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Story
X - In the Year Eight
(Author's Note:
In this Persuasion variation, Frederick Wentworth swallows
his pride and writes Anne Elliot from his new command, the HMS Laconia.)
Letter #1
- Capt. Wentworth to Miss Elliot
Miss Anne Elliot
Kellynch Hall, Somersetshire
Miss Elliot,
Pray forgive the
liberty I take in writing to you. However, given the intimacy
of our acquaintance, particularly when last we spoke two years
ago, I do not believe it is totally impropriate of me to post
this letter. Frankness and honestly have always been part and
parcel between us, and I trust you will not think the less of
me.
Since last we spoke,
my situation has changed. I have completed my posting to HMS
Asp, and Providence has so smiled upon me as to give my sloop
the opportunity to offer good service to our king and consternation
to our foes. Thanks entirely to an extraordinary feat of arms
by my brave and resolute crew I have lately presented the Navy
with a fine prize of a thirty-six gun French frigate. In gratitude
for this action, the Admiralty has made me Post-Captain and given
command of the vessel, re-christened Laconia.
The ship will be
refitting at Plymouth for some months, and I have been given
leave. In a fortnight, I intend to visit with my relations in
Somersetshire. If it be agreeable to you, I would like to pay
my respects to the Elliots of Kellynch Hall during my travels.
You may wonder why
I make this request of you, rather than your father. While I
respect your family, it would pain me exceedingly to cause you
any discomfort. Therefore, if I do not receive an answer from
you saying that such a visit is welcome, I shall not come. Should
this scheme give you the least uneasiness, please do not write
to me. Your silence will insure that I shall not enter your father's
house.
Before I close,
allow me to say that I have thought long and hard upon your words
two years ago, and I have come to see the justice in them. I
bear you no ill-will; in fact, my feelings are just the opposite.
However, I hesitate to impose my presence on you, and that is
why I shall not come to Kellynch if that be your desire.
Your obt. servant,
F. WENTWORTH, Captain,
RN
HMS Laconia, Plymouth
Letter #2
- Miss Elliot to Capt. Wentworth
Dear Captain Wentworth,
Allow me to send
you joy for your promotion and new command. I would be honored
to have you call upon my family at Kellynch. I await you with
every regard.
Yours, etc.
A. ELLIOT
Letter #3
- Capt. Wentworth to Capt. Harville
Captain Timothy
Harville
Lyme
Harville,
I must beg your
congratulations again, shipmate, for I am to be married! And
to whom, may you ask? To the most wonderful woman in all the
world! I know you think you know her, and Mrs. Harville is an
excellent lady, I grant you, but none can fill that post in my
eyes if her initials are not A.E.!
It is you I must
thank for this happy event. You counseled me to put aside my
pride and carefully consider Miss Elliot's words when she broke
our engagement. I finally did as you bade, and I was humbled.
What a fool I was! How could a penniless commander dare to demand
the hand of a baronet's daughter? I deserved to be turned out
of the house. I should never have attempted to engage Miss Elliot's
affections until I could properly support a wife.
But now, thanks
to the French, I am a Post-Captain with a few thousand pounds
to my name. Now I can dare to set my eyes so high, and I have
been rewarded. I wrote to Miss Elliot as you suggested, called
upon her at Kellynch, and wonder of wonders, Anne -- dear, sweet
Anne -- has remained true. Our engagement is renewed, and Sir
Water has given his consent. I am in Somerset still, at my brother's
in Monkford, giddy at my good fortune.
Say you will stand
with me on the appointed day. I cannot marry without you and
Mrs. Harville in attendance.
Your obt. servant,
WENTWORTH
Letter # 4
- Miss Elliot to Lady Russell
Lady Russell
Rivers Street, Bath
My dear Godmother,
I am grieved that
you are troubled at the news of my engagement to Captain Wentworth.
I would not distress you for all the world, if my happiness was
not at stake.
Because I have now
accepted Captain Wentworth, it does not follow that I am resentful
of your advice two years ago. In 1806, I was nineteen and in
love with a newly-made naval commander with nothing to recommend
him, save his character and determination. He had no money, he
had nothing to support a wife -- all this you said, and it was
true. I allowed myself to be persuaded to be prudent and released
him. It was the correct thing to do, and I cannot fault you for
it. But in my heart, I did not give him up. I never could, you
see, and resolved never to marry.
Matters are very
different now. You would be very surprised how much Frederick
and I talked of these matters -- surprised and proud, I hope.
He has been made Post and has earned several thousand pounds
in prize money, all invested in the Naval Five Percents. He has
every expectation of continuing his success in his career and
being able to supplement his pay and the interest from my dowry
and his prize money. Before you protest, I know my father cannot
release the entirety of my portion of the ten thousand set aside
from my mother. Frederick and I have spoken of this. With economy,
I should be very comfortable. You may laugh, but my needs are
very modest, even though I am a baronet's daughter.
