ElizabethSoph, thanks for reviewing. I thought of your eagerness to read more when writing this chapter.
43.
A wiser Anne, accompanied by Mrs. Croft, with both women wearing bonnets against the still strong November sun, soon found herself seated in the middle of the Admiral's Barge, which was a sort of grander rowboat, borne upon the sea by some ten accomplished rowers commanded by Lieutenant Charles Redding. Sitting in silence (for Sophia was wise enough to know that Anne needed some quiet moments of contemplation), Anne considered her increase in knowledge. Anne had more or less guessed at the basic mechanics of "the act" but had not known of all the possible things that could take place between what she had thus far experienced and the ultimate conclusion of such affections. She had not known that such intimacies could be prolonged and that there were many delightful roads to pleasure.
Anne was quite certain that the women had told her much more than her mother or godmother would have. Perhaps they also had more knowledge, for each had (or had once had) a loving and generous husband. Anne could not imagine that his father would have sought to please her mother, or that her mother would have expected such consideration. While her brother by marriage might have tried with her sister, he must not have succeeded very well. But she could imagine that the Robinsons had such a relationship, for they were so very much in love.
From her position on the barge, Anne was able to see as they approached the ship that must be the Laconia. It was a pretty ship, with graceful lines, although not as grand as perhaps it would appear with its sails aloft (there was no point to having them up while at port). Anne was well pleased in knowing that it would soon be her home.
As they approached, Anne was able to see men and boys scurrying about, and one proud figure that seemed to be watching them from the near side of the ship. Far sooner than she should have been able to make him out, Anne became convinced that this figure was her Frederick.
Her instinct was proved out when she was able to identify his captain's hat which shaded his face, and the showy coat that bespoke his rank. Her heart sped up, with joy as they grew closer and closer. When they drew up against the Laconia, Frederick lost no time in climbing down a rope ladder and sprung quickly into the Admiral's Barge as easily as another man might have climbed out of a carriage.
Almost before she knew it, Frederick was seated beside Anne, holding her hand, with Mrs. Croft on her other side. Anne was really very glad to be with Frederick again, but she was also more self-conscious, now understanding everything that could and would take place between them when they were married. She had no hesitation in proceeding to marry him, but ducked her head, hiding her face under the brim of her bonnet, embarrassed, feeling that perhaps her newfound knowledge was writ large upon her face.
There was no hiding anything from Captain Wentworth, and without considering what anyone else might think, with the lightest touch he placed his near hand under her chin and coaxed it up. "My dear Anne, is something wrong? My darling, will you not look at me?" Once her head was raised, he removed his fingers.
Rather than look at him, Anne turned her head forward and leaned into his side. Raising her mouth toward his ear, she said in the lowest whisper she could "Your sister and Mrs. Holmes gave me a talk."
At first Frederick's brow wrinkled in confusion, but Anne did not see any of that, for once she had uttered these words, she lowered her head again to hide her blushing face beneath the cloth of her bonnet. Frederick glanced past his fiancée to look at his sister, and in seeing the barest hint of red to her cheeks and a single nod, he immediately understood just what kind of talk the women had. Frederick was grateful that his future wife was forewarned about what to expect. The last thing he wanted was to scare his wife by attempting that which was natural. Yet he was uncertain how Anne was feeling about all of it.
Frederick wished he could have talked further with Anne then. Yes, the conversation might have been mortifying for them both, but he wished to reassure her that she need not fear him, that he would never do anything that she did not wish for, too, that he would restrain himself until she was ready. He knew that having mastered himself for the many years he had been alone that he had excellent self-control, and as difficult as it might be, would continue to use it as needs be. However, surrounded by the Admiral's sailors and with his sister close at hand was hardly the time or the place.
He settled for asking, "Are you still wishing to marry soon?"
"Yes," said she, adding in a soft murmur. "Nothing I have learned has changed my intentions in the least."
Frederick gripped her hand again. "I am glad."
Battling her natural modesty and reserved nature, Anne added "Indeed, I long for it."
