Posted on 2009-10-31

"Four thousand pounds." Those would certainly help him to get Anne off his hands, Captain Wentworth thought. This was an extremely kind offer of Sir Walter's, although it was never meant as such. "Where might we start, Harville?"

"Start?"

"Which public house? Which ship? Where are we most likely to meet with success?"

"Define success," Harville said cautiously. "You cannot be meaning..."

"Success is finding a buyer."

"A buyer. I thought you would have been kinder towards the girl."

Wentworth gave him a disturbed frown. "You do not know our history. Of course I am not kind towards the girl. I need to get rid of her before we sail. I could toss her overboard, but I fear she will be able to swim and she will climb back on board."

"Yes, there is that," the lieutenant conceded. "But you could try?"

"I should look like a fool if I threw her over the side and she happily swam back," Wentworth muttered. "My actions must be effective. I do not like girls making a fool of me. The public houses therefore! Someone must want to marry four thousand pounds?"

"One would think so..." Harville feared he would be saddled with the task of finding a greedy drunkard, but it was the captain's own problem. "You said we, Captain? Are you planning to take the girl with you on your mission?"

"I was planning to take you, Harville. The girl would protest."

"Very likely. What if I do?" But from Wentworth's expression he deduced it was not an option.

A tour of the public houses in town did not yield any suitable candidates. There were plenty who were willing, but Wentworth proved too fastidious.

"Perhaps," Harville suggested timidly, fearing he might be rebuked for pointing out the obvious, "we were looking in the wrong places. If you do not want anybody who enjoys spending money, you should not be looking in places where men come to spend money on purpose."

"Good point. I do not know where else to go. Where do men go if they want a wife, quick and easy, with a dowry?"

"To my aunt?" said a man who was standing so near that he had overheard. "She has a daughter she has been saving for me for goodness knows how long -- but I am not interested."

"Ah, here is the deal," cried Captain Wentworth, who after his successful deal with Sir Walter was now completely enamoured of them. "You marry the girl we are trying to get rid of and you will be rid of your cousin." He studied the man. It was a gentleman, not too old, perhaps eight and twenty, and evidently in possession of a good fortune. "You must be in want of a wife."

The gentlemen professed himself interested in the plan and he was brought on board to discuss the finer details.

The finest detail was of course Anne, but when she heard of the plan she was no longer so fine. Although the gentleman was handsome enough, he lacked something essential and she could not go along with the plan. There was not much she could do, however, except take out her gun. "No!" she cried, pointing the gun at the gentleman.

He started. "Do not shoot."

"It is not loaded," Captain Wentworth said with a sneer.

"I would rather not take the risk," said the gentleman.

She advanced towards him when he proved to be afraid. He was a fine gentleman and did not have much experience with guns, she gathered.

He stumbled against the railing. "No!"

She waved menacingly.

Then he toppled backwards over the side of the ship. There was a loud splash.

"There," Anne said in satisfaction. "Now he cannot marry me."

Captain Wentworth had run to the side, but there was nothing to be seen anymore save for a few rings on the water. "Mr Darcy was a good party for you, but it seems he cannot swim."

"I do not like men who cannot swim. Do you mean he is dead?"