It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To

Louisa rested quietly on the bed. She lay motionless, keeping her dress as straight as she could make it, endeavoring to keep it free of wrinkles. She wondered what Frederick was doing right then. Closing her eyes, she could imagine him in his glorious uniform, talking and laughing. If only the headache would leave so that she might be with him. She had a gift for him. A gift on which she had worked from the time he had left to Plymouth until that very afternoon. The stitching of it had been simple, but there had been so many and the sewing had caused headaches just as reading did and so she had rested often as she stitched. Having wrapped the gift with great care, it sat on her dresser, awaiting an opportunity to be given. Looking over to it, she wondered if ... perhaps ... Mama would bring him up to her room so that she might give him her gift ...

She knew that it would be an impossibility, He may not come tonight, but tomorrow night at this time he shall be my husband and then he will be free to come . . . Tomorrow night at this time she and her husband would be at Kellynch Hall . . .together. When she thought about their wedding night, a pleasant sensation moved through her stomach. When she had begun to think about Frederick as the man she was to marry, she had begun to feel things she had never before felt. She had been surprised that merely thinking about him would cause a response so strong and yet so pleasurable. There were times her thoughts of him had shocked her and she had to put them aside. She knew about procreation; living on a farm, that knowledge had come naturally and had never been terribly scandalous, until she began to think in terms of her husband and herself. There was much she did not understand about such things, but she knew that she loved Frederick and surely he would be patient with her as she learned to please him.

As with all the other times she had allowed herself to think about her wedding night, these thoughts had only left her frustrated and anxious, so to gain relief, she forced her mind to wander elsewhere. Listening closely, she could just make out the piano. She knew Anne to be playing as Cousin Minerva Hayter was sick and could not come with the rest of the family musicians. Louisa could not make out the tune; thankfully it was slower and quieter than most of the others had been that evening. She nearly felt guilty for wishing all the family to leave as the parties of the last two days were taking their toll. All the celebrations will be over tomorrow and I will be married to Frederick. And then we will begin a quiet life together, she thought.

With her fingers she traced the seams of the quilt on her bed; To just be rid of this pain, she moaned to herself. The party the night before had left her drained and awfully tired, upon awakening that morning the headache had been present and stayed throughout the day. It was most likely from the parties and the sewing, and the nerves. Earlier that evening, she had barely gotten through having to lead out the dancing. Frederick must think her a ninny as she had forgotten many of the steps, he had had to lead her through the simplest of sets.

What an embarrassment! It would only serve to strengthen her mother's conviction that she was hopelessly damaged and would never be right. That was a thought that she could not allow herself to dwell upon. It would be so simple to excuse her clumsiness and difficulty in reading; to do nothing to remedy the weaknesses. Excusing herself too often would keep her from getting better and now that she was to be married, it was more vital than ever that she should be better. It would not due to have such a wonderful husband and not strive to be everything in a wife he would desire.

She wished more than anything to be a good wife to Frederick, and she thought herself to have an excellent beginning after being welcomed into the family by his brother, Reverend Wentworth. When Frederick had first introduced her to the Reverend, she had thought that he would be like most clergymen she knew of, staid and formal. But those fears were soon put to rest when after a welcoming kiss and kind compliments to her, he had lovingly disparaged his brother, who had borne the insults well. He had then launched into all the amusing stories he had about with his trip from Shropshire, paying special attention to his last five miles travelled in a dung-cart. By the time he had finished, Louisa knew there was nothing to fear from her new brother. He had also been so very gracious to give her his wife, Catherine's regards and an invitation to come and visit soon. She wondered for a moment what Mrs Wentworth must be like. He had said she could not attend as she was expecting a baby and there had not been time to properly prepare for a journey. Even the Admiral and Mrs Croft had greeted her warmly. The Admiral had always been kind, Mrs Croft had always been very polite to her, but now she had been welcomed by her as a sister and warmly brought into the family. Either she had not seen or if she had, did not comprehend the meaningful looks traded between the Reverend and his sister. It had been very gratifying as the evening up until that point had been rather dismal owing to her throbbing head.

Thinking about Reverend Wentworth and Mrs Croft, naturally brought Louisa's thoughts back to Frederick. Captain Frederick Wentworth. When he had come to the district, fresh from his time at sea, she had little known that in less than six months time she would be his wife. She had hoped to catch his eye, as he was quite the handsomest man she had ever seen, but she would not have been audacious enough to believe herself the woman he would choose to marry. In fact, following her accident in Lyme, and his leaving, after a fortnight, to journey to Shropshire, she had been surprised that she was not heart-broken at all. It had stung a bit, but nothing close to the anguish which she imagined parted lovers were to properly feel. It was not until he had actually returned to Uppercross and asked for her hand that she had even begun to think of him again. Though he had gone the day after the proposal was made, and had remained gone for well over a week, she had thought of little but him. She had committed to memory the lines of his face and the set of is jaw. She knew the lay of his hair and that his beard, even when freshly shaven in the morning, began to show itself in the early afternoon. She knew his laugh and the tone of his voice as he told stories of the sea and his beloved Laconia. In such a short time, she had come to love him so deeply. She marvelled how, at that very moment, she loved him so much that it was nearly a pain in her chest. There were times that this love she felt caused her breath to catch when she thought of him and his ways.

