Chapter Thirty-four

The journey back to Kellynch should have been a chance for the newly engaged couple to share moments and discuss their plans, alas a sudden turn in the weather meant the carriage did not stop for luncheon like it had previously. Captain Wentworth thoroughly soaked and miserable, as much as he loved Anne, had to concentrate on getting to the Inn as soon as possible and getting dry before he fell too ill for the wedding. They stumbled into the Inn in Exeter a miserable party indeed. All tired just wanting their beds; the dinner they had was hasty and with Frederick sat between the Musgroves for the duration, he was unable to converse with his fiancée even then. They went each to their own chamber sorrowfully.

The trip from Exeter to Kellynch passed quickly as well. Although they were able to stop midway for a something to eat, Frederick to have a rest from riding and the others the chance to stretch their legs, Frederick's mood had taken such a sour direction that whatever Anne said in order to cheer him, seemed to fall on deaf ears. It became clear to her the closer they got to Kellynch the more distant he became. Anne would be pleased when they had spoken to her family and were done with it, perhaps when Frederick saw she meant every word she had said to him, he would finally realise she was on his side completely and wanted nothing more than to be his wife.

Upon arrival at Uppercross, Frederick had taken to pacing around agitatedly and muttering to himself. The Musgrove's cast repeated glances of concern at Anne but she only smiled attempting to assure them he was fine, while at the same time growing equally concerned for his state herself. Nancy could not believe she was witnessing the same man she had heard such stories about and had seen herself in command of his ship. She feared Sir Walter was a frightening man indeed if he caused a man like the usually imperturbable Captain to be so off kilter.

They left Frederick's horse with the Musgroves, and borrowed their carriage once more to carry Anne, the Captain and Nancy to Kellynch hall. Anne felt it best to go straight to the hall and not via the Lodge as she would rather speak to her closest advisors separately. She felt sure her father would see sense this time around and be grateful for Anne removing the burden of herself from his shoulders. She doubted her God Mother would see it quite so well.

She loved Lady Russel deeply, but although her advice last time was sound – she supposed- for the situation they were in and her age at the time, she now believed that in her shoes, she would have given entirely different advice to someone in the same position as she. Yes they may have been poor and Frederick may have taken longer to secure his future in the Navy, buy they would have had each other to lean on as they muddled through and she was sure their marriage would have been only the stronger for it. The more she saw of Frederick in front of his men, she also believed it would not have delayed his advancement as much as Lady Russel had suspected. Although she had forgiven her god mother long ago for her part in their parting, after all she did not actually tell Anne not to marry him, and Frederick had not fought for their union any more than she had, she still would not let her manipulate her into parting with him this time. If it came down to it, she would choose Frederick, although she dearly hoped it would not.

Before they re-embarked the carriage, Anne discreetly asked Nancy to give them a moment and she somewhat forcibly took her husband-to-be to one side. "Frederick, you must stop this."

"This what?"

"This pessimistic attitude, this stomping around and muttering to yourself, it is neither becoming of you nor any good for you. Whatever my father says to us in there, we shall be married, I do not know how many times I can say it before I convince you."

He exhaled in exasperation. "I find I cannot stand it Anne, the thought of coming so far – further than last time- and losing you all over again." She opened her mouth to contradict him once more when he continued. "I know you speak bravely of marrying me no matter what your family says, but I also know how close you are to them and how you respect their opinion. I do not want to be the reason you quarrel with them."

Anne sighed. "Frederick we may quarrel, and my family may refuse to speak to me ever again if I marry you, but I know they will come around. I know I will be given another chance with them. But with us, with you about to leave for war and no notion of when you shall return. With no guarantee that we will have a third chance, I will not risk losing you."

"You are sure?"

"I am certain."

He offered her half a smile that told her he was yet to be convinced and they climbed into the carriage.

Kellynch hall stood as great and impressive as it did when she had left it only a few days ago. Upon closer inspection though, Anne could see now what she had always been blind to before. The peeling paint, the crumbling walls and the un-kept gardens. Her father and Elizabeth were letting things slip and she suspected it was to do with the costs of the upkeep which was behind it. They would rather spend the money on themselves or extravagant food or the inside of the house they frequented so much. She thought once more of her hand in the economising and the tricks she had learnt to put money by so they could pay the staff and the bills, she doubted anyone else would go to such lengths after she was gone. It was doubtful there would even be a Kellynch hall to return to when she eventually came back from her travels.

