by Susan Kaye
“She said, ‘I’ll tell you whatever you wish to hear, sir.’ I was always repulsed by paying for affection. After a night so pleasing, it was a marked let-down to be reminded that I had paid for the first woman’s flattery and laughter.” Wentworth took Anne’s hand again. “It was particularly irksome because I had met a wonderful young woman who had taught me what it was to look into a woman’s eyes and know she genuinely thought me funny and who genuinely complimented me—when I deserved it and not otherwise—and a woman who, when she listened to my stories, was truly happy that I was victorious or just alive. When it’s paid for, affection is not much different than a hogshead of beer, or a cask of dried fish, don’t you think, Dear?”
Anne gazed at him as he spoke. Again her fingers caressed his bare wrist. She nodded. “So, you were constant to me.”
He edged close and took her hands. “Yes, I admit to that, but as I said the other day, it was unintentional and completely unconscious. Do not credit me with a virtue I do not deserve.” He hurriedly pulled off his gloves. Her cheek was soft and warm. “I don’t wish you to think of me as if I was a knight who chivalrously surrendered the thoughts of all women because I could not have the perfect one.” She pressed his hand more tightly to her cheek. “For two years it was anger that kept me at sea, proving myself to the phantoms of your family. It was that anger and accompanying pride which kept me from writing you in ‘08. After that, it was simply a desire to avoid being fooled by the craftier sex. If there is any constancy that was clear-eyed and sacrificial, my dear, it was yours.”
To his horror, she began to cry. Before he could say anything, she rushed to him and kissed him hard on the lips. In his mind he saw images of his more gallant self easing her gently away, but those images were not real and her kisses most definitely were. Eventually, when the carriage jerked violently to avoid something in the road, they came to their senses.
Anne looked out the window as she straightened her bonnet. “It was a lovely house. I mean, aside from the despicable furnishings.” She didn’t turn to look at him.
Wentworth was putting on his gloves. “Yes, it was; but there are other lovely houses in Bath. We shall continue looking.” He was exceedingly glad the wedding date was coming upon them so quickly.
She still didn’t look at him, but reached out her hand. “You mentioned that Admiral McGillvary is giving us a party?”
He took her hand and edged closer. “Yes, he is inviting every Naval officer he can shake out of the trees. He’s sure it will drive your father to distraction. He’s especially interested in your sister attending.”
She turned at this. “Elizabeth! How does he know about her?” Anne edged closer to him.
“Let me tell you about McGillvary and what he knows about your sister.”
~~~~~~~&~~~~~~~
Sir Walter had been exceedingly disappointed that Wentworth had not seen fit to take the house on Laura Place. But it was explained to him that his future son-in-law felt a mere captain in the neighbourhood might discomfit more than a few of the exalted personages who called the street home. Such deference to rank could not be viewed by the Baronet as anything but a commendable understanding of the natural order of things.
Any disappointment the old boy felt was made up for on the evening of McGillvary’s party. The Admiral sent his finest carriage to convey all the Elliots and Captain Wentworth to Belsom Park. Frederick couldn’t help thinking the barouche, with its fine cherry wood and oxblood leather interior, was meant to impress Miss Elizabeth Elliot. Anyone else’s comfort was merely a pleasant concurrence of events. Unfortunately, his troubles would be for naught and disappointment was definitely on the menu that evening.
Admiral McGillvary himself greeted them at the door. As their coats were being taken, Patrick drew Wentworth aside. “So, where is she?”
“Miss Elliot is sorry she cannot attend, but she has a very bad head-cold and needs her rest.” His friend’s frozen smile made Wentworth pity him. “Anne says she is truly very ill and, if it makes you feel better, ill- tempered as well.” He could see the clarification did no good.
“Blast, cajoling women out of their ill-temper is a speciality of mine. No matter! This party is for you and your lovely fiancé, whom I have not met.” Patrick gestured towards Anne and her father. The introductions were made and Anne and Sir Walter were brought into the main room.