After being released from the piano, Anne stood quietly near the fire of the room being used for the guests to sit. Rubbing her hands to work out the soreness, she thought of all the use they had been put to over the past days. Looking at them as though they belonged to another, she thought, These poor hands! They have been quite over-used this last week. But that shall be ended tomorrow. Studying her fingers and rubbing the red and pin pricked tips lightly with her thumb, she was grateful that they would have an opportunity to heal soon, for she had no intention of picking up a needle and thread for a good long time!

She looked through the doorway and watched as Henrietta played a reel for the dancers. She had taken Anne's place at the keyboard, but very reluctantly it had seemed. That mattered little to Anne, for had she not, Anne would still be at the piano, trying to keep to the playing of the enthusiastic, but rather unpolished Hayter family orchestra. The playing was not so difficult, it had given her occupation and kept her mind somewhat busy. The difficulty had come in watching the dancing. Of course the bride and groom had lead out. She had tried not to watch, but she could not help herself. Frederick had looked directly at her and in realising who was playing, it seemed that he had lost his place in the set. Louisa had been flustered but had recovered herself well enough. It seems I am destined to play for my own heart break. As she thought this, she chided herself for such melodramatic notions.

Just then, a light touch on her shoulder and a woman's voice in her ear interrupted, "Anne, dear. I need you to run a little errand for me, if you would. All the girls are busy and I am now pressing the family for help!"

"Oh! certainly, Mrs Musgrove." Sadie had caught her unawares, but soon her attention was back to the business of the family dinner.

Mrs. Musgrove had asked that Anne fetch yet another set of cups for the refreshment table. As she wove her way through the crowded rooms, Captain Benwick had fallen into step beside her. "May I be of assistance, Miss Anne?" She had accepted his offer gladly as the evening was beginning to take its toll upon her nerves and energy.

They had made their way to a most awkward room in the Great House. At one time it had been used for storing the Musgrove hunting arsenal. Long ago it had even been used for the master's taxidermy. In its last incarnation, it had been used as a small reading room, but as the years had gone by, Mrs. Musgrove's propensity for tableware had outstripped the kitchen's ability to stay in good order. It had been decided to convert the reading room to an extension of the pantry. A hallway door remained and could be used to enter without going through the kitchen. In the room, a door to the kitchen pantry was made and that was Anne's destination.

"They actually turned a reading room into a pantry? I must say that I would be more inclined to do quite the exact opposite," Captain Benwick had quipped.

"I think that the Musgroves are not great readers," was Anne's only reply. Opening the door to the pantry, she took quick stock of the contents and saw the needed cups on a high shelf. She was glad for the Captain's presence. He could use a nearby stool and hand down what was needed.

As Anne and Benwick were arranging the cups so as not to break them, they heard someone enter the outer area. Benwick opened the swinging door a crack and saw that Louisa and Captain Wentworth had come into the room. He turned quickly to Anne and motioned for quiet. "The happy couple is just outside," he whispered. Anne blanched. What were they to do? While they both held punch cups aplenty, the situation did look a bit odd. They stood quietly, hoping that the other couple would leave soon. Benwick thought that he had hit upon the perfect solution, and tried the door to the kitchen. It was blocked and there was so much noise with voices clamouring, dishes clattering and pots, scraping and banging, that no one could have heard them even if they had been in a way to call out. They were trapped in the closet and there was nothing to be done. It became evident soon on that the couple would not be leaving quickly, and that they would also be subjected to their conversation as voices carried well into the small cabinet. Realising this, Captain Benwick tried to converse with Miss Anne.

"I saw that Miss Henrietta finally took your place at the piano, I asked her several times to play. I am afraid I trifled with her a bit, I told her that I had heard her to be quite an excellent musician and wished to hear her. To be honest, I had never heard anything more than she played, but I determined that you needed some relief and she was my only hope. Miss Anne?" Seeing that she was intent on other thoughts, he stood quietly. Little did he realise that her other thoughts were the conversation from the outer room.

"I am sorry I disappeared so soon after our dance, I have a headache and went to lie down for a bit. I had hoped that Mama would allow you up to my room so that I might give you something, but then I realised that it would be highly improper, so I had to come and seek you out."

"Well, your were right to think it that ... my coming to you would be quite improper. But...well, is the headache better?" He could see the pain as it was so obvious in her eyes. He thought she must have led him to this slightly quieter spot as the noise of the party would be playing havoc with her.

"Yes, it is much better, thank you. The reason I have brought us here, is that I have something for you . . . Frederick." Louisa handed him a gaily wrapped package. It was soft, not in a box and he stood for a moment doing anything with it. "I made it myself, I thought you might wear it tomorrow at the wedding."