Frederick wondered if this was a double entendre. Was she referring to both being married and marital intimacies? Did she understand how certain things would become "long?" Indeed, his trousers felt a bit tight and he had to look away and think upon the latitude and longitude of various ports he had visited to quell his ardor. He told himself, Get ahold of yourself, Freddy. reminding himself, Just a few more hours, or no more than a day or two.
Content to say nothing else, Anne because she was embarrassed for having said too much and Frederick because he did not trust himself to speak of ordinary things, they leaned into one another. All was silent save for the splash of the oars and the waves until they drew near to the shore. Then Lieutenant Redding reminded the sailors, "Once the ladies are safe upon the shore, besides those I assigned to guard them, you shall have your leave in the shifts we discussed until high noon. Admiral Croft is depending upon you to be ready to bear the ladies back then."
Frederick wondered whether these men would be compliant of not, but contented himself with the thought that it was not his concern (rather it was Admiral Croft's and Lieutenant Redding's) and reassured himself that if they were not, surely enough would return to bear them home, and even he and Lieutenant Redding would be enough, although the two of them were probably both out of practice at manning the oars, it was a skill not soon forgotten). When the Admiral's Barge reached the harbor shore, in the place arranged for the landing of small craft, the sailors near the prow leapt off and pulled the boat onto the shore. More and more sailors stepped off to pull the boat further onto land, and when the middle of the craft was upon the shore, Lieutenant Redding offered his hand to Mrs. Croft and with barely a touch of her hand to his, she lept out, giving him her thanks. Frederick stood then and stepped out himself, his long legs making it appear easy to do so, before turning and offering his hand to Anne.
Anne found it hard to stand on the shifting boat (which was steadier than it could have been as two sailors held its nose), and in her hesitation Captain Wentworth leaned forward, grasped her about the waist and lifted her out. He removed his hands the minute she stood steady upon the sandy shore and offered his arm. Although he had only grasped Anne for only a few moments, no longer than necessary, the two spots upon her waist where his hands had rested tingled gently.
Anne was not used to walking upon sand, and gratefully grasped at Captain Wentworth's arm. She felt that she would be content to hold his arm for the entirety of her life.
"Come," said Frederick. "We shall hire a conveyance and then go to see the priest." When Frederick reached his sister, he held out his free arm toward her. She grasped it and they walked three abreast until they reached the cobblestone street. Lieutenant Redding and two burly sailors who were serving as guards walked just behind them.
Frederick hired an oversized open hack to convey them to the St. John's Cathedral. Anne, Frederick and Sophia sat together, with Lieutenant Redding and one of the guards facing them, and the second had to ride up with the driver. The sights of Antigua held only a passible novelty for the siblings, for both had been here before and the town was small, but Anne who had not traveled much at all, observed with wonder a small outdoor market in which fruits she had never seen before were being sold, and was amazed at all the Africans, and many others who bore shades of skin that were lighter than them, but darker than the Brits. She saw no white women present, but saw several white men, mostly with darker servants by their sides.
Frederick looked where Anne looked, to see what caught her eye and resolved to take her to visit the open air market soon. He was well aware that many men were watching them and perhaps Anne specifically, for it was unusual for women to travel there. While of course many of the planters were married, most had to seek wives in England and not all were long-lived in such a climate and with the tropical diseases. Thus it was that Frederick noticed that one man (a planter by his dress) who had curly blond hair beneath a brown hat openly stared at Anne as the hack went by, tipping his hat to acknowledge her. Frederick did not like that at all.
When the arrived at the cathedral, Lieutenant Redding and his men remained outside. Thus the siblings and Anne walked in together. They had the good fortune to find the priest within, praying before the altar. He was a bald and heavy-set man of perhaps sixty with a sparce grey beard, and spectacles perched upon his nose.
Frederick impatiently waited for him to finish his prayer for was eager to arrange matters. No sooner had the priest arose than Frederick addressed him, confirmed he was in fact the priest, a Mr. Weevelforth, and then came straight to the point. "I should like to buy a common license, for my fiancée and I wish to be married as soon as might be arranged."
