Epilogue
Elizabeth and Mary were just as fecund as their eldest sister, the Darcys producing nearly a dozen children and Mary six.
Kitty and Georgiana both married the year they came out together.
Kitty had only two children, a son and a daughter, and Georgiana two girls and one boy.
Jane had been able to present them as Lady Tygee and was pleased to do so with great aplomb.
Jane’s own presentation had been wrought with intrigue as Caroline Bingley had attempted to attach herself to her sister-in-law’s coat tails, only to discover that the change in Jane’s character had not been an aberration.
When she approached her in public, she received the cut direct by both Lady Tygee and her new aunt, Lady Eleanore, the duchess, completely ruining her in the Ton.
In retaliation she attempted to spread gossip about Bingley’s death and former actions but after a brief flare of talk, most worth knowing decided that Viscountess Tygee was beautiful, sweet, unassuming, and absolutely unwilling to entertain encroaching mushrooms. Caroline escaped back to Scarborough where she married a wealthy brewer and bore him one daughter before locking her door to him.
Louisa cut her sister’s acquaintance and was able to convince Hurst to take her back. He may not have done it if she had not discovered that she was increasing soon after they arrived at her aunt’s home and she produced an heir for him soon after he allowed her to return home.
Lydia never did produce a child for Wickham, that is not to say she never produced a child, but her husband had never returned from the continent, so it was unlikely that her three children were his.
When she discovered her first pregnancy, she wrote to Elizabeth and Darcy and pleaded with them to assist her in moving to Meryton which Darcy was willing to do in order to wash his hands of the entire debacle.
The people of Meryton whispered about her and her companionships about town, but considering the antics of her mother and aunt, it was hardly shocking that the girl continued to act in such a manner.
Mr. Bennet sat in his study with his books and his port and cared not at all for the reputation of his family.
They received very few invitations which suited him just fine.
The rest of his daughters never again returned to Longbourne in order to separate themselves from the horrid reputation of the Bennets.
When Mr. Bennet died from a trifling cold in the year 25’, the new heir, a distant cousin several generations removed who was of an age with Mr. Bennet, had been willing to offer houseroom to Mrs. Bennet until he and his wife spent several days in her company.
Mr. Gardiner, who saw the writing on the wall, had her packed off to Lydia’s small house within an hour of the funeral, allowing the newly named Bennets to enjoy the quite of their new abode.
Mrs. Bennet’s nerves could not stand the noise of Lydia’s three nearly feral boys and demanded her daughters, her brothers, or the parish provide her with her own home, she cared not which.
Mr. Phillips absolutely refused to have her in his home, the Gardiners also had young people, though much better behaved, and so the Darcys once again stepped into the breach and to Mrs. Bennet’s horror, sent the young Wickhams to school to hopefully give them better examples to follow than their own births had provided.
The Darcys did not repeat the mistakes of the past and did not send them to Eton or Harrow but to a small school for the children of tradesmen who would eventually need to take on a trade themselves and after completing their education, assisted them to find an apprenticeship in their chosen professions.
Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Wickham happily fought and gossiped until the end of their days.