I frown at the words
above. They sound so mercenary. But such matters must be considered.
That is the difference, I believe, between nineteen and twenty-one.
Allow me to let
free my feelings. I love Frederick with all my heart and have
done so constantly these two years. He had assured me of his
affections and devotion, and this is proved by our parting and
the passing of time, at the end of which his feelings were as
strong as ever. He admits he was wounded and angry when I released
him. I truly broke his heart, he says. He was bitter. Yet, his
better particulars triumphed. He thought and considered, and
at the end, he was humbled and repentant. Only love remains,
he assures me, and I am perfectly satisfied. And I have assured
him that never shall I be persuaded again, unless it be by my
character or his.
Please return home
soon. There is much I wish to share with you. My happiness shall
not be complete without your attendance.
Your loving goddaughter,
ANNE
Letter #5
- Capt. Wentworth to Mrs. Croft
Mrs. Sophia Croft
Gibraltar
My dear Sophie,
By the time you
receive this letter, I shall be married to Miss Anne Elliot of
Kellynch Hall. I would imagine that this news surprises you,
for you have said that I would never find a woman worth marrying.
I have, dear Sophie, for she reminds me much of you. She is strong
and sweet and beautiful, and I know I do not deserve her. I am
the luckiest man in the fleet.
We marry quickly,
for my new command, the thirty-six-gun Laconia, is set
for a cruise of the Western Islands soon, and we would rather
have matters settled first. You may laugh, dear sister, but remember
your own wedding to Captain Croft!
My interview with
Sir Walter Elliot, Anne's father, was a true comedy. In my Number
One uniform and best hat, I called on him to ask for his daughter's
hand. He did not know me, even though we had met in the Year
Six, when I was visiting with Edward. The walls of his study
were covered, not in books, but with mirrors. One cannot get
away from one's self! It is my opinion that Sir Walter is a very
vain man and foolish, too.
His reaction to
my request was - and I quote -- "You want to marry Anne?
Whatever for?" It appears the man has little regard for
her. He asked many question about my background and connections
and looked very disappointed, until I mentioned Sir Edward Pellew.
That seemed to impress the fellow -- even he had heard of the
rear-admiral. He was satisfied with my income and granted his
permission with a curious remark. Again I quote -- "I suppose
you are fine enough for Anne. Not too weather-beaten for a sailor,
I see. Do you use Gowland's, sir? I quite recommend it."
I must admit I am
quiet perplexed as I consider all of Anne's relations. Her youngest
sister, Miss Mary, is a jolly and pretty thing and is on good
terms with Anne, but is the most self-centered creature. She
is always thinking herself ill, I believe, to call attention
to herself. The eldest Miss Elliot, Miss Elizabeth, is something
else entirely. Beautiful, I must say, but I prefer the warmth
of Anne. Anne is like a summer's day, when a man is happy to
be alive. Miss Elizabeth is as lovely as a diamond and as cold.
She thinks of nothing but herself and is dismissive of Anne.
There is too much of the father in her.
Anne's great friend
is her neighbor and godmother, Lady Russell. I cannot think very
well of her, as she does not look favorably on the match. There
is more I can say, but I shall not. However, I must forgive the
woman, for she has offered to take Anne in her home while I am
gone. It is very generous, but I hesitated and would not give
way until she agreed that we shall share in the expense. I cannot
say whether she respects me more for this or is offended at my
determination. Perhaps a bit of both.
I should not paint
too black a picture. There are good people in the neighborhood.
The Musgroves own the Great House at Uppercross and are very
kind. They have a son in the navy, a midshipman. The heir, Charles
Musgrove, is as fine a fellow as Harville, and his sisters are
very attached to Anne. It is well that Anne should have some
friends nearby, as Edward is to leave Monkford for another, better
living by the end of the year.
I am happy to have
the Laconia, but I shall miss Anne. Again I hear you laugh.
Should I bring my wife aboard, as Captain Croft has done? We
shall see after this short cruise.
I shall write more
soon. All the best to Croft, and all my love to you.
Your affectionate
brother,
FREDERICK
Letter # 6
- Mrs. Wentworth to Capt. Wentworth
Captain Frederick
Wentworth
HMS Laconia, Plymouth
My dear husband,
What joy it is to
write such words to you! By reading this you know I have secreted
this note in your sea-chest, along with a silhouette portrait.
I hope it gives you comfort in the weeks to come.
My dearest love,
words cannot describe how wonderful the last few weeks have been.
Thank you for allowing me to go to Plymouth to be with you as
you completed the fitting out of your dear Laconia. I
know, as all navy wives know, I have a rival for your heart,
but I will not share you with her until the last instant!
But, no, I shall
not be missish. You must do your duty, and I must do mine. Worry
not, my dear. Lady Russell and I shall make merry in Somerset
until your most anticipated return. I shall sign this, the first
of many letters to you, with my full name, as it is my delight.
All my love,
ANNE WENTWORTH
The End
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