Persuasion 200: Anne Breaks off the Engagement

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You knew it was coming, and yet perhaps you hoped there was a way it could be avoided. It would be tempting to rewrite history in order to spare our hero and heroine the pain that lies ahead. But, since we all promised to abide by the facts of Jane Austen’s story…



Anne did not abandon the dream willingly or without a fight. She spent many hours closeted with her own thoughts, doggedly debating every aspect of the case with herself until she was wearied beyond all understanding. In the end, however, she was persuaded to believe the engagement a wrong thing – indiscreet, improper, and incapable of success. This was not the result of mere selfish caution but of her belief that she would be acting prudently and in self-denial, principally for his advantage. Otherwise, she could never have given him up, even temporarily.

She hoped Commander Wentworth would understand.

He did not. 

The painful scene unfolded in this way.

 

Anne had procured the use of her father’s study in advance, in order that she might make the unpleasant disclosure in private. So, when Frederick Wentworth came to call as expected that day, she led him thither. It was the most difficult thing she ever had to do, to hold the man she loved at arm’s length and to speak the words that would change everything. She did it, however, believing it was for the best.

Instantly, his adoring expression transmuted into one of pain and incredulity. “You have decided to give up our engagement?” he repeated. “No, Anne, this cannot be so.”

“It will not be forever, Frederick,” she assured him. “Only for a little while, until circumstances make our marrying more supportable. We must be sensible, after all.”

“Sensible! This is not what you said before. A week ago, you said you would marry me. There was no talk then of being sensible, only talk of love. These are someone else’s words you now avow. Who has whispered in your ear and made you lose your nerve?”

“It was not one person only, my love; everybody advises against it. Can they all be wrong?”

“Yes, by god, they can be, if they say we must be parted!”

“You already knew my father would do nothing to support us. And Lady Russell says…”

“Lady Russell?” he broke in. “What has that lady to do with this?”

“Nothing, only that she is my dear friend, my confidant, and the nearest thing to a mother that I have. But you must not blame her for cautioning me. It has only confirmed what others and my own conscience tell me.”

“It is my fault then,” he said miserably, dragging a hand through his hair. “I should never have left you alone for a minute. I certainly would not have done so, had I any idea that your resolve could be so weak, that your word to me meant so little. Anne, just answer me this one question. Do you love me?”

“Yes, of course I do! More than anything in the world.”

“Nothing else matters, then.”

“If only that were true! But how can a man of understanding and education, who has lived in the world, speak such utter nonsense? You know it is nonsense, too, and yet you would use it against me?”

“I will use anything at my disposal, fair or foul, to change your mind, to persuade you in favor of love again.”

“No one could be more a champion of the idea that love is the only right basis for marriage, but even I acknowledge that love alone is not enough. We all must have something to live on as well. Can you deny it?”

“This argument simply means that you do not trust me to provide for you. You do not believe I will do as I have promised.”

“I do believe in you, Frederick.”

“But not enough, it seems. Not nearly enough.”

Anne’s tears, kept at bay with difficulty until that time, began to flow, and she could not reply. Her worst fears had overtaken her. Not only was she required to relinquish this man of superior worth – for, despite the current disagreement between them, she still believed with every fiber of her being that Frederick Wentworth was one such – but she was to have the additional pain of his bad opinion against her.

He had walked away to the window, rubbing his face with both hands as if assaulted by a sudden headache. Presently, he returned. “Anne, Anne,” he pleaded softly. “My love, I ask you to reconsider. Do not do this terrible thing, I beg of you. Do not throw away what we have, what we could have – our future together.”

More composed again, she answered, “It is only a delay, not a throwing away. Please understand me! What I do is not for my convenience or even according to my own wishes. But I believe it is the best thing, the right thing – for you, for me, for everybody involved. If we were to go ahead now, without money and without family support, we would be risking the happiness of others as well as ourselves… possibly even that of our own children.”

A mixture of emotions rapidly played across his face at the mention of the last. Anne could only imagine that his thoughts mirrored her own: pleasure at the notion of their having children together, but also trepidation for the heavy responsibility the idea entailed.

He shook his head, as if to rid himself of this valid concern. “Nevertheless, I must have a decision I can depend on. So tell me, once and for all, will you marry me, Anne? There is no ‘later,’ only ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ A man must have some pride left to him.”

