Work Text:
All those who were more than slightly acquainted with Mrs Wentworth and her extended family could have felt no surprise upon hearing that Mrs Harville was to come to her for her confinement, rather than one of her sisters. Indeed, even supposing equal affection to have subsided between the parties, Mrs Harville – calm, capable, and not five years removed from her fourth lying-in – must still have been acknowledged the wisest choice.
The letter begging her assistance was joyfully received and answered by return of post with most affectionate assurances and a promise to bide with her for as long as she wished. Captain Harville, from his very real affection for his wife as well as a keen interest in the business at hand, would have been extremely reluctant to stay behind, but as Mrs Whentworth had added a line or too that his presence would be quite as welcome as his wife’s there was no chance of his staying away. So down to Somersetshire they all went, the Harville’s, their children, and their nursery-maid, and all were received at the Wentworth residence with equal joy.
Indeed, it might be said that Captain Harville’s presence was of greater immediate relief that that of his wife, for however uneasily Mrs Wentworth might be looking forward to her first confinement, it was nothing to the anxiety of her husband.
Harville had never seen his friend so fretful, though of course Wentworth managed to conceal it very admirably. As soon as they were left by themselves he made some gentle inquiries, but Wentworth, most uncharacteristically, did not make any direct reply. His expression conveyed far more than his words and Harville put a firm hand on his shoulder.
“I understand you, my friend,” he said. “You and I had rather face ten privateers at once, or stare down the barrels of Bony’s cannons, than suffer any anxiety on account of our wives.”
“No one possesses more fortitude than my Anne,” Captain Wentworth returned, sounding rather strained. “But— she is delicate, Harville.”
Captain Harville squeezed his shoulder, as he had done many times before and as he himself had often been steadied in return. “I shall not tell you not to fear,” he said. “But women have their stratagems of battle as well as us, and depend upon it, my wife knows them all.“