Conclusion
Mary Receives Word from London
“Good morning. My post included a rather long letter from Elizabeth. She asked me to read it with you,” Mary said to her parents.
She sat angled toward them, the two now sitting near one another, the proximity encouraging conversation.
It had been one of Mary’s changes to their lives, with quick and excellent results.
The pair had shown greater tenderness toward one another these last two weeks…
Darcy House
My dearest Mary,
It is the day after my wedding. Your absence was keenly felt, so I sit with thoughts of you.
I understood why you declined our invitation to bring you to Town. But you must know, surely you must know, you are always welcome in any house of which I am mistress.
It will not surprise you to learn that much occurred that was unexpected, yet it was perfect in its chaos.
Our vows were exchanged in but a matter of moments, it seemed.
I had presumed the wedding breakfast would be a small affair, limited to those in Darcy’s family, our sisters, and our aunt and uncle Gardiner.
Yet, more than fifty people were present.
Your express warning us of Lady Catherine’s visit to Hertfordshire and her impending arrival came mere moments before the lady herself.
Mr. Collins followed her so closely into the dining room that when she stopped, he did not, sending her falling forward.
The look of horror on his expression when he understood he had run into his patroness is only comical because no harm befell her.
Lady Catherine was caught by none other than the Darcy House butler, Don Jacobson, whom I now know is a former colonel who once served beside Colonel Fitzwilliam.
It was soon understood by all present that she and Jacobson had a prior connection.
Lady Catherine had arrived to make her sentiments against our marrying known, but was instead rendered mute by Colonel Jacobson’s presence.
Lord Matlock was amused and suspiciously misty-eyed when the former acquaintances agreed to have tea later in the week.
Imagine Lady Catherine having tea with our butler!
The earl said it was as if he and their late sister, Mrs. Anne Darcy, were working in concert again to see their sister find the happiness she deserved.
Pleased to see she, at last, seemed disinclined to thwart them.
And perhaps that is true—she was the previous mistress of this house, after all.
I will keep you abreast of any developments.
In the midst of challenging relations, we have all been surprised at the warmth expressed by Mr. Bingley’s sisters.
They have made amends to their brother for past difficulties, and they have taken our sisters shopping nearly every day, adhering to budgets, and walking out with the younger girls in the park.
As you recall, Jane and Charles stood as our witnesses. I found it interesting that our younger sisters and his were so enthusiastic.
The archbishop, who is family to Lord and Lady Matlock, announced that, with a generous nine-guinea donation to the church, he had been persuaded to perform—now, brace yourself—a second ceremony to marry Jane and Charles, by common license.
And so it was, in a near double ceremony, Jane and Charles, too, were married yesterday.
The donation? After the toasting to our happiness and that of Jane and Charles, I learnt Caroline, who is now the most pleasing of company, Georgiana, Kitty, and Lydia had pooled their purses together to make up the nine guineas.
It all makes sense to me now why yesterday my sisters’ concern for Jane’s toilette was equal to my own.
How is it I forget time and again that our younger sisters are a force of their own?
My William intended to increase the donation and was resolutely chastised.
Do note that when Uncle Archbishop declares something a gift, one should not later offer coin for said service.
And if he feels it necessary to exclaim, ‘For the love of dawn,’ agree with all haste.
And just today, Colonel Fitzwilliam must escort him to Wales, of all places, because he refused to agree with the archbishop’s instruction to carry out his mother’s plan for him to marry before he was thirty.
In a stranger turn, Georgiana, Kitty, and Lydia are to stay with Caroline Bingley while we, now married couples, take our wedding trips.
They will remain at Darcy House, where they enjoy instruction from drawing and music masters, which helps fill out their schedules around the excursions they plan with our aunt Madeline and the countess.
I heard mentions of shopping on Bond Street, walks in Hyde Park, visiting the menagerie, and a trip to a modiste on Miss Bingley’s behalf.
William and I intend to spend a month at the same cottage his parents enjoyed at the start of their marriage.
In his generosity, I found a treasure box in my rooms that I can search through on our journey.
I cannot express to you how much I have come to like my now husband, for loving him was the most natural of circumstances.
I will write to you what I discover in the secret compartment.
I do so look forward to learning more about him, understanding his vision for our future, and discussing my hopes with him.
Then we can blend them into a vision that both of us wish to realize.
Know you are missed and thought of often.
Your sister always,
Elizabeth Darcy
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet Consider the Future
“You know our daughters have warned me I am not to matchmake, but Captain Saunderson is soon to leave for Brighton.” Mrs. Bennet arched a brow at her husband later that evening when they were alone in his bookroom—a new practice they had begun, their spending an hour at the end of every day together.
“Tell me what you would like me to do, my dear. I would hate Mary being deprived of a future with such a man.” Mr. Bennet leaned closer to his wife, in great anticipation of the plans he suspected she and Mrs. Philips had devised.