Chapter Text
Life moved on, as it does. Rumors had Elizabeth engaged to this brother or that, but in truth, she had lately seen little of either.
When John called, as he sometimes did, he was often quite agitated, but he always managed to make her mother smile and nod politely in acceptance of his presence. When Jim called, he was also agitated, but he would settle in to make Elizabeth laugh and try and fail to please her mother. Elizabeth had no favorite, but Mary certainly did.
The only time the brothers arrived together, Elizabeth finally realized what was bothering them.