My dad is doing better.
Within a few minutes of becoming acquianted, all the stiffness and formality drifted away and the three ladies were freely conversing. Their conversation was aided by the fact that their table was well separated from the only other occupied table and after a servanant brought the tea and biscuits no one from the inn approached near.
Sophia was pleased to see that Miss Anne, though having a gentleness about her, also had a determination and strength carefully concealed beneath her proper femininity. Sophia also was delightly to see Miss Anne's compassion as she tried to draw out Mrs. Holmes.
Anne found an admiration for both Mrs. Croft and Mrs. Holmes. She could tell they were women that were used to taking charge and doing what needed to be done and they both had such interesting stories. It was also plain to see the love both women bore for their husbands, though their lives had progressed in sharply different directions. Mrs. Croft sailed with her husband and performed many tasks under his authority. She aided him in advancing his career and he had been lucky in capturing ships and receiving prize money, and had just been promoted to admiral.
In contrast, Mrs. Holmes had always lived ashore, seeing her husband for only brief interludes. He had been unlucky in missing out on several lucrative campaigns and had seen his income decline. Where other captains grew rich he struggled to adequately provide for his family, but was still cheerful and loving every time he returned to her rather than bemoaning his difficulties.
Anne was sad to hear that Mrs. Holmes' husband had died three years previously, when what appeared to be a slight wound turned gangreneous. It seemed her life had changed dramatically since then.
Mrs. Holmes was at loose ends in dealing with her grief while trying to learn who she was without him, living on a small charitable pension which was not adequate and required her depending upon her sister's family where she was unwanted. Mrs. Holmes' commented, "In the mornings I sit in simple chair much smaller than my sister's seat or those of her daughters or mother, but cannot help but feel they resent my presence in it. It seems they would rather have it be free for visitors, wish I would never leave my room so they could forget about me." Anne then understood why Mrs. Holmes seemed to try to occupy as little space as possible.
Anne's gentle enquiries were rewarded with Mrs. Holmes visibly relaxing. Anne learned Mrs. Holmes had a half-grown son. She started to call him Eddie, but then corrected herself and called him Edgar.
It seemed Edgar was even now serving on a ship as a midshipman with hopes of soon becoming a lieutenant. Her maternal pride was clear to see, but her pride was mixed with fear that his career might prove unlucky, too. "But he was born for the sea and would never be content on land. He is very like Edgar the elder, my dear husband."
Somehow it became Mrs. Holmes whose conversation revealed the purpose of their current presence near Kellynch Hall.
"But then Sophia arrived for a visit and at once said to me, 'Mirabella, I am on a mission and need your help. There is a young woman whose acquaintance I need to make, who was once promised to my youngest brother and may be yet again' and three days later I find myself here."
Mrs. Croft then turned toward Anne. Her expression was hopeful. "You have friends who have advocated on your behalf and word of this reached both myself and my brother Frederick. From everything I have learned from my brother Edward and Mr. Robinson I came to believe that Frederick needed to seize any opportunity to renew what once seemed at an end. Everything I have learned today confirms to me that their judgment was sound, but irregardless I would have acted as agreed. I have come hither solely to bring you a missive from Frederick and aid you to reconcile and marry should that still be your desire."
Mrs. Croft then drew forth a letter that Anne could see bore the name "Miss Anne Elliot" in a strong but elegant script. With a shaking hand, Anne reached for the letter.
Another woman who felt less might have taken the letter, thanked her hostess and then made small talk until she could politely excuse herself to walk home and read the letter alone in the privacy of her chambers, but such a thought did not occur to Anne, so starved was she for any shred of hope. Even as Anne brought the letter toward her and as of yet had seen nothing but her name, she felt her eyes begin to sting and blur with unshed tears.
Anne was not even aware she was speaking aloud as she said, "Oh Frederick, my love, can it be? I have become so tired of being without you though I go on doing it each day, have no other choice while my heart still beats and my body yet breathes, but I have grown so very tired, tired of waiting for you."
She broke the seal eagerly and unfolded the papers. She tried her hardest to call back the threatened tears that blurred the pages before her. But it was to no avail. Try as she might she could not read his words. She yet held the pages tightly by their edges even as she asked, "Could you read it to me?"
Sophia and Mirabella exchanged looks as to whether this was a good idea. Frederick had not consulted with Sophia as to what to write or read her a draft of the letter. Sophia had received it already sealed. She recalled she had advised Frederick to hold nothing back.
"Miss Anne, how would it be if we took you to our rented rooms and let you collect yourself and read in privacy?"
Anne nodded dumbly and shakily rose from her chair. She swayed and Sophia and Mirabella each in turn held one of her arms, fearing that Anne might fall otherwise. They escorted Anne to the tiny sitting room of their chambers and withdrew to the bedroom, leaving the door open to make sure that Anne remained well and waited.