Mr. Weevelforth frowned at this. "We are not in the way of approving marriages between sailors and women in such a manner. People ought to marry from their home parishes. I am here to serve the people of Antigua and the surrounding islands, not temporary visitors."
The way he said the word "sailor," Frederick felt particularly insulted. He was in his captain's coat and anyone in this seafaring port ought to be well familiar with his rank from it. However, he knew that a cross word back would not improve upon his situation. He took a measured pause as he considered what approach would serve him best.
Mrs. Croft felt as insulted as her brother, but she mastered her initial reaction quicker and stepped into the breach. "Mr. Weevelforth, we would not normally trouble you with this matter, but Miss Elliot and my brother Captain Wentworth have been engaged some five years. Duty to king and country has carried my brother far from home and Miss Elliot has traveled a fair distance to wed him."
Mr. Weevelforth shook his head. "This is all most irregular." He peered over his glasses at Mrs. Croft with derision. "So am I to take it that you procured her for him? It was badly done and you will get no help from anyone here." He crossed his arms across his splendid corporation and leaned back.
The way he said "procured" Anne felt quite insulted. For he was talking about them as if they had done something wrong, something nefarious. But if she could talk her sister Mary out of her moods, Anne thought that perhaps she could do likewise with Mr. Weevelforth, giving an abbreviated version of their story.
Anne looked at him with all sincerity. "Mr. Weevelforth, I believe we have begun in the middle rather than at the beginning. In the year six, while he was between postings in England, Captain Wentworth and I and courted, fell in love, and became engaged. But being of a practical bent, I did not want to marry him before he had the fortune to provide for my comfort, and to support the fruits of such a marriage. Since that time, Captain Wentworth has become a man of means but with no leisure time, such is his importance to the navy. Rather than continue in an engagement of uncertain duration, Admiral Croft and his wife volunteered to bring me to Captain Wentworth so that we might finally marry. They offered and with ever so much gratitude I accepted, for both of us had been longing to be reunited for years. That is why we have sought you out.
"I know you must be a busy man, tending to a flock spread out among the Leeward Islands, but we humbly ask for your assistance in following the path that the Lord has laid out for us. While I understand that your regular parishioners are entitled to some preferment in your care, are you not to serve all those who serve the King of England?"
Mr. Weevelforth took up her hand and patted it. In a tone that managed to be both patronizing and belittling, he replied "My dear child, this is most irregular. Shall you settle on Antigua alone while he is obliged to be on his ship? You are a fair and comely woman. You need not settle for a part-time husband. Have you seen much of the island? It is a pretty land and I know many planters here with grand homes who can provide better for you. You may consider yourself obligated due to a mistake you made in your youth, but it is clear to me that they have plotted to corner you into such an action and I shall not have it."
Anne felt her forced calm slip. She wanted to say, Can you not credit me with knowing my own mind or what I wish to do for my own happiness? But she did not think that such a declaration would move him in the least. She also wanted to explain that she would be living upon her husband's ship, but she thought he would rather look down on such a thing.
While she and the rest of them were contemplating what to do, a woman not much older than Anne, with dark hair and large teeth set in a round, baby-like face, came up to them. She placed her hand on Mr. Weevelforth's arm and asked in a screechy voice "Who are they? Will they come to nuncheon at James's home?"
"My dear Mrs. Weevelforth," said he, "they are just temporary visitors. But I daresay that if you wish to invite them, it might be no bad thing. My nephew James is most fond of visitors and there is always plenty at his table."
"Yes," said Mrs. Weevelforth. Then to Anne and the rest she asked "Will you come? Have you come from England? I long for company and there are few white women on the island."
Frederick was not in a mood to break bread with someone who seemed determined to deny him what he desired most, but even he saw the wisdom in doing so. His sister answered on behalf of all of them. "We would be delighted."
A/N: I'm leaving it there. Do you think Mr. Weevelforth is being genuine in why he doesn't wish to marry them? Would a large "donation" help change his mind? What do you expect to happen at the Nuncheon? I think it will come up in the next chapter or two, but Mr. Weevelforth and more specifically his extended family, has a connection to another character. Any guesses as to what it could be? I've known about it for a while.