Almost Persuaded Chapters 23 and 24

AN: Real life is getting more complicated, but here are this week's chapters. Thanks again for the comments. They warm my heart.
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Chapter 23

Lady Russell was invited to visit South Park for the beginning of May. She would stay in the dower house with Anne, rather than in the main house, since it was Anne she was there to see. The Stevensons had returned from London the previous week and would host a couple of dinners while Lady Russell visited. Anne hoped she could enable Lady Russell to agree with the new direction Anne’s life was heading. She eagerly anticipated their time together. She had greatly missed her godmother.

The day Lady Russell arrived, Anne had spent part of the morning overseeing the final planting of some cool weather crops in the kitchen garden. The timing should be excellent as the weather looked to be threatening. Rain after planting was always to be desired. That day, they had planted spinach and chard for seed for the next year. They would be maturing just as the heat arrived, which would cause them to go to flower immediately. The seed would then be collected from the flowers. Anne found the whole process just fascinating. She had just cleaned up and changed to a regular morning dress when Lady Russell’s carriage pulled up in front of the dower house.

Anne was pleased to greet Lady Russell in the entry way. “I am so pleased you were able to accept our invitation. I have missed you greatly this past winter.”

Lady Russell replied, “As I have missed you. You are looking well.”

“Thank you. I am doing quite well. I am sure you remember my grandmother, Lady Rachel Stevenson.”

“Or course. Thank you so much for inviting me to visit Anne.”

“I am pleased to see you too. You have been such a great friend, first to Elizabeth, then to Anne after Elizabeth passed, that I am grateful for your friendship with the family. I hope you enjoy your stay with us.”

Mrs. Craig then showed her up to her room to refresh before she joined Anne and Lady Rachel in the parlor. Over biscuits and tea, they discussed Lady Russell’s stay in Bath, her trip to Gloucester, and the weather. They then discussed the recent Abolition of Slave Trade Act and what that might mean for various industries. Since Lady Russell had various investments around the Empire, she was concerned how this might cause problems in the Caribbean.

“Will the sugar plantations continue to prosper if there are no slaves to work them? I rely on income from a plantation and would not like to have to sell my interest in it.”

Lady Rachel replied, “I imagine a way will be found to continue to produce sugar. Do you not think workers would work better for wages rather than as slaves? They would then have a vested interest in the success of the venture where a slave does not.”

Lady Russell considered for a moment. “You may be correct. I have always felt uncomfortable with the idea of slavery but it is the accustomed practice.”

Anne added, “Even though many accept it, it is not right. I am glad the act was passed. I think the fines will be a deterrent to future slave transportation.”

Lady Rachel said, “It is more likely that the British Navy will be the deterrent since they will enforce the Act on the seas.”

Lady Russell said, “That’s true. Our navy is the best in the world. Speaking of our navy, how is Captain Wentworth?”

Anne replied, “He has been very busy and is doing well. We write each other regularly although I receive his letters only after he is able to post them which is quite irregularly. Still, he had a fine autumn and what I have heard of the winter was good.”

Finally, Lady Russell asked Anne about her domestic skills. Anne said, “It has been simply exhilarating to learn all these things. I am now an adequate cook. I could never replace someone like Mrs. Carlisle, but I can manage to put meals on the table if I must. What has been even more interesting than learning how exacting and challenging that is, is learning how the food reaches the table. I’ve been helping plan the kitchen garden and learning all about the interdependencies in the food chain. I had no idea.”

“What do you mean, interdependencies?”

“How you use up all the waste bits of food feeding other food such as goats, pigs, rabbits, or geese. How the animals help maintain the garden and contribute to the compost that nourishes the soil. It is like an intricate dance. If all move together, it creates a harmonious whole. Our staff do this without any input from us-it is just what is expected on an estate. If you live in town, there is less of this sort of management of the food supply. I will also be learning about preserving the food, about slaughtering the livestock, although I won’t be doing any of that, using herbs, and gathering seeds. They all fit together like a puzzle.”

Lady Russell asked, “If our staff generally manage all this, why do you need to learn?”

Lady Rachel answered, “If you think about it, it makes sense that the Lady of the house know at least the rudiments so that if she hires a cook who has only been a city cook, she can instruct her in the ways of the country estate. And in Anne’s case, she may have to manage this directly, depending on where she and the Captain end up. It is always good to acquire knowledge, and that is what Anne is doing.”

