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“Well, then, you need not be under any alarm. I will take care of myself, and of Mr. Wickham too. There is no danger of us falling in love!”
“And you do not believe him to be your fated mate?” Mr. Gardiner asked.
Abruptly, the image of Darcy filled Elliot’s mind and he frowned at that, not least because it happened far too often, and the best approach Elliot had found to stop it was to ignore it entirely, casting the other man from his thoughts and focusing them on something else. “Of course not,” he eventually said, and Mr. Gardiner was reassured.
They left not long after, Jack in tow, some colour in his cheeks now that an adventure was afoot. However, they simply swapped one set of visitors for another, as Mr. Collins soon returned and with him the hustle and bustle of the plans for his wedding which was fast approaching. Mrs. Bennet was at length so far resigned as to think it inevitable, and even repeatedly to say, in an ill-natured tone, that she ‘wished they might be happy’.
Thursday was to be the day, and on Wednesday Charlie paid Elliot his farewell visit. It was a difficult goodbye for Elliot, especially so soon after Jack taking his leave, and he saw no reason not to say as much to his dear friend.
“I will miss you greatly,” he said.
“As I will miss you,” Charlie said. “I shall depend on hearing from you often, Elliot.”
“That you certainly shall.”
“And I have another favour to ask you. Will you come and see me?” Charlie asked. “I am not likely to leave Kent for some time. Promise me, therefore, to come to Hunsford.”
Elliot quickly agreed and plans were made for the following March. Between then and the day that the wedding took place, Meryton became was abuzz with the plans for the ceremony and the only gossip that could sway anyone’s thoughts in another direction was some whispered news of a burgeoning relationship between Mr. Wickham and a Miss King—a young lady who had come into a fortune on the sudden death of her grandfather. They said she now had ten thousand pounds at her disposal, and it seemed that had caught Mr. Wickham’s attention. Elliot would have dearly loved to have either Jack or Charlie to gossip it over with but had to content himself with Marc who gave him a long lecture on the follies of fortunes.
The new husbands’ wedding was a success and they set off for Kent from the church door, and everybody had as much to say, or to hear, on the subject as usual. Elliot watched the carriage until it was out of view and then, still in his formal clothes, he left his family there at the church and started the walk home.
How quickly things had changed since the summer and the arrival of the Bingley party! He couldn’t help but reflect upon it as he crossed the fields leading back to Longbourn. Jack broken hearted and now in London with their uncles trying to recover himself. Charlie mated to the heir of Longbourn and on his way to a new life in Kent. And himself…Elliot’s circumstances were different now too. He knew they were.
For the first time in a long time, Elliot allowed thoughts of Darcy to enter his heart and his mind. He strode across a muddy field, thinking about the dance they had shared. He jumped over a stile, considering the things they said. And he crossed stream after stream, replaying the brief touches they had been afforded.
Would he ever see the other man again?
He was an alpha.
Elliot looked down at his mud-splattered breeches and laughed out loud.
He was an omega.
Even if he did see Darcy again, what could possibly happen? They might share a few words, might exchange civilities, but other than that? The distance between them was so great that it could not be covered. Elliot must remember that. But more importantly, he must remember that Darcy had never shown any inclination that he wanted to try.
You will know me better in the future.
No, Elliot thought with an inexplicable kind of ache, it seemed that he would not.
A Parsonage and a Park
Thirty
With no greater events occurring in the Bennet family, and otherwise diversified by little beyond the walks to Meryton, sometimes dirty and sometimes cold, did January and February pass away. As promised, March took Elliot to Hunsford, and he eagerly anticipated the visit, especially as Sir William was accompanying him. They had agreed to spend a night in London on the invitation of the Gardiners, and with the prospect of seeing Jack the plan became as perfect as a plan could be.
Elliot’s only pain was in leaving his father who would now be solely responsible for ensuring Longbourn was ready for the spring growing season. Elliot left him an extensive list of tasks, which Mr. Bennet read in a slightly scathing fashion.
“I am well able to order my own household, Elliot,” he said.
“I do not doubt it,” Elliot replied. “Given you have done so for many years. However, I thought some reminders might be in order given it has been a little while since your active involvement.”
Mr. Bennet narrowed his eyes at that. “And I suppose you have left a similar list for Marc?”
“For Christian actually,” Elliot replied. “As he is far more suited to the tasks ahead.”
Mr. Bennet nodded at that, pleased by Elliot’s quick thinking, and interested already in how Christian might perform with a little responsibility. He would certainly miss Elliot, he reflected, especially with Jack absent, and was pleased that his favoured son had arranged matters to minimise his efforts. He had recently received a new shipment of books and had intended to spend the spring reading them. He told Elliot to write to him, and almost promised to answer the letter.
It was a journey of only twenty-four miles from Meryton, and Elliot and Sir William began it so early as to be in Gracechurch Street by noon. Elliot had known the older man for so long that they had little by the way of new conversation to share but instead contented themselves with discussing Charlie’s marriage—which Sir William was well satisfied with—and remembering interesting anecdotes from recent years.
