Posted by SusanK on 7/23/2006, 11:15 pm, in reply to "A questions with two possible answers, Jean ..." I do have to say that I rarely read LSL. I'm always vaguely surprised when I do. It's not bad stuff. Anyway, I have always appreciated how Laura Louise handled Anne's feelings about Frederick. At the point this chapter was written, sides had been chosen and Frederick could do no right. He was the ultimate betrayer and would stay such in the minds of many LSL readers. I was even a bit hesitant to post "None But You ... " for fear that the stain was indelible. This is a lovely bit of writing, and as the spokesperson for Captain Wentworth, thank you for it. Anne looked at his smiling face; love for her was shining in his eyes. “Oh, very well,” she relented. “I shall marry you where and when you wish. But I consent to this scheme only because of what happened to Frederick. I ... I don’t wish to risk losing you, James. And ... speaking of our friend, I brought something with me today to give to you.” Anne released his arm to hunt in her reticule. “Here,” she said, and she held out a folded square of paper. “You may guess what this is. I want you to have it, James. I want you to know that it holds no power with me any more.” Captain Benwick took the paper and unfolded it. It was Frederick’s letter. For a long moment, he said nothing. “Keep it, Anne,” he murmured at last. “For written here are the sentiments of a noble heart. He asks your forgiveness; he wishes you to love another.” James’ lopsided smile appeared, as he added, “And as I now occupy that position, how can I object? And look here,” he pointed, “the cut you made with my sword. There are precious memories tucked away amid the pain of that day.” With great reluctance, Anne returned the letter to her reticule. She spent some time gazing at the trees which dotted the lawn; the grounds here were far larger than she expected. “You were right, James, in what you said then,” Anne said at last. “The one I pity is Louisa, most sincerely. He married her for honour alone. How may she ever be happy?” “Oh, they did not seem so very displeased with one another when we met at Lyme. In fact, quite the contrary! They will do very well if they build upon that foundation.” James reached up and tucked a stray strand of Anne’s hair into her bonnet. “Frederick is not a cold-hearted man, as well you know. And a heart of honour is a heart worth having." Now, off to write Anne and Frederick. Susan Kaye
207.200.116.134
this great chapter from Love Suffers Long And Is Kind. It will give you hope for the goodies to come in ME.
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