An Earnest Favour

III

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words in them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Years Day." Edith Lovejoy Pierce

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III.

Jack stayed in the dining room for much of the party, definitely indulging in the treats that had been prepared, but mostly in an effort to avoid a public confrontation with his mother.

His brother, the good supervisor that he was, stayed with him, but when he was taken in conversation by his guests, Jack's mind did stray. Lord, it had been a long time since he had laid eyes on Claire. Adam and Grace's wedding day to be exact.

While he had only ever spoken to her a handful of times since their first meeting, someone as lovely as Claire certainly did leave an impression. A wound really, on an already terribly bruised ego. It was not the first time he had been rejected, and it would certainly not be the last. Claire had been a beautiful young lady, and of course he was not her first choice.

Of course, she was still a beautiful young lady, though he would agree with Grace. Something was definitely amiss.

Jack, however, did not see Claire again for the remainder of the afternoon, and Grace had seemingly given up searching for her at the behest of Adam, who seemed to be hovering a little whenever she joined them. Adam convinced Grace that Claire must have returned home, and that if something were really wrong, she would have told Grace.

Grace acquiesced, though Jack could see she was not settled. Towards the end of the party, the guests all gathered, and Perrie was carried into the dining room by Cecily.

While Jack wanted to focus on his niece, he couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. He had not met with Cecily yet. He always felt as though he were eight years old around his mother, and that nothing he could do would ever please her. It was entirely demoralising.

Perrie was dressed in a pink dress, covered in frills, flounces, and ruffles, with ribbons fixed in her dark hair. She yawned, clearly tired, and rubbed her eyes with her little fists. She was very delicate and sweet and was very much like her mother in looks.

Jack watched as Grace and Adam flanked Perrie, cooing over her as Perrie was toasted and the cake was served. He couldn't help but smile at the sight. His brother was so happy, and he definitely had what he deserved.

Yes, Jack realised. This was what he envied. He wanted that. He wanted a family of his own. A wife who chose him, who wanted him, who loved him. A child, children, to whom he would be a loving father. Never would he allow a child of his to feel less than beloved.

Jack's eyes flicked back to him mother, and he noted how she had not changed much in appearance in the few years he had been away. She was dressed as elegantly as she always did, though she was wearing something Jack was entirely unused to. A smile. Cecily did look genuinely besotted with Perrie.

Could she ... perhaps ... have changed?

But she had never written him. Jack, in turn, had not written to her either. For better or worse, he supposed he was about to learn.

The guests began to filter out, saying their goodbyes around sundown, and the servants were quick to return the dining room to its usual state. The footmen set the table for a normal meal, and Jack soon found himself standing in the same room as his immediately family.

It was not long after the cake was served that Cecily had noticed Jack, and she had given him a nod and a smile in acknowledgement. Jack had managed to return the gesture stiffly.