She looked once more at the building, the coldness; the memories of her mother and her courtship with Frederick in the year six were the only fond memories she had left now. She would not miss the house. She loved her sisters and her father, and she would worry about them there without her to control their tempers and their spending, but she would not miss that house. It was no longer her home, and she realised for the first time, that her home was now with Frederick wherever he may be. And that thought made her smile.

Frederick had calmed a little since they spoke, but his body was still tense, and his cheeks lacked their usual colour. Nancy's colour was rapidly draining also as she took in the great stately home. Although Anne knew it was not as grand as some, to Nancy she presumed it looked positively monstrous. She took the girl's hand and tucked it in her arm. "Come Nancy I will introduce you to the house keeper and let her show you to my rooms, you can begin packing while we have our meeting and then I will join you."

Frederick looked at Anne raising an eyebrow. He was obviously not expecting her to finish packing, she suspected he assumed they would be flung from the house before then. She nodded at Nancy as the housekeeper came towards them, eager to welcome home Miss Anne. Although Anne did not share with her their news, the fact that Frederick was by her side and the addition of a new ladies' maid would surely give the housekeeper some idea. She was happy to show Nancy up to Anne's room and the ladies chatted as they went up the stairs.

Anne took a deep breath and asked the footman where they could find her father. He instructed them Sir Walter was in his study reading the baronetage – as was his usual past time at this time of day- and asked if he should announce the Captain. They both decided that was a bad idea, and Anne stormed ahead with Frederick closely behind her.

She opened the door slowly and peeked her head around until she saw her father sat at his desk the baronetage open in front of him. He was leaned back in his chair and his eyes were shut. She cleared her throat and his eyes snapped open. "Anne? You have returned, has it been three days already?"

Anne frowned at how she had been so poorly missed. "Yes father." she paused, eager to stay by the door behind which Frederick was lurking. "If you please Sir, we wish to speak to you."

"We?" Sir Walter's eyes widened.

"Yes. Captain Wentworth and I."

Frederick straightened his shoulders. He had worn his uniform on purpose, his Captain's stripes were newly acquired and sitting proud on his shoulder as he stepped in front of Anne. His height and broad shoulders would intimidate the frail man sitting behind the desk and so he puffed out his chest to emphasize the fact. Sir Walter for his part, only raised his eyes to the Captain briefly before letting them fall back to his book. "Oh yes, Wentworth and what can I do for you?"

He didn't look up to meet Frederick's eyes again, and that irked him immediately. He bristled before remembering this was Anne's father and she was stood just beside him. He walked towards the gentleman, his hat and gloves already removed and tucked beneath his arm. Anne held back towards the door, unsure if she should stay or leave. Were these meetings not always conducted in private between the groom and the father of the bride?

"You may recall Sir Walter, I have stood in this spot once before. In the year six, when I was just a lowly commander. I confessed to loving your middle daughter and informed you I wished to ask for her hand in marriage. You will recall, that although you did not refuse, you made it clear I was not worthy of her, and that you would have to give it some thought." Sir Walter finally looked up as if seeing Anne for the first time his eyes narrowed. Frederick was glad he at least had a notion of what this was all about. He was pleased he had kept control of his emotions and had not shown evidence of his temper in front of the other gentleman. He wanted to give him the respect he deserved as the father of the woman he wanted to marry, but he also expected to receive that same respect back in return.

"Yes. I recall you did not bother me again."

"No, Lady Russel gave Miss Anne some advice on your behalf, and she was compelled to give me up, our engagement broken, and I very disagreeably released."

Sir Walter snorted. "You were released from an engagement to a woman you now stand beside almost three years later. Tell me Captain Wentworth are there no other women on the earth for you to marry, you have had to come back for Anne? I presume that is what you are here for, to ask for my daughters' hand once more."

