Persuasion 200: Wentworth Applies to Sir Walter

Captain Wentworth, ecstatic with Anne’s acceptance of his hand, ventures to Camden Place to apply for Sir Walter’s consent…

 




His footfalls sounded briskly off the pavement as Captain Wentworth strode to the home of the Elliots in Camden Place. With the warm sun peeking through the fluffy clouds, the weather was brilliant and reflected well the overwhelming happiness of his heart at that moment.


Anne had accepted his hand! After eight long years of abject misery, he had won the heart of his love and would once again apply to Sir Walter for his consent.


Awash with anxiety and excitement, he rapped the ornate brass knocker and paused to await the door’s opening. His first application eight years ago had not been accepted with ease or graciousness, and Captain Wentworth began to worry once more as his mind was called back to the disparagement of the self-centred baronet so many years prior.


“You? Anne accepted you? Granted, you look well enough, but where is your fortune? To think one of your inferior birth would have the gall to believe yourself worthy of the daughter of a baronet! It is unpardonable!”


“This connexion should never be—Anne the sister of a curate and wife of a naval officer. What a disgrace to the name Elliot!”


Of course, Anne’s gentle character could not withstand such censure and the persuasion of both her father and Lady Russell, but now that day was long past and long forgotten. Gone was the innocent nineteen year-old who broke his heart, his Anne was now a woman of eight and twenty, a woman who knew her own heart and mind.


The butler allowed him inside and took his hat.


“Captain Frederick Wentworth requests a private audience with Sir Walter Elliot.”


“Very good, sir,” responded the servant. With a polite bow, he passed through the closest set of doors only to return a few moments later. “If you will follow me.” Captain Wentworth trailed behind the man as he returned through the same doorway, pausing just inside. “Captain Frederick Wentworth.”


A quick survey of the room indicated Sir Walter would not grant him the private audience he requested. Miss Elliot stood from where she had been seated at the divan, a pinched, sour expression upon her face, while Anne, dear Anne, rose from her seat with such a glow upon her countenance. She was more beautiful than any memory he had of her—and she would at long last be his!


His bow was returned with curtsies from the ladies and a pretentious nod from Sir Walter.


“I cannot comprehend your purpose in requesting a private audience,” droned Sir Walter as if he was bored of his own voice. “You cannot have anything to say which my daughters cannot hear.”


With a curt nod, the captain steeled himself. “Very well, sir. I have come for but one purpose. I have requested the honour of your daughter Anne’s hand in marriage and have been accepted. The request of a meeting was to garner your blessing and consent.”


Sir Walter cast a disinterested glance to Anne as Miss Elliot’s head whipped to her younger sister. “But what of Mr. Elliot!”


“What of Mr. Elliot?” asked Anne in a calm tone. “I have given him no encouragement and have no understanding with the gentleman. He is free to seek his future where he wishes.”


Miss Elliot sneered as she took her seat, casting a loathing glare at Captain Wentworth. “He is hardly worthy of the daughter of a baronet.”


“The captain has his fortune and has distinguished himself in service to the crown. He is all that is noble, honourable, and deserving.”


Captain Wentworth beamed with pleasure. Her defence was not required, but how wonderful she should come to his aid on her own! He had secured her as much as she had secured him, and her affections were his and his alone


Sir Walter appraised him much as he had eight years prior. “You have not lost your looks, and do not appear the colour of mahogany, rough and rugged to the last degree; all lines and wrinkles. At least your countenance would reflect well upon the Elliot name.” With a sigh, he tapped the top of his snuff box. “You may not be what I would have hoped in regards to birth, but I will give no objection.”


Captain Wentworth turned to Anne whose face was lit with a bright smile. “Thank you, Father.”


“Yes, well…” droned Sir Walter.


“It is such brilliant weather. Would it be acceptable if I escort Anne to Sidney Gardens; we could settle on a day for the wedding whilst we walk the paths.”


Her father peered at the captain as he placed a bit of snuff upon the side of his hand. “I suppose.”


Anne bit her bottom lip and hastened from the room as the captain gave a bow. “I thank you, Sir Walter, for your time.”


The pompous gentleman gave a dismissive wave, and Captain Wentworth turned and departed without delay to the entry where his betrothed awaited him.


“Shall we?”


She wore a beatific smile as she nodded and placed her delicate hand on his arm. “We shall.”


 

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

28 comments

Skip to comment form

  1. Yay! I imagine the wedding day will be set as quickly as possible.

    1. With Sir Walter as the bride’s father, I would hope so! Thanks, Patty!

    • Deborah on February 26, 2015 at 6:35 am
    • Reply

    How wonderful! But, it shows the lack of courtesy Sir Walter has for someone ‘so beneath him’ by not granting Wentworth a private audience. I would so love to be a fly on the wall to hear the conversation between Miss Elliot and Sir Walter. Anne coming to his defense was so sweet. A formidable couple to be sure. Thank you for such a sweet post this morning, Leslie.

    1. In my opinion, Sir Walter is so self-absorbed. I mean that entire speech about 30 frights at the concert showed his lack of respect for almost everyone but himself. I’m so glad you liked the post! Thanks, Deborah!

    • Aya on February 26, 2015 at 7:22 am
    • Reply

    Excellet! I could imagine everything in my mind 🙂
    I wonder how the wedding would be…

    1. Probably Sir Walter studying his nails and checking his reflection in his pocket watch or some such nonsense! Anne and Captain Wentworth would probably not notice due to their own happiness. Thanks, Aya!

    • Jane Odiwe on February 26, 2015 at 8:52 am
    • Reply

    I really enjoyed this, Leslie-I loved how Sir Walter’s vanity was displayed, as strong as ever, and that Frederick was given permission on the grounds that the line would continue to be handsome!

