Persuasion 200: Captain Wentworth Resolves to Visit Bath

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Unexpected news from Lyme buoys Wentworth’s spirits. 



Wentworth sat upon his brother’s horse, surveying the countryside on a very fine morning. At one time, he had been a decent horseman. But years at sea took their toll and his seat had suffered. Thankfully, he had not acquired Admiral Croft’s reputation as a terrible driver. That last tumble had damaged both his reputation and his curricle almost, but not quite, beyond repair.

It was a wonder Sophy was not hurt. How could she merely laugh off such an incident? She was a remarkable woman. Nothing like Louisa Musgrove, who was pretty and silly and foolish and now, in all likelihood, an albatross to be strung about his neck for the rest of his days.

But it was all his fault. He had encouraged her, flattered her, and attended to her, as much to vent his spleen at Anne as that he truly liked the Musgrove girl. He was a man of honor though. And in so far as he had control, Louisa would not pay the price of his folly. She would have every respect, if not every affection, as his wife.

A driver and gig rose in the distance. His brother never mentioned expecting company. Wentworth urged his horse up the rise. Perhaps from there he might have a better view.

Though still too far to make out a face, there was something unsettlingly familiar about the driver. The shock of blond hair, the flash of red neckerchief, the odd cant of his shoulder…Harville? What could he be doing coming to Shropshire without sending word?

Wentworth urged the horse to a trot. Something must be full wrong indeed. He caught up to Harville still half a mile from the cottage.

“Wentworth! How fortunate to meet you on the road. Saves me the trouble of looking for you.” He dragged his sleeve over his forehead, leaving a trail of dust in its wake.

“What is wrong? Why have you come?”

“What, no greeting, no welcome? I am shocked at your manners.”

Perhaps he did not bring news of an emergency. “Forgive me. Do you wish to come to the house?  My brother and sister are out for the day, but I am certainly up to the task of offering tea and victuals if you are of a mind to stay.”

Harville dipped his head. “Thank you, kindly. I should appreciate the opportunity to get off this borrowed equipage.”

“Borrowed?” It was not the kind of transport Harville was likely to rent.

“Belongs to Musgroves. Kind of them to lend it, but mightily uncomfortable none the less.” Harville shifted to extend his injured leg.

“The house is not far. Come.” Wentworth led them back to the humble curate’s cottage.

“Coffee of tea?” Wentworth asked as he took Harville’s coat.

“You wouldn’t have a mite of brandy to add to either?” Harville rubbed his thigh.

“Tea with French cream it is. Sit down, put your leg up.” Wentworth left the room to instruct the maid and returned to Harville.

Harville stood at the window, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

“Did I not tell you sit?” Wentworth slapped the nearest chair.

“It is difficult when the body wishes to sit but the mind bids you stand, eh?”

Perhaps it was bad news after all. Enough was entirely enough. “Whatever it is, best out with it. This suspense is doing neither of us any good.”

“I suppose you are right.” Harville turned to face him. “I cannot tell you how guilty I feel, as it has happened under my roof, my watch.”

“What has happened?”

“You deserve better and full well should have had it you know. Especially with all you have suffered.”

“I assume you will start speaking sense sometimes soon or I swear I will have to shake you.”

Harville laughed. “I…forgive me—you know how I hate to deliver troubling news.”

“You have delivered nothing and I may well run mad before you do. Tell me already—or shall I begin to guess?”

Harville sank into a wingback chair. “I imagine you are aware that Louisa Musgrove has been recovering quite well.”

“I am. Has there been some sort of set back?”

“No, no quite opposite. She has been restored to her family and all is quite well indeed. Quite well. Far better than any might have expected given the nature of the accident.”

“Harville!”

“Benwick has spent many hours entertaining her during her convalescence and now they are engaged.”

Wentworth squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. “Engaged? Benwick and Louisa Musgrove?”

“Her father has given his blessing and the settlements are being finalized.”

Wentworth drew a deep breath.” Louisa accepted an offer from Benwick?”

“We were all caught quite unawares.”

“But they are so dissimilar. He is so serious and his understanding so sound.”

“You would be surprised to see him now. She has so affected him.”

