A New Life in London: Sweet Second Chances Persuasion Variation, #2

By Meg Osborne

Elizabeth engineers a happily-ever-after…

 

When Sir Walter Elliot dies, his two unmarried daughters are swiftly and unceremoniously evicted from Kellynch by their cousin. Taking refuge in London they settle the last of their father's affairs – while taking heed to their own.

 

Elizabeth Elliot is determined to marry well and will make every use of this last chance she has for herself and, when Anne is not suitably concerned with her own future, for her sister too. Fate sees fit to help her, by causing a handsome figure form Anne's past to cross their paths again.

 

A New Life in London is a sweet regency retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Meg Osborne
• Release date: Oct 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223896692

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

I do not understand your eagerness to visit such a place!

Sophia Croft’s voice was a whisper, but it sounded unnaturally loud to her brother as they entered the crowded room in one of London’s many elegant houses, now turned auction-room.

It is not as if you have a house of your own you wish to furnish! Sophia took in the exaggerated elegance of their surroundings and wrinkled her nose. Nor to such fashionable tastes.

Captain Frederick Wentworth said nothing. His attention was on the room at large, not its contents. He scanned the faces of the crowd searching for someone he might recognise but Sophia was not so easily ignored.

Frederick! She elbowed him sharply in the side, forcing him to look at her.

What is it, Sophy? he asked, rubbing the spot he expected would bruise. I am not forcing you to stay here with me. Go and join the admiral if you prefer that. I shan’t be long.

Sophia looked as if she might like to say more, but in the end she threw her hands up in exasperation and bade her brother farewell.

Admiral Croft and I will take tea at that pretty little place opposite the park. You can join us there when you finish...whatever nonsense this is. Her lips quirked into a smile but there was a shadow of concern still present in her eyes. And I shall remind you that the rooms we presently occupy are too small to accommodate anything too extravagant. She pointed to a framed painting, propped against the wall with several of its companions. That is a pretty thing. Buy that if you must buy something. Do not waste your fortune on another man’s cast-offs.

Frederick nodded, then turned grimly back to the front of the room as the auctioneer and his assistant made a start to their proceedings. Sophia departed and the milling crowd was encouraged to be seated. One last fruitless glance at his companions proved to Frederick that he was surrounded by strangers and he was tempted to duck out himself but something kept him rooted in place. He selected a chair at the very back of the room and waited, watching as the auctioneer exchanged a word or two with a couple seated at the very front of the room, then returned to his podium. Frederick stiffened. There! His suspicions had been proved correct. Anne Elliot. She was still recognisable to him, even after all these years apart, from a distance and seeing only the back of her head. She turned and he saw her briefly in profile. His breath caught and he ducked his head, uncertain why, even after all this time, he had such a capacity to care about Anne Elliot.

I do not, he reminded himself, taking a breath and straightening in his seat as he watched the auction begin. It was only morbid curiosity that brought me here.

Morbid was right. When he had seen the news that Sir Walter Elliot had died he could not believe it but after reading the announcement in several newspapers he was forced to accept it was true. What stunned him was that, in the wake of his demise, it appeared the man had been in debt up to his eyeballs and now his surviving daughters - two out of the three unmarried - were being forced to sell most of his possessions to pay their creditors. The grand Kellynch Hall Frederick remembered had gone in full to a cousin, entailed away from Sir Walter’s direct descendants, and both Anne and Elizabeth were in London, selling what little of their father’s property remained open for them to sell.

This house, Frederick thought, casting his eyes around the room. Will revert to the new Sir William Elliot, but whatever profit can be made of its contents will have to provide for the future once past debts are cleared. He shifted uncomfortably, thinking that even if every item here sold way above its guide-price, it would not leave the daughters much. He glanced back towards Anne, who was not here unaccompanied as he had first suspected. The lady sitting with her was not her sister, though, but Lady Russell. Of course she would be here, managing for Anne the way she always had. If Frederick’s heart was slow to recall it no longer cared for Anne Elliot, it certainly reserved the right to hate Lady Russell as fervently as it had eight years previously when her interference had called a halt to all of Frederick’s hopes and dreams. It was upon her advice that Anne broke off our engagement and I might blame her for being so easily led, but I shall never forgive Lady Russell for doing the leading. Of course, she had been proved wrong several times over. Not only had Frederick survived life at sea but it had agreed with him and as his skills and determination propelled him through the ranks. He had also won fame and fortune and returned to England a far better prospect than he had been when Anne refused him. Fate has not been so kind to her, he thought, realising that whatever grief Anne presently battled in losing her father and the life she had known, her future would be bleaker still. If neither she nor Elizabeth could marry and find homes of their own they would look forward to a life relying on the generosity of friends and family. Frederick felt a prick of conscience when he compared their lots but shook it off. He had not come here to feel sorry for Anne Elliot. Nor to gloat over her misfortune.

