Epilogue
“Are you ready to go, my dear?” William asked, his anxiety and nervous excitement evident in how he bounced into the bedroom where I was composedly straightening my lacy cap. “It would be most improper for the clergyman to be late to the wedding.”
“We will not be late,” I said. “And it’s really your own fault. You said I looked ravishing in forest green, and we got distracted for a while. Ridiculous, of course.”
“It’s not ridiculous,” my husband said. “You look simply lovely. You are truly the most exquisite wife I could ever have.”
I smiled again, but I put him out of his anxiety by standing up.
“Let’s go,” I said, and he took my arm and led me outside. “My cherished heart,” he said. “This is going to be the most superb wedding.”
“Indeed,” I said.
“I have never seen Anne so radiant,” he went on. “Truly, my dear, we are lucky to live near the bounty of Rosings.”
His shining eyes looked down and met mine, and we both laughed.
My husband is almost as agreeable to Lady Catherine as ever. But she doesn’t give tips on how to be a good husband anymore. There’s no point. Mr. Collins is going to be excessively romantic and that is all there is to it.
As we walked up to Rosings, we fell in with the Bingleys and Darcys, who were back visiting for the big event. Jane had just started to show. I smiled at her, not feeling the bitter sting of envy anymore.
Then I suddenly felt my stomach roil with nausea. I clutched William’s arm, hoping I hadn’t gotten sick from some oysters he had harvested on one of his long walks across our property.
Then I felt the realization spark through me, sending tingles of excitement all along my skin, and I threw my arms around my husband, laughing so hard I almost cried, letting his big arms surround me as I reflected that he would soon have another member of the family to love.