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Except…Elliot could not quite work the full plot out. He had not spent enough time with the Bingleys to understand the depth of the affection between brother and sister but after careful questioning of Jack he did not believe that Caroline Bingley’s influence could be strong enough to ensure such a separation. But if Caroline was not the responsible party, then it would surely suggest instead that Mr. Bingley had left under his own steam…and that was much more worrisome.
It was a horrible mess and Elliot wished for it to be resolved by the imminent return of Mr. Bingley. The possibility that Darcy might accompany his friend had no influence on that at all!
“How are the fish biting, Elliot?” Charlie asked when Mr. Collins attention was captured by Mr. Lucas who began a discussion on the society to be found in Hunsford.
“Poorly,” Elliot said, still watching Jack. “The weather has cooled so much that I fear the fishing season is soon to be at an end.”
“Are you still spending your afternoons down by the river?”
“Indeed, and I find myself walking more frequently also,” he said. “There is something compelling about the change of seasons.”
Charlie grinned at that and a lively debate on the merits of the different seasons soon captured the whole table with even Mrs. Bennet joining in with the jollity.
They left the Lucases in good spirits and those sprits endured for the remainder of the week. A week passed and then some weeks more. Mr. Collins took his leave of them though he returned for another visit before long which Mrs. Bennet was far less enthusiastic about.
Eventually, as autumn began to turn to winter, two more letters arrived. The first from Mr. and Mr. Gardiner, their London relatives. They were planning a visit to Longbourn for the Christmas season and would be arriving a handful of weeks from now. This was happy news and the whole family, even Mr. Bennet who enjoyed the company of the older Mr. Gardiner exceedingly, were excited at the prospect of their visit.
The second letter was from Miss Caroline Bingley and contained far less happy news. News that put an end to the doubt that both Jack and Elliot had been wrestling with since the Netherfield party left for London.
“They are not coming back,” Jack said, reading the letter in their bedroom, away from the rest of the family who had already begun the preparations for the Gardiners’ visit despite it being some weeks away. They did not have long though as Mrs. Bennet would soon find them and demand to be apprised of any news.
“Let me see,” Elliot said.
Jack gave him the delicate paper with that same flowing script. A touch of fragrance from the paper settled around them. It was a pleasant scent that put the unpleasantness of the words in sharp relief. They were settled in London for the winter the very first sentence said and there was no intention to return beyond that but instead to continue to enjoy the delights of the capital. Caroline Bingley expressed her brother’s regret at not having had time to pay his respects to his friends in Hertfordshire before he left the county. Nothing else was said about Mr. Bingley and nothing at all about Mr. Darcy. The rest of the letter was chiefly focused on Caroline Bingley’s plans for the winter, including the imminent arrival of Miss Darcy.
Jack was silent as Elliot read through the rest of the letter aloud. He stayed perfectly still in the window seat, once again looking out at the river. Elliot read through the words silently a second time once finished, his heart torn between concern for Jack and resentment for the Bingley sisters. For Mr. Bingley Elliot felt only disappointment. That he was really fond of Jack, Elliot did not doubt, but for him to be so easily swayed by the designs of his sisters…well, how profound could his feelings really have been?
Of Jack’s there was no doubt.
He felt deeply.
But one could not be a fated mate without the other so it was possible his feelings were shallow enough that time would allow them to fade. Jack would simply have to endure the passing of that time and the pain of those feelings moving alongside it.
“I think I would like some time alone, Elliot,” he eventually said.
Elliot nodded. “Of course.”
“It is not that I do not appreciate your support with this…situation. And I am grateful for it, I always am, but I need…”
“Some time to consider.”
“Yes.”
“Perhaps we might go for a walk in a few days,” Elliot suggested. “The cooler air would be nothing but a benefit.”
“Perhaps,” Jack agreed.
However, the weather took a turn for the worse following Caroline Bingley’s letter. Elliot doubted the two were related but the gloominess of the days did not help with the general feeling of despondency that had settled over Longbourn as they awaited the arrival of the Gardiners.
Jack spent most of his time in the library, emerging only for meals and brief conversations during which he wore a fixed smile. Marc had taken to composing one sombre melody after the other and would not cease despite their pleas. Christian, perhaps in an effort to show his continued contrition since the Netherfield ball all those weeks ago, baked desert after dessert, and Mrs. Bennet ate them one after the other and all the while complaining about her digestion. Only Louis seemed immune to the mood of the house, walking daily to Meryton to do who knew what. Elliot couldn’t find the energy to monitor his youngest brother’s activities though he was sure he would soon come to regret that.
Eventually Jack did join Elliot on a walk and Elliot was satisfied indeed when it became the first of many walks that followed as the festive season approached. Eventually Jack spoke of his feelings, of his dashed hopes, of wrestling with the expectations of their mother and of society in general. It was the first time that Elliot had really understood just how hard his brother worked to try and comply with the expectations upon him, and the worry of that was enough that Elliot succeeded in ignoring his own feelings on the subject of the Bingley party leaving Netherfield never to return.
Mrs. Bennet was another matter entirely and made no effort to ignore her feelings. “Oh, that our dear mother had more command over herself!” Jack said as they concluded one of their walks. “She can have no idea of the pain she gives me by her continual reflections on him. But I will not repine. It cannot last long. He will be forgot, and we shall all be as we were before.”
“As before?” Elliot asked.
“You doubt me,” Jack asked, flushing slightly. “Indeed, you have no reason. I have decided that he may live in my memory as the most amiable man of my acquaintance, but that is all!”