“You are still set on this marriage, I take it?”

“I am. I know that you and Father don’t really approve, but I know that he is the kind of man I want for a spouse. I do not like that he will be away at sea a lot, but he is all I have wanted. I know you thought me too fastidious in my requirements, but I have found someone who meets them in Captain Wentworth. Since he will be at sea so often, I hope travel with him. That sounds rather intriguing.”

Lady Russell looked pensive when she said, “I only want you to be happy. I just wish it could be of someone of our class instead of a sailor.”

Lady Rachel said, “He is so ambitious that I expect he will be of our class when all is said and done. I liked him quite well when he was here.”

After this discussion, Anne showed Lady Russell some of the items she had learned to make, her own alterations of an old dress, and they continued the discussion about the worth of these skills. Slowly, Lady Russell was coming to see that Anne was indeed happy with this choice. She treasured her god-daughter, so determined that she must find a way to accept and support this direction Anne was taking.

They day after Lady Russell’s arrival, Anne received a batch of letters from Frederick and a couple from Sophie Croft. As they sat in the parlor reading together, Anne opened his letters, then placed them in chronological order for reading. They had been posted in a couple of different ports and had managed to arrive at the same time.

Just as Anne wrote regularly and posted every couple of weeks, Frederick also wrote almost daily. When he knew he would be in port, he would finish the letter and post it to her, then start on the next. He had had a very busy winter. There had been a great deal of fighting. He was safe as was his ship. He spoke of his first mate, Lieutenant Harville, and what close friends they were. He also mentioned some of the midshipmen and what they were doing to help them advance in rank and what a trial young men could be.

As Lady Russell watched Anne read and react to these letters, she finally acknowledged the depth of feeling Anne had for Wentworth and realized that she must indeed accept him if she was to continue to have a positive relationship with Anne. Since she had no intention of giving up Anne, she would accept Captain Wentworth, if still reluctantly.

Lady Russell’s visit was a chance for Anne to catch up on activities around Somerset. As they strolled the grounds, they would talk of life at Kellynch. She learned of the success Mr. Thomas and Mr. Wentworth were having in their classes for the returned soldiers. She heard about the year that Charles Musgrove had at university and that he was expected home again soon. She heard about how little was actually going on at home with her father and sister. She learned that Penelope Clay had produced a son, Walter Junior, whom they called Wally. Lady Russell thought her foolhardy as Walter Clay had not advanced from clerk to solicitor yet and their income was so limited. At least Anne was not making a precipitous move as Penelope had.

That afternoon, they dined at South Park with a number of local families. Lady Russell was somewhat relieved to realize that all Anne was learning in no way decreased Anne’s genteelness. She had been concerned that it would coarsen her but such was not the case. Once dinner was over, Anne had entertained the company on the piano which had also soothed Lady Russell.

The next day, they spent some time visiting neighbors with Lady Rachel. Lady Russell discovered that she was actually enjoying herself. She had never spent much time Lady Rachel and had not realized how much she would enjoy her company. As she reflected on this, she realized that much of what she had loved with Lady Elliot had originated with Lady Rachel. This also helped her accept that Anne’s grandmother was just the person to help Anne prepare for her new life.

Lady Russell only stayed for two short weeks, but they completely changed her attitude to Anne’s future as Mrs. Wentworth. Her future letters would no longer importune Anne to return to Kellynch. She realized that Anne had no future with her father and sister, but that her mother’s family was offering her everything she would ever need.

Lady Russell returned to Kellynch and her normal activities with a heart at ease with the choice Anne was making. She hoped to be able to visit again for a longer period of time before Anne and the Captain married. In any case, she would be interested and pleased with the news from the Captain and would try to follow naval news in the papers.

Lady Russell’s visit had placed a hold on most of Anne’s new studies. Once she left, Anne again began to try something new. Immediately after Lady Russell left, Anne had learned about the preservation of the split peas. They had eaten fresh peas daily for the entire time that Lady Russell had visited. Then John and Mrs. Carlisle called her in for a discussion in the pea bed.

John said, “As you can see, there are far more pea pods than we can possibly eat. We will gather all of the rest, and Mrs. Carlisle will oversee drying them.”

