In Bath, Anne learns that Louisa has recovered and is now engaged to Captain Benwick, Harville’s brother. This news rekindles Anne’s hope for reconciliation with Wentworth. However, her cousin Mr. Elliot, the heir to Kellynch, begins courting her, winning the approval of Sir Walter and Elizabeth. Anne, however, grows suspicious of his true motives. She reconnects with Mrs. Smith, a widowed friend living in reduced circumstances, who reveals troubling details about Mr. Elliot’s character. Meanwhile, Wentworth visits Bath, and their paths cross again - charged with unspoken emotion.