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BY SUSAN MASON-MILKS
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SOPHY CROFT WATCHED the door to the sitting room close as her brother, Frederick, and Miss Anne Elliot exited. The minute she heard the door latch click shut, she turned to her husband with a wide-eyed look.
“Well, that is certainly an unexpected turn of events, my dear,” said the admiral in response to her unspoken question. “Quite a surprise but certainly a welcome one.”
Sophy smiled at her husband. “I could not be happier about this. Louisa Musgrove is a lovely young lady but hardly what I had envisioned for Frederick. But Anne – she is something special. I cannot imagine anyone more perfectly suited to my brother.”
“I have always liked Anne. Sensible girl. She will make an excellent wife. Sometimes it is difficult to believe Anne could possibly be Sir Walter’s daughter,” he said thoughtfully.
“Or sister to Miss Elliot or Mrs. Musgrove.” Sophy quirked a smile.
“Do you suppose Anne takes after her mother?” he asked.
“That must be it. Rarely do you meet a young lady who so graciously combines good sense, kindness, and beauty.”
“She reminds me of someone else I know.” The admiral’s eyes twinkled with mischief.
“Oh, my dear Admiral, you do go on.”
He started to rise to go sit beside his wife, but she motioned for him to stay seated. “Your leg is ailing. I will come to you.” Crossing the room, she joined him on the sofa.
He took her hand in his. “My darling girl, I remember when we first met. From the first moment I saw you, I knew there was no one else in the world for me.”
Sophy blushed. “Do not tell me Frederick’s engagement has made you sentimental.”
“Not sentimental exactly,” he replied.
“Thoughtful then?” she suggested.
Putting his hand on her chin, he turned her face towards him. “Even after all these years, I still think I am the luckiest man alive to be spending my life with you. Call it sentimental, thoughtful, whatever you wish.” He shrugged his shoulders then kissed her gently on the lips and on the forehead before he pulled back to look into her eyes.
After a moment, Sophy leaned against her husband and sighed contentedly. “I am somewhat surprised the wedding will be so soon. Just ten days away!”
“I suppose Frederick is concerned about the tensions on the continent. He could be called back to sea at any time, you know.”
“I will pray that does not happen.” Then something occurred to her. “Surely, you will not be called back, too.”
“I do not think so. Not with this gouty leg, but you know as well as I that if I am summoned, I must go.”
“Then let us make the most of our time together,” she said, snuggling closer against him.
He nuzzled her hair and kissed the top of her head. “As we always do, my dear. As we always do.”
