First, apologies for the ridiculously long time it has taken me to upload any more new chapters, the only excuse I have is that it has been the summer holidays and the kids have been at home. As they are now back I am hoping to be more constant! Second, thank you thank you thank you for all the lovely reviews. I am so glad you are enjoying this twist on the original. And third, as I have been away so long, please enjoy a nice long chapter to keep you going while I finish editing the next ...
Chapter Thirty One
The moment the affianced couple re-entered the dining room all conversations ceased and an overwhelmingly loud silence hung in the air surrounding them. Frederick inhaled the smells coming from the galley and felt his stomach groan. He had not eaten for several hours having not thought on it while he was busy, and being too enthralled on his journey back to Anne to stop, he was now famished. But he could not even begin to think about eating until all the unrest had been put to bed.
Harville was the first to rise but as he opened his mouth to speak, the Musgroves' beat him to it; Mr and Mrs overpowering the couple in full throttle, wanting to know: 'just what the Captain had meant by the term betrothed? Surely he could not mean they were engaged, when had all the courting taken place? Was he the reason Anne had refused Charles? Did her family know? Was that where he had been?'
"Please, please, Mr and Mrs Musgrove, if you would permit me to explain I feel I can put all your worries at ease." He looked at Anne who was chewing her bottom lip nervously and whose eyes flitted around the room at their friends guiltily. He would not have her feeling disquieted for something that was of his making. He had been wrong to leave her behind with no knowledge of his plans. She would have least been more prepared. The Musgrove's were staring at him expectantly, so, choosing his words carefully, he began. "I have asked Miss Anne to be my wife, and she has consented. Therefore in answer to your first question: we are betrothed." He looked at Anne once more to find her blushing and a sweet smile arose her lips before she quickly hid it behind her napkin. He felt himself warm inside. She wasn't angry with him after all.
"And in answer to my question Captain?" Mrs Musgrove rose. "Just how long has this understanding been in place?"
Wentworth could sense the concern in her voice, but there was no contempt, she was simply looking out for her young companion and he had to appreciate that.
"Since this morning," he answered, at the exact same time Anne replied: "two years and a half ago."
The majority of the party who were not aware of the couple's history, sat once more with their mouths agape and surprised expressions on their faces.
Mrs Musgrove recovered first shaking her head, "I do not understand. Which is it?"
Frederick took a deep breath in, letting it out slowly, knowing he would need all his inner strength for the next confession. "I first met Miss Anne almost three years ago when I last visited my brother. We," it was his turn to blush as just thinking of that first attraction and all those stolen moments together flashed before his eyes. "We were in each-other's company frequently and before long I found myself asking this wonderful young lady for her hand." Anne eyes met his then, clear and bright, it gave him the strength to continue. "We were engaged for only a few days when we were forced apart by … by means beyond our control." he said tactfully, not wanting to besmirch his father-in-law before he had had the chance to ask for his blessing. "I left, and took up my position on the Asp." He looked at Harville and Benwick who were nodding knowingly. "I had thought my chance to be gone, that Miss Anne would be married upon my return. Fortunately, surprisingly, I found she was still single, and that our feelings had remained unchanged. This morning when you Mrs Musgrove asked about me having a wife and life with her aboard the ship, I could not hold back any longer. I offered again and was made tremendously happy a second time."
"So Charles…" Mr Musgrove looked at his son who was sitting composed but uncomfortably.
"I did not mean to cause Charles any upset, if it was felt, then it was unconsciously done." Frederick declared solemnly. "I consider him a good friend."
"There was no upset." Charles looked at Frederick and Anne in turn before settling on his parents. "Anne confessed her story to me, and I have been aware of their attachment for the past few days. It was I who suggested this trip so that they be given the chance to rekindle their feelings."
"Oh Charles." Anne went to him and held his hands. "You will make someone a very good husband, and if the situation had been different, if I had never met Captain Wentworth, then I do believe we would have been happy. As it is, I wish to go forward with you as one of my closest friends."
"You owe me nothing Anne, you are one of my closet friends and I can see how you and Frederick are together, you are meant to be. I wish to find that for myself."
"Oh how wonderful." gushed Mrs Harville.
"Well then I suppose we should offer our congratulations to the happy couple." rounded up Harville.
One by one their party agreed, and each stepped forward with their own blessings and good wishes. The Musgroves' still had unanswered questions and Frederick knew they would need answering, but for the moment the meal needed eating.
After dinner, throughout which they were both peppered with questions relating to their shared past and what had transpired since they were reunited, Frederick addressed their friends' remaining concerns. "I am yet to meet with Sir Walter, however as Anne is now of age, it is more a matter of blessing than permission."
"We will be married." Anne said aloud although more to herself than the room.
He leant across the table and squeezed her hand, not caring about propriety. "Yes we shall."
"But when?" asked Captain Benwick.
Frederick reluctantly let go of Anne's hand and sat up wiping his mouth on the cloth and signalling for the men to take away the empty dishes. "That has everything to do with my absence before dinner." When they once again alone he continued. "Today I rode for London. Whitehall to be exact. I went with the mind of exacting permission from my senior officers for my wife to travel with me – as soon as we can be married. In the end I was able to obtain the approval and much more. It seems my brother by marriage, Admiral Croft, has friends in high places. We have been promised a special licence. Meaning we can marry without the need for banns, meaning we can be married in the next few days – before I leave. So that we shall leave together."