Frederick scowled and clenched his gloves rather than the old man's neck. "I have never forgotten Anne, nor have I ever met her equal. I love her Sir Walter, as I did in the year six, as I will for the rest of my life. But no, I am not here to ask for your permission to marry your daughter." He heard Anne quietly gasp beside him and he realised how it must sound to her. He quickly went to her side and took her hand in his. "I come here to tell you my intent to marry her within the se'night. She is of age, and the only person I require permission from. l have offered and she has accepted. Therefore, we shall be married. With or without your consent. I would like for you to be there to give Anne away, as I am sure she would dearly love. I do not wish to be at odds with you Sir Walter, we are to be family after all." He grinned, and then purposely looked down at the baronetage as the gravity of his statement dawned on Sir Walter and the man paled.

He turned to Anne. "You have already agreed to marry this man? Without first seeking the counsel of your dearest family?"

Anne raised her head and looked directly at her father never letting go of Frederick's hand as she stated simply: "Yes."

"And so, this is the thanks I get for raising you? For giving you a grand home. You run off with the first man who pays attention to you. A sailor with no title and no money."

"The man I love; the man who loves me." she said clearly.

Sir Walter snorted again. "Love, what good is love? Money, stability, advancement, these are what are needed from a marriage and for a second daughter of a baronet you should marry for money."

"I have enough money for Anne and myself to have a good life, and more to come in the future." Interrupted Frederick.

But Sir Walter ignored him looking only at Anne. "What of your gowns, hats and jewels, beautiful things for your home, wherever that shall be."

"Father you know I have no cares of such frivolities. I shall be happy in a small cottage somewhere, baking bread and making over my own dresses."

Sir Walter looked like he should faint and fell back into the chair. Frederick found the whole state rather comical that such a delightful sounding future could leave a grown man gasping for breath. Frederick knew as idyllic as that life sounded -and the fact Anne was prepared to live it, over joyous- he had enough put by along with his income to afford them a better state of life than that. Although he was yet ready to share that piece of information with Sir Walter, he would surprise Anne with it later when they were alone.

"The wedding will be next Monday."

Sir Walter seemed to recover smirking, "You cannot marry so soon without a licence from the bishop and I shall be loathed to introduce you."

"We have already acquired a licence."

"You would have me believe you, you, have seen the bishop and he has provided you with a special licence."

"And my superior offices have given permission for Mrs Wentworth to travel aboard my ship with me for as long as it is safe for her to do so." Frederick beamed at Anne.

At this Sir Walter turned green and mumbled incomprehensibly. They caught the odd phrase: 'daughter of a baronet living on a ship', 'the shame'. But Frederick was too busy trying to contain his happiness. She had sided with him. When it came down to it, and her father had given her a way out -she could have refuted Frederick's claims, released him for a second time- she had held fast and now he felt a bigger fool than ever for doubting her.

"I would like for you and my sisters to attend the wedding father, but I understand if you cannot bring yourself to witness our marriage. And I hope you understand that I shall be leaving with my husband directly after the wedding for our new home aboard the Laconia." With that she linked her arm through Frederick's and began moving towards the door. Frederick turned and issued a small bow. He would not forget his manners even if the other man had yet to even acknowledge his daughters parting statement.

Once outside, they both let out a long sigh of relief. Frederick longed to scoop her into his arms and kiss her until she knew how happy she made him and how proud he was of her. However, they still had the ultimate obstacle to overcome.

"I should go in and see to Nancy, but I think if we do not go now to Lady Russel's she may find out another way and we will not be as prepared. Do you feel you can muster one more argument?"

"After what you said in there, I feel I could do anything you asked of me." He took her hands in his and kissed both wrists, and then impetuously leaned forward and kissed her cheek quickly before anyone saw. Though since they would be married in only a few days, he doubted anyone could say anything if they did see them.

"Then let us go to the Lodge and be done with it."

They arrived at the Lodge only a few minutes later. With a last look of assurance between them they knocked upon the door. Anne was so often at the house, the staff all knew her by sight and she readied herself to ask them to introduce her and Frederick however when the door opened at the butler address them it seemed there was no need.

"Ah Miss Anne, Captain Wentworth, please come in. Lady Russel has been expecting you."