Chapter Thirty-Five

Captain Wentworth gave Anne a sly sideways glance; Lady Russel had been expecting them? Surely, she could not already know. They had only just left her father's, and no one else could have informed her of such events. Anne, likewise, was feeling uneasy with the butler's announcement. Her recent found courage was starting to wain slightly. She had hoped to catch her God Mother by surprise, for once to have the upper hand. Now it seemed they had been foiled again. As much as she loved her late mothers' friend, she knew she would be their strongest opposition. She only hoped she could make her see how happy Frederick made her and how this time their attachment would work.

Frederick knew how Anne must be feeling, he knew her God Mother's opinion and blessing meant a great deal to her. He felt ashamed to admit he cared little for the opinion or blessing of Lady Russel, -even though a close friend of the family and Anne's God Mother- she was not a relation and so he could not find it in himself to wish to earn her respect, for he had received none in return. He cared only for Anne and her happiness, and he hoped any distress that should befall Anne because of her God Mother's refusal to accept their match, would be compensated by the addition of his family and friends.

The couple moved past the man's sweeping arm and into the hall of the Lodge. Anne knew the space well; it was home to her as much as Kellynch or Winthrop. Frederick had only been there once. Just after it happened, when he had appeared at her door and implored her to help them, only to be informed she was instrumental in their parting. He had vowed then to never set foot in that place again or indeed to ever speak with the Lady of the house. However, here they were.

The man appeared again offering to take their things, to which they both refused; they would not be staying long. Gingerly – more so than either of them would have liked- they made their way into the lady's sitting room.

Lady Russel, upon seeing them at the door, gave a serene smile and rose from her seat in an uncomfortable looking chair and went forward to greet them. Her appearance, as always, was immaculate, and Frederick could not help but anger how she had not changed at all in the past two and a half years, when Anne and himself had suffered so badly.

Anne, ever the peacekeeper, walked further into the room to meet her God Mother halfway and offer her own well wishes. Frederick remained by the door, back ramrod straight, eye on the door, ready to make an escape if one was warranted. The rest of his attention solely on the woman in the room, who, for the present time at least, held his happiness once again in the palm of her hand. He didn't greet her, but the manners instilled in him from a child, meant he did bow his head in her direction. The 'Lady' did not return it. She saw only Anne.

"Anne my dear. You look well, the sea air seems to have agreed with you." beamed Lady Russel.

Anne tried not to flinch, knowing full well it was not just the sea air which had her eyes so bright and her skin aglow. "Thank you, ma'am. Yes, I confess I do feel invigorated since our trip." At the word 'our' Lady Russel's impenetrable façade slipped, only just; barely noticeable but Captain Wentworth caught it, and he knew then this conversation was not going to be easy.

"Did you enjoy seeing the boats? How did the Musgroves' get on?" she gestured to the settee for Anne to sit but paid no attention to the Captain still to be acknowledged. Anne looked at Frederick and with her eyes invited him to sit beside her. Though he would rather stay as far away from the Lady as possible, or at the very least until she lowered herself to invite him to sit, he would not upset Anne, and so he ignored the impoliteness of their host, and came to sit beside his betrothed.

Lady Russel once more composed did not falter this time. With a nod of her head, she signalled for something and a maid who had appeared out of nowhere, disappeared just as fast.

Anne smiled. "The port was very busy and diverting. Life on a ship is not what I expected."

And there it was.

The first mention of their real reason for coming to the Lodge. Frederick found his attention now fully on the lady across from him. Anne carried on in her tale regarding the Musgroves, and how Dick was expected to sign his contract with the Navy any day now, but Lady Russel only had eyes for Frederick, and he matched her gaze. "Well yes, it does seem you were a merry party indeed." Lady Russel said without emotion.

Frederick leaned forward ready to make his first move. "You do not appear surprised to see us here Lady Russel, or rather myself. Your butler said you were expecting us. Surely, I am the last person you expected to see at your door today." he was forcing her hand, wanting to see what she had in store, to get it out of the way, instead of dancing around with small talk. Anne stiffened beside him. But her eyes met with his and he was relieved to find no fear in them.

"You are very astute Commander, apologies, Captain, and correct. I am not surprised to find you here, only rather that it should take you so long. The very moment I learned you were back amongst us; I knew this moment would soon be upon me."

"You knew?" Anne asked.