Mrs. Carlisle said, “We stretch muslin on wooden frames. The pea pods are arranged not touching each other on the muslin. They are then covered by another piece of muslin allowing air to circulate but keeping away bugs. We keep them in a sunny location, with rocks at the corners holding the cover cloth in place. Each evening, we bring the frames into the kitchen so that no dew collects on them. In about a week, they will be completely dried out. We then remove the skins and bag up the peas. As we remove the skins, the peas usually split into two pieces.”

Anne said, “So this is how we get split peas for soups?”

Mrs. Carlisle replied, “Yes. It is a good, hearty meal for winter. We eat it more in the staff side than the gentry side of the house. We have it for tea almost daily in the winter.”

Anne said, “So, I may eat it more often in my new life than I had in my old.”

Mrs. Carlisle agreed, “Probably. It is usually quite economical, even if you do not grow your own peas as we do. Split peas will likely be available wherever you go. You can put different vegetables into the soup with it to vary the taste, so that even if you eat it frequently, it is not boring. You can also add different cuts of meat to change the flavor. People do not enjoy eating the same thing all the time. Variety increases enjoyment and appreciation. I believe it is also something that appears on the shipboard menu although you will not be the cook in that case.”

After that discussion, Anne helped harvest and dry the peas. She could see how she might do this in her own home and was glad of the knowledge. This was the first of many crops that they would dry over the course of the growing season.
 
Chapter 24

As June arrived, the Stevensons prepared to host Mary for the summer. This time, Mary would stay in the main house rather than with her grandmother and Anne in the dower house. They all thought it would give Mary more interactions with family members from Susan’s family who would be visiting. Mary had finally started to really realize that rank was unimportant in daily family interactions at Christmas, and this would help reinforce that learning. Since an Earl was significantly higher ranking than a Baronet, Mary would have this example before her daily once the Stanleys arrived.

Sir Michael and Lady Matilda journeyed together to collect Mary. As the three entered the carriage to begin the return journey, Mary said, “I cannot thank you enough for being willing to have me stay with you. I have learned so much from visiting South Park. I really appreciate spending the summer with you and being able to be with Anne. How have you adjusted to having Agatha gone now?”

Lady Matilda replied, “As you might guess, the house feels quite empty with all of my children gone. We will love having you here this summer. I am glad you will stay with us instead of Grandmother so that we can spend more time together.”

“I still want to spend time with Anne. I want to learn some of the things she is learning too. She has written me about what she is doing now and it sounds like fun.”

“Of course you will want to be with her as much as you can. We all enjoy her company,” said Sir Michael. The journey from school was generally quiet although the three would occasionally spend time in conversation. Whenever Mary had traveled with her father, there had been almost no conversation. This was much nicer.

Mary settled into a comfortable room in the family section of South Park. She could look from her windows and see the dower house in the distance. She knew she would think of Anne every time she looked out. She loved the room. It was much nicer than her room at Kellynch.
When she joined Anne and Lady Rachel that afternoon, she commented, “Grandmother, why do you think that South Park appears so much nicer than Kellynch?”

“In what way?”

“I am not sure I can describe it. Things here just seem, I don’t know, more finished or something.”

Lady Rachel said, “From what I saw when I rescued Anne last fall, no one has bothered with any of the non-public rooms since your mother passed. In a large estate, there are always maintenance activities that keep the rooms looking beautiful. At Kellynch, they seem to have started neglecting those in the rooms guests do not usually see. For example, in Anne’s room, there is always a draft. The window does not fit correctly. If they do not fix it, there will be other problems as a result of moisture getting in. Little things like that accumulate over time. They are only updating the parlor, dining room, ball room and other rooms that guests use, instead of all the rooms in need. The problems will just continue to grow.”

Anne added, “Mother always attended to those things. Father wasn’t very interested. It seems neither is Elizabeth, so the little things don’t get fixed. They just ignored me when I suggested fixing something.”

Mary asked, “And the little things cause bigger issues over time?”

Lady Rachel answered, “Yes, they usually do. Your cousin, who is heir to the Baronetcy, will find he has a great deal to do to undo the neglect your father seems to be paying. Unless, of course, your father marries again and chooses someone like your mother who will manage all those things for him. Do either of you think that likely?”

