Persuasion 200: Part One of the Wentworth Wedding Breakfast by Jack Caldwell

finalcobblogoMy take-over of Austen Variations continues! This breakfast post grew so long, I divided into two parts. A link to Part Two will be at the end of this post.

In case you missed it, the Wentworth Wedding from Tuesday may be found HERE.



Camden Place, Bath

Camden Place, Bath

The wedding breakfast was held at Camden Place, Sir Walter Elliot’s lodgings in Bath. The cost was more dear than really necessary, but Sir Walter had to keep up appearances. A sit-down meal was more fashionable, no matter what Anne preferred. In a nod to economy, the event was smaller than Mary’s several years ago, and was certainly more modest than what would done for Elizabeth.

It mattered little, for if truth be told, there was little affection in his heart for Anne. Oh, she was a good sort of girl, if a bit headstrong. Her constant demands for economy vexed him exceedingly. Some people called Anne sharp, but he thought her cheap. The girl simply did not understand that a baronet had to maintain a façade of refinement, and that cost money. Anne also owned strange opinions about who were worthy acquaintances. Mrs. Smith indeed! he grumped.

Yet, all that was as nothing. He could still love Anne, if only she was not so plain!

Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Elliot’s character. Vanity of person and of situation. Infected by this condition to an incredible degree, he projected his self-love onto the world. He divided the people of the world into two groups: attractive and unattractive. They were also broken down further: above him in station and below. In his mind, one spent the majority of one’s time with those who were wealthy and beautiful. One also cultivated the ugly and rich, but at a distance. The balance of humanity was ignored, unless the good-looking poor paid him proper deference (which explained his tolerance of the unfaithful Mrs. Clay).

Anne simply failed to measure up to his high standards of beauty. He would do his duty by her, of course, but he was disappointed all the same.

That someone worthy would take Anne off his hands was a great relief. He might not love her, but that did not mean he would let just anyone marry the plain daughter of a baronet! When Captain Wentworth had aspired to Anne in the Year Six (an event he barely remembered), the officer had been nobody. Now a renowned hero with twenty-five thousand pounds in the funds, the weather-beaten Wentworth was commendable enough to marry his daughter.

Sir Walter hoped that the newlyweds were too old to breed; or if they did, that the children might take after their grandfather.

Seated next to Sir Walter was Lady Russell. Her earlier prejudice against Wentworth had prevented her from giving him the justice he deserved when he had returned from the wars rich, famous, and as high in his profession as merit could take him. He was no Thomas Cochrane, to be sure, but few frigate captains were more dashing or more successful.

It had only been after Mr. Elliot had exposed himself as a cad (again) that Lady Russell had taken an honest appraisal of Frederick Wentworth. She was forced to acknowledge that he was a decent, honest, hard-working, and devoted gentleman. Lady Russell could not regret her advice to Anne so many years ago, for the simple reason that she still believed she had been right at the time.

Things were different now. Wentworth was here, he was rich, and Anne had never stopped loving him, so everything ended happily.

But deep in Lady Russell’s mind, the phrase “eight and a half years” remained. Almost nine years of happiness Anne may have enjoyed with Captain Wentworth had she not been persuaded otherwise by her loving godmother. Nine fewer years Lady Russell would have with Anne’s eventual children. It was an unsettling thought.

Down the table were Mrs. Mary Elliot Musgrove and her husband, Charles. Mary bore some affection for Anne and she dearly liked a wedding, so she was in high spirits. She enjoyed the idea that Anne would marry better than Louisa and Henrietta. As long as Captain Wentworth was never knighted, she, the future Mistress of Uppercross, would feel no jealousy.

Charles Musgrove was pleased for the pair. Wentworth had become a good friend, and he loved Anne as much as any of his sisters. That two such excellent people were married was a capital thing! Now, if this infernal breakfast would end soon, they might return to Uppercross tonight. He was anxious to hunt with his new double-barrel shotgun in the morning.

No one at the breakfast could be happier for the newlyweds than Wentworth’s family: Admiral and Sophia Croft, and Rev. Edward Wentworth and his wife. All four had fretted that Frederick would never settle down. They had been willing to accept Louisa Musgrove, silly as she was. But for Frederick to have turned to Anne Elliot was a miracle. The Crofts loved Anne as a sister already, and Edward Wentworth knew of his brother’s long-suffering attachment to the lady (it was to him that Frederick would always confess everything).

