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ELISANDER TOLD NO ONE about Darcy's proposal, not even his most beloved brother. As Joseph remarked on the depth of his affection for Bin Li, Elisander's thoughts were with Captain Fitzwilliam. He had returned to Longbourn two days ago, but his mind continued to torture him with a repeating echo of the disastrous day.
He kept wondering what might have happened if he held his tongue and accepted her proposal instead. Elisander could not fathom life as the husband of such a prestigious woman. Even if she had not aggravated him to no end, Elisander knew he made the right decision. However, if certain members of his family ever learned of the proposal, he doubted they would ever forgive him.
“I believe we might be getting married in a few months,” Joseph told his younger brother. Elisander and Joseph were in Longbourn's garden, and the latter was still on crutches. Wilhelmina, despite the disappointment she endured at his hands, had left him with her motorized chair. He had used it once, but he preferred the predictability and simplicity of the crutches. “Can you believe that? In such a short time, my life has changed so much.”
“I know. And I am happy for you, brother. Truly,” Elisander replied. “No one deserves a joyful life more than you.”
Once again, his thoughts drifted back to Darcy. He hoped he would never see the lady again, but his brother's marriage to Darcy's best friend would no doubt tether them eternally.
“I would argue that you deserve happiness more than anyone in this world,” Joseph countered. “However, you are still young. You still have time to meet someone who enchants you as Miss Li enchanted me.”
“I'm not so young,” Elisander disagreed. “With three younger brothers grown, my youth isn't too terribly intact.”
Joseph chuckled at the observation. “If you think you are old, I must be ancient!” The eldest brother used his crutches to lift him off the bench. “Now, if you don't mind, I think I will return to the house. The sun wreaks havoc on my complexion. If you haven't noticed, I'm much paler than you.”
Elisander was alone with his thoughts for a few precious minutes before another brother disrupted his peace.
“Thank goodness Shar Lucas has returned!” Matthew Bennet collapsed on the bench with a dreamy sigh. “My eyes have craved the many joys of his derriere.”
Elisander was torn between chuckling and rolling his eyes. “You really should tell Lachlan about your preferences, Matthew. He's your best friend. It's painful to watch you feign interest in the feminine form when you're with him.”
“You think I should risk being ostracized by my family, as well as society? I'd rather not,” Matthew argued. “I knew I could tell you because you possess a level head and an open mind. You are less inclined to judge than most.”
Elisander's thoughts predictably wandered to Darcy. He had some scathing opinions of Captain Fitzwilliam, but she had judged him more harshly than he ever judged her. He came close to mentioning Darcy's proposal to Matthew, but he decided against it. Though he liked the idea of swapping secrets, he wasn't quite ready to relive the most dreadful moment of his life.
“Enough about me!” Matthew declared. “I heard you're traveling with Mother tomorrow?”
“I am,” Elisander answered with a nod. “She's visiting a sick relation further north.”
“Who?”
“A cousin we've never met. Despite being close in their youth, they drifted apart after marriage.” Elisander's fingers drummed the book on his lap. His loquacious brothers had prevented him from reading a single word. “Mother seems distressed by the lady's health, so I volunteered to go with her.”
“May I go with you? I would like a change of scenery.”
“I suppose,” Elisander's shrug was somewhat indifferent. “If you go, should I expect Lachlan's company as well? You two are rarely apart.”
“We'll be apart one day.” Tears glistened in Matthew's eyes as he imagined his fate. “Lachlan will marry some rich young woman, and I will be a lonely old spinsir, never allowed to love what I love.” With a disheartened sigh, he concluded, “It's unfair, is it not? What society does and does not allow... it isn't right.”
* * *
SHAR WAS IN THE MIDDLE of brushing a horse when he heard a familiar crackle.
“Gzzzrt... this... Gladys. Is there anyone out grrrr? Anyone want... bzzz... have a chat?”
As soon as he heard her voice through the static, Shar dove for the teletalk. “Gladys?” Shar exclaimed. “Gladys, is that you?”
“Aye. Who's this?”
“Shar Lucas. Do you remember me?”
“Can you repeat that? I didn't zzzzt... hear you.”
“Shar Lucas!” he practically shouted his name. “SHAR. Do you remember me?”
“Goodness, yes, you don't have to scream it at me!” Gladys exclaimed. “I... hsssssssssss.”
When her voice disappeared in a sea of static, Shar shook the teletalk—as if that would somehow help. “Gladys, did I lose you? Gladys?”
“No. Still here,” the engineer replied. “Give me a moment to tweak the frequency so I can hear you more clearly.”
“Alright.” When Shar made eye contact with a bright-eyed bay, the horse softly nickered at him. Under his breath, he said, “I don't know why I'm so interested in speaking to her... perhaps it is merely the novelty of it?”
“Hello?” Gladys' voice suddenly boomed. “Did you say something, Shar Lucas?”
“No. I was thinking out loud.” Shar dipped a hand in his pocket and paced around the stables. “So, Gladys, how have you been?”
“Awful.”
“Awful?” He chuckled at her answer, though he immediately felt guilty for having such a reaction. “Why are you feeling awful?”
“I accidentally misfired my cannon and ripped a hole through one of the captain's sails,” Gladys lamented. “She is not happy with me, as I'm sure you can imagine.”
“No. I imagine she's not.” Shar sauntered to the corner of the stables and collapsed in a pile of hay. “I'm supposed to be working, Miss McCracken. You and your teletalk are going to get me sacked.”
“Oh well.”
Shar laughed at her lack of sympathy. “You don't seem too terribly concerned.”
“I'm not. I hate the idea of workin'. People should be free.”
Shar stuck a piece of hay in the corner of his mouth. “Oh? And how would that work?”
“People trade what they need and relax all day,” Gladys proposed. “They spend the entire day doing what they love. For example, I like to tinker and Lovely likes to paint.”
Shar's eyebrows shot up. “Lovely?”
“Aye. That's one of the twins. She's Georgette's first mate,” Gladys explained. “Anyhow, as I was sayin', I like paintings, but I can't paint to save m'life. Lovely likes gadgets, but she could never knock one together. So... basically, she'd give me a painting in exchange for something I've created. There's no need for money.”
“It sounds as if you've spent a lot of time dreaming of this utopia.”
“I have! Grrrrzt.”
When her voice was overwhelmed by static, Shar held the hissing teletalk away from his ear. A few seconds later, her words were clear again.
“What's your talent, Shar Lucas?” Gladys asked. “What's the one thing you love to do?”
“I don't know. Firing guns, perhaps?”
“Then you should work for someone like Cap'n Wickham,” Gladys suggested. “And in exchange, she could feed you and give you shelter.”
“You think a man would be accepted as part of her crew? I doubt it.”
Gladys disagreed. “The captain's a pioneer. She has a lot of progressive ideas. If anyone would let a man on her airship, I bet it'd be her! I bet zzzzzzt.”
“What?” Shar shouted into the teletalk. “Gladys, I didn't quite hear that last bit! Can you repeat yourself?”
To his utter disappointment, the teletalk went silent.