Mary was aghast to think her father would remarry. Anne was thoughtful and replied, “I do not know. He may find someone interested in him as he is still quite good looking. But it would have to be a particular kind of woman. He might even want someone young enough to try to have an heir again. I had never considered that.”

Mary said, “Do you think he really might? I did not think he ever even looked at a woman since Mother passed.”

Lady Rachel laughed and replied, “Oh, my dear. I believe he approached a couple of different women about a month or two after mourning was complete and found he wasn’t as much of a catch as when he was young. I have heard him say he is interested only in promoting his daughters’ interests for now. I wonder what luck he might have if he decides to go looking again. Kellynch isn’t the catch it was twenty years ago but it does have its attractions.”

Mary looked thoughtful as the conversation turned to other matters. She had never really regarded her father as an outsider might, and this was the first time she had ever tried to do so. As she did this, she considered what Anne and Lady Rachel had been teaching her about marriage prospects and realized that there probably would be many women interested in becoming Lady Elliot, but not so many that her father could choose just anyone. She turned her attention back to the conversation in the parlor where they were discussing estate matters. She had learned that listening to these could produce some very interesting news. There was nothing of import today, but it was no longer as boring as it had been when she was younger.

In spite of living in the main house, Mary would join Anne in the kitchen or the kitchen garden for a portion of each morning before other activities of the day. Between learning domestic arts and spending time with the higher ranking relatives, Mary would start a different kind of education that year. She found learning about fabrics and their care very instructive. The kitchen was a lot more fun than the sewing. The sisters also found time for Anne to continue to assist Mary at piano. Mary had greatly improved in the past year and found that she enjoyed it now much as Anne did. She felt a great deal of satisfaction in attaining some degree of success after so much work. They discussed whether either might like to try to master the harp but decided not to pursue it. Piano would suffice.

When the Stanelys arrived, both William and Charles came with their brides, Ethel and Cora. Mary was pleased to be included in most of the planned activities even though she was not yet out. She was occasionally left at home, but most were family activities and she was eagerly welcomed to these.

There were no girls at school from the peerage, and thus Mary was, for only the second time, of lower rank than everyone around her. None were impressed by the baronetcy of Kellynch. This was eye opening for Mary who had always assumed the importance of Kellynch. She had never realized that it was of only minor importance, and of none to those outside Somerset. With this realization, Mary finally stopped being so conscious about rank, supposed status, and precedence. Instead, she focused more on being open, friendly, and respectful. As a result, she found herself enjoying the company much more and being far more pleasant than in the past. This resulted in her having far more fun than ever before and firmly solidified the understanding she had started developing at Christmas. She and Anne discussed this realization, and what it also meant for their marriage prospects.

“You had this conversation with Grandmother?”

“Yes, before my season in London. I had never realized how little importance Kellynch has in the larger world. Our dowries are relatively small, so this impacts how we are viewed as marriage prospects.”

“Does Elizabeth understand all of this?”

“I do not think she does.”

“And this also impacts the ability of Father to marry again?”

Anne thought for a moment and replied, “Probably. If Kellynch were wealthier or more important with better connections, there would probably be many more women pursuing him. As I look back on my little time in town, I can understand why only younger men were particularly interested. We have relatively little to contribute. If we weren’t related to the Stanleys and Stevensons, we would have even less. Since Father doesn’t really associate with them, they are not part of his attraction. As you noticed, Kellynch isn’t as attractive as it once was, so even those who attend the shooting parties are assessing the Kellynch connection and finding it adequate but not much more.”

“Do you think he will try to marry again?”

“Not until after Elizabeth does. She is his priority right now. If you looked more like her, you might also become a priority. However, you are dark like Mother, so, I am sorry to say, that is not very likely.”

Mary nodded her head and replied, “I had realized that he values Elizabeth because of her resemblance to him. At least we have the Stevensons and their family connections to improve our chances. And Captain Wentworth didn’t care about any of that, in the end, did he?”

“No. He did not. Perhaps you too will find someone who values you for Mary and not for what you might bring outside of that.”

Mary smiled at that thought.

