"This is she, Sir," the young sailor proudly announced. "The Asp."
Newly minted Captain Frederick Wentworth stood and looked at 'her', his new command, for quite some time. "I have seen her in action," he finally replied. "She maneuvers well, but looks much the worse for wear." He stood contemplating his ship again for a while, mentally tallying all the work that would be needed just on the outside and above the waterline. What would she look like on the inside?
"This is Midshipman Davies, Captain Sir," said the sailor, whose name was Summers, Captain Wentworth remembered. "Captain," said Davies, "Welcome aboard. I will show you to your quarters. Would you like to be shown around afterwards?"
"Yes please," answered Wentworth, "best to get a feel for the ship and see what needs to be done. Then I would like to learn about our crew and any positions that need to be filled."
"Aye Sir," replied Davies.
Once in his hut, Wentworth took the time to record his first log, which detailed all the work needed on sails, masts, rigging, and the main body of the ship. When Midshipman Davies returned, he was ready to see the insides of his ship. "We will start above deck, Sir. As you know, she is a Cruizer Class Brig Sloop, carrying 18 carronades. After our last skirmish, 15 of those remain in working order, while 3 are damaged beyond repair. Our foremast as you see, needs replacement. And when we go belowdecks, there is much more damage."
Belowdecks, Wentworth found, there was extensive damage to the cargo hold, the fresh water reserve and the crew cabins. While 'The Asp' was at least still afloat, she had a large hole in her bow no more than half a foot above the water line. She would need extensive work before they would ever set sail. "Like a true woman," muttered Wentworth, "rotten on the inside and too weak to go on without some proper attention."
That thought brought him to the one person he did not wish to think about any longer. Anne. Just thinking about her, her eyes, her smile, made his insides roil. How could she have betrayed him so? He loved her! He loved her still, even after the greatest betrayal. And she loved him, he had seen it. This thought made him stop. Did she love him? She broke off their engagement. But not because of her own desires, he knew this. She broke it off because of her meddling Godmother. Her Godmother who did not deem a Frederick Wentworth lofty enough for her dearest girl. No matter the heartache she had inflicted. Still, was there a chance for them, even now? He needed to think this through. And he would be in port for a while yet, so he did have the time. His ship would be salvaged. Could the same be said about his engagement?
Over the following days and weeks, he supervised much of the work being done on the Asp, and saw this old ship slowly getting into shape. He was often to be found with his sleeves rolled up, working with his man and getting to know his crew. When not aboard, he could be found cajoling with supply officers for new guns and sufficient ammunition, and with the Admiralty for more crew. While at the Admiralty, he finally asked to speak to his brother in law in private.
"Come see us tonight my boy," the Admiral said. "Sophy is staying in a boarding home close to port until we sail. Come for dinner and we will talk."
That night, he poured his heart out to his sister and brother. He cried as a young boy, while his sister comforted him and then he confessed he still wanted to marry Anne and only Anne. He had thought about it, he could not yet offer her a home, but he could take her with him on The Asp. If she would have him after all. Here Sophia interrupted him.
"Freddie, you are a naval Captain and only just that. She is a Baronets daughter. How would she cope aboard a ship?" He had thought about that too. "Anne is not a lofty lady! Indeed, her father's home is impoverished and Anne is a practical girl. She is curious and a quick learner. She could adapt and she would not be alone, she would be with me. As my wife, she would be in a position of influence aboard ship." He looked at his sister. "Sophia, you know this. You can explain to her what a life at sea is truly like!" Sophia regarded her brother thoughtfully. "You are right," she said. "I can and I will, but only if I am convinced that she would be a good fit to the position of Captain's wife and to you, my dearest brother. So I will meet her first." Captain Wentworth expelled a shaking breath, and his sister squeezed his hand and comforted him. "Leave it to me Freddie. If your lady-love is at all amenable to essentially eloping with you, I will convince her."
The next morning, while Frederick supervised the replacement of the foremast and then the rigging on his ship, his sister started her journey to Monkford, where she would stay with her brother. Then she would seek out Anne. From there on, all was in Anne's dainty little hands. If she were not here when he sailed, all would be over. It did not bear thinking about. Frederick purposely focused on any work that would keep him busy. He had written a letter to Anne, which his sister would hand over if she believed Anne would be receptive to his offer. He had purchased a license just in case, or in actuality his brother in law had purchased it for him. How he did it without any parental permission for Anne, Frederick felt it would be best not to inquire.
His crew now complete, he started drills and training. One week before departure, he started them filling the cargo hold with food and water, and another with ammunition. Then, the final five days, he started sailing out for short trips near the coast, and had his crew drill rigging up and down as a speed trial. Divided in teams, the competition brought the much needed team spirit among his crewmen and they worked together ever better. Captain Wentworth had a better feeling about his ship every day, she responded ever better to his hands and he and his ship too bonded as a team.
But every day he found returning to port becoming harder and harder. For every day there had been no one waiting for him, no one to share it all with. Every day he woke up suspended somewhere between hope and agony, and every day upon his return his felt the inevitable shift one notch more towards despair.
With only two more days to go, he woke up and felt as if all may be lost after all. Regardless, he stepped out onto the deck and looked to the cay. For a moment he had to close his eyes, but when he opened them again, the apparition was still there. "Anne!" Forgoing the gangplank, he jumped ashore and then she was in his arms. "Anne, oh my Annie, you came!" He kissed her, messily, urgently. "Marry me. Marry me today, my Annie. I have missed you so." She was crying on his chest, with big, heaving sobs. "I am so sorry! I do want to marry you! Do not leave me!" she sobbed.
"We sail the day after tomorrow, so we will have to get married today or tomorrow at the latest. Tell me my love, do you want a church wedding or a wedding at sea?" Frederick asked. Anne looked surprised. "Can we do a church wedding?" she asked.
"You can," Admiral Croft assured them. The Crofts had stayed back while they reunited, but now they took charge. The Admiral had in fact received an express from his wife, suggesting he make arrangements for a church wedding. The Admiral had done so immediately, and so at eleven of the clock that same day, Miss Anne Elliot was walking down the aisle on the arm of Admiral Croft, towards the one man she loved, the one man who did not take no for an answer.