Belsom Park, for being one of the most fashionable addresses in Bath, was also one of its least seen. Upon the death of Patrick’s mother years before, the social life of the place had been winnowed down to business dinners hosted by Patrick’s father. Now that the son was master of the house, intimate dinners were occasionally mounted, but the most life in the house came when Patrick’s daughter Cleora was in residence.
“Sir Walter, I wanted to make sure you had a good evening and so invited a friend of yours.” Admiral McGillvary brought the Baronet to Colonel and Mrs. Wallis. He bowed to the ladies. “Now, Ma’am, Miss Anne, I need to steal the Captain away for just a moment.”
As they walked off, Patrick said, “Colonel Wallis will need some good company, he’s the only Lobster in the place.” He laughed out loud, not caring who looked.
McGillvary’s quiet, snug office was welcome after the noise and confusion of the public rooms. As he took an offered seat, Wentworth thought he would much rather be having dinner with Anne in here than out in the circus-like atmosphere of the party. Patrick handed him a black box from Harvey and Gore of London.
“I thought your Mr. Bleeker lived here in Bath.”
“He does. When he delivered it, he explained the design was conceived when he worked for them. He’d just never finished the necklace you chose. He remarked that ladies especially are quite impressed when given something from those jewellers. I told him I doubted your intended would be. Listen, Wentworth, I remember how annoyed you were that night when I spoke about her. I am sorry; she seems like a lovely young woman.” He didn’t wait for a reply and went to his desk.
Wentworth opened the box and was speechless with pleasure. The necklace flashed of gold and luminescent white in the firelight. Too long to be considered a choker and too short to be a proper necklace, the thirty pearls were each nestled in a golden setting that together cried out for the warmth of flesh.
“So, will it do?” McGillvary asked.
“It sings of Annie.” Frederick didn’t look, fearing McGillvary would be put off by his impulsive sentiments.
“Sir.” It was Jamison, Belsom Park’s butler.
McGillvary joined him at the door. “That being the case, I’ll leave you two alone.” He stepped aside and Anne stepped in.
~~~~~~~&~~~~~~~
Anne quietly thanked McGillvary as she entered the room. “He said you wished to see me.” She joined Frederick at the fireplace. There was another chair, but wanting her close, he drew her into his lap. He had one hand on the arm behind her; she could feel him occasionally touch her. “I received an unexpected windfall the other day, after the windfall of your accepting me, and I decided I wanted you to have this.” With the other hand, he drew the black jewel case from beside him.
Anne was hesitant at first. It was large enough to be something of value. Gradually, she could feel her own expression let go like that of an excited child. She took the case and opened it. All the breath left her. “Frederick,” was all she could say. It was a necklace, and all she could do was caress it in its black velvet resting place.
“Come, let us see how it looks.” She rose unsteadily and turned away from him. He took her gently by the shoulders and turned her back, facing him. With great pleasure, he watched her expression as the cool gold touched her skin. She reached up and touched it tentatively. “There, that is perfection,” he said.
She glanced at the fire, just a little hurt that he seemed to notice the necklace more than her. “I am sure it makes me look very pretty.” The pearls in their little golden nests were already beginning to warm and the feel of them was a sort o
f consolation. “You are terribly clever to fasten it without looking.” She smiled and glanced away again.
To her surprise, he stepped closer. “Yes, I am. And I didn’t mean the necklace was perfection.” He put his hand over hers fingering the necklace. “I meant it is now found the perfect resting place—” His fingers trailed up her neck. Her eyes fluttered and her breathing stopped. “—on the neck of the perfect woman.” He tilted her chin up and kissed her gently, but firmly.
The wedding could not come soon enough to relieve Anne’s growing passion for Frederick. She should pull away—
“Captain.” The voice was Patrick’s. “Captain.”
Frederick pulled away first, though it took him some time to respond to the call. She stepped away, not looking to the door where Patrick stood.
