Well, I hope someone is still reading this. I could really use some encouragement to finish this one off by the end if this year as I promised. I was in the process of writing this chapter which was supposed to be more Anne-centric when my husband told me that Matthew Perry of Friends fame died. This hit close to home as we watched Friends when it first came out and often veg out to it in the evenings, Perry was a couple of months younger than my husband, and he died on my birthday.
As this chapter grew to be about Mirabella, I saw a chance to inject a Chandler-like character into the plot. Purser Perry is my tribute to Matthew Perry, but I warn you that he may not get the happy ending he wishes and that life may be too short for him, too.
33.
The purpose of this account is not to recite every event of Anne's journey or time at sea, or Frederick's torment in hoping for Anne to come to him all the while doubting it should come to pass, but to resolve how those destined to be united would come together, so we shall skip some minutia and time to build the anticipation of such a nearing event. Suffice to say that when finally upon Admiral Croft's ship, the Defiant, on their way toward her destiny, Anne felt keenly disordered and cast up her accounts thrice before finding some equilibrium, and could take naught but broth for a week complete, but bore it for Frederick's sake and the life she was determined should be theirs. Even as ill as she was that first day, before attempting to sleep in the closet-like cabin she shared with Mirabella, by the light of her lamp Anne wrote in her journal: My love, I gladly suffer my sickness as it means I am one day closer to rejoining you, sailing toward you at last.
Such was Anne's determination that before her queasiness had yet passed she began practicing her trade with the ship's surgeon, a grizzled old man who treated Anne as if she were his own daughter. He was just as patient and kind as the Robinsons had been and gladly let Anne prepare and administer some draughts once he had taken a measure of her skill. Seeing a man relieved of his persistent cough was its own reward.
Mirabella, who had to be coaxed to continue to be the boon companion of the ladies, reassured that they indeed wanted her with them and were not being merely charitable (the gift of her seaworthy gown had helped) had no trouble at all aboard and even gained her sea legs after no more than two days. She divided her time between helping Mrs. Croft and Anne. She was timid about being without one or the other but soon learned that Admiral and Mrs. Croft (who had no official title but unofficially was second to only her husband), ran a tight ship and for any no good sailor there were three who would protect her with their lives. Learning this did not mean she would go about unaccompanied into some dark recess of the ship, but instead would be escorted by those deemed suitable by Mrs. Croft, who were only too happy for a little break in the routine, a brief conversation and to earn a smile.
As time went on, although Mrs. Holmes had known Mrs. Croft much longer than Anne, the two single ladies became closer than they ever had with their sisters by blood. Perhaps it was because life at sea was so new to them both while Mrs. Croft was well occupied by her husband and her duties to the crew. Sometime almost a whole day might pass before they saw her, although they always had dinner together at the captain's table. Therefore, Anne and Mirabella had begun to make tentative plans, subject of course to Captain Wentworth's approval. They had even dreamed that perhaps it might be possible to have Mirabella's son Edgar transferred onto the Laconia. Miranella had no intent to be an overbearing mother, to inject herself into her son's affairs as he had been on his own for years, was now approaching the age of thirteen and might soon take his midshipman exam, but she dreamed of an occasionally share dinner, of repairing his torn slops, of a fond word as they passed one another. Although Edgar wrote to her and she to him, in the months that might pass before a flurry of letters arrived at last, she always feared the worst.
Before the ladies came aboard, Admiral Croft had lectured the entire crew about giving the other ladies the same consideration due his wife and explained that Miss Anne Elliot was being escorted by them to meet up with her future husband. Oh the catcalls that resulted and innuendos bandied about made Admiral Croft wish to tear out what remained of his hair, but he told them simply "Get it all out now, for once they are here, you are to show Miss Elliot, her companion Mrs. Holmes and of course Mrs. Croft every respect."
The mention of the second lady's name caused much speculation, and within half a day of Mirabella's presence on board, the men had already learned she was a captain's widow but certainly not a merry one. While ashore her appearance was nothing to attract a man's eye, for despite maintaining a respectable figure, her hair was mostly white, she had wrinkles a plenty, and she was almost fifty, Mirabella was much sought after. For men starved of female companionship could not help but admire her fortitude at sea, her kind attentions toward Miss Elliot, whose sick she was repeatedly obliged to bring onto the top deck to cast into the sea, and her womanly attributes. Many a man who secretly admired Anne once she was seen about, openly admired Mirabella, and she was the subject of several bouts of bad poetry, some charcoal drawings and even an original song. Her advanced age was seen as no bad thing, for it was accurately believed she was too old to become with child and could sail with a man always. By the time they had almost reached the West Indies, Mirabella had received four earnest marriage proposals and no less than fourteen less honorable proposals. As to the later, after the shock wore off (she had sputtered and turned red upon the first couple of these, never having been propositioned in her life), she developed a stock response. "I am not that sort of a lady and never shall be. You should be ashamed of yourself! This is your only warning. Desist or Admiral and Mrs. Croft shall hear just what you asked of me and the cat of nine tails shall be too good for you!"