June and July were pleasant, relaxing months at South Park. There were frequent picnics, which Anne and Mary now helped create. Mary was fascinated with how the food on the table was produced, never having been aware of it at all. She also enjoyed the little time she spent with Anne in the kitchen garden. They never did any of the heavy work, but they oversaw it all, and learned about the vagaries and requirements of vegetable gardening. They also spent a great deal of time learning about making jam and preparing the bounty of summer to last through the winter with jams, pickles, salting and drying. They read about the tests being done in France with canning foods and wondered if that would ever become a popular method of preserving.

Mrs. Carlisle said, “This new-fangled canning that Napoleon is encouraging is quite a change. Imagine being able to keep meat so it is like fresh without a lot of salt or drying it out. You can have vegetables all year without fermenting them. It seems too good to be true now, but maybe in the future we’ll all be preserving food this way. It would certainly improve the variety in the winter.”

Anne replied, “I wonder if the navy would ever carry canned goods? I understand now it is either dried or fresh.”

Mrs. Carlisle answered, “Well, perhaps at some point. At least old Boney had one or two good ideas. If we could just defeat him and those Frenchies, we’d all be much better off.”

Mary laughed and added, “I think Captain Wentworth might appreciate that but only after he has a few more prize ships.” That caused them all to laugh.

With the Stanley visitors, everyone spent a great deal of time on horseback with almost daily rides. They found the company congenial and pleasant. All were well-read so much of the leisurely discussion was about books and what was and was not enjoyed. Mary had read few of the books, so she spent the discussions listening. Anne had read most, so she was often involved in the discussion. Both Ethel and Cora were also participants in these, with little fear of appearing to be blue stockings.

After one discussion, when she was alone with her grandmother, Mary asked Lady Rachel, “Grandmother, I do not recall hearing anyone talk of books like we have here this summer. Father and Elizabeth never read. I know Anne and Lady Russell talked of books occasionally, I was never involved. Do most families talk about ideas like we are here?”

“It depends. In our family, we enjoy the sharing of ideas. We appreciate intelligent discourse. Sharing appreciation of different books allows us to share in the expansion of our thinking. Many families do not want to be challenged by new thinking. Reading often challenges us to think about new things and they are not willing to take the chance of changing their minds. Many families also force their daughters to hide their intelligence as many men are intimidated by smart women. We do not do that, but you may find that your friends start hiding their wit as they approach coming out.”

“I think some have already started to do that. They are afraid to chase off someone eligible.”

“For yourself, you will have to decide what you want in a partner. Do you want someone who wants Mary, someone who wants an Elliott, someone who wants someone decorative or what? Anne wanted someone who wanted Anne, who could like and respect her for who she is, not for who she comes from. With only a small dowry, it is more likely that your suitors are choosing you rather than your connections. However, there will be those willing to court you because of the name. By the time you come out, you should decide what kind of suitor you want. Discussions of ideas can help you make that informed choice. Looking at the relationships around you should help you understand these different choices.”

Mary began to study the interactions between her aunt and uncle, between her cousins and their wives, and those she saw on visits with neighbors and tenants. She came to see where mutual respect eased the friction in relationships and where lack of respect increased tension. As she watched, she started thinking about what she wanted for her life once she left school next year.

As both Ethel and Cora were as accomplished on the piano as Anne and Agatha, Mary recommitted to her practicing so as to be considered accomplished as they were. She realized that the different “accomplishments” could be helping in the rest of her life. Reading could both improve ones mind and increase possible topics for conversation. Music could soothe and feel good as well as entertain. Embroidery could also be practical as could the other needlework Anne was learning. Riding was always good for a country life. She continued to study her cousins and refine what her own goals should be.

The men spent a great deal of time fishing, so more fish than usual was served at the table. The cooks were challenged to find inventive ways to prepare and present them so that variety continued at the table.The Stanleys left by the end of July leaving behind many happy memories.

Anne, Lady Rachel, Lady Matilda and Mary spent a great deal of time together after the Stanleys left. They visited tenants; they practiced; they learned domestic skills; they sewed; they relaxed. They had something to fill most of their waking hours. It was quite a contrast for Mary to the way she had spent her time at Kellynch. As she thought back, she realized that her mother had been busy like this, not always lying around as Elizabeth was. She decided it was more fun and interesting to stay busy with something worthwhile.

