Without Vanity or Pride: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Duology

Epilogue

As the carriage door closed behind him, Darcy leant back against the squabs and breathed out a deep sigh of relief.

“My poor Fitzwilliam! What a trying day you have had! First, you tied yourself to such an impertinent creature for all eternity, then were forced to be agreeable while maintaining a dashing smile. ‘Tis a miracle you have not yet collapsed from the strain!”

Turning to face his darling wife of only a few hours, Darcy laughed. “Minx! I cannot tell you how elated I am to be permitted to stop that lovely, impertinent mouth!”

Kissing her soundly as the carriage made its way south through Meryton, Darcy believed himself to be the luckiest man in the world. As he shifted his attentions towards her graceful neck, Darcy peppered kisses in between his whispered words.

“Every tease you utter tests my very resolve, wife.”

Flushed and smiling, Elizabeth replied in a delightfully breathy tone, “Perhaps I ought to move to the opposite bench, husband, lest we scandalise your driver with our behaviour.”

“Our driver, Elizabeth, and I think I possess enough self-control to last the journey to London.”

Kissing her chastely, Darcy pulled her against his side, wrapping his arm around her while playing with the newly acquired golden band on her left hand. Contented, he asked, “Were you pleased with the day, my love?”

“I cannot think how I could be more pleased! Jane and I always wished our husbands would be friends, but I do not believe we ever envisioned marrying in the same ceremony! I am so relieved that Mr Bingley finally came to the point.”

It had come as a shock to Darcy as well that his impetuous friend had delayed asking for his angel’s hand as long as he did. Though he supposed the matter of dispatching Miss Bingley back to London with a flea in her ear and the unappealing consolation that she would gain a connexion to the Darcys at last, did supersede any thoughts of romance for however brief a time.

Laughing, Darcy replied, “Did you know that he actually blamed his reticence on me? Apparently, I had so thoroughly shocked him with our engagement and the revelations about the Wickhams that he scarcely let me enjoy a full night’s rest for a week entire!”

Elizabeth kissed his cheek before settling herself once again in his embrace. “Remind me to thank Colonel Fitzwilliam for his assistance in hurrying Lydia and her husband on to Newcastle.”

“I already have. Your sister was clearly well enough to travel, though I know too well how far Wickham will go to avoid honest work.”

“Well, at least they were not present to spoil the day,” Elizabeth opined, stroking his waistcoat before regarding him with a mischievous smile. “I do not wish to think on the Wickhams any longer, Fitzwilliam. I simply wish to admire my new husband.”

Smiling into her sparkling eyes, Darcy pulled her closer. “I believe I can assist you with your study, my love. For I shall be similarly engaged admiring my lovely new wife for quite some time to come.”

The End