She eagerly awaited his opening it. He knew that a true lover would anxiously tear into the paper and praise whatever the contents might be; a true lover would, but he could not. Knowing that she expected some sort of response, he began to untie the ribbon which held it together. Removing the paper he found it to be a neckcloth of silk, rich in deep blues and dark grey, with gold threads tracing their way through the pattern. Ordinarily, he would have found it beautiful, but under these circumstances, its beauty was diminished. He touched it as he thought that appropriate and smiled a tight smile to the girl, "Thank you, but I as I am to wear my uniform, a white neckcloth is the only thing that may be worn. Perhaps another time."

"Oh . . . I had not realised . . . your uniform. Of course you must wear what the uniform calls for . . . how silly of me to forget. Though you cannot wear it tomorrow, do you like it? I thought the colours would suit you very well...them being blues and all." Her initial look of disappointment was taken over by a hope that he would have some praise for her efforts

Seeing the expectancy cross her face, Frederick knew that he must make some gesture of gratitude. "I like it very much. Thank you for making it. As I said, I shall wear it some other time. Some time soon." He leaned towards her to give an appreciative kiss on her cheek.

Louisa beamed and excitedly threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you, darling. I am so glad that you like it." Upon saying this, she kissed him.

Since the engagement had been announced, there had been other kisses. Very short, very public, very proper kisses. None of them had been satisfactory to Louisa, a girl of romantic tendencies and a growing passion for the man she was to marry. Being taken so by surprise, it was an instant or two before Frederick could take control of the situation and so his response was natural and seemed to be that of a man in love.

As he steeled himself, the thought came suddenly to him, She truly loves me . . . what am I doing to her? He broke away from the kiss and not knowing what else to do, simply held her. The thought that she loved him and that he could not return this feeling was more than he could abide. There she stood trembling in his arms; it grieved him that while she was responding to him with love and desire, he stood like a stone, unable to feel anything. "We should go back to the party, Louisa," he whispered. While he had abominated the large party the evening before and was just barely tolerating this evening's festivities, the irony of running back to it for protection was not lost upon him.

Louisa took her arms from around him and looked shyly to his eyes, "Yes, we had best go back before we are missed."

As they were turning to go, they heard voices in the hallway.

"It will be quite all right Charles, no one will look in here. I used to hide ever so long here as a child."

The voice was Henrietta's. She and Charles Hayter were looking for a quiet spot to be alone. As they had been engaged longer than Louisa and the Captain, there were the constant questions about when would they be married and was it not rather sudden about Wentworth and Louisa? The frame of Henrietta's mind was not to wonder about her sister and her intended, it was to have time alone--alone with Mr Hayter.

The door swung open just as Frederick and Louisa came to leave by it. It nearly caught Louisa in the shoulder and would have, had he not reached above her head and stopped its path. The door stopping caused Charles Hayter to peek around the edge to see what jammed it. "Oh! sorry, Captain. We didn't know that anyone was in here." His eyes were large and surprised. He was still very much intimidated by Captain Wentworth's presence.

"That is quite all right, Mr. Hayter. We were just leaving. Excuse us, please." He took Louisa by the arm and stepped around the other couple.

The door to the pantry tentatively opened and Benwick peered around it to see if the room was clear. Ascertaining that Frederick and Louisa were quite gone, but now seeing that the room was occupied by someone else, he looked back to Anne and shrugged his shoulders. There was nothing to do, but wait. "So, Miss Anne, are the closets of all the Great Houses round about this country so busy, or just Uppercross?" He had asked the question with as sarcastic a tone as possible.

Smiling at the notion of others being in a similar state, she shook her head and whispered, "No, certainly not! Other homes are much too fine for such as this; only at Uppercross would you find two Good Samaritans fetching the glassware, trapped in a closet, trying not to embarrass themselves or those that they are forced to spy on!"

Acting as indifferent to the state of affairs as was possible, they stood quietly until after a few moments, Anne's arms began to grow quite tired and while trying to shift the load of cups that she held, some of them fell against one another and clinked loudly. Benwick could see that the situation could not continue and that now the only alternative was to boldly confront the obstacle which lay between them and relief of escape.

"Well, Miss Anne. There is nothing to be done except put smiles on our faces and square our shoulders as we march ourselves out of this closet and on to the hallway. Are you game?" he asked with a smile and a whisper of resolve.

"I suppose that my readiness is not material in this. We must get out of here, somehow," she said, smiling with resolution.

"Here we go!" he said.

Benwick opened the door with his shoulder and stepped out of the closet. He opened the door more widely so that she could go by. Anne passed without a word to the hall and escaped. Benwick smiled and said, "Excuse us, duty calls you know." He let the door go closed and left the room to the couple. Charles and Henrietta just watched them and had nothing to say.

