if he had not quite heard him properly. "Invite her along? Charles we both know it will be impossible. The impropriety for one-"
"She will be my mother's companion, what can be improper in that?"
"Her family will not allow it."
"Most probably not, but you forget my friend, in the two years and a half that have gone by since you were last here, Anne has become of age. If she is invited somewhere and wishes to go, who is to forbid her?"
"And that brings me to along to my next point. Given what she has told you this morning and my own impression of her during our short time together today, she will not wish to go."
"Well then, we must persuade her!" Charles said enthusiastically. Frederick only frowned, full of pessimism. Charles would hear nothing of it. "Trust me sir, it is a good plan."
"What is a good plan?" asked Mr Musgrove upon re-entering the room.
Frederick watched as the younger Musgrove told the older of his intentions. He seemed as excited by it as his son, and was also determined Miss Anne should go as a thank you for all her help to Mrs Musgrove. Although Charles had not told his father why it was imperative she should go, he had made it obvious she was the most sensible companion for Mrs Musgrove. Musgrove senior quickly called for his wife and Miss Anne.
Charles winked at Frederick as the latter went to stand back by the window. He did not want to put added pressure on her by sitting and staring. He waited while the Musgrove men had explained their plan to the matriarch and then turned away while they invited Miss Anne along. He heard her sharp intake of breath and longed to see her face. Resisting no more, he quickly turned his head and caught her gaze; her wide brown eyes were directed at him, "It is a lovely thought Mr Musgrove but I-"
Frederick turned away again, irritated at himself for raising his own hopes unwittingly.
"Before you refuse Miss Anne, you should know we will take care of everything; transport, lodgings, you will be our guest."
"That is very kind of you both, but-"
"Oh please say you will come Miss Anne, I know nothing of all those ships, and you are always so knowledgeable with all the Navy things. Why I have lost count of the number of times I have seen you with your head bent over inspecting that tattered Navy list of yours." Mrs Musgrove rattled on. Frederick spun around at this new information. Mrs Musgrove saw him and went on, "why we even offered to send for another one for her, it was so well worn but Miss Anne would hear nothing of it choosing instead to hang on to that little pamphlet as if it were some long lost treasure."
The kind lady could have no knowledge of how much embarrassment her words were bringing to Anne. She needed to look at Frederick, and at the same time was scared to, in fear of him guessing the truth. She finally met his eyes and found herself locked in the familiar trance, he was pleading with her to say yes; silently asking for more time. She felt herself nodding. "Very well. Thank you. I would very much like to accompany you." Once she had agreed and more plans were made, Anne stood. "Now I must be going home." she said softly, thanking the Musgroves' and nodding towards Captain Wentworth, she made her escape.
Frederick's eyes followed her through the door and immediately he knew he should go after her. "I am headed home too Mrs Musgrove. I must make arrangements of my own and let my men know I will be attending inspection and bringing company."
"Very well Captain. Good day to you sir."
After his own goodbyes, Frederick was finally free of the house and able to quicken his step. He wished to catch Anne before she got far and in sight of Kellynch. "Miss Elliot." he panted as he caught up with her, matching her small stride. Anne had heard his approach. She knew it could only be him, and yet she dare not turn and acknowledge the fact. She stopped. He could not read her expression sideways on, but he suspected she did not look pleased to see him. He frowned as she turned to face him and he discovered his suspicions were correct.
"Captain, why are you following me?"
"I needed to speak with you, about this trip to see the Laconia. You have to know, it was not my idea." He thought he saw a glimmer of disappointment in her eyes. "I mean, I would like nothing more than for you to see her, but I did not wish for you to think you have been placed in an impossible position. The Musgroves'- as nice as they are- are a little demanding." He half smiled. "What I am attempting, rather badly, to convey, is that I should not want you to feel as if you have no choice. If you do not wish to attend, you can say no. It is your decision." He said the last few words with such conviction she could only conclude he was thinking back on another decision which was hers to make.
"I should like to go." she confessed.
His face melted into a grin. "You would?"
"Well I have travelled so little, any fresh place is of interest to me."
"Oh," his grin lessened. "Oh I see."
"I have especially longed to see the port and all the ships. It would be equally enjoyable to see the Laconia."
The grin returned. "You could bring your Navy listing and improve your knowledge." he told her. She blushed and he thought her very pretty in the early morning light, a pink tint to her cheeks. She looked more like she had back then. "What will you tell your family?" He said gravely and her smile faltered.
"That the Musgroves are planning a trip and they have invited me to accompany them."
"You will say nothing of my being there, or that it is my ship you are going to see?" His irritability was returning.
"No." she admitted.
"Am I allowed to ask why?" he said angrily. "Is it because they still have control over you? Or because you are ashamed to be affiliated with me?"
"Neither!" she exclaimed. He stood back stunned at her outburst. It appeared Anne Elliot had the confidence to put at least one person in their place, it was just a pity it was him. She sighed. "If I tell them you will be there, it will only start a ridiculous line of interrogation and end in me being forbidden to go."
"You are of age, you do not need their permission."
"I am still part of the family and do not wish to return to an animosity filled home."
Frederick opened his mouth to argue further but a look from Anne quickly quietened him. "So you are not ashamed to be seen with a lowly Captain."
Anne smiled warmly. 'I would be proud' she uttered silently. "Most certainly not." she told him.
"May I be honest with you?" he asked
"I would not want you to be dishonest with me."
"I never could." His answer smacked of bitterness again, he had remembered her parting words to him in the year six. He had demanded she tell him the truth; to admit that she had never loved him, she had cried that she had never been dishonest with him – she never could- and yet she had agreed to be his wife and there she was telling him the engagement was off. What else was he to think?
"Captain?"
Her voice brought him back to the present. "I am glad you are coming along." he admitted. "I find I dearly wish for you to see that part of my life. We talked of it so often in the past."
She looked away embarrassed by the memory. "Well if we are being honest, I should tell you I am overjoyed at the prospect. I have often imagined what that life would be like." His eyes flew to hers surprised at her declaration and in recognition, they both blushed.
They stood for a few minutes more discussing their impending trip and Richard Musgrove's chances of making a man of himself in the Navy. Then it was time for them to say their goodbyes. Frederick had some urgent letters to send and Anne had the awkward task of telling her family where she would be spending the next few days.