A Different Persuasion (Part 2)

It was not a very romantic wedding, despite the very great love the principals held for one another.  Anne Elliot, at twenty, felt entire happiness and the certainty that she had been right, in accepting Captain Frederick Wentworth, despite her father’s indifference and Lady Russell’s concerns and persuasions. For his part, Captain Wentworth rejoiced in the triumphant knowledge that he had won the greatest prize that a man ever could, and was gaining a wife not only of personal loveliness, but also gentleness and understanding united with firmness of mind.

A short period of mutual felicity followed their engagement, but Captain Wentworth soon remembered the urgent necessity of making his fortune, in order to properly provide for his wife. Confident, sanguine as was his nature, he was sure he would quickly gain a command; and so it proved. Although there were many other applicants, he was fortunate enough to be appointed to command the old sloop Asp, which was slated for a home service tour to the West Indies. He was jubilant, and told Anne that it was exactly as he thought: he always knew he should be lucky, and here was a lucky appointment indeed.

Anne was very ready to be a sailor’s wife, even though it meant waiting at home while her husband was at sea, for Frederick had no idea of her joining him on this, his first voyage as captain. He deplored women going to sea in any case; even though a ship’s captain had the privilege of being accompanied by his wife if he wished, he was sure that ladies could never be comfortable aboard, and less so in the Asp than in other ships. For the little sloop was a battered, old-built vessel, probably on its last voyage before being broken up. Enduring the cramped quarters for a cruise that might last a year, was not to be thought of for delicate Anne. In vain she told him she would rather be uncomfortable and cramped at sea, than lonely and worried at home. He minutely described to her the very real hazards she would face in the West Indies, and still worse, the plentiful battles with ships of the French nation. No such argument would have had any weight with Anne, except Captain Wentworth’s pointing out that concern for his wife’s safety and comfort would be a distraction during a battle, that might put every one’s life in danger.

So Anne acquiesced; and the subject turned to where she would be lodged during his absence. She knew she could not be comfortable or feel welcome at Kellynch. Even apart from her father and elder sister’s disapproval of the marriage, there were practical considerations, for Sir Walter Elliot had disdainfully announced that he would do nothing for her in pecuniary terms. She might lodge with Lady Russell, but her great friend and foster mother had turned frosty and distant in her disappointment of Anne “settling” for a rash, headstrong fellow who upon his marriage would immediately abandon his wife and head for certain danger at sea. Lady Russell foresaw an impoverished widowhood for Anne, and was very angry that she would not be persuaded away from such a foolhardy choice.

Consulting only themselves, Frederick and Anne considered carefully where else she might seek a home while he was away, on the few hundred pounds which he was able to leave her. Frederick’s brother Edward, the curate of Monkford in Somerset, was a single man in a small house, and Anne thought she might act as his housekeeper, and be of help with his parish, but this would hardly be ideal. Then there was Frederick’s fellow officer and friend, Captain Harville, who was also at sea; Anne might perhaps join the household, at Lyme, of his wife and her little children. Anne was more than willing, being eager to know Frederick’s own circle of friends, so superior in warmth of heart than her own family. But the Harvilles were poor, and tended to move from lodging to lodging, and Frederick wanted something more secure for his wife, than such a wanting and shiftless life.

Fortunately, at this juncture, his sister Sophia returned to England with her husband, Admiral Croft, who had been posted to a foreign station for the last two years. Childless, and devoted to her husband, Mrs. Croft generally accompanied him when he was at sea, something Frederick grudgingly admitted was acceptable, since the Admiral commanded the finest ships and could afford the best of comforts for his wife. On their return to England, the Crofts took a good house at Taunton for some months, and very early invited Frederick and his bride to stay with them.

So the ceremony took place, and a perfunctory, very plain wedding it was. Sir Walter barely condescended to shake hands with his new son-in-law, Elizabeth looked scornfully at her sister’s handsome prize, and Anne’s younger sister Mary was not even invited to come home from school for the wedding. Lady Russell attended but cried copiously throughout. As soon as it was over, the young Wentworths set out from the church door and were at Taunton that same evening.

