13. Epilogue

"But what about the children? You said that they were better, but surely you could not have left them all alone! All of their family was dead!" Evaline could not keep the concern from her voice and knew her eyebrows had risen into her hairline.

Despite her raised voice, Jane simply offered her a kind smile. "They had an aunt and uncle living in Kympton. Unaffected by the sickness, Mr. and Mrs. Wright hurriedly traveled to Pemberley upon hearing of the McGregor family's dire situation." Looking up at her husband, she smiled at him in a soft way that Evaline did not quite understand before looking back at her. "We would have taken in the children ourselves had the Wrights not been so happy to have Grace and Allen in their lives. They had desperately desired to have children for years, and despite the tragedy of Mrs. Wright losing her younger sister and most of their family, they saw Grace and Allen as a blessing in their lives."

Nestling back into her chair, Evaline attempted to settle her heart. Even at twelve, Evaline found it difficult to comprehend how difficult it would be to lose both her parents in such a horrible way. How was Grace able to bear it at seven? How was she able to bear any of it? The sickness, the death, caring for her younger brother before help arrived?

Tilting her head, Evaline tried to look at the bright side of things. At least Grace and Allen were able to settle into a nice home with their aunt and uncle. Though they had lost their parents, they still had people who loved them. Looking back at Jane and Mr. Bingley, she managed a smile. "It is wonderful they all ended up happy together."

"Yes, I am happy they all got the family they needed," Jane agreed from where she sat, leaning into her husband. "I visit them whenever possible. They live in the town of Kympton, above their aunt and uncle's bakery. Both children seem to be thriving in their new situation, despite everything that they experienced."

Looking around the room at the three couples, Evaline grinned. "Am I imagining it, or do you sisters tend to come to the love of your lives in the most interesting ways?"

From where she sat across from her husband at the chessboard, Elizabeth laughed. "Yes, it seems we do, but you must admit that despite the trouble we go through, we end up with the best of men." Leaning over the table, Mr. Darcy blatantly kissed his wife. Evaline found herself looking away from such obvious evidence of their love until she heard Elizabeth say, "Do not think that kiss is distracting me. You are still in check."

Mr. Darcy smiled, showing off his dimples before responding with, "Yes, I see that, my love."

Soon after that, Evaline made her way up to the bed that awaited her. She was better, but still tired easily since she had been so sick after the blizzard. With the aid of a maid, she readied for bed, feeling the warmth of the sheets envelope her as she prepared to fall into a peaceful slumber. Oddly enough, as she drifted off to sleep, she found herself thinking about Lydia. She was the only Bennet sister who had not found her match yet. She had never met the girl but based on how each of her sisters had found happiness, she wondered what kind of adventure Lydia would have on her way to true love.