Epilogue
Mr. Darcy was glowering from the sidelines of the ballroom. His wife walked up to him and gently took his arm.
“Mr. Darcy, the guests will think that you disapprove of the newlyweds.”
“You know very well that I was overjoyed by the match. They complement each other well.”
“Of course I know, but the rest of your guests are not aware of the high regard you have for Mr. Lyndon or the affection for Kitty.”
“Lyndon is the vicar for Kympton and the man who presided over our wedding. Only a fool would think that I would disapprove of him. Kitty is my sister and has been part of our household from the time we married.”
“They may think that you disapprove of the grand celebration I have arranged.”
Darcy gave her an incredulous look. A giggle from behind them interrupted their conversation. Darcy looked around to see that a new set had started.
“You were distracting me.”
“Well, you were glowering. I had thought you were cured of being offended by balls.”
“You know very well that it is not the ball that offends me. I am happy for Lyndon and Kitty.”
“But not for Georgiana?”
“Grimsley is hardly appropriate.”
“Lord Grimsley is an honourable and upright gentleman with both fortune and connections. More importantly he is sociable without being intimidating, and they complement each other well.”
“Elizabeth, the man offered for you.”
“Yes, and we both know it was due to his regard for you. That incident actually highlights another similarity between him and Georgiana. They both have a rather inflated sense of your intelligence and judgement.”
Darcy closed his eyes in exasperation. “I do not think he is good enough,” he whispered.
“Nobody will ever be good enough, but he will keep her happy,” she said, squeezing his arm. “Come, the supper set is starting and you promised to dance.”
“With you, always,” Darcy replied with an affectionate smile as he guided his wife towards the forming set.
It was early in the morning when the festivities concluded.
Kitty had been married a month back and she and Lyndon had gone to the lakes for a wedding tour.
Elizabeth had arranged the ball to welcome the newlyweds back to Derbyshire.
Kitty had made her home at Pemberley soon after Darcy and Elizabeth had married, three years earlier.
She visited Longbourn and Jane’s household frequently but it was at Pemberley that she felt at home.
Her attachment to Mr. Lyndon had happened gradually and both Darcy and Elizabeth, though happy at the match, had encouraged them to take their time.
Georgiana had come out last season and had recently formed a bond with Lord Grimsley, who had matured much since his ill-judged proposal to Elizabeth. Georgiana did not seem to hold it against him, considering it a humorous debacle.
“Well, it just shows his good judgement, for I do consider you the best lady of my acquaintance,” she had laughed.
Once the guests had all departed, Elizabeth and Darcy retired to their bedchamber.
“Do you truly believe she will be happy with Grimsley?” Darcy softly asked as they settled in their bed.
“Fitzwilliam, no one can ever know what the future has in store, but I believe that they are well-suited,” Elizabeth said as she turned towards him. “I worry for you when Bella comes out, you will be even more despondent.”
“She is one, I do not want to think about it now,” he grumbled.
“I hope for your sake that the next one is a boy,” Elizabeth replied with a smile.
Darcy gently caressed her stomach as he held her close. “Are you sure it is wise to travel to Longbourn?”
“There is nothing the matter with me, and Mary deserves to have at least one sensible sister at her wedding. Jane is still not completely recovered after the birth of little Charlie and Kitty needs to settle in her new life.”
“It is surprising that Lydia would be the last of your sisters left at home.”
“Aunt Sarah has invited her to stay at Willowmere for some time. She and Margaret are not that far apart in age and will be good company to each other.”
“Mrs. Bennet has been surprisingly tolerant of Mrs. Hardwicke,” Darcy said with a knowing smile.
“Do not pretend as if you are not aware of the reason. You, sir, have been rather sly with my mother. She is polite to Aunt Sarah for she has no wish to offend her favourite son-in-law.”
“Mrs. Hardwicke has been a good influence on Mary and also your father. I am happy that she has been visiting all her relations frequently. I was worried that she would isolate herself at Willowmere.”
“There was hardly any chance of that after Mrs. Ashcombe decided to meddle. She would never have allowed her to stay in peace. Margaret has also grown very attached to her.”
“I would be happy to lend Margaret all my aunts if she is thus inclined.”
“Speaking of aunts, I had a letter from Lady Catherine. She has invited us to visit while returning from Longbourn.”
“Elizabeth, I cannot understand why you would wish to visit her,” Darcy answered, annoyed.
“She is your mother’s sister and has the right to be disappointed in your choice of wife. I do not approve of the way she tried to denigrate my name, but none of us are perfect, Fitzwilliam.”
“You are perfect,” Darcy whispered as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply.
“Perfectly devilish,” he said as he rested his forehead on hers.
******
It was a year later that Georgiana Darcy became Lady Grimsley much to the consternation of her brother. He kept grumbling over his sister’s choice but went on to have a genuine friendship with his new brother.
The most unexpected event happened the very next year when Colonel Fitzwilliam married Caroline Bingley.
The Colonel had been in her company frequently after Darcy’s marriage.
Once she had let go of her desperate attempt to become Mrs. Darcy, she was rather pleasant company with a social ruthlessness, which impressed the Colonel.
Bingley was more than happy with the match and could be found making sport of the Colonel whenever the opportunity presented itself.
He and Jane had settled only twenty miles from Pemberley while the Colonel and Caroline had made their home in town and were frequent guests with the Darcys and Bingleys.
Elizabeth kept her promise to shield him from all gossip regarding the incident at the inn in Hampshire. Five years after Elizabeth and Darcy married when Viscount Bainbridge finally decided to let go of his bachelorhood, the family had gathered to celebrate his engagement to Lady Julia.
“Mrs. Darcy, you are as beautiful as ever,” Viscount Bainbridge commented as she and Darcy entered the drawing room at Matlock House.
“Darcy, I hope you were not tempted into kissing your wife at the coaching inns,” the Viscount joked as he clapped Darcy on his shoulders.
“My Lord, I am sure you are now aware that a gentleman needs a lot of skill to woo a lady. Mr. Darcy was only trying to demonstrate a skill quite useful for married life. Now that we have been married for such a long time I can safely attest that he is brilliant in this as in all things,” Elizabeth replied, causing her husband to turn red and the viscount to splutter the brandy he had just gulped.
Elizabeth and Darcy never lost the admiration that they had gained for the other. They could be found displaying it in odd ways like hitting the other with a cushion or arguing in the library about the latest book they had read.