have told even me. I must enjoin you to secrecy, and I hope I may have your word not to mention it to anyone.’
‘You may rest assured I will tell no one,’ said Anne.
Miss Scott left the shop, and as Miss Shepherd approached the counter in search of some thread, I was able to speak to Anne alone.
We fell into conversation instantly, and I was heartened to hear that Anne had intended to join me yesterday, despite the weather being wet, but her sister had not been well, and had claimed her attention, making it impossible for her to stir out of doors. She had been prevented from walking by the river for the same reason this morning, but her sister’s health having improved a little since then, she had been glad to take the opportunity of a walk.
We could not talk of our engagement for fear of being overheard, but we were able to talk of our future in a more discreet form. I talked of the fortune I would win, and asked Anne her opinion of what sort of estate I should buy, whether in the country or by the sea. She advised me to buy one with a stretch of coastline and a sandy cove so that I could walk by the sea every morning.
‘A good idea,’ I said. ‘I like the water. I always value my walks by the river here.’
She blushed, and looked prettier than ever, and I counted myself the luckiest man alive. I imagined the two of us walking together on the beach of our future home, with our children playing around us. I would be Admiral Wentworth, and she my wife.
Miss Shepherd finished choosing her thread, and Anne and I had to part, but I consoled myself with the fact that Sir Walter would be returning in a few days and that I could then ask him for her hand.
I longed for a ball this evening, somewhere where I could dance with Anne, but I was engaged to play whist with my brother. I could not concentrate, but this, however, made me very popular, as it meant that I lost every game.
Wednesday 3 September
Anne and I had the luxury of an evening spent together at Mrs Grayshott’s, where we were able to dance together. It was a joy to be able to touch her, and to spend much of the evening in conversation with her, and although I was tempted to overstep the boundaries of decorum by asking her to dance a third time, I managed to restrain myself, knowing that Sir Walter would soon be returning, and that then I would be able to dance every dance with Anne.
Friday 5 September
I went, as usual, to the river this morning, and I was rewarded by seeing Anne coming towards me. We strolled through the fields, her arm in mine, and I asked her when her father was likely to return.
‘He will arrive in time for dinner,’ she said.
‘Then I will present myself tomorrow morning, though I resent every minute that keeps me from acknowledging you as my future wife. Little did I think, when I came into Somerset, that I would find such happiness.’
‘Nor I. Your visit was spoken of, and I was curious to see you, but I did not expect a friendship to develop, let alone anything more. I thought you would be a rough-mannered and impatient man, a sailor who thought of nothing but battles and the sea. I did not expect you to be someone I could fall in love with.’
We walked on. I spoke of my impatience for her father’s return, and I asked her if she had told Lady Russell of our engagement.
‘No, not yet. I felt my father should know of it first. But as soon as he has given his consent, I will tell her.’
A shadow crossed her face.
‘Do you doubt that he will give it?’ I asked her.
‘My father can be . . .’ She paused. ‘He is very proud of his heritage—our heritage. You do not know him very well—yet— but his favourite book is the Baronetage . He often takes it up to read it. He likes to read about the first baronet, and to remind himself that he comes from an illustrious line.’
‘And you? Are you proud of your heritage?’ I asked her.
‘Proud of it, yes, but not blinded to the worth of
‘You may rest assured I will tell no one,’ said Anne.
Miss Scott left the shop, and as Miss Shepherd approached the counter in search of some thread, I was able to speak to Anne alone.
We fell into conversation instantly, and I was heartened to hear that Anne had intended to join me yesterday, despite the weather being wet, but her sister had not been well, and had claimed her attention, making it impossible for her to stir out of doors. She had been prevented from walking by the river for the same reason this morning, but her sister’s health having improved a little since then, she had been glad to take the opportunity of a walk.
We could not talk of our engagement for fear of being overheard, but we were able to talk of our future in a more discreet form. I talked of the fortune I would win, and asked Anne her opinion of what sort of estate I should buy, whether in the country or by the sea. She advised me to buy one with a stretch of coastline and a sandy cove so that I could walk by the sea every morning.
‘A good idea,’ I said. ‘I like the water. I always value my walks by the river here.’
She blushed, and looked prettier than ever, and I counted myself the luckiest man alive. I imagined the two of us walking together on the beach of our future home, with our children playing around us. I would be Admiral Wentworth, and she my wife.
Miss Shepherd finished choosing her thread, and Anne and I had to part, but I consoled myself with the fact that Sir Walter would be returning in a few days and that I could then ask him for her hand.
I longed for a ball this evening, somewhere where I could dance with Anne, but I was engaged to play whist with my brother. I could not concentrate, but this, however, made me very popular, as it meant that I lost every game.
Wednesday 3 September
Anne and I had the luxury of an evening spent together at Mrs Grayshott’s, where we were able to dance together. It was a joy to be able to touch her, and to spend much of the evening in conversation with her, and although I was tempted to overstep the boundaries of decorum by asking her to dance a third time, I managed to restrain myself, knowing that Sir Walter would soon be returning, and that then I would be able to dance every dance with Anne.
Friday 5 September
I went, as usual, to the river this morning, and I was rewarded by seeing Anne coming towards me. We strolled through the fields, her arm in mine, and I asked her when her father was likely to return.
‘He will arrive in time for dinner,’ she said.
‘Then I will present myself tomorrow morning, though I resent every minute that keeps me from acknowledging you as my future wife. Little did I think, when I came into Somerset, that I would find such happiness.’
‘Nor I. Your visit was spoken of, and I was curious to see you, but I did not expect a friendship to develop, let alone anything more. I thought you would be a rough-mannered and impatient man, a sailor who thought of nothing but battles and the sea. I did not expect you to be someone I could fall in love with.’
We walked on. I spoke of my impatience for her father’s return, and I asked her if she had told Lady Russell of our engagement.
‘No, not yet. I felt my father should know of it first. But as soon as he has given his consent, I will tell her.’
A shadow crossed her face.
‘Do you doubt that he will give it?’ I asked her.
‘My father can be . . .’ She paused. ‘He is very proud of his heritage—our heritage. You do not know him very well—yet— but his favourite book is the Baronetage . He often takes it up to read it. He likes to read about the first baronet, and to remind himself that he comes from an illustrious line.’
‘And you? Are you proud of your heritage?’ I asked her.
‘Proud of it, yes, but not blinded to the worth of
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