Neither Benwick nor Anne had anything to say as they delivered the cups to the refreshment table. Placing them neatly, Anne tied to order Frederick and Louisa's conversation as she had heard it. Frederick had sounded so stiff and unappreciative. This was not the man who, in the past had lovingly accepted flowers for his lapel, nor the man who had once smiled and eaten through a plate of burnt arrack biscuits when she had attempted to make one of his favorite sweets. The tone in his voice that she had heard bothered her greatly as she knew him to have a warm and amiable heart; he had proven this occasionally during their times together when he had first come back to the area. It shocked her and she wished to know why he acted in such a manner. She was suddenly drawn back to the party by someone taking her by the elbow, "Miss Anne, I think you should come with me before another task that needs doing is found for you." She turned to the voice and found it to be Captain Benwick's.

He led her away from the noise and confusion of the party to the small morning room at the opposite side of the house. As they entered the room, she noticed that there was a fire in the fireplace and a small table with two chairs was pulled close to the hearth. The table was laid some of the choicer bits from the refreshment table. Captain Benwick guided her to the table and held a chair for her. Seating her, he said, "I found this room in my wanderings this evening." He poured her a very small glass of sherry and smiled. He continued, "While Harville's house is tiny in comparison, it is not nearly so active. I find I must fortify myself with a time of quiet before wading into the fray of another Musgrove celebration." She smiled at this bit of truth.

As they began to pick up their conversation of the previous evening, a noise drew their attention to a side door. It was Harville bumping his way through an unlit hall. Making his way towards the light from the morning room, he came into it and stopped, realising that it was occupied. He began to frame an apology when he came to notice who the occupants were. "Well, you two had best not let Charles Musgrove catch you at this; as I recall James, it was to be keelhauling from the yardarm for you," he said with a wide grin. James stood and found another chair for his friend, he did not truly wish for another companion, but he also knew that Harville was no more comfortable in such a large company than he.

"Come, have a seat Timothy; your leg must be giving you fits after your tramp last night." To Anne he said, "The cold and damp cause him great pain, though you might never know it if the telling were left to him," he said, indicating Harville with a nod of his head. Placing his friend nearest to the fire, he passed him a plate and served him a little of all that he had gathered their impromptu 'picnic.' The conversation began to flow and soon it turned to the bridegroom.

Harville asked Benwick, "So have you seen anything of Frederick?" Taking a bite of roasted veal, he awaited an answer.

"No, not hide nor hair of him. Have you?" Benwick had finished eating and was now enjoying a glass of port from a decanter he had snagged off one of the groaning tables in the public rooms.

"No. And it is a real shame, for Captain Wentworth is not wont to have a lively time, but Frederick always relished these kinds of affairs."

Anne sat and listened to their conversation, but she was exceedingly puzzled. She and Captain Benwick had seen Frederick Wentworth not an hour ago when they had been trapped together in the pantry closet. And she herself had seen him several times as she had played the piano and passed through the rooms doing little errands for Mrs Musgrove. As they talked on, she determined to ask what they meant. "May I ask a question? I have seen the Captain several times and Captain Benwick, you and I saw him not above and hour ago when we were tra. . . when we fetched the cups. Why do the two of you keep saying that you have not seen him?"

"Oh! I suppose that is rather confusing," said Benwick. "So, shall I do the honours Timothy, or shall you?" Looking to Harville, he took his leave to explain.

"Well, Miss Anne. Frederick and Timothy and I were all good friends while aboard the Laconia, but, as was only proper, also being his officers, he had to treat us with the same perfect indifference shown all the others. That was on duty. When we were dining alone, the three of us, or on shore together, we were able to put aside the formalities. To make it simpler for the two of us, when referring to Frederick, that was our friend; when speaking of Captain Wentworth, that was, the Captain." Benwick stood and poured her another glass of sherry, which she accepted with a smile; gentlemen were not usually so prodigious in their attentions. Taking Harville's plate, he exchanged it for a glass of port.

Harville took up where Benwick had left off, "So, when we say that we have seen nothing of Frederick, it is not in a physical sense, it is in the sense that our friend has yet to make an appearance." With this, he looked into the fire for a time and downed the remaining port in his glass.

Sensing that the two men were puzzled by the Captain, Anne decided to ask about Frederick. "So . . . what would . . . Frederick be like . . . if he were here?"

Harville spoke first. "Frederick would have been the first to give the bride a congratulatory kiss, heartily shaken the groom's hand and given the most moving and elegant toast to their happiness."

"Aye! and if there was a shrewd prank to be played on the unsuspecting couple, you can be certain that he would be at its center!" Benwick said with a laugh as he thought about their ill-fated attempt earlier in the day. Quietly chuckling, he finished his port.

"Truer words were never spoken, James. Frederick Wentworth is a good man. A good friend. I just have to wonder where he is."

"You must understand, Miss Anne, a captain on a ship is very lonely. There cannot be the least whiff of favoritism, but Frederick never used the excuse of that to be hard on his men. He came as close to all of them as his rank would allow. Even as the captain, he was as affable as he could be without causing a weakness of discipline. Most men of rank generally stay to themselves, it is easier than trying to be impartial, but Frederick is not a singular man when it comes to society and so he draws people to himself. He is a very funny man actually. A very funny man . . ." James sat quietly and poured himself more port.

