Chapter Text
Frederick arrived at Kellynch after a pleasant afternoon at the Great House and found his brother-in-law on his hands and knees by the chairs in the drawing room
“Did you lose Sophy in the floorboards?” He asked with a grin.
The Admiral chuckled. “Nay, Miss Elliot lost her locket, and since she was wearing it when she joined us we hoped it might still be here. She was very good about it, but I could see its loss distressed her. Ah!” The Admiral stood up, holding the missing object in his hand. The ribbon that held it was old and had torn.
A surprisingly modest token for an Elliot, Frederick thought uncharitably.
“I will ask Sophy to surrender a ribbon, since this one is done for,” The Admiral said. “When it’s mended, would you be so good to bring it back to her? There is always a chance of the Miss Musgroves being there when you do.”
Frederick balked at being errand-boy for Anne Elliot of all people, but covered his displeasure. “Of course,” he said, trying to think of the pretty Musgroves admiring glances instead of Anne’s serious gaze.
By that evening he forgot all about his promise.
--------------------------------------------
A few days later Frederick found Sophy very seriously looking over a selection of ribbon. She rarely fussed over such things, and he teased her about becoming vain. “Oh it’s not for me,” she laughed, “It’s for Miss Elliot’s locket. She’s bound to lose it again unless she has something stronger to tie it.”
Frederick picked up the locket, examining it more closely. He vaguely remembered it, something she had worn on occasion, a gift from a school friend. She had been fond of it, but he did not remember her attachment being so acute. What had changed? The torn and faded ribbon showed that it had been worn often in that time. His curiosity overcame him and while Sophy was distracted with the ribbons, he opened it.
It was a lock of hair tied with fine thread. Frederick felt his breath catch in his throat. He recognized the hair because it was his.
Before his proposal, he and Anne had spoken of his going back to sea. Seeing how upsetting Anne found the idea, he impetuously made her take a lock of his hair. She had been so careful, tying it up before gently cutting it off with her sewing scissors.
He remembered that moment so clearly, her seriousness as she held her token in her hands, looking up at him, her heart open. He had liked Anne Elliot very much by then, but he fell in love with her at that moment. A moment he had tried so hard to forget. Swallowing hard he closed the locket shut.
“Frederick, did you open that?!” Sophy exclaimed, sounding scandalized.
“It was an accident,” he said, the excuse sounding weak, even to him.
“A woman should be allowed her secrets, especially in matters of love,” Sophy scolded as she snatched the locket away.
“What makes you think it is a love token?” Frederick asked cautiously.
Sophy scoffed. “Brother, even the Admiral would not have to ask me that,” she said. “Miss Elliot has worn it everyday that we have seen her, and this,” she held up the threadbare ribbon to her brother, “proves that it is something she has kept close to her for quite a long time. It is obviously not a family heirloom. It is pretty in a way, but cheaply made. Only love would make a woman value a trinket like this.”
Frederick nodding, but said nothing. The revelation of Anne’s secret had shocked him and he tried to hide it. He picked up some of the ribbons his sister had been examining.
“I thought the red might be pretty, but it is a bit bold,” Sophy said, nodding to the box.
“I would suggest this blue one, but as a man, I’m sure my opinion on this is wrong,” he said.
“I always value your opinion, Frederick, even when it is wrong,” Sophy said affectionately, “but in this case I believe you are in the right.” She fixed the pale blue ribbon to the locket and admired it. “There. You can bring it to her tomorrow. And maybe show some better manners this time?”
“Better manners?” Frederick said, feeling offended.
Sophy gave him a critical look. “Imagine my humiliation when Mrs. Musgrove told me of your less than gentlemanly comments about her sister! ‘So changed you would hardly know her?’ honestly, Frederick!” Sophy said sternly.
His cheeks reddened. It had been unkind, and he could give no justification.
“Thankfully the Admiral was talking to Anne about Trafalgar, so she did not hear her. Although, knowing what little I do of Mrs. Musgrove, she likely already relayed your observations Miss Elliot,” Sophy said sourly. Frederick groaned.
“At least you have the sense to be ashamed of yourself,” Sophy observed wryly. “Truly the Miss Musgroves are already enraptured by you. You do not need to speak poorly of their unmarried relations to gain their favor. Everyone knows you are wild for them anyway, ignoring everyone else while they hang on your every word.”
“I’ve not been as bad as THAT, Sophy,” Frederick protested. The look she gave him said otherwise. “What can I do to make recompense?”
“Well, start by being a real gentleman and deliver this to Miss Elliot, and perhaps remember what it is like to speak to a sensible woman. I am very fond of her and I will never forgive you if I am stuck conversing with just the Musgroves because you have chased Miss Elliot off with your incivility.” Sophy said. She put the locket in a little box, wrapped it in a handkerchief, and handed it to her brother. “Now take this and don’t embarrass me again, or I’ll box your ears.”
Frederick took his leave meekly and called for a horse. While he waited he looked at the parcel pensively. He was suddenly loath to give up this treasure.
She had not forgotten him as he supposed.
His mind was in disorder. He rode at a leisurely pace, taking the time to examine his behavior since his arrival in Somerset and was distressed to find it wanting. The thought that Anne would have been told the unkind things he’d spoken was awful, though when he spoke them he had not cared if she knew. The Anne Elliot of his prejudiced memory was a proud, cold, and unfeeling creature. She was nothing like the real woman he’d been forced to become acquainted with. How humiliated she would have felt to have such a story relayed to her by her own sister.
Frederick liked to think of himself as morally superior to the snobbish Elliot’s, but he knew he had behaved too badly for that badge of honor.
All the memories he had forbidden himself to revisit rushed into his thoughts. The pain of their parting felt as strong now as it had those years ago. Frederick thought of his return in 08, when he contemplated writing to her, and how he cursed his weakness in considering it. He now cursed his pride.
The house was in sight when he saw Miss Elliot. She was wandering the grounds alone. He did not know whether to be relieved or not, but dismounted and walked towards her. Her thoughts must have been elsewhere because she did not hear him approach and was surprised when he greeted her.
“Captain Wentworth?” She said. He noticed how pale she was, how defeated she looked. Her family had never been a comfort to her, it must have been wretched to weather their broken engagement alone. He had least had an occupation to keep his mind from painful memories.
“The Admiral and my sister sent me to return your lost property,” He said with a friendly smile. He had been cold enough since his arrival and suddenly felt very ashamed of it.
“Oh! That is very kind of you,” She said, looking both relieved and embarrassed.
He pulled the little parcel from his pocket and handed it to her. She murmured thanks as she took it, but would not meet his eyes. Small wonder, when he thought of its contents and his recent boorish behavior.
“Sophy has made a few repairs to it. May I?” He asked. Anne looked up, and reluctantly held the box out to him. He took off his gloves and opened it, pulling out the locket with its new ribbon.
“Oh,” Anne said softly, “how lovely.” She smiled.
Frederick felt his heart leap. In times past he’d sought to make her smile, and he was surprised that it brought him joy to do it again. He stepped behind her and tied the ribbon securely. His fingers brushed her neck and he heard Anne’s sharp intake of breath. He stepped back, and she turned to face him, cheeks flushed. Frederick was reminded of a moment years past when he had pressed his lips to that spot and had received a similar reaction. Time seemed to compress, and his resentment felt much less important than the closeness of the woman he had loved.
“Please thank your sister for-” before she finished Frederick had grabbed her hand. His actions silenced her and she looked at him in shock.
“Will you permit me to call on you tomorrow?” He asked, gazing at her intently.
“Yes,” she said, her eyes wide.
He left without another word, afraid of what might tumble out if he let himself speak.