Why did you come, then? He was poised to leave, thinking that perhaps it would be better to join Sophia and Admiral Croft sooner rather than later but before he could stand there was a commotion at the front of the room and Frederick watched as Lady Russell led a white-faced Anne unsteadily from the room. Evidently being here in person, seeing her life boxed up and sold out from under was too much even for stoical Anne Elliot. Frederick remained where he was. He could not do much to help Anne, nor did he wish to, but if he could purchase something that might allow her to cling to some part of her former life then that would be an act of kindness. He did want to be kind.

Our first item for auction today is this elegant roll-top desk...

FRANKLY, I DO NOT KNOW why you wished to go in the first place.

Anne Elliot said nothing but patiently listened to Lady Russell’s lecture, which had begun the moment she had led Anne out of the auction and continued with enthusiasm as they walked. Reaching home at last, it was plain that her godmother had no intention of leaving her at the door.

I said to you that it would be painful to see all your things sold and surely better to leave it to hired agents to handle. There was nothing to be gained by you being there in person.

I did not ask you to accompany me, Anne said, meekly removing her bonnet, gloves and pelisse and handing them to the singular servant who had remained with the family upon their relocation to London.

Indeed! And then you would have been left alone to faint in front of a room full of strangers!

Who fainted?

Anne glared at her godmother before hurrying into the sitting room to allay her sister’s fears.

Nobody. Anne frowned a little, startled to see Elizabeth lying on the settee under a blanket, her dark hair easing free of its pins. Is something the matter?

I am unwell, Elizabeth announced, in a sorrowful voice. She gave a pitiful cough and looked up at Anne resentfully. I did not realise you would be at home today.

Is that a problem? Anne fought a sigh. The last thing she wished to do was to go back out into the hustle and bustle of London but the Elliots were decidedly light on friends to visit and Anne was highly conscious of not wanting to impose on anybody’s generosity any more than they already had. She glanced at Lady Russell. We had planned to take tea.

Elizabeth drew in a shaky breath and before she could say another word, Anne stood.

But if you prefer to be left alone then of course we will not keep you from resting. Anne bit her lip to keep from reminding her selfish sister that resting could be done in her bedroom and did not require taking over the entire parlour, leaving Anne with nowhere to go but out. Resentment flared in her chest but when she looked again at her sister she saw Elizabeth’s cheeks did look a little flushed and her eyes were a bit too bright. Anne patted her awkwardly on the arm. I am sorry you are unwell, sister. Perhaps Lady Russell and I can take a walk outside. The weather is still pleasant for this time of year. Is there anything you would like brought back? Anne thought fleetingly of the lightness of her purse and prayed Elizabeth’s expensive tastes might be kept in check.

No, no. Elizabeth smiled, martyr-like, from the settee. I am sure I just need some time to myself. She stared pointedly at her sister for a moment before Anne took the hint and bade a swift retreat from the room, beckoning Lady Russell to accompany her.

Of course, I would invite you to my home, Anne, dear, but it is so crowded with guests at present, that I fear it would not be a comfort to you.

No. Anne pressed a hand to her head, thinking that the very last place she wished to be was in her godmother’s elegant sitting room, pressed into socialising with her friends. Perhaps a walk around the park will be pleasant and not too crowded.

Yes, and there are plenty of pretty tearooms nearby that we can visit to sit down and take some refreshments. Lady Russell frowned. You are looking a little pale yourself, dear, and I am worried you take on too many of your family’s concerns.

Anne smiled weakly but said nothing. What else could she do? Elizabeth had been brought exceedingly low by Sir Walter’s death and their subsequent eviction from Kellynch, although Anne privately feared that it was the loss of Elizabeth’s status and wealth, and not her father, that had caused her sister such despair. She had flatly refused to accompany Anne to the auction that morning, protesting that she had no desire to see their things sold like some common tradesman facing bankruptcy. Anne had not the heart to point out that they, too, were hardly flush with cash following Sir Walter’s death. He had left debts that must be paid, and quickly, if they wished to keep the gossip at bay. Anne swallowed. She had barely begun to think of the future, but whenever she did it was as