The Admiral and Mrs. Croft welcomed them warmly, made them comfortable in their rented but handsome town house, and were as enthusiastically approving of Anne’s sweet face and gentle manners as Frederick could wish. Anne was overcome by their kindness, especially after the cold parting she had endured from her own family. The Crofts eagerly insisted that Anne must live with them while her husband was gone; the Admiral would be ashore at least a sixmonth, and her home would be safe with them. Frederick would in all likelihood be at home before the Admiral and his wife sailed again, and if not, they undertook to find a proper situation for Anne. They would take care of her; Frederick need never worry as to that.

“But why,” Mrs. Croft asked Anne, “would you not sail with Frederick? I assure you, I have sailed a great deal myself, been to the East Indies, and crossed the Atlantic, you know; and I cannot see why Frederick thinks that you would not be comfortable and safe as I have been.”

“But Sophia,” protested Frederick, “you are not aware what a rackety, small, old sloop is the Asp, nor the dangers it will surely face. I mean to capture many a privateer; and could not suffer Anne to be under fire. I must risk myself to make money, but will not risk Anne.”

He was firm, and the Admiral, though regretting that husbands and wives ever should be parted, knew too well what Frederick was obliged to do in order to earn his fortune, and assured Sophie that it must be so. “Perhaps, but remember that you and I were together, even in smaller ships, early in our married life,” she concluded. “However, I will not gainsay you, Frederick.”

“It would be of no use,” he said smiling, “and you will see that I am right.”

A few weeks later he was at sea, on his first command; and Anne was comfortably settled with the congenial Crofts for the winter and spring. The occasional letter made its way back to England, and they collected that Captain Wentworth was healthy, and in continued high spirits at his prospects. In the autumn he returned home, exulting in success and with many adventures to tell. The Asp had indeed been the making of him. He had reaped a fortune of several thousand pounds from assorted prizes, and the French frigate that he brought into Plymouth, was worth as much as all the others together. A dreadful storm virtually destroyed the Asp as it lay at anchor, but when it was over, Frederick reported himself to the Naval Office, collected his prize money, and was rapturously reunited with Anne at Taunton.

The Crofts had not sailed, feeling their responsibility for Frederick’s young wife, but now they were happy to be able to plan another journey across the Atlantic. Frederick, too, had plans. He was next posted into the Laconia, a much finer ship than the Asp; and his friend Captain Harville was to sail with him. After much deliberation, Frederick decided that as the first journey of his command in the Laconia was to be a pleasant tour of the Western Islands of Scotland, a safer and more comfortable cruise could not possibly be looked for, as suitable for his wife’s maiden voyage. Their married quarters would be large and well fitted, they would have friends aboard, and nothing could be more beautiful than the Western Isles. It would not only be Anne’s introduction to seagoing life, it would be their honeymoon.

Anne knew that her first cruise might be her last; not that she had any fear of being drowned, but circumstances might change. She quietly suspected that the time might come when she would be with child, and with a family, she could not be as free and easy about traveling as was her sister-in-law. The present cruise of the Laconia was expected to be as safe as any could be; but other voyages might be otherwise, if battles there were to be.

In due course, Anne and Frederick stood on deck, watching the sun dip into the late evening sea off the isle of Arran.

“So lovely,” said Anne softly, “I never thought I would see the world like this, and with you.”

He slipped his hand over hers. “You are happy then, as a sailor’s wife?” he asked tenderly.

“I do not see how any one could be more so,” she said with a heartfelt smile, as she gazed into his eyes.

“And I have been delighted to see you so comfortable aboard, enjoying such good spirits, and with positively improved health from life at sea.”

“Are your prejudices against women on ships overcome, then?” she asked, smiling.

“I believe they are, and I withdraw any objections to your becoming a second Sophia,” he replied. “I believe our next cruise may be to the Mediterranean. Shall you like that?”

“I would indeed,” she answered, “but you must be prepared for my not being able to accompany you so far.”

He withdrew his hand in surprise. “What? Why not, my dear Anne?”

“Because, Frederick, for some little time I have been suspecting that something might happen, to prevent it.”

He took in the secret smile animating her radiant face, and gave a little gasp. “You don’t mean to say – ?”

“I believe so, Frederick,” she said with quiet happiness. “Would you like a sailor lad to call your own?”

He hugged her to him tightly, and with his mouth muffled in her hair, he murmured, “I only want you to be well and happy, always, my Anne.”

21 comments

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    • Anji on March 9, 2017 at 7:12 am
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    Ah, that was just so sweet and exactly how I imagined things would be if they’d married at this time. The Crofts are one of my favourite married couples from Austen’s novels, along with the Gardiners, and again that’s how I imagined they’d be with Anne. So too are the elder Elliotts, but I won’t go on at length about them!

