Elinor was proud of her sister and felt one hundred percent sure she had made the right choice. All the talk between Chris and Marianne was of love, not bonding, though she was pretty sure the two would be bonded when the time was right. For them.
They were at Chris’s now. He had arranged an impromptu gathering, and Elinor had just filled her cup with some rather wicked-smelling punch. Marianne and Mary were sitting on the back steps to Chris’s house, catching up on gossip with Gemini, Cousin John, and Betsy. Margaret was running around with the other children, and everyone was laughing and in great spirits. Chris was just a few feet away doing his Jedi thing with his barbecue tongs. He looked so happy, like a man who had everything he’d ever dreamed of. As for Marianne, she looked like the proverbial cat with the cream. No one looking at her would have guessed what she had been through. It was like none of it had ever happened. Elinor couldn’t have been happier for them both.
The air was infused with the aroma of ketchup and honey barbecue sauce. Elinor’s tummy gurgled, as along with everyone else she anticipated some really great food. She joined the others on the steps, placing her punch between her feet. All the talk was of Chris’s new enchanted garden.
“How long have you had it, you sly fox?” Betsy asked. “All this time and he didn’t breathe a word about it, not a single one! I supposed you concealed it with some kind of magic so Marianne would be the first to see it. I know your silly ways. You can’t fool me, you know!”
“May I remind you the surprise was supposed to be for Marianne.” Chris tossed a pineapple ring in the air, and it landed perfectly on the upper grill, exposing its nicely seared upper side. Everything looked so delicious. “Of course, I used an enchantment. We all practically live on top of each other. How else was I supposed to keep it a secret?”
Betsy grinned, just happy to tease him. “Well, I suppose now we have these two lovebirds sorted out, we ought to find someone for you, Miss Elinor. You can’t be outshone by a younger sister for long. I shall rummage through my little book of bachelors and see if we can’t find a nice Romeo for you.”
Elinor shook her head, afraid Betsy might actually have one. She wouldn’t put it past her. “Don’t trouble yourself, Betsy. I’m perfectly content just as things are. In any case, I’m not sure my mother would want another young man on the scene. Things are chaotic enough in our house as it is.”
Now it was Mary’s turn to shake her head. “You do talk such nonsense sometimes, girl. Betsy, if you have someone in mind for my eldest, by all means bring them over for supper. Get her off my hands, for the love of cookies!”
“For that matter, if you have someone in your book for Mom, send them too,” Elinor retorted. “She could use a good flirt, just like the rest of us.”
They all laughed.
“How long before the driver gets here?” John asked, his hungry eyes fixed on the succulent meats on the grill. “I’m famished.”
Chris had had a good supply of everything he needed for his last-minute barbecue, except for burger buns. One call to the local grocer’s had fixed that, and the driver was supposedly on his way. Chris looked at his phone. “He just left. I’d say no more than five minutes. Grab some salad. Or have a bunless burger if you can’t wait. There’s plenty.”
While John did just that, Elinor sat back on the steps and let the autumn sun stream down on her upturned face. As the others chatted, her thoughts drifted away. It had been a while since her last text from Edward. It was just as well––he was with another now, and she probably wouldn’t hear from him ever again. It was time to accept it and just move on. The worst was over, surely?
She took a swig of her punch and watched as, at last, the awaited driver drove slowly up to the house. As soon as the car stopped, the driver popped open the trunk, got out, and pulled a whole tray of buns from inside it. Chris certainly never did anything by halves.
Elinor recognized the young man at once. Harry was the son of the local grocer, and she would sometimes have a friendly chat with him in his dad’s shop. He nodded to everyone as he carried his tray over.
“All right, Harry!” Chris said as the young man dropped his buns on a tray beside the grill. “How are you?”
Chris reached into his pocket and pulled out some bills, which he handed over. When Harry started pulling out some smaller notes, Chris held up his hand. “Keep the change, it’s a tip.”
“Thanks, Chris! Oh, I’ve nothing to complain about,” Harry said. “Dad’s been keeping me busy.”
“How is he?” Chris asked. “I haven’t seen him about much.”
“No, well, he’s had his hands full lately, that’s for sure. He’ll be glad when that Ferrars bonding is over, and things get back to normal again.”
It was as if someone had slapped Elinor in the face. She froze and was conscious of her mother and Marianne suddenly staring at her.
“Dad hates it when they spring these last-minute events on him,” Harry continued. “Then he has to scramble to get all the right orders in. Not that Dad would turn good business away. It’s a lot of work, but it’s going to be lovely. We’re pulling out all the stops for them. The lady wants it just perfect, and that’s what she’s going to get.”
Suddenly, he had a wistful look in his eyes, and Elinor knew beyond all doubt that he was thinking of Lucy Steele, imagining what it must be like to carry a succubus to your honeymoon bed and pleasure her nonstop for a week.
“Lucy Steele got bonded up here?” Marianne asked. “In Maine? I thought they would do it in New Jersey?”
Harry shrugged. “Last-minute change of heart, I heard. Another Bridezilla probably––there’s plenty of them about this season. Oh well. There’s one born every minute. Oh, that reminds me, she had a very particular message for you, Elinor. Now what was it?”
“Oh?” Marianne asked.
“Oh yes, she said to be sure to tell Elinor Dashwood that Lucy Ferrars sends her love and to let her know everything went down like a piece of cake.”
He smiled at Elinor.
Summoning all her strength, she said, “Thank you, Harry, that was kind of you to pass it on.”
His business concluded, Harry waved goodbye and climbed back into his car. A moment later he was gone, and though Elinor’s gaze remained fixed on his taillights, she barely registered what she was looking at.
This was a shock. Her heart was racing, and she felt a little dizzy. She wasn’t quite as over Edward as she’d thought. Conscious that everyone was staring at her, she picked up her punch and took a sip, more to hide behind the cup than anything. Her hand trembled a little, so she put the cup down quickly.
Chris, who had been following along with everyone else, turned his attention to the newly arrived buns and opened the first bag.
“Right,” he said. “Who’s hungry?”
Grateful for the distraction, Elinor took the opportunity to get up and walk inside Chris’s house. She needed a moment alone to gather her thoughts. She wasn’t by herself for long though, because her mother came in right after her.
“I’m sorry,” her mother said. “That was a dreadful way to hear about it. Are you okay?”
Elinor shook her head, hardly able to comprehend what she felt. “I will be. I just need a minute, Mom.”
Mary nodded, but before she left her daughter alone, she gave her a little hug. Elinor felt the tears well in her eyes, but conscious that she wasn’t safely at home to shed them, she fought to keep them in check. Mary must have sensed her misery, because she pulled her daughter even closer, then kissed her on the cheek. “Come out when you’re ready. Take your time. I’ll make sure they save you some food. Or maybe they won’t, so don’t wait too long.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Elinor said, then turned away, knowing if she looked at her mother now, she wouldn’t be able to stop the tears from falling.
Mary must have understood this, because without another word, she slipped away. Elinor wandered over to Chris’s fireplace and rested her hands on the mantel. The spirits in the wood were long dead, and the mantel felt empty. As did she. She bowed her head, and controlling her sorrow, finally accepted that her love was lost and that this was how things had to be.