This was sufficient for all but two and many a man received a thumping from his fellow crewmates for having dared to treat her so even the one time, for on a navy ship space is at a premium and eyes and ears are everywhere. One man indeed required a flogging and a second man two, but after that those sorts of proposals were at an end. It was shortly thereafter that marriage proposals in earnest began.
While more than one man had murmurred "Marry me," with scarcely a hope of any success, others tried to court her by escorting her wherever she need go, engaging her in conversation and offering the only tokens they had, a pretty button, a precious orange, an ivory comb. Mirabella soundly refused them all, but thanked them all so kindly that they could not be offended, curling the man's own hand back around the treasured item using her own, and each man savored even that small touch. While flattered, Mirabelle was not of a mind to consider any of them with any seriousness except for that of the ship's purser.
Matthew Perrottet, the purser, generally known as Purser Perry, was a humorous man of an age close to her own. He delighted in poking fun at shipboard life and the easy camraderie he offered her was most welcome. Mirabelle knew not to take half of what he said seriously, so when he first asked her to marry him, she laughed it off as another joke, and indeed in seeing her response he played it off at such. But the next day, when he grasped her hand and knelt before her, his face a study of earnestness and said "Dearest Mrs. Holmes, I beg of you to consider my offer, for I was not truly in jest yesterday when I asked for your hand. Are we not the dearest of friends? Could you not be happy married to me? Can you not come to love me a little, at least a bit as much as I love you? And love you I do. II have not much to offer but myself, but I will give you all of me."
Mirabella looked at Purser Perry who had been just Perry to her for the past fortnight, touched his shoulder and looked into his eyes (as the three other men near stood gaping at the scene and Anne looked on in wonder, a burgeoning hope in her chest that her dear friend might now have happiness within her grasp) and replied, "Perry dear, I know not what to say. I have never considered you in such a way. Our friendship is dear to me, but marriage?" She shook her head. "I can scarcely imagine it for me, for I have only ever loved the one man, my dear husband Edgar. I do not so much as know your first name."
"It is Matthew," said he. "Please, I beg of you, Mrs. Holmes. Do not say 'no.' Please let me court you, give me but this chance. I am sure I am a far different man than your husband was, but cannot I be given a bit of hope?" His blue eyes regarded her with such an intensity that she could scarcely blink.
Their audience was utterly silent, waiting with baited breath, unwilling to miss anything though they might well be berated later for shirking their duties, oh the tale they would have to tell! It would well be worth it.
"I . . . I . . . " Mirabelle was flumoxed.
"What is going on here?" The first mate bellowed, pushing his way through the spell bound men (who had grown to now include a full seven men). "Lazy, the lot of you. Make haste! There is much to do before we make land in a day or two."
This was enough to make half the men hurry away, but one brave fellow declared "But a moment. Purser Perry just asked Mrs. Holmes to marry him and it ain't no joke. She ain't said yes or no yet."
As the first mate had considered a time or two whether he might propose himself, he turned his rapt attention to Mirabelle and declared "Get on with it, then. What's your reply Mrs. Holmes?"
"I . . . I scarcely know. I have no answer to anything yet."
Mirabelle turned and grasped Anne's arm. Anne seeing that Mirabelle's eyes were wide and she trembled, hurried her out to their cabin. Once inside, Mirabelle shook like a leaf in a gale. "Oh Anne, what am I to do? I never thought of Perry that way. We had plans that I would stay with you, go with you to Captain Wentworth's ship, perhaps get my Edgar there."
Anne offered no advice and merely listened as Mirabella talked and speculated. Would Perry still want to marry her if he knew that her former husband was a quadroon? Would he accept her child? Could Edgar perhaps serve on Admiral Croft's ship instead? Could Perry truly love her? Could she grow to love him? Who was he truly under all his humor? What would become of Anne if left the only woman aboard Captain Wentworth's ship? This last topic she can ased for some minutes in a flurry of words.
Sophia Croft joined them some few minutes later, apparently having learned of what had transpired in short order. She in fact was informed numerous times while making her way to them.
The three women talked about possibilities and considerations for some hours. Anne reminded Mirabella, after being subjected to another diatribe of her guilt should she chose to part ways to Anne, "My dear friend, I have no expectations of you. Do you not recall that my own course had been set long before I had any hope of your continued companionship? What would give me the greatest joy is if you will act in the manner which is most likely to lead to your own happiness, whatever that may be. You deserve your own happiness more than most. I do not know what course that may be, but you must get to know Purser Perry to see if you might suit. Know, my darling that wherher near or far, the two of you shall always be the sisters of my heart."
Sophia agreed she felt the same and also urged that Mirabella should endeavor to learn if she might be happy with Perry, promising to find out all that she could about if he would treat her well. Thus reassured, Mirabella was tolerably resolved toward such an end when Sophia left to rejoin her husband and the other women turned in for the night.
A/N: Up next, I plan for Frederick to get a letter from Anne. What else would you like to see happen?