The next morning, Frederick rose early and for the first time since his arrival at Kellynch, managed to cross paths with his sister and the Admiral before they set out as per their usual morning routine.
"What, ho Frederick! You have beat the sunrise. And here I thought this peace had begun to turn you soft," teased the Admiral.
"Hardly, though I don't pretend to despise my current life of leisure," returned Frederick smilingly. "I'm to Uppercross for breakfast and then off shooting with Charles Musgrove for the morning."
"Oh do give Mrs Musgrove my compliments and Miss Elliot if you please," chimed in Sophie. "I don't think I've spent a pleasanter 30 minutes in conversation with another lady as I have with Miss Elliot."
Frederick could certainly own this, he knew Miss Elliot to be a well informed and attentive listener. It had been one of the many charms with which she had lured him.
Serving himself a cup of tea, he replied, "I'm sorry to say I won't be able to oblige you sister as I will not be near the cottage. I am to meet Charles Musgrove at Uppercross Hall. Though I'll certainly pass on your respects to him."
"That is a little odd, is it not?" Enquired the Admiral, with a quirked brow. "You shall be spending the day with the man but he won't invite you dine at his house?"
Indeed it did appear odd and this was entirely of Frederick's own devising. When amidst planning the evening before, Charles had invited him to breakfast. Frederick could not see how to avoid it but he acted instinctively, he knew immediately he was not ready to sit down to a table with her. His quick thinking did not desert him in his moment of need and looking at old Mrs Musgrove he latched on to the first idea to pop in to his head. He couldn't possibly impose on Mrs Charles, with an injured child likely to be nursed through the night, it wouldn't be neighbourly. And in what he was quickly learning to recognise as true Musgrove style, the parents took up the torch of hospitality that had been lain down and before he knew it, the plans had been rearranged. He had paused momentarily for an internal sigh of relief.
"It is really for the child that it has been arranged so. I believe the doctor has ordered as little excitement as possible and I can only imagine how exciting a hunting party can be to a little boy."
"Oh of course! I had forgotten. Terrible business, I trust the boy is mending? What a lucky escape too, could have been much worse, though children will tumble about I dare say!" The Admiral was one of those gentlemen who didn't mind a bit of rough and tumble. Indeed, the more scrapes he got himself into, the happier he seemed to be.
Both Sophie and the Admiral laughed heartily at this when Frederick suggested it. And after listening to the pleasant sounds of his sister and brother in law plan the route for their own morning adventure, Frederick set off for Uppercross.
Charles Musgrove was walking up the drive as Frederick overtook him on his horse. Stopping, he dismounted and fell into step with his companion as they walked the rest of the way up to the great house. There was a hearty greeting on both sides and Frederick listened as Charles disseminated upon the weather and season in preparation for the days sport ahead.
Breakfast was a simple affair of bread, cold meats and cheeses with good, strong tea. He was surprised to find the younger Musgrove ladies at the table, expecting the early hour to keep them away. The sly comments from their brother of rarely having enjoyed their company at such an early hour, though highly entertaining, left him in no doubt of the reason for their presence. And why shouldn't they, Frederick thought to himself, refusing to feel self conscious. It must be quite an adjustment, for them both to come home from the liveliness and variety of school to only the company of their family and a few local entities. And if he were to consider settling down seriously, he should take advantage of the opportunity to get to know both ladies. So he turned to the nearest miss and put his best efforts forth in being attentive and entertaining.
His powers of persuasion had not diminished since he had last took it upon himself to please a pretty girl and in order to prolong their pleasure in his company both ladies decided that they should enjoy the fresh air with a walk to the edge of the village.
The foursome set off down the drive when Charles spoke up, "this is well girls. You will be able to call upon Mary and Anne when I stop to collect the dogs."
Though well beyond the age of tripping over his feet, Frederick's heart stuttered at these words. He had not realised their path would be diverted but immediately was chagrined by his own oversight.
Frederick caught a look between the sisters, though Louisa quickly replied, "we should be delighted, brother."
Warring with himself, Frederick considered how he could avoid such a meeting without seeming a complete ass. And why did he care? She meant nothing to him, eight years had passed! While he did not take enjoyment from the idea of being in company with her again, it was certainly not he who should shy away. It was not he who betrayed his character and condemned them both to a period of misery.
Nay, it was he who had been left angry and miserable. And she who chose to stay to placate her ill-deserving friend, and enjoy all of the comforts of her elevated lifestyle.
Frederick did not pause to inspect the unfairness of his musings. After all, it was well known that there was only one reason for a titled land holder to lease their estate. How elevated could her lifestyle have truly been? He did however, clutch to his only opportunity at avoiding a meeting. Surely, if Anne Elliot could contrive a way to avoid sitting down to a dinner at the same table as he, then she would likely do so again upon learning that he was coming to visit.
