Chapter Thirty

Anne didn't know whether to laugh, cry or shout at Frederick to let her go, as he pulled them from the dining room and the startled guests, in to the galley behind. The two sailors who were preparing their meal looked at the intrusion in shock. With one brisk nod of Captain Wentworth's head the two men quickly vacated the room leaving them alone. Anne felt her entire body begin to shake with anticipation and saw that Frederick was shaking too. "Forgive me." he panted before drawing her to him, holding her hands tightly in his and kissing her palms. "I wanted to be here when you arrived but I could not get back quick enough."

"Back from where?"

"London."

"London!"

"Whitehall to be exact."

Anne had a hopeful thought she knew where this was going; he had asked for permission for her to travel with him and judging by his dramatic entrance and exit with her, she could only hope it was good news. "And?" she looked at him eager to know their fate.

"And my brother-in-law Admiral Croft." Anne gaped at him and he nodded in recognition. "Yes he is an Admiral now. He has friends in high places it seems, and he called in some favours, and-"

"And?" Anne prompted him as her impatience grew.

"And." He smiled. "Mrs Wentworth will be welcome aboard the Laconia or any other vessel her husband is lucky enough to command, providing it can accommodate her comfortably and safely." he finished, beaming. Anne's eyes filled with tears. "What is it Anne? Are you angry with me? Did you not wish to travel with me? I can change it, we can find somewhere for you stay while I return if you would rather-"

"No! No!" she found her voice. "I am happy. Exceedingly so. I am speechless. I cannot believe all my hopes are actually coming true." She looked up at him with such love in her eyes, he took a step back to centre himself. "All because of you."

Frederick wanted to tell her how much he loved her and wanted her to be happy, and that the recent events were nothing. But at the sound of impatient curious voices outside he knew he had limited time left. "There is more."

"There is?"

"Yes. The Admiral's friend is also friends with the Bishop; a lot more friendly than your father is with him. Lord Greenwood has already written to him requesting he grant us a licence. Meaning we can be married as soon as we can arrange it."

He looked at her carefully, attempting to gauge her reaction to the news, when she flung herself towards him holding on to his arms for support. "Oh Frederick. This is the best news of all. We shall be married and I shall be your wife and I shall sail with you aboard the Laconia just like we always planned."

Wentworth was taken aback once more, the Anne Elliot he knew was always reserved and conscious of everyone and everything around as to not let her guard down easily. It had taken only a few conversations alone with her in the year six for her to let that guard down and relax around him, but since he returned he had seen her erect those walls once more and he had envisioned it taking a lot longer to break them down this time. Yet here she was showing all of her vulnerability and how at ease with him she was. She trusted him and for that he felt a great deal of responsibility towards her happiness. Even more than being her husband. He thought of the other guests just beyond the door who would never have seen this side of her, and likely never would, in some ways that saddened him, it was not fair they would go on thinking of Anne as only a wall flower happy to blend into the back ground rather than be centre of attention like her sisters. However, at the same time he was grateful for it, it was just another thing that would be between the two of them only, a private thing between a husband and a wife.

"Anne as much as I love having you in my arms, we must speak of serious matters and I cannot do so with you so close to me." She pulled away suddenly, looking scolded and he frowned before pulling her back to him and kissing her softly. It was not as passionate as their kiss that morning, but enough for her to know he still loved her and would like nothing more than to hold her all day long.

When they broke apart she was breathless but smiling. "So what serious matters do we need to attend to? Other than eating the dinner that is currently going cold." she teased.

"Well acquiring a licence is only the first step, I still need to inform your father. Meeting with him would be better, we must return you to Kellynch so that you make peace with your family after what I am sure will be an eventful reunion." He raised his eyebrows. "I must say my goodbyes to Edward and return here to oversee the final preparations and make arrangements for you on board. Then there's the wedding itself, and a visit to the Crofts who long to meet you, and your packing."

Anne sighed heavily. "It seems we have a great deal to accomplish in a short space of time." she said wistfully and then she beamed. "But it shall be nothing when we are together and shall be together for the rest of our lives after these next few days."

He smiled warmly in response. "No. I dare say it will not." He took her hand in his, "so, are we ready to put our friends out of their misery and let them in on our secret?"

Anne blushed. "I rather think you did that when you referred to me as your betrothed."

"I did not. Did I?"

"You did. I did not mind but I think that means the cat is already out of the bag as they say. We need only confirm what they heard and ask them to congratulate us."

"This is wrong, I should have spoken to your father first."

Anne wrinkled her nose and shook her head. "You spoke to him in the year six, he has known about our love for a lot longer than any of the people out there." she reasoned.

"I wish I could say your reasoning will work when he discovers others knew before him, but as you say it is too late now. We can simply enjoy a night of celebrations with our friends and then face your relations later."

"That does sound rather nice." she admitted and began to move towards the door when he stopped her.

"Annie, just promise me one thing, if all this becomes too much, if you change your mind about marrying me or-"

Anne put her hand up to his lips silencing him at once. She shook her head, "I will not change my mind. When we were attached the first time I was persuaded to give you up, but that was on the side of safety. Despite it only being two and half years ago, my age was so different, I was not of age and when I yielded I thought it was to duty, but no duty can be called in aid now. You have more than yourself to recommend you and I will no longer be influenced by others. I want to marry you Frederick; for you to be my husband. I am not afraid or anxious, the only nerves I have are of excitement and wanting the time to move by even more quickly." She looked at him, hoping her confession would reassure him, but she could see the storm in his eyes, he was still not convinced. "I know you think I will miss my family and friends, and maybe sometimes I shall, but I have missed you every moment of every day for nearly three years, and to be with you is more important to me now. I will always love my family, but I love you in a different way, one that makes being near you and having you in my life a necessity a likened to breathing. I feel like I have just woken from a deep sleep, everything seems fresh and new. I look forward to our future. I am not afraid of it." And to prove her words she went up on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. Whispering in his ear, "I need you Frederick, you make my heart whole again."

Frederick could not speak or move after her speech, such a speech, such words that made him; a grown man who had been to war, stop and swallow against the lump forming in his throat. What did he do to deserve this wonderful creature? He would spend the rest of his life trying to be deserved of her. Her admission had shattered all the doubt he had left inside him. He vowed from now on out to enjoy the few days they would have of being engaged and then the rest of his life in married bliss as Anne's husband. He straightened his back and shoulders, more proud then he had been in Lord Greenwood's office. "Come my dear, let us keep our friends waiting no longer."