She paused before answering, trembling under a great weight of despair – despair, but also anger that, rather than choosing to understand, the gentleman had given her an impossible ultimatum. She would not be dictated to, especially to act against my own conscience! He might have his pride, but Anne had her convictions.

“I have already given my answer to your question,” she said, “and my rational explanation for it. Perhaps in time, you will learn to credit them. If, however, your pride is truly so overpowering as to prevent you from seeing reason, then it is well that I have discovered it now, before it had been too late. I will not marry a man without sense, sir. Until you acquire some, I will not marry you. Have I made myself clear?”

For a moment he seemed undecided, and then he straightened himself and replied, “Perfectly, madam. You do not want what I have to offer, clearly. You must forgive me for having troubled you so long with my foolishness. I will leave you now.” He gave a curt bow, turned to go, and then stopped. In a milder tone, savoring more of sadness than ill will, he added, “Since it is doubtful we shall ever meet again, Miss Elliot, please accept my best wishes for your health and happiness. I truly hope you find the kind of life you seek. Pity it cannot be with me.”

With these words, he hastily left the room. His firm footfalls briskly retreated from her presence, and the next moment Anne heard the front door as he quit the house. So emotionally spent was she that she collapsed into a chair, remaining there for some time, crying inconsolable and hardly knowing what had happened… except that it was over between them. Harsh words had been spoken on both sides, accusations made and countered. It was not to be supposed that such things could ever be recovered from.

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What do you think? Tragic, I know. But what fun to write! Confrontations always are, especially when you know you’ll get the payoff of a reconciliation later on. We know it, but unfortunately Wentworth and Anne do not!

As with the proposal scene 10 days ago, this P200 episode was inspired by a similar scene in my Persuasion-based novel, debuting later this summer, in which I draw a parallel between the events of Jane Austen’s own life and those she records in her book. I can hardly wait to share that with you too! In the meantime, read chapter one of The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen here at Austen Variations.

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38 comments

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  1. Oh, Shannon. 🙁 Brilliantly done, but so painful to read. Poor Anne; poor Wentworth.

    Thank heavens we have the fore-knowledge of the book to reassure us in a way they cannot.

    I look forward very much to the release of The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen!!!

    1. Thanks so much, Cassandra. The two – P200 and my upcoming novel – go hand in hand beautifully. It’s been fun to be able to spend so much time in the world of Persuasion. And, yes, it’s a very good thing we know a happy ending awaits our lovers!

  2. What a heart-wrenching scene, Shannon. You write beautifully and I feel sad for both Anne and Wentworth to know that they have to break up. I’m really looking forward to your new release as I dearly love Persuasion.

    1. I’m glad you (enjoyed?, no) appreciated this scene, Luthien, and I’ve been delighted to learn that there are so many Persuasion fans out there in JA fandom!

    • Anji on May 23, 2014 at 2:23 am
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    Having read recent chapters, but not had the time to comment on them, and knowing the original so well, I’ve sort of been both looking forward to AND dreading this chapter! So sad and yet so beautiful at the same time. We know that there will be, eventually, a HEA, but they’ll have to wait eight long years for it.

    I like your comment at the beginning “It would be tempting to rewrite history in order to spare our hero and heroine the pain that lies ahead.” How different would things have been if they had married now? Their relative youth and relatively poor financial situation might have caused the flames to die down quite quickly. Lady Russell’s arguements from a previous chapter are quite logical from that perspective.

    I’m looking forward now to reading what happens during the next eight years. Will we get to see Charles Musgrove’s proposal and his eventual marriage to Mary?

    1. Thanks for your comments, Anji. It’s hard to know what would have happened if they’d gone ahead. I’ve thought about it, but haven’t come to any interesting conclusions. It might all have been too mundane to make a good story.

      There are a few more “prequel” scenes to come, including CM’s proposal, before we get to the scenes within the scope of the novel. Jack has 3 written about Wentworth’s experiences at sea. That should be a real treat!

        • Anji on May 23, 2014 at 2:15 pm
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        Sounds like Jack has been/will be having fun. Three chapters at sea sound wonderful. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens in the intervening eight and a half years before we get into the timeline of the original.