"Ahem . . . yes, he can be a real wit." Harville said, endeavoring to save the lively mood. "But he is also, of all things . . . superstitious."

Anne's eyes widened. She had known all about his social nature and his wit, but this was a side of him that she had never seen. "Really? I should never have guessed."

"Well, most of us are really . . . sailors I mean," Benwick said with a bit of embarrassment. "Some more than others," he said, giving Timothy a pointed look. "But the Captain has it rather worse than many." Filling Harville's glass and then offering Anne more of the sherry, he reminded his friend, "You should tell her about Mr Whiskers."

"Mr Whiskers?" Anne said with surprise. "That seems an odd name for a sailor."

Benwick and Harville began to laugh. Benwick recovered first and said gleefully, "No, Mr Whiskers was not a sailor, he wasn't even a man, but I suppose he should have been on the books as a supernumerary." Looking to Anne, he explained, "Extra on the ship, passengers or those not on the muster log as crew members. Someone not being paid, but still needs to be fed." Nodding to Harville, "Tell her about that, she would enjoy hearing, I think."

Taking a drink, he started, "Well, a few years ago, the Captain agreed to take my wife, Elsa and her sister and a cousin, plus the children from Portsmouth to Plymouth to join me. Now he abominates women on ships and is nearly maniacal on the point, but as a favor to me . . . well he put his superfine opinion aside and agreed to take them. Well, my daughter was nearly four at the time and she had a cat--Mr Whiskers. Elsa was well aware of Frederick's rather . . . entrenched point of view when it comes to cats . . . they are abominably unlucky on a ship . . . to be avoided at all costs. Along with white-handled knives, parsons and starting a voyage on a Friday."

At this listing, Benwick began to snicker into his glass of port, "Those and about a thousand other supposed ill omens."

Timothy glared, and said, "You laugh at all these things, but yet we have come through quite a lot of misadventure paying attention to such things! And you can't argue with my bit of Ellie's caul!"

At this, James laughed outright and very heartily. "No, never would I argue with your bit of caul! Tell her what it's for . . . go on! Tell her, Timothy!"

Anne sat looking at the two friends, they were obviously of differing minds about matter of this particular superstition, but the bit of caul seemed to be a point of seriousness for the one and a point of hilarity for the other.

"All right, I will. And I'll show her as well," Harville said with energy. As he reached into his pocket, Anne saw Benwick rolled his eyes and mutter, "The man has been ashore two years and he's still carrying a caul with him." Aloud, to Timothy he said, "Were you expecting a hard blow and you might be washed overboard at Kellynch, my boy? Good G-d, such foolishness." Shaking his head, he patiently awaited the appearing of the caul.

Taking a leather pouch from his pocket, Timothy snorted in reply to James, "You laugh. But one cannot argue with tried and true results!" Untying the blue cord which was wrapped around the pouch, Harville opened it and brought out what appeared to be a small piece of very white, very thin leather. Handing it to Anne, he said, "Now you know what that is, don't you?"

"No, no, Timothy!" cried Benwick, waving his hand as he leaned forward. "Before you tell her what it is, tell her what it is for." Benwick's eyes were bright and his face was flushed, Anne was not certain whether it was from the exchange the two were having or the port the men were drinking.

"All right. Miss Anne, when a sailor carries a bit of caul with him, on his physical person, it will prevent him from drowning." To James he looked and said, "Even you can't argue with the fact that I have never been drowned!"

Anne was caught up in the uproarious laughter of Captain Benwick. This was most definitely a disagreement of longstanding, but one that was good-naturedly borne by Captain Harville, who Anne observed was merely sitting with his arms crossed, watching his friend endeavor to control his laughter. Wiping his eyes, James Benwick said, "No my dearest friend, I should never argue that point. I will not mention that your charm has not kept you from being shot, nearly run through on numerous occasions, had a belaying pin taken to your head by that mad Danish fellow and your leg hacked to bits with a boarding axe! I will give credit where credit is due, your charm so far has kept you from drowning!" Shifting himself in his chair, as though to get a better view, he motioned with his hand to Miss Anne. "Now, Timothy. Tell her what it is!"

Peering at his friend intently, Timothy Harville said, "You're through, are you? . . . making sport of my charm?" Benwick took on a reverential mien and nodded earnestly.

"Well, Miss Anne. Though my firstborn child was indeed a daughter, and I would never wish you to think that I am sorry for her birth, but it was a bit of a . . . frustration that she was not a boy. But, I feel that the hand of Providence was at work for she was born with a veil . . . a bit of the caul over her face, don't you know. And so I have sailed with this little piece of it since then, and have felt as safe as if I were at home--well, safe from drowning at least."

With as little expression as possible, Benwick looked from Timothy as he had explained just what it was that Miss Anne held in her hands. Then turning to look at her, he awaited the explanation to flood her mind.