"Oh Miss Anne." squealed Mrs Musgrove now enthralled in the wedding plans and the romance of it all. "How exciting, and yet so worrisome for us all now that you will be away from us and who knows when we shall see you again. My, who will play my piano?"
"I am sure Mary would be happy to come and keep you company Mrs Musgrove." Anne suggested.
Mrs Musgrove wrinkled her nose before catching Anne's pointed stare at Charles. Understanding the intent but still not liking it as an alternative, she smiled. "I suppose it is all we can hope for now."
While Anne spoke with Mrs Musgrove, Frederick was having his own talks with his men. Benwick and Harville had already grasped they would be needed to bring their Captain's plan to fruition and were ready and willing as ever to do what was needed. "I will be absent more than I should like in the lead up to us leaving. I will not be here to oversee everything as usual." He sighed, "I will need to rely on my best men to get things done."
"You can rest assured we will get the job done sir."
"Aye-Aye Captain." Benwick added.
Frederick smiled. "Thank you men, I will need to travel back with Miss Anne to Kellynch to speak with her family, and then there will be the marriage ceremony to arrange. I doubt we will have much of a wedding breakfast before we shall be back here and ready for the off." He stated as a matter of fact.
"If I may interrupt?" Mrs Harville spoke up, earning a cautionary glance from her husband.
"My dear," Harville replied, "we need to help Captain Wentworth prepare-"
"And what of Miss Anne's preparations?" Mrs Harville commanded regardless of her husband.
"Preparations?" The men all said at once.
"Yes her preparations. She is to be a married lady, leaving her home and friends for the first time and coming to live on a ship. Do you not think she may be in need of her own preparations?"
While Harville tried unsuccessfully to quieten his wife, Frederick simply smiled. "What do you suggest Mrs Harville?"
She smiled triumphantly at her husband before turning her attention back to the Captain. "I have heard mention of her father, is she close to her mother?"
Frederick frowned, "Alas, her mother passed when she was only fourteen."
"The poor dear, sisters?"
"Yes two, but I hardly think they will be any help to her they are … they are very young." In mind if not both in age. He added silently.
"Does she not have any close friends who could help her?" she looked over at Mrs Musgrove.
"She does have one." he sighed. "Her god mother. A Lady Russel." he ground out.
"You do not approve?"
"We do not get on."
"Well she will be in need of someone to assist her." Mrs Harville commented.
"Can I not be of help?"
"Not for all things no. A lady of Miss Anne status will have certain requirements. Her trousseau for example."
"She does not need to worry about such things. I will be her husband, I will buy her anything she needs."
"And that is very admiral of you sir, but she will require them none then less. She will already be overwhelmed at the thought of coming to a ship mainly filled with men, of which her husband will be in command, she will not wish to bother you with buying her clothes as well." Mrs Harville wrinkled her nose, "besides it is not proper for the betrothed to purchase such … items… for his young fiancée." she finished.
Frederick thought on this, he had not given her trousseau a thought at all, he could see Mrs Harville's point, there were certain things he would not be able to buy for her - nor should he – he wanted them to be seen as proper as any couple of her standing, for her sake at least.
"What about a maid?"
"A what?" he said startled out of his pondering.
Mrs Harville smiled, "Miss Anne will require a ladies maid."
"She will?"
"Sir you cannot imagine your shipman-come-valet will be able to assist her in dressing." the woman chuckled.
All the men blushed and the two who were not Miss Anne's future husband looked away. "No, she will certainly need a maid." Frederick agreed.
"And you have, how long in order to organise these things?" Benwick asked.
"A few days." said Frederick wearily. Suddenly very fatigued.
"I can help." said Mrs Harville kindly. "I may not know about employing a maid for a lady of the upper classes, but I know where one can be found and which are best. I will see to about making enquiries in to a maid. Someone local perhaps?"
"Nancy!" Frederick exclaimed.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Nancy, young Carter's sister. She helped out last night, she was saying how she needed the work. I bet if we were to ask her she would jump at the chance to travel."
"Has she much experience?"
"No, but she and Anne got on fast and that's good enough for me. It's not like we will be dining with The Ton every night."
"I will speak to Miss Anne and if she is agreeable, and you can write down your terms, I will arrange everything else."
"Thank you Mrs Harville." he shook her hand before turning to her husband. "You have been very lucky Harville." The lady blushed and Harville grinned. "My sister has expressed an urge to see me before I leave, I will bring Anne, and Sophia will be able to offer her advice on life at sea for the Captains wife."
"That is a good idea."
"The other matter, we shall deal with in Kellynch." Frederick frowned then, knowing their trip back would mean discussions with Lady Russel. As Anne's God Mother she would no doubt take on the role usually performed by the mother of the bride. As much as he did not doubt Anne's loves for him -and her age made all the difference- he could not help but worry once Lady Russel learned of their engagement, she would not attempt to destroy it.