Louisa Musgrove had thought herself destined for Frederick Wentworth, but after her accident in Lyme she preferred the quiet devotion of James Benwick to the intimidating Wentworth. She felt no jealousy, and she, Henrietta, and all of their family wished their good friend Anne all the happiness in the world.

The girls hoped their double ceremony in a few weeks, when they would become Mrs. Louisa Benwick and Mrs. Henrietta Hayter, would be at least as lovely as Anne’s wedding. Truthfully, they both preferred her to their sister-in-law Mary, and had always wished that Anne had taken pity on their poor brother and accepted him.

And as for the Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple and her daughter, the Honorable Miss Carteret, they were only thinking of the next course to their meal.

Captain Harville rose to his feet and rapped the side of his glass. “Here, here. Please, everyone, refill your glasses.”

The Navy had ways of doing things, and Harville would see that all customs were observed.

“First, of course, to our bride and groom—Captain and Mrs. Wentworth.”

“Captain and Mrs. Wentworth,” repeated the crowd.

“Next, a toast to our honored hosts, Sir Walter Elliot and Miss Elliot.” Sir Walter condescended to bow slightly at the expected compliment.

“To the Royal Navy.” Again the glasses were sipped.

“Finally—please refill your glasses. Ladies and gentlemen, the King.”

As one, all the officers leapt to their feet and cried, “THE KING.” As the other gentlemen rose belatedly out of their chairs, the officers drained their glasses.

“Is breakfast over?” asked Lady Dalrymple.


 The breakfast continues HERE in Part Two. You can leave comments here today, though, if you wish.

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

25 comments

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    • Deborah on March 11, 2015 at 4:59 am
    • Reply

    Thank you Jack. I like the look at the folks at the breakfast. Nice to see Lady Russell having regrets about messing with the couple nearly 9 years before. Sir Walter is as vain as ever. That they shouldn’t have kids because they might not be good looking enough. Annoying and self worshipping! Happy that Louisa is so happy. It was just so much fun seeing everyone’s thoughts. Some made me laugh and others shake my head. Thanks for such a wake up chapter “pet male”.

    1. I live to entertain you.

    • Maggie Griscom on March 11, 2015 at 7:20 am
    • Reply

    This started my day well. How fun. Wonder why Sir Walter never thinks about why Elizabeth is not married. Lady Russell needed to have a good “think”, but she still thinks she knows best. Wonder what she will do for Anne’s children, especially since they might not be good looking. Thanks for the morning read.

    1. Lady Russell gets more to ponder tomorrow.

    • Mari on March 11, 2015 at 8:27 am
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    The playwright George S. Kaufman always tried to have his characters leave the stage on a laugh, and you ended this with a laugh; he would have been proud! I had such fun reading this. The characters all stayed true to themselves and gave us much to think about. How Anne ever managed to survive the Elliot’s is amazing. Lady Russell perhaps was all that stood between her and abject misery, and even Lady Russell contributed to her unhappiness. Sir Walter is a particularly unpalatable character. He had no love or respect for anyone but himself and those he perceived as his equals, or betters. Even then it was a selfish and self serving “love”. The only person he truly valued was Elizabeth, who was as arrogant and selfish as he was. It always amazed me that they never argued or fought, because they were so much alike. It would have been a spectacular falling out. I am glad that Anne is happily married and away from the Elliots and their destructive, poisonous little world.

    1. To be compared to George S. Kaufman is an honor I don’t deserve — but keep doing it! LOL! Thanks.

    • Hollis on March 11, 2015 at 10:24 am
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    I am glad Lady Russell expressed a little regret that she had missed 7 years of Anne’s imaginary children dandling on her knee. Serves her right! I like how the military men took charge too!

    1. That’s the Navy. Never mind maneuvers — go straight at ’em!

    • Sheila L. M. on March 11, 2015 at 11:19 am
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    I was very happy to have this as my first “reading” of the morning…spiced with humor and insight. I am imagining that without Anne to “preach” any economy Sir Walter and Elizabeth will never reach a point at which they can move back into their home. And at some point it will become only too evident that Elizabeth is not getting off the shelf.