As various items were harvested, many were preserved for use the rest of the year. Neither Mary nor Anne had ever participated in this preserving process and found it enlightening. Most of the vegetables were fermented or pickled after they were harvested. Mrs. Carlisle was very particular in her fermenting process. Sometimes a crock would contain a single type of vegetable; other times, it would contain a mix. In either case, everything was cut to a common size and placed in the crock, along with a few grape leaves which served to keep the vegetables crispy. Then a brine solution covered the vegetables with a grape leaf tucked on top to keep the vegetables under the brine. The lid was placed on the crock which was then labeled. It was then placed in the pantry. Each day, the lid was opened to let gasses escape and to ensure the vegetables were still submerged in the brine. Finally, when she had determined that they were ready, they would be placed in the cellar for storage.

The first morning of fermenting, Mrs. Carlisle explained the fermentation process. Then she added, “People are healthier when they eat plants year round. Since they don’t grow year round, we must find a way to keep them. Now, some of the root vegetables will keep much of the winter in the root cellar. However, if we ferment them, they can be stored in the other cellar or pantry and are already ready for use.”

Anne said, “I had never considered where the fermented sides in our meals came from.”

Mrs. Carlisle said, “A good cook preserves everything that cannot be used within a day or two of harvest. We’ll keep you busy all summer with different methods of preserving. We’ve already done the split peas. And we’ve gathered the seeds from the cool weather crops. Pickles and jams are for the height of summer.”

Anne and Mary watched as cabbages, turnips, beets, carrots, cucumbers, beans, cauliflower, baby onions, radishes, and garlic were all fermented that summer. This explained all the side dishes that had contained fermented vegetables that had appeared on the table over the course of the year.

Also that summer, both participated in preserving fruits. When they were young, they had enjoyed picking berries with their mother. That had ceased with her passing. Now they had the opportunity to pick again and, although they might get scratched by a bramble, found that they really enjoyed it. Many of the berries went straight into pies or other desserts for summer. However, at least once each week, Mrs. Carlisle would make up a batch of preserves. These would supply jam or the filling for tarts for the winter. The leavings from these preserves, and other efforts, would be used to create flavored vinegars for year round use.

Also, at least weekly, a batch of fruit would be set to dry. The fruit would be cleaned and picked over as only prime fruit was dried. Those with bruises went into the vinegar. The rest were dried just as the peas had been. After a few days, the moisture was extracted from the fruit and the fruit would be placed in muslin bags and stored in the cellar. The dried fruit was used in a variety of meals throughout the rest of the year. It would create a different texture than the fruit jams did.

Herbs and flowers were an important part of the summer harvest. Both were gathered and dried for use in cooking, tisanes, and in the toilette. Flowers were dried like the fruits. Herbs were dried by hanging in bunches from the kitchen porch. Interestingly, as onion tops turned brown, they were dug up, cured for a few days, and then hung to dry tied together with string. All ended up stored in the cellar, with the onions in loose mesh bags, the others in muslin bags. They also gathered seeds from various plants. Not all plants were harvested-a portion was always left to go to seed. Many of the seeds were quite tiny. They were carefully labeled and packed away for the next year.

At the beginning of August just after the Stanleys left, Anne turned twenty. She took stock of her situation and was glad at the progress made in the previous year. She was developing skills which might be helpful for her new life, closer than ever to most of her family, and still very much in love with Captain Wentworth. Every four to six weeks, she received his letters. They were a constant reminder of the reality of the change coming in her life in the next year as were the domestic skills. According to a recent letter, he was being returning to England and might be there by the end of August. They should have a couple of weeks together before he returned to sea.

The family celebrated with a birthday dinner, inviting neighbors to help in the celebration. Since her birthday wasn’t even recognized at Kellynch, Anne really appreciated this. They had a fun gathering, with most of her favorites served at the table. Now that she really knew how difficult some of the dishes were, Anne truly savored these. Anne received a number of tokens of appreciation from friends and family. There was something very satisfying in being appreciated.

The women turned to helping Mary prepare for her final year at school. With their new skills, they helped her select an appropriate wardrobe. They spent time embellishing and updating items from her old wardrobe that could be reused and refreshed. Mrs. Crouch prepared a few new items. They were all quite satisfied with their accomplishments, and Mary appreciated the new clothing. She never even missed Kellynch that summer, although she continued to write home regularly, as did Anne. While Anne did not receive letters in response, Mary received one letter from home that summer. According to that, all was well.