Free Captain Wentworth's Diary by Amanda Grange Page A

the Harvilles set out on their wedding-tour.

    Jenson, Benwick and I lingered on, enjoying the hospitality of Harville’s family. Benwick seemed very taken with Fanny, whilst Jenson talked to Harville’s parents and I spent the afternoon talking to Harville’s brother. We relived our battles and looked forward to the battles to come, hoping we might, at some time in the future, find ourselves on the same ship.

    And then, at last, it was time for me to leave. I bade them all farewell, and thanked them for their kindness. They sent me off with their good wishes ringing in my ears, and I rode home at a steady pace. The weather remained fine, and I was treated to a magnificent sunset on the way. I reined in my horse and watched the spectacle, seeing the sky turn crimson before the sun sank below the horizon. Then I set off again, arriving shortly after dark. Edward was reading the newspaper, but as I entered the room he laid it aside and asked me how I had got on. I told him all my news and he asked me a number of questions about the service. I satisfied him as best I could, and he allowed it to have been well done.

    Then he told me his own news, which was not so happy, for the curacy of Leigh Ings had been given elsewhere.

    ‘Never mind, there is still the living of Trewithing,’ I reminded him.

    ‘There is, and it would suit me better to have a living, rather than another curacy. I must hope for better luck there.’

    ‘Do you think it will fall to you?’ I asked.

    ‘Nothing is certain,’ he said, ‘but as I have friends in the neighbourhood, and as I do not think there is any particular interest in the living, I think it possible.’

    ‘It would be a very good thing if it did.’

    ‘Undoubtedly. I would have my own parish, a larger house, an increased stipend, and I would be better placed to hear of any other livings that might fall vacant.’

    ‘The church is not an easy profession for a man with no one to speak for him, unlike the Navy, where a man may prove his worth,’ I remarked.

    ‘But it is still not impossible to rise in the world,’ he said.

    ‘With Sophia well married, and I a commander, I would like to see you become a bishop,’ I said.

    He only laughed, and said he did not have my ambition. Nevertheless, he expressed his intention of walking into town tomorrow in an effort to learn more.

    We said our goodnights.

    As I mounted the stairs, my thoughts returned to Harville, now married, and realized that a part of my life had changed. He and I had been as brothers, but now he had moved on to a new life, and I felt a restlessness inside me, a longing to move on to a new life of my own.

Thursday 21 August

    Edward walked into town this afternoon to learn all he could about the living at Trewithing. Whilst he was out, a note was delivered from Kellynch Hall, and I had to contain my impatience until he returned, for it was addressed to him.

    ‘Upon my soul!’ he exclaimed as he opened it. ‘We are invited to dine with Sir Walter Elliot at Kellynch Hall.’

    ‘There must be some mistake,’ I said.

    ‘See for yourself.’

    He threw the note to me. Sure enough, it was an invitation.

    ‘I thought Sir Walter did not like me,’ I said in surprise.

    ‘My dear brother, not every invitation that arrives is a compliment to you. It is possible that he wishes to see me. If he has heard of my hopes—but no, he would be no more interested in the rector of a small parish than he is in the curate of an even smaller one. He is simply being neighbourly, that is all.’

    ‘Either that, or he needs to make up his numbers.’

    ‘You are not a very trusting man, Frederick.’

    ‘I have found it better to err on the side of caution when going into battle,’ I replied.

    ‘Sir Walter is surely no match for a man of your abilities,’ he mocked me.

    No, I thought, but Lady Russell is.

    I could not help wondering if she was behind the invitation. Did she want to see me, so that she might