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“And this is a decision that can be made?”
“It must be!” Jack insisted. “For how else am I to reason it through?” He paused. “How would I have reasoned any of it through without you? You have been my constant support, and I am grateful for it.”
“My dear Jack!” exclaimed Elliot. “I sometimes think you are too good for this world, and too good for this family! Even in disappointment you are generous, something I know I could never be. There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it. And every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense!”
“Do not give way to such feelings as these,” Jack warned. “They will ruin your happiness, and our happiness is a fragile thing that must be protected at all costs, for what else is there but that?”
Indeed, what else was there?
Elliot reflected on this as they finished the preparations for their guests. Mr. Bennet had clearly been reflecting as well as he joined Elliot outside one particularly rainy day as Elliot attempted to wrangle some escaped pigs back into their pens.
“So, Elliot,” he said. “Your dear brother is crossed in love, I find. I congratulate him. Next to being mated, a young man should be crossed a little in love now and then. It is something to think of, and it gives him a sort of distinction among his companions.”
“Is that so?” Elliot asked.
“Indeed,” Mr. Bennet agreed. “Now, when is your turn to come? You will hardly bear to be long outdone by Jack. Now is your time. There are officers enough in Meryton to disappoint all the young gentlemen and gentlewomen in the county.” He grinned. “Let Wickham be your man. He is a pleasant fellow and would jilt you creditably.”
“Thank you, sir, but a less agreeable man would satisfy me!” Elliot said, the idea of Wickham disappointing him being quite ridiculous! Handsome he might be, but they had conversed many times since that initial conversation and Mr. Wickham had little in the way of good dialogue! “We must not all expect Jack’s good fortune,” he added.
“True,” said Mr. Bennet. “But it is a comfort to think that whatever of that kind may befall you, you have an affectionate mother who will make the most of it.”
Twenty-Eight
In the lead up to the Gardiners’ visit, Mr. Collins wrote them with news that he was soon to return to Hertfordshire as well. Elliot supposed he would be a regular visitor from here on in given there was now no question of him inheriting. It was on one afternoon, when there was finally a break in the rain, that Elliot discovered exactly what that inheritance would entail.
He was stood close to the banks of the river, skipping stones, when Charlie Lucas joined him. The other man was dressed for the weather and the exercise afforded by the walk to Longbourn had given him a cheerfully ruddy glow.
“I expected I would find you here, Elliot,” he said.
“Only just, dear friend,” Elliot replied. “I am coming back from the westerly field. The rain has paused for now, but I expect it to start up again soon. It would be sensible to get inside before it does so.”
“The weather has indeed turned for the worse.”
“It has.” Elliot smiled at his friend, exceedingly glad to see him. Elliot did not do well with a constant gloom hanging over him, and he was hopeful that a good conversation with Charlie would brighten his spirits, and perhaps others in the house also. “Shall we take some tea?” he asked. “Mama is bound to have some at the ready, and I know she will be pleased to see you.”
“I am not sure she will,” Charlie said.
“Whatever do you mean?” Elliot asked and noticed then that Charlie was not looking his usual cheerful self.
“I come to bring you news, Elliot,” he said. “And for now, it is news only for your ears.” He paused. “Father will arrive later to share it with your parents, but I wanted you to hear it direct from me.”
“Is all well, Charlie?” Elliot asked quickly.
“Yes, Elliot, it is, but…”
Alarmed by Charlie’s manner, so different to his friend’s usual countenance, Elliot reached out and took his hand. “It is alright, dear friend, I will hear whatever news you wish to share.”
Charlie took a deep breath. “I am engaged. Engaged to be mated.”
A pause. Elliot started. He took a moment to ensure he had heard what he thought he had heard. “Engaged?” he finally exclaimed in surprise. “To whom?”
“To Mr. Collins.”
Another pause. Elliot was not at all sure he had heard that right. “Engaged to Mr. Collins! My dear Charlie, that is surely impossible!”
“Impossible? Why so, my dear Elliot?” Charlie asked, dropping his hand and Elliot realised then that his friend’s high colour was not from the exertion at all. “Do you think it incredible that Mr. Collins should be able to procure any man’s good opinion, because he was not so happy as to succeed with yours?”
Elliot flushed then as well. “What…no…Charlie, of course not…I just…” Elliot shook his head, trying to compose himself. “I would wish you all happiness, of course, there is no question of that,” he said.
