Rediscovered: Love Remains, #2

By Meg Osborne

Surprisingly reacquainted after many years apart, Captain Frederick Wentworth and Anne Elliot have managed to salvage something resembling friendship out of their previous closeness, and Anne tries to content herself with that. She knows that Frederick does not return her feelings, and focuses instead on cultivating friendships and enjoying her lot in life. She is pleased to be of service in drawing Frederick's friend, James Benwick, out of the melancholy that has consumed him, little realising her offer of friendship might be taken as something more by the serious Benwick.

Frederick is certain his feelings for Anne Elliot are confined to the past, where they belong, but when she falls ill during their party's trip to Lyme, he is forced to realise the truth: he has loved her, and he loves her still. Once her recovery is ascertained, he realises he must do his best to resolve the anticipated connection between him and Louisa Musgrove, but his progress is halted when he notices Anne growing closer to James Benwick. Is he about to lose Anne a second time?

Rediscovered is book two in the three part Love Remains novella series, a variation on Jane Austen's Persuasion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Meg Osborne
• Release date: Dec 28, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386321668

Meg Osborne

Meg Osborne is an avid reader, tea drinker and unrepentant history nerd.  She writes sweet historical romance stories and Jane Austen fanfiction, and can usually be found knitting, dreaming up new stories, or adding more books to her tbr list than she'll get through in a lifetime.

Book preview

Chapter One

Frederick watched the door for Anne’s return, but he seemed to be the only one concerned by her absence. Indeed, his breakfasting companions barely seemed to notice that one of their party was still missing. Heavy raindrops pelted the windows, and Frederick could not help his mind turning back to their last interaction. She had been determined to be left alone, and he was not about to force his presence where it was not wanted. But they had been going on quite companionably, more companionably than he had thought possible, just a few minutes earlier. What could have changed so quickly?

Charles addressed an observation to him and he dragged his mind back to the company in front of him.

I’m sorry, Charles, what was that?

I just commented that if the rain lasts today it will severely limit our options for activities.

I am sure it will clear before too long, Frederick said, voicing his hopes rather than sharing any foreknowledge he possessed on the changing weather. The sound of the door opening, a murmured female voice and then a hurried tripping up the stairs set Frederick’s muted anxieties at rest. There was Anne arrived back at last.

Was that Anne returning? Louisa asked, and Charles and Mary looked about them, realising for the first time that Anne was not, in fact, already present at the table.

Returning from where? Mary asked. Has she been somewhere?

I confess I assumed her still to be sleeping! Charles said, continuing on with his breakfast undaunted. She rises far earlier than us, eh, Mary?

We bumped into her on our walk, didn’t we Louisa? Henrietta said. Captain Wentworth escorted us back but she wanted to stay a little longer. She darted an anxious glance towards the window. Oh, I do hope she did not get too wet in this downpour!

She shall catch her death of cold, I don’t doubt, Mary said, displaying a modicum of concern, at last, for the fate of her sister. Although her constitution is far stronger than mine, and perhaps she will avoid having any illness at all, or at least not suffer too badly with it. She sniffed, loudly. I have lately felt myself sickening for something even without the change in the weather.

Each person at the table dropped their gaze, eager not to meet Mary’s eyes nor to pick up her comment, for fear that it would merely encourage her into a further exposition on the state of her health. They ate in silence for a moment, before the door opened and a servant ushered Anne into the room.

Anne! Here you are at last, Mary said. We were just saying that we hope you won’t take sick after being out in the rain so long. She frowned. What were you doing outside in this weather, anyway?

I wished to take a walk, Mary, as I was awake before anyone else seemed to have stirred. She chose the first seat she could come to and fell to selecting her breakfast, avoiding eye-contact with everyone else at the table. Her cheeks were flushed with cold and the hurried energy she must have employed to changing and returning so quickly to the breakfast table. Despite her obvious desire to avoid undue attention, Frederick could not help but address her directly.