    I was glad to have Lady Russell realize that Anne has missed out on over 8 years of happiness. Yes, it should be an unsettling thought.

    I do hope Frederick and Anne have an offspring or two and that none of them take after their grandfather in looks or character. Looking forward to reading the rest of the Breakfast and….about the two different Fredericks. That sounds intriguing.

    Thanks for the chapter.

    1. One more except for PERSUADED TO SAIL may be found here:
      http://www.cajuncheesehead.com/P2S_excerpt.html

    • Cindy on March 11, 2015 at 11:30 am
    • Reply

    Is the breakfast over? Indeed!

    1. You caught my favorite line in the piece.

    • RMorrel on March 11, 2015 at 12:00 pm
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    I loved this chapter and the wedding chapter — this book may be your best work. You capture everyone’s feelings astonishingly well. I can’t wait for the next.

    1. I think you’ll like it. Thanks.

  1. I am glad that Lady Russell was nudged a bt out of her complacency over her advice to Anne nearly nine years before. Although her interference was well-meant, it was still just that: interference in the lives of her beloved god-daughter and a promising young member of the Royal Navy. I was really happy to see her conscience smart a bit. 😉

    And Sir Walter would always be Sir Walter, vain as the proverbial peacock, and classing people not according to their character but according to accidents of attractiveness, birth, and wealth, none of which people have very much control over.

    Excellent look at Austen’s characters, captured in this snapshot of time, a joyous time for Anne and her Captain. 🙂

    Thank you, Jack–a wonderful chapter indeed!

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    1. After the “nudging” she receives tomorrow, Lady Russell will think she’s been in a hockey game.

    • Sheila L. M. on March 11, 2015 at 3:27 pm
    • Reply

    OK, I read that excerpt from Chapter Two: how clever – Fanny’s brother is serving under Captain Wentworth. You DO have my interest…and how mysterious – express rider but not meeting until a week from how?

    Teasing man!

    1. If you think that’s fun, guess who Lt. Price’s sweetheart is.

      One clue: think Sense & Sensibility (Remember, I’m King of the Crossovers!).

        • Sheila L. M. on March 11, 2015 at 11:31 pm
        • Reply

        Jack, Let’s see…S&S – Edward’s old beau – Lucy? Not Margaret – she’s too young.

        1. S&S is set in 1810-11. Persuasion is set in 1814-15. Do the math. Margaret is eighteen.

            • Sheila L. M. on March 12, 2015 at 9:53 am
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            Oops, mea culpa: I don’t really keep track of time settings. If I were an author I would have to be much more aware of such. I find myself many times having to review such in my head as I did not cast it to memory.

            Thanks for the correction hint.

            1. Sheila, I have to have spreadsheets to keep all this straight. BTW, there’s a hint in THE THREE COLONELS about Margaret and Price! I told you it was a companion piece.

              • Sheila L. M. on March 13, 2015 at 3:40 pm

              Jack, I have to admit that The Three Colonels is on my Wish List. I must now make it my next reading since I do want to read your next book. Just so many good books and authors out there and I have only been pushing this now in retirement so I am behind some like Meredith. But I will read it.

  2. Thanks for the read. Look forward to tomorrow’s piece. Just read the excerpt from Persuaded to Sail and am very intrigued. Look forward to you releasing it when you are finished with Chalmette series.

    • Dr. Roberta Shechter on September 20, 2015 at 7:41 pm
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    I am months behind in my Austen Variations log visits. Persuasion was the very first Austen novel that I read; and it led me to read all of Miss Austen’s earlier works. Mansfield Park is now my favorite Austen novel; and I have often thought about the personality similarity between Anne Elliot and Fanny Price. Both Austen characters have quiet independence, deep capacities for self reflection and sound judgement. I can imagine them as companions and close friends. Perhaps their relationship could be the basis of a continuation novel. Dr. RS

  1. […] My take-over of Austen Variations concludes today. This breakfast post grew so long, I divided into two parts. A link to Part One from Wednesday may be found HERE. […]

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