“And you Harville, are you—I mean given your sister—”

“It is difficult not to be put off. But to take offense on behalf of the dead accomplishes very little. Hard as it may be, it is only right for him to continue to live. We have wished them joy.”

Wentworth paced around the room, raking a hand through is hair.

Harville twisted in the chair to follow Wentworth’s frantic motion. “I did not come for my sake, though but for yours. Was there not some understanding between you and Louisa before the accident?”

“No. I suppose it may have appeared so, but no words were spoken.”

“Then you were not—”

Wentworth stopped. “Attached? No. Mind you, I would have done my duty and offered for her if necessary…”

“So you are not unhappy?”

“Far from it, I am pleased for them both. You need not worry on my account.”

Harville leaned back in the chair and put his foot up on the stool. “That is welcome news indeed. “You cannot know what I have suffered knowing that I must bring news that I believed would wound you.”

“You need not fear any longer then. All is quite good. Now, let me go check on the tea.” Wentworth, hurried out, desperate for a moment to gather his wits. Louisa was to marry someone else—anyone else and he was free. He sucked in a gulp of air, sweet as if he had been drowning. He leaned against the wall and gazed at the ceiling. Free.

Bath. He must go to Bath. Anne…his Anne was in Bath. So was Lady Russell. Damn her. This time though, would be different. He was different. Anne was different. Nothing would prevail against his quest as he was buoyed by the one thing he had lacked for so long now—hope.

 


 

Want to refresh your memory with Jane’s Austen’s original work? Read Persuasion on Austen variations HERE.

31 comments

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    • Kathy on February 11, 2015 at 12:32 am
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    Hooray! I love Wentworth’s expressions of how weighed down he felt, and then how liberated! Boy, did he dodge a bullet. But now he does deserve to squirm a bit for how he treated Anne.

    1. It is easy to overlook just how much his resentment cost them both. Thanks, Kathy!

    • Deborah on February 11, 2015 at 5:31 am
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    Oh, how very sweet. Poor Harville, so worried that he was bringing Wentworth bad news. The angst and guilt he must have felt having the romance between Benwick and Louisa happen under his roof with the misapprehension that somehow he betrayed his friend by not being aware of what was happening and putting a stop to it.

    The shock Wentworth feels; the liberating shock that he is no longer honor bound to offer for Louisa and is free to pursue Anne. And, of course, he thinks of Lady Russell and her complicity in all that has transpired between Anne and him over the last 8 years and a half. I’m glad he has hope, but, all is not smooth sailing yet, and he definitely doesn’t deserve it. He needs to suffer a bit more (or squirm a bit, as Kathy said). Thank you for such a wonderful chapter this morning, Grace. I adored this.

    1. I’ve always thought Harville was in a terrible position in all this. I’m glad his suffering is over, but I think Wentworth’s is not yet at an end. Thanks Deborah!

  1. Loved it. How nice it must have been to get the news in person versus a letter. Now Wentworth can act sooner on his hope and dream. Watch out Anne. There is a very determined man after you. Cannot wait for next installment to see how this gets pulled off. Thanks so much, Maria Grace.

    1. Wentworth is surly determined bu I think he will find it a little harder going than he expects. Thanks, Patty!

    • Maggie Griscom on February 11, 2015 at 7:44 am
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    YES! To Bath is just the thing! What a great interaction between two friends. I can see them back and forth, Wentworth trying to get information from Harville and Harville trying to make ithe news easier on Frederick. A wonderful early morning read!

    1. I’m glad you could see them in action. I could just picture it all too. Thanks, Maggie.

    • Kathy L Berlin on February 11, 2015 at 8:18 am
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    Hope is a singular thing.

    1. Indeed! Thanks, Kathy!

    • Carol Settlage on February 11, 2015 at 8:34 am
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    Lovely scene, Maria! How thoughtful of Harville to take the trouble to drive out to Shropshire to tell his friend the news which he feels will be devastating. Wonder how far from Lyme it is? And it amazes me that such good friends wouldn’t share even an inkling of their true feelings! But such was the mores of the times… And men are probably less likely to confide than women, and Wentworth would gallantly consider Louisa’s feelings/honor. So what a relief to him now! Yes, he does deserve to suffer a bit, however for our dear Anne’s sake.

