Christmas is only two weeks away, and I’m trying not to think about everything I should be doing to get ready, especially when I’d rather be WRITING! You’ll be happy to know that I’ve been making really good progress on Captain Wentworth in His Own Words lately. At 146 pages, 20 chapters, and 45K words, it’s about halfway finished, and I want to keep going!

Essentially, the first half of the book is prequel story: a glimpse of Wentworth’s turbulent childhood, how he ended up in the navy, how he met Anne, their courtship and breakup, and a taste of his adventures at sea during the 8 years following. Now I’m caught up to the point where the action of Persuasion begins. That’s where this excerpt is taken from.

You probably know how much I enjoy writing the letters included in my novels. (see The Power of a Well-Written Letter). And so I was excited for the chance to add one to this book. Here’s how chapter 20 begins:

Everything changed earlier this year when in April Bonaparte was forced to abdicate and was then exiled to the island of Elba. For now at least, the war is over.

Naturally, this came as excellent news for most people. However, for military men such as myself, it has had a very different effect. Peace means that the services of hundreds of soldiers and sailors might no longer be needed.

For some, like my brother-in-law, Admiral Croft, the timing could not have been better. I soon heard from my sister that they were looking forward to the prospect of retiring to the country, using the fortune the admiral had acquired in the war to settle in the south of England in quite a grand style.

Though I could afford to do something similar, I am too young to think about retiring to the country just yet. But like it or not, same as so many other sailors, I expect to be put ashore on half pay, at least temporarily.

Many of my men wasted no time applying for leave to visit their families, since there was very little to do until things were more decided for the future. I stayed aboard the Laconia, however, until I received a very interesting letter from my sister in late September. I read it in my cabin.

Dear Frederick,

What news I have! And I believe you will approve of what I will tell you, for at last we have found a house for ourselves. We will take possession at Michaelmas, and we want you to be our first guest! It is a lovely old mansion-house in Somersetshire called Kellynch Hall. Perhaps you will even remember having heard of it when you were in these parts years ago, visiting Edward at Monkford, for it is not far from there.

The Admiral had gone down to Taunton in order to look at some advertised places in that neighborhood (which, by the way, did not happen to suit). And while attending the quarter sessions there, what should occur but that he chanced to fall into company with the very man who had the key to the situation we could most desire! Mr. Shepherd, who is a lawyer, “hinted” that his client – Sir Walter Elliot, the proprietor of Kellynch Hall – had come into some difficulty and was now obliged to consider moving out and letting the place to others. Would we be interested, he wondered? Would we!

And so, on the appointed day, we drove over to meet Sir Walter and see the place, making sure to be on our best behavior, for we gathered we were on trial as his potential tenants as much as his house was on trial for us to want to rent. Well, everything – the house, grounds, and terms – appeared agreeable to us, and apparently we were approved as well, for the papers are now signed, the baronet and his daughter have decamped in favor of Bath, and we will take possession in only a few days.

We had been a little nervous about this meeting, as you may well imagine, especially since not everything we heard about Sir Walter in Taunton was to that gentleman’s credit. But I suppose men of noble birth are expected to cultivate certain eccentricities. I will at least do him the justice of admitting that he was very civil to us on our visit to Kellynch. As the admiral said of our illustrious landlord afterwards, “The baronet will never set the Thames on fire, but there seems no harm in him.”

Can you imagine your sister as mistress of a baronet’s house, with servants to wait on me hand and foot? La! I daresay you will think we have begun putting on airs! Nevertheless, we intend to enjoy our good fortune. Our happiness will be complete if only you will come to stay with us just as soon and as long as you are able. It will be like old times with the three of us together again, as we were in that cramped little house in Portsmouth and then again aboard the Cutlass so long ago. Only now we will have a great deal more room!

Do say you will come, Frederick.

Love and regards,

Sophy

One may imagine the effect of such a letter, of my hearing Kellynch, Sir Walter, and his daughter mentioned again in so close a connection. I understood Admiral Croft being desirous of settling in his native country again, but what an incredible coincidence this seemed. Of all the houses in Somerset, how was it that my sister and brother-in-law should happen to let the very one with which I was myself so particularly acquainted? Nevertheless, that appeared to be the case. There could not be two houses in Sumerset called Kellynch.

Did you enjoy this excerpt? I certainly had fun writing it! I’m hoping Captain Wentworth in His Own Words will be finished and published for your 2025 summer reading pleasure.

But while you’re waiting, please take a look at this great book giveaway that I’m participating in: JAFF Holiday Giveaway 2024. You might win a great prize or find a new book/author that you’ll enjoy.