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“My time here has been most enjoyable,” Elliot said for up until Darcy’s declaration it indeed had been. “I have spent these past six weeks in great enjoyment,” he continued. “And the pleasure of your company, both of you, has been much valued.”
Mr. Collins could not have been more gratified, and with a more smiling solemnity replied, “It gives me great pleasure to hear that you have passed your time not disagreeably. We have certainly done our best.” He then spent a good five minutes extolling the virtues of Lady Catherine and Elliot understood that Charlie’s confidences had only gone so far, for if Mr. Collins had thought there was any chance of a union between their family and the Darcys he would have been in raptures beyond those usually caused by Lady Catherine alone!
“Only let me assure you, my dear cousin,” he concluded. “That I can from my heart most cordially wish you equal felicity in your mating when the time comes. My dear Charlie and I have but one mind and one way of thinking. There is in everything a most remarkable resemblance of character and ideas between us. We seem to have been designed for each other.”
Charlie had made it so, Elliot knew that, but that did not detract from weight of the Collinses’ happiness. And as Elliot said an affectionate goodbye to them both he couldn’t help reflecting on the fact that he himself was unlikely now to have even a small amount of the happiness they shared. His one chance, his one love, the only person meant for him, he had refused.
Refused!
And for the first time in many days, Elliot couldn’t help but laugh—a sad laugh but a laugh nonetheless—when he considered what Mr. Collins, and Jack, and heaven forbid his mama, would say if they ever found out!
Secrets to be Shared
Forty
It was the second week in May, in which two young, heartbroken men set out from Gracechurch Street together for their home in Hertfordshire. Conversation between them was thin at best and from one, very little was said at all about the events that had taken place in Kent.
Mr. Bennet’s carriage was waiting to meet them when they arrived at the inn in Meryton, and there, looking out of a dining-room upstairs, were Christian and Louis. Elliot had looked forward to seeing Marc but supposed he had been left behind so someone sensible was available in the event of a crisis—and wasn’t there always a crisis at Longbourn!
He felt slightly petty and mean entertaining such thoughts, but at the same time, given recent events, Elliot thought he was entitled to his feelings, and so he let himself mull them, even as he conjured a smile for his two erstwhile brothers.
A luncheon was set out for them, and Louis grinned as he explained that he had intended to treat his brothers but had actually ended up spending all the money he had available earlier in the day.
“We made purchase of a new waistcoat each,” he said. “Our last hurrah for the officers before they are exported elsewhere.”
“They are leaving?” Elliot asked quickly.
“Indeed,” Christian replied. “They are moving on a fortnight hence. Where are they going, Lou?”
“They’re to be encamped somewhere near Brighton,” he replied. “I am hoping we can convince papa to allow us a jaunt there in the summer. It will be a damn miserable summer otherwise without any entertainments. No militia, no Bingley, no hope of any decent society.”
“We will have the monthly assemblies,” Christian said in a clear attempt to cheer Louis up.
“With the same dreary people!” Louis replied.
“I am sure mama could be convinced into such a jaunt,” Jack said, smiling patiently at the two of them. “Though you will never get papa up there.”
“Nor would we want him,” Louis replied. “He’d find the nearest library and that would be the last we would see of him.”
“Which would suit you just fine, I am sure,” Elliot said. “I dread to think what exploits the two have you have been having whilst we have been gone.”
“We have been gathering gossip for you!” Louis said with one of his sly smiles as they sat down at the table. “What do you think? It is excellent news—capital news—and about a certain person we all like!”
Jack and Elliot looked at each other, and the waiter was told he need not stay.
Louis laughed, and said, “That is just like you, all formality and discretion. You are worried the waiter would hear, as if he cared! I dare say he often hears worse things said than I am going to say, all the secrets of Meryton in fact! But he is an ugly fellow! I never saw such a long chin in my life.”
“Louis!”
“It is true! Anyway, now for my news. It is about dear Wickham.”
Elliot’s stomach gave a nasty lurch at the name.
“There is no danger of Wickham’s marrying Mary King,” Louis said. “She is gone down to her uncle at Liverpool. Gone to stay for good, I hear. Wickham is safe.”
“You mean Mary King is safe!” Elliot snapped. “Safe from a connection she would soon regret.”
“She is a great fool for going away, if she liked him,” Louis said. “And Wickham is a catch! Everyone says so.”
