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46.
In the next couple of days, little of note occurred. The engaged couple dined twice more together with their whole party, alternating each time who went to the other's ship. This arrangement unfortunately allowed no time for seclusion for Captain Wentworth and Miss Elliot; this was in part simply the circumstances and in part by the design of their friends and relatives, for Admiral and Mrs. Croft knew all too well how tempted they must be by one another (they had not missed their heated glances), and Mrs. Holmes knew how easy it was for a woman to sully her reputation while for the same conduct a man is praised for his virility.
When Anne had left her home in the company of Mrs. Croft and Mrs. Holmes, she had resumed writing countdowns in her journal. The last countdown she had written had been until she might see Frederick again as estimated by the length of the journey across the ocean and the most time it could take if there were the inevitable delays. She had been able to cross off the final twelve days marked with a flourish, once they had reached the harbor and Mrs. Croft told her that the Laconia was likewise docked there, and they would bring Captain Wentworth aboard that very night.
Upon first waking the very next day, Anne had written optimistically, "I saw my love yesterday and I see now that time dimmed my memory to how wonderful it is to be in his presence, to see the love in his eyes directed fully at me. Oh, how could I have ever denied us this current happiness, and how in doing so did I not expire from grief? I recall my misery being acute, but I must not be remembering the full depths of it, for I do not see how I cannot have been depressed every day since, until I read his letter. To be reunited after all this time, and to see that how we feel has only grown stronger in the interim, and to know that perhaps we may be married on this very day! All my dearest hopes and dreams are finally at the brink of fruition. I can barely pause to write these words, for I am so very, very, happy that I can scarce believe my feet are still upon the deck and I have not floated away like a feather on a breath of warm air."
Yet after the disastrous meeting with the Weevelforths, Anne could not bear to write anything down that night for she knew not what future date to write. To have her happiness set before her, but unable to reach it, well she rather felt like a starving man staring through the window at a Christmas goose on table. It could be his, if only someone would let him in!
It was not so bad when she was with Frederick. Then Anne was seated at the table of their future marriage, the lovely scents of the anticipated meal there before her, perhaps having taken a sip of wine, a spoonful of soup, and content with the knowledge that all that was set before her was hers to partake. It was easy to have such optimism with Frederick by her side. But every night when she had to leave him again to her shared chambers with Mirabella, well it all felt wrong. She did her best to act content, for she did not want to burden her friends with her torment. Anne did not think she would feel this way if they had a date certain, but without that date, she had no idea of how much longer she might wait and she knew not what to write down.
At night, when she was drifting off to sleep, sometimes Anne had most improper thoughts. She considered why she and Frederick might not simply engage in the forms of the marriage rites without the binding power of law, as Mirabella and Purser Perry had. Would they belong to each other any less? Would not God understand, and at some later date they could properly vow and sign. As long as they were married before any children came, what would it truly matter? She was so very far from her family and those who knew her, and what were the chances that anyone who mattered to her would find out and think less of her?
Anne would allow herself to imagine falling asleep pressed against Frederick, her head tucked under his chin, his body warm, and the lazy contentment of knowing they fully belonged to one another in the most intimate of ways. How could that be wrong. But the following day, in the morning light, Anne would blush at having engaged in such improper thoughts. She thought of how horrified her godmother would be to know that she was contemplating such sin.
Frederick would have been surprised to learn that his thoughts were not too disparate from his fiancée's own. He wished to be proper and do what he ought, but it could not be his fault that the priest was refusing. Was not trying to do what God and man required enough? If there was a God, could not God see his own heart?
However, Frederick would never deign to propose something so lascivious to his beloved, pure, and faithful Anne. She deserved the sanctity of marriage; she deserved his utmost respect; she deserved perhaps someone better than him, someone who would never ever consider such a thing. Also, if any of his men knew they were not bound in truth, would there be one or two who might seek to gain her favors (for they would not respect her as they ought if they thought her morals were not beyond reproach). It was this thought more than any other which locked the words of such an improper proposal from ever passing his lips.
As Frederick could not solve the problem that vexed him the most, he determined to consult with his brother-in-law, Admiral Croft, on matters that were within his control. Therefore, on the same day as they were to dine again with the Weevelforths, the men met without the ladies. At such a juncture, Frederick unburdened himself as to what exactly had occurred with Lieutenant Dowdy (they had spoken briefly of the matter before, but without all the details), and his desire to keep the things transpiring upon his ship suitable for when he had a wife aboard, but that he had not expected the subsequent fights among the restless crew.
Frederick explained, "I know that men expect to have some pleasures in life, to have diversions from their leisure, especially while we are at port and there are not so many tasks to occupy them. I certainly do not want anyone to prey upon the young boys, or to injury each other by fighting. I should like to let them have shore leave, but I cannot have them desert, and have been most strongly advised that shore leave ought not to be attempted with the ordinary able seamen, for even on an island such as this, merchant ships may take my crew.
"I noted that when your men conveyed us to land, that despite remaining there, not a one deserted and all remained to convey us back. How do you manage such a thing? I should like to give my men liberty to do what they want, and they may do whatever so long as it is not aboard ship and it does not reflect poorly upon the admiralty (or at least no more poorly than is expected of sailors, nothing out of the ordinary)."
"And this is the advice you seek from me?" Admiral Croft chuckled, softly, amused by this young man (although less than twenty years separated them, and Frederick was not so young). "I thought it would be much more likely that you were considering how to get yourself to another island before all the repairs and provisioning is made, so that you could convince some other priest to marry you and Miss Elliot. Oh Wentworth, you are more dedicated to your men and ship than I would be in like circumstances."
