Epilogue

Bingley and Jane wed immediately following the calling of the banns, just before Christmas. Their London relatives attended the ceremony and happily congratulated Elizabeth and Darcy on their nuptials as well.

Darcy felt pleased to meet Mr. Gardiner again and promised to visit him at his warehouse when he and Elizabeth returned to London for the Season. Much of the décor at Darcy House needed updating, and Elizabeth preferred to shop at the Gardiner Emporium. He was equally pleased to be introduced to his wife's aunt and cousins. Mrs. Madeline Gardiner, an intelligent and well-bred woman, clearly influenced her two eldest nieces and Darcy looked forward to knowing her better.

Elizabeth's cousins were very young, with the eldest being but ten years of age. It had been so long since Darcy had interacted with children that he was worried they would not take to him. He need not have fretted, for the Gardiner brood quickly pulled him and Elizabeth into their games, accepting his presence as if he had always been among them.

Without Miss de Bourgh's aid, Wickham stayed with the regiment for the duration of his commission. He and his unhappy bride traveled around England for the next five years before settling into a quaint house in Bath. After being so deceived by her husband, Caroline Wickham kept a tight rein on him and his spending. Without the freedom to pursue his old habits, he grudgingly accepted his wife's demands so that he might experience some peace in his marriage. They had two children in quick succession, a boy and a girl. Though neither could say they were entirely happy with their lot, they found some measure of contentment with each other and muddled along well enough.

Jane and Bingley remained at Netherfield until the lease expired, moving to Derbyshire soon thereafter. The proximity to Mrs. Bennet may have influenced their abrupt removal to the north, but they never confirmed or denied it. Once Bingley made a firm decision in favor of land ownership, he and Jane purchased a lovely estate that brought in five thousand a year. They lived within twenty miles of Pemberley. It thrilled Elizabeth to have her favorite sister settled at so easy a distance and she tried to visit her regularly. They had always wished to raise their children together, and now they could.

Jane and Bingley had two boys and two girls. All four children were as amiable as their parents, though the youngest girl favored her Aunt Elizabeth in temperament more than the others. The child bore her aunt's name as a tribute to Jane's favorite sister, and Elizabeth found wonderful joy in helping her niece into all sorts of mischief.

Georgiana loved having a new sister, and with Elizabeth's help, within months of the Darcys' wedding, she found her good humor once more. They became the best of friends, just as Darcy had imagined. The summer after his marriage, Darcy gifted Georgiana with a pianoforte. From then on, he delighted in hearing his wife and sister perform nightly for him. Georgiana came out at eighteen, and despite her worries, her debut was an outstanding success. She caught the eye of an earl, and after an extended courtship, they were married. Georgiana and Elizabeth remained close even after the young lady married and moved away.

Understandably, Anne's behavior had appalled Lady Catherine, and she agreed to have her quietly declared insane. Anne returned to Rosings Park, where a nurse constantly attended her. Her outbursts did not cease and grew in frequency until it became necessary to have her removed to a remote estate in Scotland. Lady Catherine refused to mention her daughter again, telling those who questioned her whereabouts that she had died. Lady Catherine named Colonel Fitzwilliam heir to her estate, enabling him to sell his commission, much to his mother's delight.

Richard married a lovely young lady with ten thousand pounds and reputable connections. The new Mrs. Fitzwilliam was a compassionate woman and quickly won over the imperious Lady Catherine. Rosings Park thrived under the care of the Fitzwilliams and they cared for their aunt until she died.

Mary and Mr. Collins married in the early spring of 1812. Mr. Collins wisely did not mention the sudden absence of Miss de Bourgh. His wife set about making his parsonage into a home and tending to his parishioners. Mary's proud demeanor softened as she learned her place in Kent and the villagers had no complaints against their rector's new wife.

To her surprise, Lady Catherine found she liked the bookish girl, for Mary flattered her just as much as Mr. Collins did. Mrs. Collins was not as obsequious, however, so the grand lady patroness tolerated the young lady's presence with more equanimity than she did for her parson.

Mrs. Collins gave her husband a son, thus securing Longbourn's future for another generation. A daughter followed two years later.

Lydia and Kitty matured, much to the relief of their sisters. Their wealthy brothers-in-law had held some influence in that regard, encouraging Mr. and Mrs. Bennet to see the ladies properly finished. Surprisingly, Kitty and Lydia agreed, for upon witnessing the luxuries their sisters enjoyed, they aspired to make matches equal in wealth and consequence. Elizabeth and Jane were relieved to see them relinquish their obsession with red coats.

Given their improved manners, Darcy and Elizabeth agreed to host the two youngest Bennets for a season in town. They were successful, for their presence awakened much speculation in the ton . The Darcys had eschewed society since marrying, leaving the gossips scrambling for information about Mrs. Darcy. Both Kitty and Lydia eventually married moderately well-to-do gentlemen from Shropshire and became neighbors, raising their many children together.

Darcy and Elizabeth filled their home with joy, laughter, and six children. They named their first-born son and heir Bennet Fitzwilliam Darcy, who they hoped would become a good man like his father. Bennet proved to have more of his mother's mischievous temperament, though he was the portrait of his father. Two daughters followed in quick succession, whom they named Jane and Anne, and then came another son, Richard. Their last two children arrived together, and the labor to bring her son, Thomas, and daughter, Elizabeth Frances, into the world was difficult enough to ensure she had no more, much to Darcy's relief.

Darcy repaired his reputation in London with the help of Lady Matlock. She supported the new Mrs. Darcy wholeheartedly and loudly decried each rumor. One by one, they disproved each of the salacious tales. They dispelled the rumors of the curse first. Darcy had married a fine woman, after all, and nothing had befallen her.

A careful word in the ears of London's most notorious gossip ensured that everyone knew Mrs. Darcy came with no fortune. The new mistress of Pemberley had only a small dowry, thus disproving Mr. Darcy's need for funds. In the end, many people claimed they had never believed that such an honorable man could behave as others said, and more than one mama and miss were furious at themselves for not seizing the chance to secure him.

The Darcys were seldom in Town, though they received a flood of invitations whenever they stayed at Darcy House. Darcy's unyielding and resentful temper meant he never quite forgave the harpies of the ton for their behavior. He also refused to patronize fashionable shops, opting instead to visit Gardiner's Emporium and other Cheapside warehouses for his needs.

Elizabeth and her husband often speculated on how their lives might have played out had Darcy come to Meryton unencumbered by his misfortunes. Darcy insisted it did not bear speculation, for his life was as happy as he could have ever imagined it and Elizabeth was thrilled to agree.

~