Gianni, brilliant post, in part, for defending Capt Wentworth and chastising Anne for her thinly civil and reticent attitude.

Mark me as crazy but I'll often look up from my page to deliver an audible admonishment or encouragement to the heroine, hero, or any other participant because I get so emotionally caught up in their situations. I'll exclaim, For example: "Good God, SAY something to each other besides the barest civil trivialities!"

With Anne and Frederick, I would drag them into a room by themselves and lock the door and not let them out until they can reach an acceptable level of congruency with each other!