Persuasion (Seasons Edition -- Summer) recap

Eight years after Anne Elliot was persuaded to reject the poor naval officer Frederick Wentworth, her family's debts force them to rent their estate to Wentworth's sister. Wentworth returns wealthy but resentful and appears drawn to Louisa Musgrove. When Louisa suffers a dangerous fall at Lyme, Anne's calm competence restores his respect for her; Louisa later becomes engaged to Captain Benwick. In Bath, Anne receives attention from her cousin William Elliot, but Mrs Smith reveals his mercenary motives and past selfishness. Wentworth arrives believing Anne may marry Mr Elliot. He overhears her speak about lasting love and writes that he still loves her. They reconcile, renew their engagement with family approval, and finally marry.

Sir Walter Elliot's spending has made Kellynch Hall unaffordable. He and his eldest daughter Elizabeth plan to move to Bath, while Admiral and Mrs Croft rent the estate. Anne Elliot realizes that Mrs Croft is the sister of Frederick Wentworth, the naval officer Anne loved and rejected eight years earlier. Lady Russell had convinced the young Anne that his lack of fortune and connections made their engagement unsafe. Wentworth has since returned from war rich and successful, while Anne still regrets yielding to that advice.

Anne stays at Uppercross with her demanding younger sister Mary and the Musgrove family. Wentworth visits his sister at Kellynch and becomes a favorite with the lively Louisa and Henrietta Musgrove. He treats Anne with painful formality and tells others she is greatly changed. His approval of firmness seems to condemn her earlier decision, while his attention to the Musgrove sisters makes Anne assume that he may marry one of them. Even so, small acts show that he still notices Anne's needs.

The party travels to Lyme to visit Wentworth's naval friends. Anne appreciates their warm, loyal community and talks with the grieving Captain Benwick. On the Cobb, Louisa insists on jumping down the steps after Wentworth warns her; she falls, strikes her head, and lies unconscious. Anne alone remains calm enough to direct help. Louisa survives but must stay with the Harvilles. Wentworth is horrified by the result of the stubbornness he had praised and begins to see Anne's steadiness differently.

Anne returns from Uppercross and joins Sir Walter and Elizabeth in Bath. The stranger who admired her at Lyme proves to be William Elliot, Sir Walter's estranged cousin and heir. He has reconciled with the family and pays Anne marked attention, encouraging Lady Russell to hope for their marriage. Anne enjoys his intelligence but distrusts the gaps in his account of his past. She also renews her friendship with Mrs Smith, a widowed former schoolmate whom her status-conscious family despises for being poor.

Louisa recovers and becomes engaged not to Wentworth but to Captain Benwick. Wentworth comes to Bath free of that supposed attachment and finds Mr Elliot openly attentive to Anne. He mistakes their closeness for an understanding and becomes jealous. At a concert, Anne tries to show Wentworth that she values his company, but Mr Elliot repeatedly interrupts them and Wentworth leaves discouraged. Anne knows that she still prefers Wentworth and suspects that his feelings remain, yet neither can find a private chance to correct their misunderstandings.

Mrs Smith explains that Mr Elliot encouraged her late husband's ruin, abandoned her afterward, and returned to Sir Walter chiefly to prevent a marriage to Mrs Clay that might threaten his inheritance. Anne rejects him. Wentworth learns that Anne is not promised to Mr Elliot and overhears her argue that women can remain constant in love even after hope has gone. He writes Anne a letter declaring that he still loves her. They reconcile and renew their engagement, acknowledging the pride and persuasion that kept them apart. Lady Russell accepts that she misjudged him, while Mr Elliot leaves Bath with Mrs Clay. Anne and Wentworth finally marry and join the naval world she admires.

Mrs Smith exposes Mr Elliot's selfish history and explains that he reconciled with Sir Walter largely to protect his inheritance from a possible marriage to Mrs Clay. Anne rejects any prospect of marrying him. Wentworth comes to Bath but mistakes Mr Elliot's attentions for evidence that Anne is committed elsewhere. After overhearing Anne defend the constancy of women's love, Wentworth writes that he still loves her. They speak openly, overcome the resentment and uncertainty that followed their broken engagement, and become engaged again. The Musgroves welcome them, and Lady Russell admits that her old judgment of Wentworth was wrong. Mr Elliot leaves Bath with Mrs Clay. Anne enters the naval community as Wentworth's wife, happy in the long-delayed match, though the possibility of renewed war remains a source of anxiety.