Langford Hall
Whitley, Wiltshire
May 18, 1815
Miss Anne Elliot
Camden Place, Bath
My Dearest Miss
Elliot,
Oh
Anne, please know that I will be arriving in Bath shortly after you receive
this missive. Upon reading your most informative letter, I put an order
in for my carriage to be ready for an immediate departure for Bath. There
is nothing that could keep me from your side at a time like this. You
must be in quite a state! If I were in your position, I know that my mind
and my heart would be all at wrong ends of one another and I would not know
which way is up.
I
see, from your missive, that your parent and sibling have not changed as much
as their scenery has. One would suspect that having to retrench would put
one in mind of greater economies, but it seems that is not the case, and I do
feel sorry that you have to witness this avarice behaviour in one’s own
family. To go on about Lady Dalrymple and her daughter, that must have
been a sight to see as when one’s own parental figure get in a dither about a
cousin, simply because she has a title. From what I remember of your
father, I could see the potential for him to ‘froth at the mouth’ as you say
when he was speaking of the local nobility. I am sure you have already
thought of his elevating himself (and hopefully his daughters) in society
simply by association.
I
understand that you had a great disappointment when visiting Uppercross and
your sister, Mary Musgrove. I know how difficult it is to be faced with
one’s past, especially when there are younger and less-reserved females on the
scene. It was unkind of Mary to put you in that position, to be so near
the man you had wanted to marry. Did Mary not know of your connection
with the infamous Captain Wentworth those many years ago? To put you, my
Dear, in such a position was without feeling and rude, indeed. Though, I
know you, Anne, and I wish that I were there so you need not have suffered in
silence. Why did you not write to me sooner? You know that I would
have been by your side in an instant, had you but asked.
However,
it seems as if things took an interesting turn. This Captain Benwick
sounds like an interesting young man. It is not often you find one that
can quote the various poets of our times so well. Though, the melancholy
could have been too much to bear if was any bit worse than what you had alluded
to. If he had served with Captain
Wentworth, then he too must have an enviable position in which a small manor in
the countryside, or even near the sea would not be out of the question.
Miss Louisa Musgrove, I am sorry to say, precipitated her own injury by being
so very uncautious as well as displaying behaviour unbecoming to a young lady
of her age and station.
I
am saddened to hear that she did not fare well from her fall. I do hope
that she does recover in a timely manner. I always knew that you had a
cool manner about you, Dear Anne. If not for you and your quick mind,
Miss Louisa may not be recovering at all. How you must have suffered on
that journey through the countryside with that blathering captain who could not
stop blaming himself for the incident. How were you to bear hearing your
past love go over the situation for those many hours in one ear, and your
sister’s histrionics in the other?
Then
to be well received in Bath, especially with a young gentleman of fortune who
not only happens to be connected to your family, but seems to have intentions
to be even further connected to your family through your hand. From your
own account, Mr. Elliot seems to be all genteel and not unpleasant to watch
move about a room. Has he walked by your side whilst you partake in the
mineral waters of the Pump Room? Did he ask for a prime spot on your
dance card when you attended the Assembly Room? I must know more about
this young man that had you speaking so profusely of his intelligence and good
manners. I know that he must be of good sense to have singled you out
above your elder sister, Elizabeth.
You
have such an even temper, a pleasant manner, and a sweet look about you.
Please do not go on any longer about your age and position. You will most
assuredly not spend your years simply as an aged maid who attends your sister
Mary’s children. Does not having two men paying homage to you through
poetry or sweet words on the dance floor prove that? Please know that I
am rushing as quickly as possible behind this note to be by your side to see
how the rest of the story unfolds. My Dearest Anne, rest assured that
your dear friend is on her way to walk with you through the streets of Bath to
distract you from all that troubles you. I have a mind to walk along the
Royal Crescent and take tea with you at the Assembly rooms so that I can learn
all of the details of these past months that you were not able to put in your
too short note that was recently sent to me. Have no fear, my Dear Anne,
I will be there in a trice to help you choose which gentleman is worthy of my
dearest friend.
I
am always at your service,
Katherine Maxwell
Thank
you for reading my letter to my favorite Jane Austen character, Anne Elliot of
Persuasion.
It was wonderful to
be asked by Meredith of Austenesque
Reviews to partake in her Austen Extravaganza. Gentle
Reader, you might also like this post
I did on Persuasion, which includes "The Letter" from Captain
Wentworth. Please let me know which Austen character you would write a
letter to if you could.