          • Anji on May 23, 2014 at 2:20 pm
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          Oops, hit the post button by mistake (again). Of course, without the intervening eight and a half years, we’d never have that incredible letter that CFW writes to Anne in Bath. Now THAT’S a chapter I’m looking forward to, especially if it’s written from his POV.

          1. I daresay Jack is the only one qualified to write the Navy scenes. We certainly aren’t going to try to fill in the entire 8 1/2 years, just catch the highlights before rejoining the scope of what the novel itself covers. The rest will be told in “real time,” the way we did P&P200.

    • junewilliams7 on May 23, 2014 at 2:29 am
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    OUCH!!!!! That was truly painful. Anne accusing him of having no sense…. harsh! His refusal to accept “later” or a long engagement – inflexible! And who will comfort Anne and Wentworth now…..

    It is going to be a long wait for resolution! Thank you for the post, Shannon.

    1. I know, June, but it had to be harsh enough that the break couldn’t be easily overcome. 🙁 Thus the 8-year separation. JA’s dictate, not mine! Although, in my novel, Jane has to wait even longer than that for her captain to return, so she knows how it feels.

  3. I loved this, Shannon-brilliant writing! And now, though I feel for Anne, I really feel I can see why Frederick took it so badly-so sorry for them both!

    1. Thanks so much, Jane. As I just commented above, it had to be harsh enough to keep them apart for 8 long years. I also thought it was important that there was responsibility on both sides – “he might have his pride, but Anne had her convictions.” Otherwise, Anne is a victim and Wentworth is a bully we don’t like very much.

  4. Gut-wrenching for both of them. This is such a decisive moment for both Frederick and Anne and I’ve been dreading it. I thought maybe you’d have some mercy, Shannon, but you didn’t 🙁

    Excellent writing, as always..

    1. It was a dirty job, Monica, but somebody had to do it! 😉

    • Deborah on May 23, 2014 at 6:23 am
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    So beautifully, heart wrenchingly written, Shannon. It is such a shame Wentworth let his pride get in the way and wouldn’t listen to Anne . So much wasted time between now and when they accidentally meet again 8 1/2 years later. Wentworth does seem to hesitate momentarily, but who wants to acknowledge their own mortality. It is such a shame he wouldn’t seek her out but then we wouldn’t have our book, Persuasion. Honestly, who in their right mind would even infer they would offer again.

    Thank you (did I really say that?) for such an emotionally upheaving, depressing post (even though we knew it would be). 🙁 You wrote your part superbly well. 🙂

    1. Thanks for your comments, Deborah. There is an adage that tell writers, “You must torture your characters!” I guess Jane Austen instinctively knew this too, because you’re right. Without this tragic history, it wouldn’t be Persuasion, and we wouldn’t get the emotional payoff in the end.

    • Deborah on May 23, 2014 at 6:28 am
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    Oh! Rats! Posted before I was done. I am looking forward to seeing other parts filled in…which I know will be beautifully written as well. And now, I think I can safely say ‘looking forward to’. I don’t believe anything else will be as emotionally taxing, but then again, knowing you folks, I could be wrong. 🙂

    1. Yes, now the worst is over and we can move on. Although, I hesitate to remind you, Deborah, but we do have to watch Wentworth punish Anne by courting Louisa Musgrove right in front of her eyes! That’s a bit of torture too. Good thing we know we’ll (eventually) get our happy ending. lol

    • rae on May 23, 2014 at 10:24 am
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    Beautifully done. My heart breaks for both of them and the long 8-1/2 years ahead of them; both tormented by thoughts of the other and what might have been. Persuasion is my second favorite Austen novel and I am enjoying this so much. You are all doing a brilliant job!

    1. Thanks, Rae! Mine too – Persuasions, my 2nd favorite JA – and it deserves its share of attention. I’m enjoying this project very much as well. The fact that it comes on the heels of my just having written a Persuasion-based novel is just a serendipitous bonus for me!

    • Kara Louise on May 23, 2014 at 1:47 pm
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    This is certainly one we have all been dreading, but you wrote it wonderfully. And yes, it is easier to read knowing that they will eventually be together! I cannot imagine having to wait 8 1/2 years! Thanks, Shannon!

    1. You’re right, Kara. Eight and a half years seems a bit excessive. If I had been JA, I probably would have settled for four or five, thinking they had been punished enough for their youthful errors by then!

  5. gah! That’s hard to read.

