And the secret president of the fan club: One Miss Anne Elliott, Naval groupie extraordinare. She was memorizing Navy Lists when the Miss Hayters and Miss Musgroves were playing with their dollies.

It's almost as if Wentworth is a celebrity, equally inaccessible to all of them and therefore safe for all of the to adore. Perhaps in their fever of admiration, the girls don't really expect anything serious to come of the aquaintance. Do they know there are running bets as to which of them will catch him, I wonder?

An excellent point though, as long as Wentworth shows no preference to any of them, he doesn't upset the delicate balance.

I think Louisa shows real initiative and intelligence in preceiving that she actually has a shot at the Captain. And she gets rid of her competition, skillfully keeping Henrietta happy with Mr. Hayter.