All very plausible
Written by Barb JA
(9/21/2009 12:23 p.m.)
in consequence of the missive, Maybe he's trying, penned by nan duval
The reasons you and Kathleen give for his wearing the ring seem very plausible. Since we don't get to be in his head, we don't know exactly why. If he was planning to tell Elinor of the engagement, he must have chickened out. We didn't really get any inkling of an attempt. (or at least I didn't)