    1. I actually got the idea about his looks from canon! “On the contrary, when he saw more of Captain Wentworth, saw him repeatedly by daylight, and eyed him well, he was very much struck by his personal claims, and felt that his superiority of appearance might be not unfairly balanced against her superiority of rank;”

      It would be just the silly nonsense Sir Walter would deem important if one doesn’t have rank. Wentworth had looks and money, so he was at least a tolerable match. Thanks, Jane!

    • Stephanie L on February 26, 2015 at 9:25 am
    • Reply

    What of Mr. Elliot indeed, as if he stood a chance against Wentworth in Anne’s heart. LOL It must chafe Elizabeth something terrible that not only has Mr. Elliot not paid her any attention, but that Anne has gotten two proposals from the same man while she just sits by. Sir Walter is so very blindly self-absorbed. Next he’ll be recommending Gowland’s lotion so Frederick can maintain his youth and deserve to be related. I think this is one of those spots where, as Anne at 28, I would have been tempted to pack up my things and just go away with him and the Elliot pride be damned…LOL I’m such a lady…nice work!!

    1. Yikes! No Gowlands! I looked that up once and it contained not only mercury but also lead. That won’t keep anyone looking young for long! They sure did use some nasty stuff on their skin, didn’t they? Thanks, Stephanie!

    • Kathy L Berlin on February 26, 2015 at 10:06 am
    • Reply

    As she is of age, I suspect Anne would have made it clear she would marry her dear captain no matter what her father had to say.

    1. She would have, I am sure, but it would be more socially accepted with the father’s sanction. Thanks, Kathy!

    • RMorrel on February 26, 2015 at 11:02 am
    • Reply

    Leslie, this is wonderful — you made the Captain the happiest of men without a single insult from the baronet — not so easy to do! But someone needs to spank Miss Elliot. I have had just about enough of her.

    I suspect it is not in your control any longer, but please let the wedding take place soon. Just as soon as ODC weds in AUT. Well, I suppose that is impractical given that Anne is the daughter of a baronet, and there must be pomp for a baronet’s daughter, but I hope she doesn’t have to wait long.

    Ruth

    1. They aren’t married in aUT yet! Thanks, RMorrel!

    • Cindy on February 26, 2015 at 11:30 am
    • Reply

    Oh, how I would like for Anne to say in response to “What about Mr. Elliot!” “Oh, I could never consent to a relationship with a man who has been carrying on with someone so far beneath us… Mrs. Clay, you know.” 😉

    1. Hahaha! Anne is too good as Wentworth says. Thanks, Cindy!

  2. Sigh. Sir Walter will always be Sir Walter, won’t he? And Elizabeth will always be Elizabeth. Sigh….

    But I appplaud Anne for standing up in support of her beloved, something she never would have dared to do previously.

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    1. I figured she needed to stand up to him at some point. She had to learn from the past 8 years and the time watching her love with Louisa. Otherwise, what would be the point of their separation? Thanks, Susanne!

    • Julie on February 26, 2015 at 2:22 pm
    • Reply

    Ahh – how sweet to read that Anne had stood up for Wentworth, AND that he would have understood if she could not! Compromise and understanding from both partners – wonderful! I loved that they were ready to marry despite the family’s objections if need be, and that Sir Walter at least could recognize that Captain Wentworth had not become “all swarthy”, hahahaha. Loved it!

    1. Thanks so much, Julie!

    • Stephanie Mudd Carrico on February 26, 2015 at 7:09 pm
    • Reply

    It’s so nice to see Anne assert herself to her father and sister…what horrible people…Frederick’s family will give her the love and respect she deserves and she will bloom…

    1. Yes, the Crofts already think the world of her. Thanks, Stephanie!

    • EvelynTost on February 26, 2015 at 10:47 pm
    • Reply

    Leslie, Thank you so much for a great chapter! Really enjoyed the Captain and Anne persevering over her father.

    One other thing, and please pardon me if I overstep, but I noticed a word in the 6th paragraph down “censor”‘ which It seems your meaning may be more like “censure”.

    Thanks again!

    1. Crud! I probably did! Thanks for the second set of eyes. Sometimes those things slip by because spell check doesn’t catch them. I’m so unaccustomed to writing Persuasion I was more caught up in the content! Thanks, Evelyn!

    • Sheila L. M. on February 27, 2015 at 1:02 am
    • Reply

    Sail away, sail away. I can’t imagine that Anne and Frederick would be much in company with her horrid father and sister, Anne. I would think that they would keep ties with Mary due to the love of her nephews and the Musgroves, who always respected her, even if they kept her at the piano.

    I am looking for a change in attitude for Lady Russell (I hope) before these scenes are finished. And maybe some last regrets and humbling of Elizabeth and her father when they realize that they have been basically abandoned by his heir AGAIN and by that horrid Mrs. Clay…and Anne is not there to be a sounding board for it all.

    Thank you for this lovely chapter. Loved how Capt. Wentworth saw Anne as even more beautiful…and all his upon entering the residence.

    1. He loves her. She’ll always be beautiful in his eyes, and Jane Austen does allude to the fact that her looks improved once they were together. I feel like heartbreak and despair likely took their toll. She doesn’t feel those emotions anymore. Thanks, Sheila!

    • junewilliams7 on February 27, 2015 at 1:14 am
    • Reply

    (blows razzberries at Miss Elliot – as if Mr Elliot would ever ask HER to marry him!)

    I’m glad Anne’s father didn’t refuse the Captain. Would be interesting to see what he’d do if Miss Elliot ever had a suitor.

    Do we get to see the wedding now? <3 <3

    1. Miss Elliot is a spinster in the making! Unless someone needs her dowry, why would they want to be married to that prune! Thanks, junewilliams!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.