“Wha—” Frederick’s voice was ragged. He cleared his throat and said, “What is it, Admiral?”
McGillvary stepped into the office. “There is someone to see you.” He spoke quietly.
Wentworth left Anne by the fireplace and joined him. “Send them in.” Nodding towards Anne, he said something she could not hear.
Anne looked from the flames towards the two men. They were quietly discussing something of great importance. Finally, Frederick said, “Bring him in here. She will have to know sometime.”
The next few moments were a blur. A man in a blood-red uniform entered, bowed to the gentlemen and handed Frederick a thick letter. The butler was ordered to take him to the kitchen to be fed. Anne knew in the depth of her heart what the letter said. The tips of her fingers hummed with energy. All their plans for a quiet, happy life were ruined.
He broke the seal and read. “I report to Whitehall in ten days.”
“That’s awfully cryptic, Frederick.” McGillvary took the letter and read as well.
“I’ve never heard of such orders, but that’s all it says.”
McGillvary looked at Anne, then to Frederick. “I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.” Frederick glared at his friend. “I mean, knowing those beef-witted sods, they’ve not decided what to do with you yet. They just want to keep you in easy reach, that’s all.” He went to his desk.
“As he said, there’s nothing to worry about, Anne. I’ll report and be told that it’s some boring duty, escorting a ship or some such. Nothing to worry over.”
“You said you report in ten days?”
“Aye, ten days.” He handed her the letter.
The paper was heavy and the seal black as night. The words were straightforward. Knowing from whence the orders came gave them added weight. She handed the detestable thing back. “We are to be married in seven days.”
He took it and only glanced at it as he set it down. “Of course, nothing will change those plans.” He took her hand. “Once we are married we will have a few days as man and wife.”
Seven days to wait. Seven days to dread his leaving, all the while her family buzzing around them like bees. It would be the longest week of their lives.
“Might you marry sooner?” McGillvary asked.
“No, we were barely able to schedule the church as it was. It seems there is a great rush to marry in Bath,” Frederick said.
“Special License? Nothing like the glow of an expensive piece of paper to make an occasion.”
Frederick finally looked from her. “You know that the minute I step inside the city limits of London I am theirs.”
“Who would know?” Patrick leant against his desk and crossed his arms.
“I would know.”
“Ah, yes, that fine sense of honour you possess. I forgot about it.”
“What if we were to go to Gretna Green?” Anne offered. Both the gentlemen turned and stared. The answer seemed simple enough. The source, however, was unexpected.
“Anne, I don’t think you know what you’re asking. It’s three, possibly four days’ journey. What do we gain?”
“Time together without my family making a nuisance of themselves and three, perhaps four, days more as husband and wife.”
“She’s got you on that one, Wentworth.” To Anne, McGillvary said, “Excellent mathematics, Miss.”
“Dear, I just don’t think it would be a good idea. It is a rough road. Do you really wish to be wed by a blacksmith on the green?”
“I wish to be wed to you as soon as possible.”
“The girl sounds as if she knows what she wants, Frederick, and for some misbegotten reason, it’s you.”
“Patrick, please! Anne, I just do not wish you to be disappointed. Have you thought about our return? We might have a few days more married, but I would have to leave nearly immediately upon returning and leave you with...”
“Gossip? ’Tis no more than the idle prating of people who have nothing better to occupy their time. I’ve been the object of that when I did nothing more than live my life. I might as well give them something genuine to speculate upon.”
“I do not wish to leave you in the midst of a scandal and the cost of all of it—”
She reached up to unfasten the necklace. Her shaking fingers could not find the clasp. “Surely the cost of this will cover a journey to Gretna Green.” Even bringing the clasp to the front helped little.
“Stop that, Anne! That is not what I meant.”
“I have never asked you for anything. I wish to go to Gretna and that we should be married!” She dropped her hands and fought the overwhelming desire to cry.
