Are you so sure Sir Walter isn't getting slowly entangled in Mrs Clay's "web of charm"?

He does not want to part with her, when she starts talking of going away, after Anne has arrived in Bath: <<"My dear madam, this must not be". [...] He spoke and looked so much in earnest, that Anne was not surprised to see Mrs. Clay stealing a glance at Elizabeth and herself.>>

He finds her more attractive than at first: <<"Mrs. Clay has been using it [Gowland's lotion] at my recommendation, and you see what it has done for her. You see how it has carried away her freckles". If Elizabeth could but have heard this! Such personal praise might have struck her, especially as it did not appear to Anne that the freckles were at all lessened.>> .

All of this makes Anne rather uneasy: <<There was one point which Anne, on returning to her family, would have been more thankful to ascertain [...] which was, her father's not being in love with Mrs. Clay; and she was very far from easy about it.>> and even Lady Russell is provoked to see Mrs Clay in such great favour in Camden Place.