Persuade

Confusion

Anne POV-
Anne was in the morning room reading when the door burst open making her jump. She looked up to see Jane and Thor walking into the room "Sister, how are you, I must say I think Bath has done a wonder for your looks, it must be the healing waters" said Thor joyfully. Jane looked at her husband and laughed "Anne looks the same as she always does plain no beauty" snapped Jane rolling her eyes. Anne just ignored Jane "Thor and Jane I do hope that your travels here went well?" asked Anne. Jane sighed and sat down "Oh Anne the roads were horrible and Laura is now getting married, oh the Captain will so handsome in his uniform. Oh we shall have a Captain in our family Anne isn't that splendid news" said Jane happily. Anne closed her eyes at Jane's words the thought of Laura and the Captain shattered Anne's heart even more.

"Anne are you alright, you all of sudden just went pale" asked Thor with concern. Jane just laughed "Husband what are you talking about Anne always looks like that" said Jane. Anne open her eyes and looked at Thor and gave a small smile. "I am fine brother there's nothing to worry about" responded Anne. Thor gave her a look of disbelief but Anne just shook her head. She stood up "Thor I promise I am well" said Anne giving Thor a reassuring look. Thor smiled at Anne "So Anne how has the company of Bath been?" asked Thor. Anne grimaced a little before answering "The company of Bath hasn't been anything special besides of Admiral and Mrs. Banner who I seen few times around town. And my schoolmates Miss Belova and Miss Bishop" answered Anne.

Jane scoffed "Those two were nothing but trouble Anne always in causing some sort of mischief I am surprised you even keep their acquaintance" said Laura in disbelief. "I am surprised you haven't kept company with our charming cousin Mr. Laufeyson Anne or Miss Carter I heard they are in Bath" said Laura with a raised eyebrow. Anne rolled her eyes "Mr. Laufeyson has called on us several times times Tony and Elizabeth are very charmed by him but truthfully I find him tiresome and as for Miss Carter and her father Lord Ross, Tony and Elizabeth has called and even had dinner with them at least once a week I am not included since Miss Carter and I were never friends at school and she always seem to think she was better than me and I should stay in my place" said Anne shaking her head. Thor gasped "Miss Carter is the daughter of an Earl just like you Anne you are equals" said Thor. Anne just smiled "Thor I do not care what Miss Carter thinks she and I will never be friends which I am fine with, let's discuss other things how is Laura's wedding plans coming along" asked Anne in a solemn tone.

Jane's face lit up "Oh Anne it's going to be splendid and Laura will be such a beautiful bride. I told Laura she could borrow my wedding veil as her something borrowed you should have seen her face it left her speechless" said Jane. Anne grimaced Jane's veil wasn't something anyone would want to borrowed it was very ostentatious and Jane had looked ridiculous in it. "So has the wedding day been set yet?" asked Anne. Thor nodded "Yes they have already read the first set of banns it will take place in three weeks time on June 7th" answered Thor. Confused since the Stark's and Banner and Barton attended the same church the past few week no banns had been read. "How is that I haven't heard the banns here" said Anne. Jane looked at Anne "Why would the banns be read here they are in Lyme where Laura and the Captain are staying and will be married" said Jane looking at her sister like she had gone crazy. "But the Captain has been in Bath with the Banners" said Anne. "That's impossible when we left Lyme Barnes was still there" said Thor. Anne gasped her heart thundering in her chest "Barnes Laura is marrying Captain Barnes? asked Anne in a confused tone. Both Thor and Jane looked at each other then back at Anne. "Of course who else would she be marrying" asked Thor. Anne stood up quickly "I have to go" said Anne as she ran out of the room. Leaving Thor and Jane confused.

Clint POV-

Barton guided his sister in the pump rooms Mrs. Banner was chatting happily and Barton listening half heartedly so it surprised him when he heard his sister cried out in surprise. "Brother look it's Lady Hill and the Starks along with Mr. Laufeyson" said Mrs. Barton smiling. Clint snapped his head in the direction to where Natasha was heading. He scanned the group not seeing wanting to see Anne with him. But he didn't see Anne at all Sir Tony had Lady Hill on his arm and Mr. Laufeyson had Miss Stark on his, and Mrs. Potts was trailing behind them. "Sir Tony and Lady Hill it is so nice to see you today" said Mrs. Banner as she greeting the group. Sir Tony and Mr Laufeyson gave them a small bow while the ladies a gave curtsy. Barton returned the bow, Lady Hill looked at him with a look of disgust but said nothing. Miss Stark step forward from Mr. Laufeyson with a smile "Captain I must say congratulations is in order, I must say when we got the letter about the wedding it was the most wonderful news you must be so happy" said Miss Stark. Barton gave them a look of surprise. Mr. Laufeyson cheered "Yes, congratulations my good old man now when shall the wedding be?" he asked with a smirk. Barton shook his head "I am not sure I completely understand your congratulations" said Barton.

Lady Hill tiled her head then looked at him with surprise "We speak of your wedding to Miss Laura Odinson" replied Lady Hill with a frown. Barton shook his head "I am not marrying Miss Laura, for she is marrying Captain Barnes" he replied. The Starks and the group looked at each other in confusion. Sir Tony fluffed his hair and smoothed out his goatee "But in a letter to Anne, our brother said Miss Laura was marrying the Captain, we just assumed it would be you be you well this is a surprise" said Sir Tony in disbelief.
Mrs. Banner nodded "It was a surprise but a good one at that, now where is Miss Anne I would love to see her" said Mrs. Banner. Sir Tony scoffed "I swear my sister has been so melancholy these past few days none of us want to be around her, she refused to come out with us" said Sir Tony shaking his head. Barton frowned at hearing that Anne was sad, he wanted her to have all the happiness in this world in her life even if it didn't include him. Mr. Laufeyson nodded "Even I couldn't convince her to come out with me" said Mr Laufeyson with a frown.

"Oh that's right you two are engaged yourself congratulations" said Mrs. Banner with a smile. Lady Hill cleared her throat "No not yet but it is a hope for the future" said Lady Hill glaring at Barton. Sir Tony cleared his throat "Captain Barton and Mrs. Banner if you will excuse use we have a meeting with our cousin Lord Ross so if you will excuse us" said Sir with a small bow and the group left. Barton was in shock as he heard that Anne was free and not bound to Mr. Laufeyson, he still had a chance. "Sister do you mind if we head home there I must do" he said quietly. Mrs. Banner smiled "Are you finally going to stake your claim for Miss Anne's heart?" she asked with an raised eyebrows. Barton looked at her in surprise "How did you know..." he asked. Natasha just smiled "Clint, Sam wrote about your previous history with Miss Anne and I have watch you and her together and I can see you still love each other after all this time, Clint take the chance again tell her you feel if don't you will regret for the rest of your life" said Natasha. Clint groaned "Natasha I am just not sure..." started Clint but Natasha just shook her head "Clint, I believe it you lay it all out to Anne I truly believe that you can persuade Anne to be your wife" said Natasha. She link her arm into his "Now Clint let's go home" she smiled. Barton for the first time in a long time he had hope and his heart was full.