Posted on 2016-01-12
As the carriage departed from Uppercross, Admiral Croft turned his attention to Captain Wentworth, who sat across from him.
“Marry the girl.”
“Sir?!”
“Only a Navy wife would know as much as she. Although Sophy is superior to all other Navy wives, so there cannot be a comparison there.”
Captain Wentworth stammered, “Admiral, there was more than one single lady in attendance this evening. You must be more specific.”
“Very true, Admiral,” Sophia agreed.
“Miss Anne, of course! She knew the difference between a Frigate and Man o’ War. We discussed the Trafalgar action at length.”
“Sir, the Trafalgar action was well-publicized.”
“She told me the name of my ship!”
Sophia looked at Frederick with a new curiosity, but said nothing.
Admiral Croft contemplated out loud, “How would she know such things? I would think a well-bred young lady such as she would speak in generalities about the war. But her knowledge of the events of the entire war was superior. When I offered to explain the difference between port and starboard she didn’t require it! In comparison, at dinner the other young ladies knew nothing. It is a wonder Miss Anne did not speak, because she could have saved you many an explanation.”
He continued, “It certainly cannot be that miscreant Musgrove, since he went to sea and never returned. Is there an Elliot relative in the Navy I have not heard about? Sophy, do you know of one?”
“I do not, my dear Admiral,” she replied, glancing again at Frederick. He ignored her.
“Is there a former sailor in Kellynch Village, or in Uppercross? Does she subscribe to publications or have access to an excellent library? I am determined to find out.”
Sophy interrupted. “Indeed, Admiral, from your description her knowledge and appreciation of the Navy is unique among the young ladies of the neighbourhood. Her usefulness in a sick room is to be commended as well.”
Captain Wentworth wondered if he should stop the carriage and walk the remainder of the journey to Kellynch Hall. “Sir, I arrived not long ago. I would appreciate the ability to decide for myself if there is a young lady here I would wish to marry.”
“Pshaw! Did not your conversation with her reveal the same as I discovered?”
“No.”
“Sophy, if we took her to Portsmouth or Plymouth or London she’d be snapped up by an officer within a week.”
Captain Wentworth groaned.
“Admiral, perhaps we should spare Frederick more conversation on this subject.” He looked at her with gratitude.
After what seemed to be an eternity to Captain Wentworth, the carriage pulled up to Kellynch Hall. Frederick announced he wished to retire, and flew up the stairs before there was a response.
As he was settling into bed, there was knock on the door. With trepidation, he answered, “Come in.”
Sophia appeared. “Frederick, I hope the Admiral did not tax you too much on the journey home.”
He sighed and managed a small smile. “It is not the first time he had given me his decided opinion.”
She reached over and embraced him.
He hesitated. “What do you think of her?”
“I believe she considers the desires of her family more than her own. Frederick, I know you were acquainted with her once. As far as you could tell, was she the same way then?”
He paused and collected himself, not looking at her. “Yes.”
“Frederick, is there anything you wish to discuss?”
“No!”
As she was about to close the door, he exclaimed, “Sophia!”
She looked back.
“Let me tell you everything.”
Minutes later, she could only stammer, “I didn’t know.”
“Yes, Sophia, she does put the desires of her family above her own. I would have provided for her, I would have given a damn about her.”
She spoke carefully. “But in the year ’06, would you have been able to provide for her? Yes, I know that the Admiral married me when he had relatively little, but I was used to it, and then I sailed with him. Her circumstances were different. How old was she?”
“She was 19. But she is weak. I loved her. She said she loved me, but she threw me over.”
“Frederick, I am sorry to have upset you. I will do my best to keep the Admiral away from you in the morning, since I am sure he will be determined to press his point. But I will ask this: You know that when the Admiral fixes his mind to something, he will do it. What if he decides that we should visit Portsmouth, or Plymouth, or London, and invites her to accompany us?”
He stared at the ceiling. “Good night, Sophia.”
She left the room.
“Marry the girl.”
“Sir?!”
“Only a Navy wife would know as much as she. Although Sophy is superior to all other Navy wives, so there cannot be a comparison there.”
Captain Wentworth stammered, “Admiral, there was more than one single lady in attendance this evening. You must be more specific.”
“Very true, Admiral,” Sophia agreed.
“Miss Anne, of course! She knew the difference between a Frigate and Man o’ War. We discussed the Trafalgar action at length.”
“Sir, the Trafalgar action was well-publicized.”
“She told me the name of my ship!”
Sophia looked at Frederick with a new curiosity, but said nothing.
Admiral Croft contemplated out loud, “How would she know such things? I would think a well-bred young lady such as she would speak in generalities about the war. But her knowledge of the events of the entire war was superior. When I offered to explain the difference between port and starboard she didn’t require it! In comparison, at dinner the other young ladies knew nothing. It is a wonder Miss Anne did not speak, because she could have saved you many an explanation.”
He continued, “It certainly cannot be that miscreant Musgrove, since he went to sea and never returned. Is there an Elliot relative in the Navy I have not heard about? Sophy, do you know of one?”
“I do not, my dear Admiral,” she replied, glancing again at Frederick. He ignored her.
“Is there a former sailor in Kellynch Village, or in Uppercross? Does she subscribe to publications or have access to an excellent library? I am determined to find out.”
Sophy interrupted. “Indeed, Admiral, from your description her knowledge and appreciation of the Navy is unique among the young ladies of the neighbourhood. Her usefulness in a sick room is to be commended as well.”
Captain Wentworth wondered if he should stop the carriage and walk the remainder of the journey to Kellynch Hall. “Sir, I arrived not long ago. I would appreciate the ability to decide for myself if there is a young lady here I would wish to marry.”
“Pshaw! Did not your conversation with her reveal the same as I discovered?”
“No.”
“Sophy, if we took her to Portsmouth or Plymouth or London she’d be snapped up by an officer within a week.”
Captain Wentworth groaned.
“Admiral, perhaps we should spare Frederick more conversation on this subject.” He looked at her with gratitude.
After what seemed to be an eternity to Captain Wentworth, the carriage pulled up to Kellynch Hall. Frederick announced he wished to retire, and flew up the stairs before there was a response.
As he was settling into bed, there was knock on the door. With trepidation, he answered, “Come in.”
Sophia appeared. “Frederick, I hope the Admiral did not tax you too much on the journey home.”
He sighed and managed a small smile. “It is not the first time he had given me his decided opinion.”
She reached over and embraced him.
He hesitated. “What do you think of her?”
“I believe she considers the desires of her family more than her own. Frederick, I know you were acquainted with her once. As far as you could tell, was she the same way then?”
He paused and collected himself, not looking at her. “Yes.”
“Frederick, is there anything you wish to discuss?”
“No!”
As she was about to close the door, he exclaimed, “Sophia!”
She looked back.
“Let me tell you everything.”
Minutes later, she could only stammer, “I didn’t know.”
“Yes, Sophia, she does put the desires of her family above her own. I would have provided for her, I would have given a damn about her.”
She spoke carefully. “But in the year ’06, would you have been able to provide for her? Yes, I know that the Admiral married me when he had relatively little, but I was used to it, and then I sailed with him. Her circumstances were different. How old was she?”
“She was 19. But she is weak. I loved her. She said she loved me, but she threw me over.”
“Frederick, I am sorry to have upset you. I will do my best to keep the Admiral away from you in the morning, since I am sure he will be determined to press his point. But I will ask this: You know that when the Admiral fixes his mind to something, he will do it. What if he decides that we should visit Portsmouth, or Plymouth, or London, and invites her to accompany us?”
He stared at the ceiling. “Good night, Sophia.”
She left the room.