It took a moment for Anne to put order to all that Harville had said about his daughter and being frustrated, but that Providence had worked and his daughter was born with a veil. While Anne had no experience of births, she had heard the expression, "born with a veil," though she struggled to remember what it meant. It came to her that at school in Bath, a horrid school fellow, who had taken great pleasure in the morbid and gross, had told her what it meant. The explanation came to her. The two thoughts met and Anne realised what she was holding.

Looking with wide eyes down at the bit of leathery caul, she glanced at Benwick and his solemn face. She could see the merriment in his eyes and see that he was fighting to keep his expression under his own control. She looked at Captain Harville and with a thin smile on her lips, handed the caul back to him. Watching as he slipped the charm back in its bag, she thought how odd all of this was. The man she loved was to be married to someone else the next day, she had been forced to listen as his fiancee had given him a gift; now she was sitting with his two particular friends, discussing good luck charms and handling bits of his daughter's . . .

"Well, Miss Anne, shall I continue with the story of Mr Whiskers?" Timothy asked.

"Wha . . .oh! Tell me Captain Harville, does the story have anything to do with drowning, by any chance?"

Benwick began to laugh again. Harville was completely unaware of the quip that Anne had made and thought that his friend had been too deep into the port. "No, no drowning in it."

"Then, pray go on and tell me of Mr Whiskers," Anne said, very relieved indeed.

Benwick mastered himself and listened like a gentleman as Harville told of his daughter bringing a cat aboard the Laconia. "We had already figured that Frederick would have no compunction telling my wife 'no,' so, after they were aboard and preparing to weigh anchor, Elsa sends word that it is urgent she speak to the Captain and may she address him on deck? Well, to be polite to a friend's wife, he grants permission. She brings Ellie up with her and has her pour out her tale of love for Mr Whiskers, rather than my wife do it. Elsa said she could see him melt looking into those blue eyes of my girl and he grants permission for the cat to stay aboard. Elsa said that after having dinner with him that evening, Frederick took her aside and told her what a vile trick he thought that was." Timothy smiled as he thought about his clever wife. "Anywise, Mr Whiskers was granted passage, but he was to be kept in the cabin and only released for . . . necessities. Well, he got away more than once and it seemed that Frederick was his favourite person onboard, next to Ellie. He liked to jump through the skylight into his cabin and scare the hel... ahem, daylights out of him at odd moments. The voyage was seven days due to several stops and so Mr Whiskers had time to make himself comfortable. Months later, I was told by the Captain's steward that during the late evenings of the voyage, when he would bring Frederick his last port of the night, more than once the cat had found its way onto his lap. Michaelson said that the cat would contentedly allow his ears to be stroked, while Frederick quietly read a book. I would have paid good hard gold to see that picture."

"You and about a hundred other chaps, Timothy. Frederick is a kindhearted man, he just has a talent for covering it over when he chooses. But I suppose you know him rather well, being as how he was here much of last fall."

The comment surprised Anne, she had not expected his friends to connect the two of them in any way. "No, I am not very familiar with the Captain. He and I were polite, but not what one could call friends." The very words had hurt her to say, but it was true enough.

A clock struck the hour and the gentlemen decided that they must clear away all the evidence of their 'party.' They would not allow Anne to help them in any way. "If you don't mind me saying so, Miss Anne, the habitual cleanliness of the Navy makes us the perfect ones to clear this place up and we will no doubt do it faster as there are the two of us and we know how to work together. So, if you would care to go back to the riot . . . I mean party, we can bring this room to Bristol fashion in no time at all," Captain Benwick said with a glint in his eye; he was rather pleased with his jest.

"Certainly, gentlemen. It is refreshing to see men cleaning up after themselves, it is a sight we don't see on land very often. Thank you, Captain Benwick. Thank you, Captain Harville. I had a very enjoyable time." She had offered a hand to each and they had courteously bowed as she left them. What nice gentlemen. Perhaps they are now my friends as well, she thought, taking one last look before continuing down the hall.

In another part of the Great House, the Reverend, seeing that his sister stood alone, moved silently to her side. Leaning close to her, he whispered in her ear, "Thank you, Sophia."

"What do you mean, Edward?" She knew precisely what her brother was speaking of but wished to hear him say it.

"Thank you for being so kind to Miss Musgrove. She is a charming girl, and I think girl is the term we must remember. None of this was her doing. Or are you still of the mind that she has plotted her way into the Wentworth "dynasty?"' He took a drink of ale and watched her over the edge of the tankard. He wanted to know her mind as he was curious to know how Frederick had fared.

"It is a "dynasty" is it? I was not aware." Taking a sip of wine, she looked at her older brother with detachment, she was not about to make this easy for him.

"All right, I shall be blunt, how did you and Frederick get on--once he faced you?" Taking up a small pasty from one of the generously spread tables, Edward took a bite. As the flavour permeated his palate, the look which crossed his face struck his sister as very amusing. She laughed quietly, holding out a napkin for him to dispose of the offending tidbit. "I am told that the Hayters brought many traditional family foods; I am also told that they do quite a lot with goat."