"Oh but it is rather soon after the accident, to be having visitors. Perhaps we can look in on them another time," suggested Frederick.
"I thank you for your concern, little Charles is out of danger and getting in quite well now."
"I say Charles, should you not warn your dear wife that we are coming? It is rather early."
"Not at all! The early call should do her good I think. And besides you, we are only family."
They walked a little further before Frederick could not help but try again. "Truly, I would hate to be the cause of any distress. My own limited knowledge of the Elliot family left me with enough of an impression to remember that their appearance is of high importance. I would hate to impose upon Mrs Musgrove before she is ready to receive."
"Oh I had forgotten you were once known to the Elliot family," chimed in Louisa.
"Only a very little, and not Mrs Musgrove as she was Miss Mary at the time and away at school."
Charles continued to walk and Frederick continued to press his concern, suggesting how improper it would be for he to arrive unannounced and outside of calling hours. They were in sight of the cottage as Charles gave in and exclaimed, "very well, very well. I shall race ahead and advise the lady of the house of your impending visit!" And with a wink and cheeky salute, trotted down the hill.
He should have known she would fail him again, the fleeting hope that she would have taken to her room upon Charles' warning dissipated entirely upon his entering the small breakfast parlour. There she was.
He could maintain his composure.
He would maintain his composure.
Frederick made the necessary greetings to the lady of the house and managed to bow in Miss Elliot's general direction, looking without looking. He was more aware of his movements than he had ever been. Listening to Mrs Musgrove prattle about he didn't know what, Frederick chanced another glance in Miss Elliot's direction. He was not sure he could have helped himself, even if he hadn't wanted to see her. But now that he was here, he did want to see her. He wanted to pierce her with his unmoving glare but her eyes were averted.
He was shocked by what he saw. It was Anne Elliot, but not as he remembered her. She was faded, sunken. The pink of youth was gone and instead her cheeks bore the unflattering red of mortification. Everything about her seemed muted, hair dulled and dress slightly too big. He had once considered her to be the diamond in every room she entered and he had been drawn to her from the instant he met her. Not ten minutes before, he would have been happy to have never laid eyes on her again but now he longed for her to look at him, so that he could judge if that spark that he had so strongly admired could still be found in her eye.
He made to enquire of the pudding she'd been sent, something innocuous and brief to gain her attention but as he took in a breath to begin, Charles returned and they were on their way.
He walked with the group but was silent. This required contemplation. All of his ideas of how she would be, how they would interact upon being thrown together again, had been upended. Had she been ill? What had she been doing these eight years? And why had she never married?
He was brought out of his reverie by Miss Musgrove, "and how did you find Miss Anne, Captain? Was she just as you remembered?"
"I should hardly have known her, she is so altered!" He exclaimed with feeling before collecting himself, "that is to say some time has passed since we last met."
To say that Miss Musgrove was surprised by the Captain's words would be an understatement. The correct form would have been to offer some gallant remark on how a former acquaintance, a lady especially, had remained unchanged. She was stunned into silence. Miss Louisa was quick to defend Miss Anne.
"She is the loveliest, gentlest creature I've ever had the pleasure to know, though she may seem reserved at first. And so well accomplished! I know not a single soul who is as well read or who plays so well as Miss Elliot. And yet she takes no compliments for herself. Is that not true Charles?"
"Yes I suppose it is," he had not really been attending as his mind had been on the entertainment ahead. "Though I would say she has a retiring temperament and is perhaps a little melancholy."
Retiring? Melancholy? No, not Anne Elliot! Frederick was certainly listening now.
"One wouldn't wonder with the family she has, I am sure I should run mad if left to manage the Baronet and Miss Elliot!" Louisa exclaimed.
"Louisa! That is hardly an appropriate comment to make!" Charles scolded, though he certainly wasn't prepared to deny it. "You must make allowances for different temperaments. You do not hear Miss Anne complaining about her lot but she has adapted as she must."
Having arrived at the edge of the village, the ladies turned to make their way back to the hall, leaving the gentlemen to their sport. Frederick welcomed the distraction, his ideas had been upset on a number of fronts that morning and he cared not to examine too closely the feelings that these had produced in his breast. In his head, Miss Elliot had become a cold, unfeeling, calculating figure to whom he had fallen victim. This new, fractured Miss Elliot had upset his equanimity in a manner he had not anticipated. She had clearly reaped what she had sewn by rejecting his suit all those years ago, he should feel vindicated. So, why didn't he?