    Are you planning any more chapters, Diana. I’d love to see what happens if William Elliott comes into the story. I can’t remember what’s happening to his timeline at this point though. Have the estrangement and the marriage for money happened already? Must go and look that one up.

    1. Thank you so much, Anji, I’m so glad you enjoyed this! I would like to write some more, as I was having fun imagining how things turned out, but I thought I’d written myself into a corner and couldn’t figure out how to continue. But there, you’ve given me my theme! What happens with Mr. Elliot – I’d love to explore him some more! So yes! I’ll try. Stay tuned!

  1. Not much to add to Anji’s comment. I have often wondered why there has not been more JAFF about Persuasion. Frederick Wentworth is easily as dreamy and devoted as Mr Darcy, and when she was at the age of “not one-and-twenty” Anne Elliot was far more lovely and interesting than Elizabeth Bennet. I do hope this charming re-imagining will be continued.

    1. Thank you kindly, Janis. Yes, Frederick and Anne are really a most endearing couple, aren’t they. I thought this story was done, but am starting to get some ideas, so will proceed! 🙂

    • Sophia on March 9, 2017 at 9:26 am
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    Oh Diana! I agree with others reviewers Captain Wentworth is definitely as dreamy as Mr Darcy! I love this little story where Anne’s firmness of mind stands firm and where Wentworth’s Persuasions are enough to get them their happily ever after! I do hope to see more chapters soon? 👏🏻😍

    1. Thanks, Sophia! Yep. I’m going to try to carry on with this! 🙂

    • Joan Rye on March 9, 2017 at 9:55 am
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    I loved this. I hope to read more of Anne and Frederick and perhaps their new baby!!!

    1. Thank you, Joan. Yes, I’m curious myself how they will manage the sea life, with a family. A little research into the life of Austen’s seagoing brothers is in order, methinks…

    • Kathy Berlin on March 9, 2017 at 11:31 am
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    Sigh.

    1. Good sigh or bad sigh, Kathy?

  2. I love the “very plain wedding,” Diana, and I’m curious to find out how long their perfect happiness will last.

    1. Thanks for reading, Sarah! But of course, perfect happiness is perfect happiness, isn’t it? 🙂 I take it to mean that although they will have ups and downs, tragedies and difficulties, their love will always endure. (Firmly) Anyway it will in my version!

    • Linda Clark on March 9, 2017 at 4:37 pm
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    Diana, thank you, from one Persuasion lover to another for bringing Anne and Frederick’s story back to life…albeit a new and different life. Please continue to add new chapters. We are all waiting to see where you will take them, and us, next.

    1. I appreciate your comment so very much, Linda. I generally think a story is “done,” and then I’m so very pleased and touched when people want more, why then of course I have to make it happen!

  3. I love this!! Persuasion was the last of the six major Austen novels that I read, and it quickly became a favorite. I love seeing a non-bitter Captain Wentworth and an Anne not a maiden aunt but a happy mother-to-be.

    Thank you, Diana, for this delightful story…and I hope that there’s more on its way. 😉

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    1. How can I refuse, Susanne?! Thank you so much.

    • Terri on March 9, 2017 at 6:16 pm
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    I love Persuasion the idea of second chances has always appealed to me.

    But I do love the idea that Ann is saved from 8 years of heart ache and living with Sir Walter.

    Nice touch and I look forward to more.

  4. Yes, that’s how I felt too, Terri. Anne’s ordeal in Persuasion is so painful (though of course that makes the ending so beautiful, rather like the intensity of the end of Elinor’s ordeal in S & S. It’s a pleasure to erase their suffering! Thanks for the comment.

    • Lex on March 9, 2017 at 9:20 pm
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    Yes!! So awesome! Definitely more, please! 🙂 I agree with the others. There are not enough Persuasion variations out there!

    1. I’m on it, Lex, thank you so much for commenting! Yes, I’ve always been perplexed why everything’s about P & P when there’s so much to speculate about in the other novels as well!

    • Deborah on March 17, 2017 at 2:06 pm
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    That was So sweet. I love the Crofts and it seems that is exactly what they would do, take in Silvia while Frederick went off with his first command. I could just imagine Lady Russel and the Elliots acting as you depicted. Thank you for sharing.

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