I like the way the scene at Mollands is fitted into the narrative. We trudge through the dreariness of chapters 13-17 with Anne. Some events are mildly agreeable, but hope seems gone, nothing sparkles, life is dull.

The astonishing news of Louisa and Benwick's engagement explodes like a bomb in chapter 18, throwing all the pieces up into the air and provoking Anne's reaction :-

"No, it was not regret which made Anne's heart beat in spite of herself, and brought the colour into her cheeks when she thought of Captain Wentworth unshackled and free. She had some feelings which she was ashamed to investigate. They were too much like joy, senseless joy!"

The plot is bubbling along nicely now. JA keeps the energy level up through the rest of the chapter with the lively entertainment of the Admiral's company. The chapter ends with a page-turning line:-

"Do not you think, Miss Elliot, we had better try to get him to Bath?"

JA doesn't let the reader's interest flag for a moment, but plunges straight into the scene at Molland's, with it's delicious tension. Anne feels "something between delight and misery"; what is Frederick feeling?

He was more obviously struck and confused by the sight of her than she had ever observed before; he looked quite red."

I think it's safe to assume that at this point Frederick's heart was "beating in spite of himself". Things are really cooking at last! It's Game On!!