    Eight and a half years….three thousand, one hundred and two and a half days. That’s a long time to be heartbroken and living with a selfish, irritating family. 🙁

    I, too, am curious about the scene with Charles Musgrove.

    1. Thanks for doing the calculations, Monica, so we feel the full weight of Anne’s misery! Haha!

    • Carole in Canada on May 23, 2014 at 3:58 pm
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    Sniff, sniff…yes, we knew it was coming but it still hurts. Pride will not keep them warm over the next 8.5 years but at least we know they do meet again. I’m so glad that chapter is over as I’ve been dreading it. Well written Shannon and looking forward to your book too!

    1. Thanks, Carole. I hope you’ll forgive me for inflicting pain, but I had no choice. As for my upcoming book, it’s been fun to sneak these teasers in and to have an excuse to spend a little more time in the world of Persuasion through P200.

  6. Beautifully done, Shannon! 🙂 *sob*

    1. Thanks so much, Alyssa!

    • Kathy on May 23, 2014 at 4:48 pm
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    It’s so interesting to me that you looked forward to writing something that you knew was the “low” point in the story! But thank you for creating such a touching and sad scene! ! I think what helped keep them apart for so long was that they were reduced to saying angry things they didn’t mean. Anne losing her temper and accusing Frederick of not having any sense was probably not helping him to persuade him otherwise. And he was a little hasty in giving her an ultimatum. OK, I’m looking forward to the rest!

    1. Exactly, Kathy. It had to be damaging enough that they wouldn’t easily get back together. Otherwise it makes no sense that they would let so many years pass.

      As for the writing, I always have the most fun with confrontation/conflict scenes (even though I can’t bear conflict in real life!). That’s why writing for Lady Catherine de Bourgh is such a kick; she creates conflict wherever she goes. I wrote a scene in “The Darcys of Pemberley” where she finally gets her comeuppance. That was one of my particular favorites!

    • Eileen on May 23, 2014 at 5:22 pm
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    Well, I waited and then hesitated to read this one. First figuring that such a sad tale would not be the best to read first thing in the morning. Then, as the day gave way to evening, I still wasn’t sure I was ready for the sadness that this post must (and does) contain. I expected to be grieved, and I was. I expected it may bring a tear to my eye, but it didn’t…no, my reaction was quite unexpected. Rather than shedding a tear with Anne, I found myself sad but angry with her much as Frederick must have been. And then, my anger shifted to Lady Russell, and I wished she could feel at least half the pain and sorrow that Anne was feeling. I feel quite ready to walk into that story and shake a few people. 🙂

    Thank you for writing this, Shannon.

    1. Go to it, Eileen! There’s plenty of blame to go around. It’s a good thing none of us have ever behaved so stupidly! Haha.

        • Eileen on May 23, 2014 at 6:27 pm
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        Yes, we are fortunate there, aren’t we? 😉

    • Stephanie Carrico on May 23, 2014 at 5:50 pm
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    This beautifully written piece put a lump in my throat..am curious about what will happen in the 8 1/2 years they are apart…if only Wentworth had truly listened, pride got in his way and his wounded ego. Impressed with Anne’s conviction…sometimes she may seem a mild, timid young lady but there is some steel there too. Wishing we could skip straight to the happy ending. But the getting there is some of the best of the story yet to be told.

    1. Yes, Stephanie. I thought it was important Anne stand up for herself, rather than appearing a weak and helpless victim (of Lady Russell’s persuasion and/or of Cpt. W’s prideful demands). And you’re right about the other too. We love our happy endings, but there is no story without conflict.

    • Sheila L. M. on May 26, 2014 at 1:43 pm
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    As with the last chapter, I put off reading this, knowing the angst that would be there – waiting to eat a hole in my heart. Knowing ahead of time what will happen does NOT lessen the pain for me. His pride, her self sacrifice and having no one really understanding what she feels or even caring to look at that side of the situation. I do not believe Lady R truly understood Anne – even in the end! After all we know who she wanted Anne to marry while in Bath. And poor Frederick, to have the one he loves not trust him to take care of her. Male ego got a big blow there, so he digs in and will not consider “later”…yes, he punished her, but at what cost to both?

    Excellent presentation of a very difficult part of this story.

    1. I think we could bear it better if we knew it would be a short estrangement. But 8 1/2 years of painful separation is too much to take with equanimity.

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