As he turned and spat out the pasty, Edward's eyes widened. He thought for a moment. "Then I suppose that we are to rejoice she is a Musgrove and not a Hayter." He tucked the napkin under a bunch of greenery decorating the table and turned back to Sophy. "Well, how did things go? I stepped into the sitting room earlier and saw no signs of violence." He smiled at his own drollery.

Sophy smiled back and began to walk. The conversation with her younger brother had been short. "There was nothing amiss in the sitting room for we walked out of doors. I think he had in mind keeping me from vases and small, easily thrown objects."

Edward chuckled and then stayed his hand as he was about to pick up a bit of soused meat. Gesturing to his sister, he queried, "Goat?"

"Perhaps," was all she would say.

He thought better of the soused meat and went on, "Well, I think it was wise on his part, no man should appear on his wedding day with the imprint of a vase on his forehead. Seriously, dear. What passed between you?" Thinking a piece of cheese safe, he took it and began to nibble.

"He is fortunate that you arrived when you did. Had I gotten hold of him sooner . . . well, things would have been very unpleasant. And . . . though I hate to admit it, you were right. What you had to say was all true. I have no business being angry about this when I did nothing to stop it. He told me he felt obliged and that he needed me to support his choice. And so I shall."

Going on, she told a bit more of the conversation and that she felt badly just looking into his eyes. Knowing that he had regard for another made it all the worse. "I know that this will make me seem quite the mercenary, but George has told me that he knows Frederick's time ashore will be very short. And that he will most likely make Admiral in the next gazetting or two, and I wonder what kind of wife she will make for him. There is so much politics in the Admiralty these days that even a man's wife can make a great difference. Do you think that she will be able to help him . . . or might she be a liability?"

Edward was still musing that the Admiral knew anything about Frederick's time ashore. Perhaps it was not Frederick at all who arranged things, he thought hopefully. Realising that Sophy had asked him a question, he pulled himself back to the conversation at hand. "Wha . . . well, I know that you do not think on this as I do, and it is not necessary for you and George to do so, but I believe that she will serve him well if she is a good wife to him, and most particularly a good mother to their children. Even in my 'profession,' I have seen good 'political' wives, but the children raised by them are a shame on a man of God. I cannot see that it would be any different for a man of the King's service. No, she will do well if she cares for him and their family, leave the political wives to themselves."

"I suppose you are right. If he is happy and does not have to worry about home, his will carry on his career as well as ever. He has certainly distinguished himself before, there is no reason to think that he will not do so again." Stopping at a table, she took a plate and chose some things for Edward. "Not a bit of goat."

Taking the plate, he kissed her cheek and said, "Thank you again, my dear."

As the evening was beginning to come to a close, as the crowd of Hayters, Musgroves and Stickleweeds began to thin, Timothy Harville was finally able to talk with Frederick alone.

"Good G-d, Frederick! How did that happen? What are the chances that you would be awarded the Laconia again? I had even heard a rumour that she was either to the knacker's yard or to be sold off," Harville said with amazement.

"I have the orders and if those rumours had any basis in fact they are going to have to wait for another day. We shall be sailing her again! I was shocked. This was the first bit of good news I have had in weeks!" he said with energy.

"Well, besides being accepted by Miss Musgrove."

"Yes, of course that . . . other than that." Frederick's voice dropped. Even the joy of telling Harville their good fortune was being dampened by his marriage. It permeated everything.

Clapping his friend on the arm, Harville crowed, "My friend, Providence has smiled on us, surely. I cannot believe we are to have her again. The times we had before . . . And to the West Indies yet. From what I hear there is still enough smuggling and pirating to put us in the way of some prize, at least. What is the assignment exactly, have you been told yet?"

"No, just the general orders. I shall be in Plymouth in two weeks. I will need you to be there earlier to start gathering the crew. I have an idea that we will have to start from the decks up. And a purser must be found immediately, someone honest this go would be refreshing." The Captain and Harville continued the conversation for some time. Both were excited to be going back to sea and most especially aboard the Laconia. Aside from one another, the best friend that either of them had ever had.

As the discussion was winding down, Harville suddenly remembered something he had wished to tell Frederick.

"I think I should bow out and you should have your brother stand with you. It would be more fitting."

"But Timothy I asked you. Edward understands that I had no idea that he would make an appearance. I wish things to remain as they are," said the Captain in an annoyed tone.

"I'm sorry . . . Sir. I have to disobey orders on this. The properest person to stand with you is your brother and stand he shall! I'll not take his rightful place. And that is all I have to say on the matter, Frederick." As Harville said these words, the properest person came into the small chamber. "Ah . . . Reverend. Just the person I need. I am trying to tell my friend here that you should stand with him tomorrow and he has given me nothing but argument and opposition. Would you please tell this stubborn . . . man, that you would be pleased to stand with him in my stead?" Timothy began to leave the room, "I need more of that punch, I shall let the two of you settle one another's hash over this. Good bye, fellows!" With that he was gone.

The two men stood looking at one another. "I had no idea of your coming, else I would have asked you," Frederick said.

