Three – Wentworth’s Dilemma

As Wentworth walked back to Queen’s Square, where his sister and the Admiral had lodgings, he was acutely aware of several matters upsetting him.

Anne’s uppity family, with their stiff, unbending behaviour, was the most disturbing of them. How would her father treat her for the remaining time his middle daughter would stay under his roof? Wentworth understood only now what his beloved Anne had gone through these past eight years. He felt ashamed for letting his wounded feelings guide him at the time of their break-up.

Then there was his own family to be informed.

His sister, Sophie Croft, would be most astonished when she heard of his engagement to Anne. What would be her reaction if he asked her to take Anne into her home until their wedding? He would have to find some hotel to stay, of course. It would be most improper to live in the same house as his betrothed before they were married.

Furthermore, there was Kellynch Hall.

Wentworth wanted to buy it as a wedding present for Anne. It was high-prized but not a challenge to his substantial fortune, which was well invested and secure. He intended to administer the estate himself and restore it to its rightful prosperity. To that purpose he would have to start from the bottom up; Sir Walter’s extravaganzas had drained Kellynch to an inch of bankruptcy.

Tomorrow would prove to be a busy day; he needed to procure a wedding licence and to purchase an estate.

~~~~

When the footman announced a visitor, Anne was puzzled as to whom it might be. It was almost ten in the evening! If she had planned to attend a soiree or a dance, Anne would be about to leave now. If, on the contrary, she had planned to stay in, then the hour for visits was a trifle late. She quickly checked her appearance in her mirror and chuckled at herself by doing so. Since Frederick’s kiss that morning, her attitude towards herself had changed; she wanted to look beautiful and perfect, not only for him, but also for all the rest of the world.

In excited anticipation she entered the drawing room. In front of the sofa stood Lady Russell and Anne froze in dismay. This was the last person she wanted to see, let alone speak to. However, while she made her curtsy, Anne realised that Lady Russell did not yet know of her betrothal to Frederick nor that she was aware of Anne’s changed feelings towards her.

Lady Russell stepped forward and grabbed Anne’s hands in hers.

“My dear Anne,” she said, in an urging voice, “please tell me if the rumours are true and you have accepted the proposal of Captain Wentworth?”

“I have, indeed,” Anne beamed.

Lady Russell’s face showed utmost disapproval.

“But, my dear child, you cannot do that! You are about to throw yourself into a hasty and most unsatisfactory marriage to a man who is not your equal! Anne, you are a baronet’s daughter and Captain Wentworth has no breeding at all! You must break up with him immediately and remove yourself from him once again. We could go on a journey to the Continent, Italy perhaps, to smoothen the parting.”

Anne tore her hands free and drew herself up. This woman still had the power to make her feel like a little girl!

“I’m afraid you are mistaken, Lady Russell,” she said, in a respectful but firm tone of voice.

She saw the woman’s brows go up in astonishment and hastened to continue.

“On the contrary, I am very determined to marry my dear Frederick. We have been separated for far too long a time and will lose no more precious years of happiness.”

The flash of fury was undeniable in Lady Russell’s eyes and her thin lips stiffened in dismay.

“Anne, you are acting very foolishly! Do you wish to be shunned by Society? No one that is of any importance will be inviting you at their home in the future. You will become an outcast. Is that what you wish for you and that man, and, God forbid, for your future children?”

Anne had the greatest trouble in keeping her face serious. What unimportant and petty matters did upset this stupid woman! In a gesture of pity she laid her hand on Lady Russell’s arm and said gently:

“Dear Lady Russell, I know you were my mother’s best friend and you have been mine for countless years but in this, you are wrong. You don’t know Frederick and are therefore not in a position to criticize him. We will do as we planned and if Society does not approve, we will ignore it. Happiness does not depend on what people think of you.”

In a tone that could have frozen lava, the now truly enraged gentlewoman all of spat at Anne.

“I never could have dreamed, Anne Elliot, of you turning into a hussy! For that is what you will be called soon! Have you even considered what your brainless action will do to your poor father? He is a baronet, Anne! His very reputation will be destroyed and so will that of your poor sisters! I beg of you, come to your senses!”

Suddenly Anne had heard enough. She rushed to the door of her bedchamber, grabbed it and tore it open.

“I would be obliged to you if you would step outside, Madam! No more will be said about this affair and I will do as I see fit!”

Gathering her skirts in a gesture fit to tear them, Lady Russell swept out and finally, Anne was able to breathe a sigh of relief. She was not allowed much peace because the door burst open again and Sir Walter stalked into the room. Anne gasped! Never had she seen her father’s face so contorted with rage!

“Madam! You will leave my house this instant without taking so much as a pair of stockings or a comb! You are no longer a daughter of mine and I do not ever wish to see to again!”

The baronet grabbed Anne’s arm and literally dragged her downstairs, through the hall and out of the front door which slammed shut behind her with a deafening boom.

Anne was on the streets without a coat, bonnet or reticule. She had nothing, not even her intimate belongings and what was even worse, she had not the slightest inkling to what she was to do next.