"My dear, regardless of what you may have become to think of me," she looked pointedly at Frederick. "I have always only had your best interests at heart. You are like a daughter to me Anne, and like a daughter, I cannot believe anyone is so deserved or worthy of you. But, as sweet and kind and good as you are, it could only be a matter of time before some young gentleman came for you. I had hoped you would settle on Charles Musgrove; he is of good family and has land, a title to inherit even if it only squire." Again, a look towards Frederick. "And of course, you would be settled near myself and selfishly I wished for that a great deal." She sighed and looked out of the window wistfully. Anne opened her mouth to speak when the lady resumed her conversation. "Alas, that has not come to be. I see now your heart once attached is not easily severed. The way you spoke two years and a half ago, of your feelings, your love, towards this man have not altered or faded with time."

It was not a question, yet Anne felt she had to answer. "No. they are steadfast."

"I concluded so the night of the party. Your eyes, the way they sought him out, the blush on your cheeks when someone mentioned his name. You held yourself differently. More assertive, more alive than I have seen you in a long while. And he…" Now she turned to face the Captain full on. "He feels the same."

Again, the statement was rhetorical, and yet Frederick cleared his throat and answered without hesitation. "Always. Steadfastly, without any doubt. It has always been Anne."

The lady half smiled and sighed again. "And so, I knew it could only be a matter of time before we were all here again. You have spoken to your father?"

"Yes. We have been there this morning, we … Frederick only offered me his hand last night. We came here as soon as we could."

"But others are aware?"

Frederick bristled under the first threat of opposition. "Yes others -our party- they were there, it was unavoidable. They know. Anne is of age, when she accepted me, I saw no need to keep it a secret. We do not venture here for permission." He looked at Anne. "I have already secured a licence and permission for Mrs Wentworth to join me aboard my new ship." At the last part Lady Russel did look visibly shocked. Frederick stopped himself from showing smugness, but he was smiling like a fool on the inside. Yes, he thought, we have already jumped those hurdles you would assume stand against us.

"I see." Lady Russel picked at a loose thread on the sofa. Before she could speak again, the maid retuned with a tray of tea. Anne sat up and served without being asked, as if she were used to it. Frederick was somewhat surprised to find there were three cups, he had half expected to see just the two. "With all that settled, I wonder why you are here at all." She said quite flippantly.

It was Anne's turn to speak. She took her Godmothers hand in hers. "To seek your blessing, Lady Russel. You were my mother's dearest friend and have acted in her stead these past years. I would like you to be happy for me, I would like beyond all things for you to be happy to see me so settled with a good man. A marriage for love. I will settle for your acceptance, though I should like to think with time, once you get to know each other you could become friends."

Frederick bit his tongue. He could not think of a time when he and the woman who had broken his heart and stole away almost three years of his life that he should have been happy in, could ever be friends, but for Anne, he would walk to the ends of the earth. So, if sitting now and again in the same room as this woman drinking tea would make Anne happy, he would do so readily. Lady Russel seemed to be having her own internal war with herself, her eyes glancing back and forth between Anne and the Captain.

"And you shall live on the boat? With all those … shipmen."

Anne smiled. "The ship. The Laconia, yes. Along with the crew. However, I shall have a maid."

"A maid?

"Yes Frederick," Anne started and blushed. "Captain Wentworth has already employed a girl for my personal use. She will travel with us; she is here in Kellynch. Back at the hall, packing my things."

"Packing your things! Surely you cannot be thinking of leaving so soon."

"The license we have is a special one, in that we can be married without banns in a matter of days. Time is of the essence."

"Why?" Lady Russel blurted out; her face drawn.

Anne blushed again. Frederick took over. "For no reason other than I am to set sale within a few days and would very much like my wife to accompany me," he soothed.

Lady Russel visibly relaxed. "Ah I see. Well, we have lots to do. You will need a trousseau of course, and in your mother's absence I will guide you the best I can. There are announcements to be made. Plans for the wedding breakfast." The lady continued rattling on when Anne interrupted.

"Are you?"

"Am I what my dear?"

"Happy for me? Do you see now that I am marrying for love? That Frederick is the right man for me and that I will be settled?"

The Lady's mouth drew into a line and Frederick imagined it would be now when they would face her tirade. "I am not happy." she said at last. "Not with the arrangements of how this came about. And I do think you can do better than a Captain in the Navy, no matter how promising his career prospects. He has no home, no lands, no title and no money, his family are not known to us. His brother is a clergyman! You are the daughter of a Baronet; you have not even been to town. You are barely out. You could wait and meet someone better, a better match."