I hope you were not too inconvenienced by the weather, Miss Elliot. He glanced at the window. It came on so quickly, and I fear there was little enough shelter on the Cobb,

If by inconvenienced you mean utterly drenched, then I must admit I was, Captain Wentworth. Anne met his gaze and smiled, a clear, friendly sort of smile that betrayed no hint of animosity towards him. He smiled back, glad that whatever had upset her and made her insist on being alone had not lingered into the morning. Of course, now she is amongst friends of which I merely contribute to a larger number, he realised. Likely she tolerates me for that and prefers it to our being alone. The thought prompted a flash of melancholy, but he would not dwell on it, choosing to be grateful that she was herself once more.

What a shame it rained while you still wished to walk, Anne, Louisa said, casting a glance towards the window. And see, it still persists. She sighed. Whatever shall we do today, if walking is not an option? She looked directly to Frederick for inspiration, and he hurried to think of something to suggest that could entertain the young ladies, if not the whole party.

There is to be a concert this evening, Miss Their inn-keeper had begun to clear the table of empty dishes no longer in use. They mention it in this morning’s newspaper. I wonder that your party might not be interested in attending?

Oh, a concert! Henrietta clapped her hands. Wouldn’t that be fun?

Without being asked, the inn-keeper disappeared and reappeared promptly with a copy of the newspaper, turned to the advertisement he had mentioned. Henrietta examined it.

Do not you think a concert might be enjoyable? Perhaps your friends would wish to join us, Captain Wentworth.

Frederick smiled at the party’s ready inclusion of the people they had only met one day previously.

You are kind to think of it, Miss Henrietta. Alas, I think it will not be of interest to Captain and Mrs Harville, He grinned. "Or rather, it might be of interest to them but far less to their children. I would not ask them to take on the challenge of arranging care at such short notice. He glanced towards Anne’s corner of the table. But I am sure Captain Benwick would be most pleased to be invited. If the weather breaks, a small group of us might walk down and ask him: otherwise, I will go myself."

And come back soaked? Louisa asked, giggling.

A little rain does not deter me, Miss Musgrove. Recall, I have spent half my life surrounded by water on all sides, and it does not seem to have served me so very ill.

The table laughed at his cavalier comment, and even Anne joined in with the joke.

The party fell to a discussion of their plans for the day, and all began to look forward to the promise of the evening’s entertainment. Henrietta was bid to re-read the details of the advertisement, that people might consider which pieces they most liked the sound of, whether they recognised any in particular, and what they thought the evening would be like. None among them had been to Lyme’s Assembly Rooms, and all were eager to see what they were like.

I doubt they will compare to the rooms at Bath, Mary observed, though the smile she wore demonstrated that she was not at all sorry to be in Lyme at present. Lyme is so much smaller, still despite that I don’t doubt it will be a most enjoyable evening.

Frederick lifted his eyes to the window, grateful to see the heaviest rainfall abating and a glimpse of brighter weather.

Perhaps we might all walk down towards the Rooms this morning, and ascertain their location before the evening? Charles suggested. We could call in on the Harvilles, too, if the weather continues to clear.

Excellent idea, Frederick said, pushing his chair back and getting to his feet. I don’t doubt we will pass a tea room or such a place where we might pass a comfortable hour if the weather does encroach once more. And with both of us there, Charles, we might easily summon a carriage to avoid the worst of it.

DESPITE THE COLD AUTUMNAL temperatures outside that evening, the interior of the Assembly Rooms was utterly suffocating. Anne glanced around to see if any others in her party felt the stifling heat as she did. Mary and Charles were quite happily chattering with Frederick and Louisa, and Benwick was answering the questions Henrietta levied at him with as much detail and enthusiasm as he could muster. Anne was pleased to see him thus engaged, for after the few conversations they had shared she had found him to be intelligent and eloquent, though too prone to shyness in their larger party.

Shuffling a little in her seat, Anne’s discomfort caught Benwick’s eye, and he turned