    1. My thought was that Harville had been staying at the Musgroves at this time and drove out from there.

      I think Wentworth has a it more suffering in store before all is smooth sailing.

      Thanks,Carol!

    • Hollis on February 11, 2015 at 10:47 am
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    Let Wentworth squirm a little and I hope Anne does too. But for her sake, Wentworth should get on his his horse and ride for Bath immediately and beg her to take him back, Lady Russell be d***ned. She has meddled enought.

    1. He will, I”m sure get himself to Bath soon. Hopefully he will also recognize how his own resentfulness has needlessly separated them and have a little pity upon Lady Russell.

      Thanks, Hollis!

    • Hollis on February 11, 2015 at 10:47 am
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    I meant to say that I hope Anne leaves him in some suspense for a few minutes.

    • RMorrel on February 11, 2015 at 11:05 am
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    Absolutely wonderful. Can’t wait for Bath.

    1. Thanks!

    • rae on February 11, 2015 at 11:59 am
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    Hope! Yes, Jane gave both Wentworth and Darcy hope through conversations with others. We don’t usually give men credit they deserve that they have very deep feelings, just like women do. It’s lovely that Miss Austen understood this so well having never married herself. I’m not sure how open her brothers were with her regarding their emotions on love. She was a truly insightful woman.

    I love your writing in this post. The dialogue back and for between Wentworth and Harville was wonderful and PERFECT! Thank you for this post.

    1. I’m glad you enjoyed the dialog. I live with my husband and three sons. They’ve been a real inspiration in writing ‘guy talk’. Thanks, Rae.

  2. Free at last!! 😉

    Harville was so sweet to come out to give Frederick the news…and isit ever happy news, indeed!

    Now off to Bath…. 🙂

    But I hope that Anne will let his stew, just for a little while in return for his (potentially dangerous) plan to make her jealous.

    Thank you for this lovely chapter!! 😀

    Warmly,
    Cassandra 🙂

    1. That was to be “let HIM stew,” of course.

    2. I have no doubt Wentworth will have to stew a bit longer…Thanks Cassandra!

    • Julie on February 11, 2015 at 2:24 pm
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    Oh, what a wonderful chapter! Wentworth is my favorite hero, and Persuasion my favorite book. It doesn’t get anywhere near the number of “re-imaginings” as P & P, so I’m always so happy to see them. This one was just perfect – we get such a good insight into Frederick’s mind and heart, can see how he was absolutely prepared to “do the right thing”, and how much he regretted having led Louisa on, but saw that it was his own fault. In some ways, I think navigating relationships might have been easier in those days because the rules were so clear, and known to all. But having put your foot wrong, it would be very hard to recover. I’m so happy to see his relief and that his next thought is immediately to go to Anne!

    1. Wentworth is my favorite too! I love Persuasion. I loved getting to write him finally released and able to pursue her! Thanks, Julie!

  3. Interesting insights into Wentworth. I just love him.

    1. Thanks, Susan!

    • Stephanie Mudd Carrico on February 11, 2015 at 6:55 pm
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    Lovely chapter…enjoy getting insight into Frederick’s thoughts…stayed calm in front of Harville but loved his relief as he walked away to check on the tea

    1. I just couldn’t see him breaking down in front of anyone else, could you? He’s still a Captain, after all! Thanks, Stephanie!

    • Megan on February 12, 2015 at 1:12 am
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    I love this scene! In the few Persuasion retellings I’ve read (some from Wentworth’s perspective) this is one of my favorite parts (besides the letter) in each of them. We get to see Wentworth finally have a chance at Anne again! I enjoy the friendship between Wentworth and Harville that Harville drives over to see Frederick in person to give him the news of Louisa and Benwick. Can’t wait to see all the upcoming drama in Bath!

    1. I love this bit too! I also like that Wentworth has friends like Harville, it says a lot about his character. Thanks, Megan!

    • Sheila L. M. on February 16, 2015 at 12:32 am
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    All this talk about letting him stew – but then Anne is stewing at the same time. After all it has been over 8 years. Don’t you think that they have both suffered long enough? We hear from their thoughts that they know who it is they love. Get thee to Bath!

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