“Anne, you are being silly—”
“Don’t patronize me, please!”
“Frederick, perhaps you should—”
“Shut up, Patrick—”
“Captain!” The men glared at one another. Anne regretted bringing things to such an antagonistic turn.
The Admiral stepped forward and picked up the orders again. “My, my, Frederick, a beautiful young woman is willing to give you a very lovely piece of jewellery to entice you into whisking her off to Scotland to marry her. And you, you muttonhead, hesitate.” He tossed them down. “You had better change your mind, or I may just have to allow myself to be bribed.”
Frederick’s gaze did not waver from her face. His jaw was rigid, except for an occasional twitch. Anne feared she had pushed him beyond reason.
He came close and reached around to the clasp. The tips of his fingers might have been fire as they touched her neck and upper shoulders. Frederick took the necklace and put it in his pocket. “You’ve bought and paid for me. I suppose you call the tune.” His fingers trailed away from her jaw.
Even Patrick had the good sense to know what he’d witnessed and cleared his throat. “So, now that you have negotiated that deal, it is time to celebrate.” To Anne he said, “Despite what I may say about him, you’ve chosen well, Miss, and so has he.” Such sentiment only lasted a moment, and the Admiral went to pour them each a drink.
“We will need transportation, and that may take a day or so to arrange.” Frederick accepted the drink from Patrick and handed one off to Anne.
“Ahem.” McGillvary lifted his glass. “To the soon-to-be Captain and Mrs. Frederick Wentworth.” They touched glasses and drank. “Now, as a gift, I wish to offer you the use of my travelling carriage. It is newly sprung, and the upholstery is quite fine. It was my mother’s, and she insisted that she would ride in only the finest. I think you will find it to your liking.”
Anne was relieved that one problem seemed to be solved so easily. Frederick hesitated to accept.
“It is most kind of you, Admiral. I am grateful for the offer and receive it with happiness on behalf of myself and my husband-to-be.” She touched Frederick’s cheek and nodded.
He smiled in return and shook his head. “It seems I have no say anymore.”
“You shall have your say, for we cannot leave the party without announcing our departure.”
“Ah, no. I think any announcement is the responsibility of the host.” McGillvary joined them, smiling. “I shall give you a half-hour’s head-start and then share the news that Ca
ptain Frederick Wentworth has been called back to sea and that he and his intended are on their way to Gretna Green.”
“You are going to enjoy this far too much, Admiral.”
McGillvary’s smile was wide. “Oh, yes, I am, Captain. I have to thank you two; I was afraid this was going to be a typical, dull party.” He laughed loudly. “I am very glad to know I was wrong!”
~~~~~~~&~~~~~~~
The travelling carriage was sent to Camden Place to await the arrival of the Captain from Gay Street. While his baggage was shifted from McGillvary’s small barouche to the traveller, Anne went inside to pack her things. Wentworth was about to enter the house when she came out with a maid trailing behind her.
“Miss Anne, please be careful.” The woman handed the bags she carried to the driver. She kissed Anne on each cheek and then took a handkerchief from her pocket to dab at tears.
“Thank you, Elise. I will not be gone long.”
Elise waved and returned to the house. As Frederick handed Anne in, he asked what had taken so long.
“Elizabeth wished to share her opinion on our decision. It took some time.”
He took a last look at Camden Place. The curtains were parted in one of the windows, and he recognised Miss Elliot. He gave her a jaunty salute. He could almost hear the window curtains snap shut.
The carriage was just gaining speed after entering the main road when Anne looked out the rear window. “Oh, look, Frederick. Fireworks.”
“It might be a signal-flare from Patrick letting us know he’s told the party our news.”
“It might be Father having heard the news.”
Chapter Eighteen
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You can kiss her if you got a mind to.” The innkeeper snapped the book closed. He put it away and was tying on his apron while his wife loudly blew her nose into a much-patched handkerchief.