"It is all for Anne," Frederick confessed. "I wish for the ship to be the one she deserves, where proprieties worthy of a lady are observed, and yet for the men to be content with their lot and not hurting each other or being unduly tempted by the women. It is for Anne's safety and happiness that I think and plan."
"Well," replied the Admiral, "it is not as difficult as the other captains probably made it out to you, but it was really my dear Sophy who sorted the matter out. You see, most men, no matter how solitary they may at first appear, always have someone else whose life they care about, or a general feeling of loyalty to the crew in general. Mrs. Croft reasoned that if it was not merely a man's own lot that he would affect in attempting desertion, that he would be less likely to leave. She had some good success with sending pairs of men to have the crew's slops laundered on shore, speaking to them most earnestly about how she and the whole crew was depending upon them. You see, of course at times I must be harsh with the crew, but Sophia never is. They recalled all the little kindnesses she showed them, writing letters for those who could not, mending slops for men who had trouble with a needle, tending their wounds during a battle before they could make their way to the sickbay. They did not want to disappoint her any more than they would wish to disappoint their own sisters and mothers."
Admiral Croft nodded to himself, he had a good wife, that was certain, one who engendered loyalty. Yes, he thought, my Sophy is a wife who would make any man proud, but Wentworth shall do almost as well with Miss Elliot.
"And this really works?" Frederick asked, amazed.
"Well, this is just the beginning of it all. Later Sophy reasoned that as a reward for good behavior, leave could be dangled before them and they would soon be trying to outdo each other in good turns. She had each chief recommend men for this earned shore leave and of course picked some she thought overlooked, but they were all warned that if they left, that the rest of the men in their section would be denied leave for six months. She also determined that they should always be assigned to be each other's keepers upon the shore, to ensure the other was back in time, or else the innocent man would suffer a loss of privilege aboard. Finally, before any departed, she told them how she would miss them dearly if they went away, and that she had faith in them to prove the system of leave out.
"Later we came up with a system of drawings. Men who did well would be rewarded with getting their name on a slip in the pot, but every man had his name placed inside once every three months, so all had a chance. We also arranged that no man could get shore leave twice in a row; if his name was drawn for it, back in the pot it would go. Yes, we lost a few men, but very few and those were the sort that make the other sailors work twice as hard (to make up for what they did wrong), the ones for whom some lashing never seems to have much of an impact, those who corrupted the good youth. Good riddance to those who brought the others down, and they proved out the lesson that consequences would be had for those who remained and could not help tame their brothers."
"Can it truly be so easy?" Frederick replied.
"It was not easy," Admiral Croft rejoined, "I have skimmed over some of our early failures. I suggest discussing with your officers and those that head up every craft, how they think the crew should earn shore leave. Perhaps have them suggest the first candidates, the ones that they are certain will be responsible with such a privilege and then tell the crew how they can earn a chance to do the same. Declare that any fighting shall make them ineligible, but that past offenses shall not be held against them, that every man shall have a fresh start to earn the privilege. You will earn further loyalty when your men see that there is a chance for each of them to earn leave by proving their worth."
"But will not asking them . . . "
"Make you look weak? Like you cannot make a decision yourself? Not at all. It shows confidence, that you can ask for their help, it shows that they are valued, and they may even have some good ideas, it makes them feel that they are part of the inner circle and earns their loyalty as well. You need not stand on the top and dictate to everyone below you."
Frederick was silent for several long moments. Things that he thought he knew had been turned on their heads. But he was wise enough that accept that the way he had been doing things was not always the best way.
"Now, have you thought to pay a merchant ship to sail you, Anne, her companion and my wife to another island and find someone else to marry you? Such a journey can be accomplished in a day or two, and will certainly be quicker than waiting for Mr. Weevelforth to change his mind, or for the Laconia to be ready to sail, and hoping she is ready before my are ships so that you might borrow my Sophy for a time. If you sort the matter out this afternoon, you can all depart with the morning tide."
Frederick was dumbfounded and his mouth opened and closed three times before he found any words. "Can it really be so simple?" he asked, astonished that he had not thought of this himself.
"If you trust your first lieutenant to manage things while you are gone," replied the Admiral, "and you have ready funds to pay for the journey, and everything else that is needed, I do not see why not."
With joy in his heart, Frederick excused himself and with effort restrained himself to a quick walk. He directed the crew of his captain's barge to take him to the merchant's port and lept off the boat before it had hardly pulled up to the shore.
Frederick rejected an old sloop and several other boats for various defects, then happened upon a likely candidate. It was a smaller merchant ship, with faded and peeling white paint but to Frederick's discerning eye it was a sturdy ship that would do well. Luck was with him as the ship was being unloaded of its wears and its captain, a man Frederick judged to be a former navy man, who was missing an arm and had some deep scars to one side of his face, likely caused by splinters from a canon ball's impact, was overseeing the process. Frederick explained his desire and accepted a price for the services that he could have bargained down at least a third had he been willing to brook such a delay in reaching an agreement. But Frederick was more than satisfied, and giving the captain a portion of the fee then and there made him certain the man and the rest of the crew would be ready on time. Frederick only hoped that Anne was as ready to marry him, as he was to marry her.
A/N: Will Anne consent, or will the plan to help Mary or whomever else is kin to the Holmeses require that their marriage be delayed again? Does Anne have another plan to get Mr. Weevelforth to marry her to Frederick?