"I know. I would be pleased to stand with you, if . . . well, if you wish it. I know we have disagreed . . . " Edward watched his brother, hoping to know his thoughts by an expression.

For the first time in hours, Frederick smiled in genuine happiness. "Yes, I wish it, above all things, to have you beside me when I do this." He moved toward Edward to shake his hand and Edward moved toward his brother with every intention of the same when a misstep or two brought the full tankard of ale that Frederick held pouring onto his breeches leg, and stocking and even into his shoe.

"What an oaf I am tonight! Here is my kerchief, I shall get something more to wipe this up with," said Edward with disgust in his tone. As his brother hastened out the door, Frederick looked down at his best breeches. I knew I should not have worn these tonight. Harkness will have to get a girl to clean them when I return to Kellynch. Blotting his pant leg and then the stocking, he removed his shoe and knelt to wipe it out, as rather a lot of the wine had collected in it.

As he was in this position, unbeknownst to him, Anne passed by the anteroom, taking a small tray of dishes to the kitchen. Having determined that occupation was the only way to come through the rest of the evening, she had begun to clear one of the lesser frequented buffet tables and now she chanced to glance into the small anteroom of the study and there he was.

She looked once and then looked again to make certain that she had indeed seen Frederick. When she knew it was he, she stopped and watched in fascination. She could not help seeing him the entire night; dancing with Louisa, talking with various family members, giving and being toasted. But now he was occupied in such a simple thing, he looked to be taking something from his shoe. His head was bent away from her and he was completely unaware that he was being watched. She could take one last look, a final good bye, without him knowing, without his being engaged in something of propriety. He would be as she wished to remember him, not a man of wealth or reputation, merely the man she loved.

"Oh, excuse me," Edward said as he slipped by Anne. Seeing the tray and looking no further, he thought her to be a serving girl that had stopped to perhaps help his brother clean up the spill. As he walked over to Frederick, his brother turned upon hearing the voice. Edward noticed that Frederick was staring and then he took notice of the look on his face. He followed his gaze back to the girl in the doorway, to his horror, he recognised Miss Anne.

All three stood, frozen. Edward was the only one who moved, Anne and Frederick were each in shock of seeing the other, of being just a few paces apart.

Just the evening before, Frederick had discovered that Anne had come from Bath. He had never in any imaginings about the wedding thought that she of all people would be in attendance. What had been worse was being told that, at the particular insistence of her sister, Anne was to be at the ceremony in the tiny Uppercross Chapel. He had been grateful to learn that Anne could not be in attendance at the family party on Thursday, but this evening she had been in attendance and he had not been able to avoid seeing her. His first sight of her had been while she had played the piano for their first dance, he could not help remembering the first evening they had dined together at Uppercross. She had played while he had danced. It had, in fact been in that very room. Throughout the night, it had seemed that she was everywhere he had laid his eyes. When he had seen her during the dancing, he had ruined the set with his distraction. He had muddled through the rest, and had been grateful when Louisa had begged off another turn. His attention had been pulled in countless directions during the rest of the evening, Anne had always appeared to be on the very edge of all of them.

Turning again to Miss Anne, Edward saw that her eyes were filled with tears and that they had begun to spill onto her cheeks. As she realised what was happening, she put a hand to her mouth and turning quickly, fled; the dishes rattling dangerously down the passageway.

"Anne! Anne come back!" Frederick cried with nearly a sob. As he started to the door, Edward grabbed his arm and then took hold of the other.

"No! Let her go! You will do her no good now. The time for all of that is passed!" he said in a hoarse whisper to his brother's ear. Glancing from Frederick, he chanced to see his hand which was now clinched into a fist. Looking back at his brother's face, he could see a glowering that he had never before seen. As a man, he knew just what his brother wanted to do, and so said, "Go ahead, if it will make this easier . . . do it. I have been knocked down before, just not by you."

Frederick sagged and Edward released him. "Did you see her face . . . the tears?"

"Yes. Obviously you are not the only one suffering through this."

All of Frederick's careful reasoning of Anne's disinterest was laid waste. Still looking towards the doorway, he said, "Why did you stop me? I could have talked to her!" His voice was just above a whisper, but with great energy.

"And told her what? How you feel about her? How you have longed for her? Believe me, Brother, she does not need to hear that. She has her own hurts to deal with." Releasing Frederick's arms, Edward looked at the cloth he had fetched which had been dropped in the commotion, he knelt and finished wiping the floor. Tapping his brother's ankle, he said, "Here, put on your shoe." Helping guide his foot into the pump, Edward sat back on his heels and rubbed his own forehead in weariness. "I'm sorry, perhaps I should not have intruded."

Frederick had not moved, save to slip on the shoe. Bending to help his brother to his feet, he said, "No, you were right. The time for all of that is gone forever. It is all my fault, had I put aside my pride . . . " But perhaps there is still something I may do to lessen the damage.

Taking his brother by the arm, Edward began to walk toward the door. As they passed through the doorway, he said, "Come, let us have one more go at the port, I think we both need it."

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