Free Captain Wentworth's Persuasion by Regina Jeffers Page B

smaller quarters. Were you ever here when you visited Edward years ago?”

    “Only once.” Frederick’s jaw twitched with the strain of not allowing Sophia to see his reaction. “Edward and I dined with some of the local gentry just a week before I left the country.”
    “Was the master of the house his usual pompous self?” Benjamin asked amusedly.
    “It was the only evening Sir Walter and I had a private conversation in the time I resided with Edward.” He bit the inside of his mouth to distract himself from the pain of remembering that conversation. “I am afraid Sir Walter did not approve of my bettering my lot in life through the Navy. He was most adamant in his opinions.”
    The admiral snorted with disgust.“You have no idea how many mirrors I removed from the walls!”
    Frederick chuckled.“The man radiated vanity, as I recall.”
    “That is an understatement.”The Admiral shifted his attention to the maid bringing in a fresh tray of tea and cakes. “Thank you, Hilda.We will ring if we need anything else.”
    “Yes, Sir.” She curtsied and left, closing the door behind her.
    Sophia poured each of them a fresh cup of tea. Frederick took several sips as he built the courage to ask what he knew he must. “Then the family—the Elliots, that is—have all removed themselves to Bath?”
    Sophia settled herself next to him again. “Sir Walter and the eldest daughter, Elizabeth, are there—on Camden Place, I believe I heard Mr. Shepherd say. His widowed daughter, Mrs. Clay, is Miss Elliot’s traveling companion.” Frederick waited, his heart thumping so loudly in his chest that he thought surely Sophia and the Admiral would hear it. “The youngest daughter married Charles Musgrove and is living at Uppercross. We met them recently. Mrs. Charles is quite insipid, would you not say,Admiral?”
    Frederick did not hear his brother’s response. All he could do was force himself to take steady breaths. So Anne married Charles Musgrove. Frederick had expected as much. More than once he had replayed scenes of Musgrove dancing with her at the assembly. “Mrs. Musgrove’s children,” the Admiral’s voice penetrated Frederick’s
musings,“are high-spirited enough; she certainly cannot control them.” Anne had children! Don’t be a fool. What did you expect? Certainly she could not remain celibate if she were married. Yet, the thought of Anne Elliot loving anyone but him seemed a crack in the natural order of things.
    “Did you meet the Musgroves when you were here before?” Sophia asked casually.
    “Just briefly—I would not recognize the man, I am sure. I am surprised, however, that Anne Elliot married him. From what I remember, he did not have the same fine mind as Miss Anne.” It took effort to utter Anne’s name.
    “Oh, I must apologize, Frederick, when I said the youngest daughter married Charles Musgrove,” his sister interrupted. “Mrs. Charles was once Mary Elliot; Miss Anne remains unmarried.” A lightning bolt shot through him. Anne, too, has never married! Surely, it had nothing to do with him. It could not. Just as their failed engagement was not the reason for his bachelorhood. If he chose not to marry, then she could make a similar choice. Having never met her, he had forgotten Anne had a younger sister. Miss Elizabeth Elliot never married. Why should Anne? Sir Walter probably dashed her hopes with every offer. It would be just like the man to refuse his daughters’ suitors so as to keep their affections focused purely on him. He felt an unexpected twinge of sympathy, centered on Anne’s lost dreams, worm its way into his heart. “I assume you knew Miss Anne?” his sister concluded.
    “We were in each other’s company upon several occasions.” He forced himself to control his facial expression.
    “I never suspected as much,” Sophia replied. “I knew from our conversation when we returned the call at Uppercross some fortnight ago that Miss Anne was familiar with Edward;