Epilogue
“William,” Neddy called beseechingly, poking his head into Elizabeth’s sitting room where she sat rocking her new son. “Want to go ride?”
Elizabeth laughed, cradling the babe in her arms. “William is far too young to ride horses, Neddy. He is a baby, and much too small, not a big boy like you.”
“Poor baby,” Neddy said, looking at his new nephew with great sympathy. He, obviously, could not imagine a life that did not include a great deal of time on horseback.
Darcy appeared in the doorway behind him. “Edward, Mr Dean and Mr Porter said you did well today with your lessons. Your uncle Fitzwilliam is having Prosper saddled for you. Go and change into your riding clothes, and he and Aunt Fitzwilliam will take you out for a good, long ride.”
Neddy’s whole body tensed with joy, his own peculiar way of showing how happy those words had made him.
Elizabeth smiled as her brother dashed off to change without another word.
They had, through some trial and many errors, made great strides in teaching him speech and learning to reason.
He could still wear out several adults with his high energy and required a lot of physical exercise, but he had grown to understand that good behaviour and attention to his lessons meant a much happier life.
His greatest, most constant reward was riding his white mare, Prosper.
He understood now that tantrums and physical aggression resulted in a ban from the stables—nothing was worse in his mind.
They had found patient tutors and nurses who reinforced his daily lessons.
He was still, probably would always be, a little different than others his age, but he had never stopped in his progress, and was an affectionate, happy child.
He had been looking forward to this visit with Darcy’s cousin and his heiress wife, Sarah—they loved to ride almost as much as he did.
Darcy entered the nursery, stooping to kiss his sleeping son’s downy-soft head, adding a much deeper, more passionate one for his wife. “I cannot believe my good fortune sometimes,” he murmured. “He has been with us for eight short weeks, and it is already impossible to imagine life without him.”
Elizabeth smiled her agreement. “You may take him to his nurse for me,” she said. “I need to consult with Mrs Reynolds on menus, as Jane and Bingley mean to join us by dinnertime this evening.”
They entertained her sister and brother-in-law often, now that they had given up the lease on Netherfield and purchased an estate some thirty miles from Pemberley.
From a hint or two she had noticed in Jane’s behaviour of late, she suspected that Jane had some special news of her own to reveal tonight, and she meant for the dinner to be a celebratory one.
Darcy lifted his son into his arms. “I will take him to Mrs Fields, but I have news—”
At that very moment, Georgiana appeared in the doorway, and Elizabeth returned her bright smile.
She was home at last after a successful first Season sponsored by Lady Matlock.
She had refused two very eligible offers, and did not seem any the worse for it.
“Oh, let me take him to Mrs Fields,” she said, coming to her brother with arms outstretched.
“Everyone is so selfish with him! You all need to share more.”
They laughed, and Darcy handed over the babe, who was promptly whisked away.
“I wonder if she will go directly to Mrs Fields,” Elizabeth said.
“My guess is—probably not.”
“You said you had news?” Elizabeth asked, standing and stretching. “I had letters from Mary and Mama yesterday, and they were in good health and spirits.”
“Not bad news,” he reassured. “Over the years, there is a person you have spoken of a good deal,” he began. “I mean, of course, your uncle Gardiner.”
She gaped at him. “You have heard from my uncle? Where is he? Is he alive? Is he well?”
He touched her cheek softly. “He is. From what I understand, he lived outside of civilisation for some years, in the wilderness beyond the borders of America. More recently, however, he established a successful import business in Boston, which was how my men were able to find him.”
“Why did he not write? We have been so worried!”
“I think I can understand it. Had I lost you and William in childbirth, the temptation to disappear into the wilderness would have been fierce. He has recently expressed a desire to reconnect with his family in England, if they will forgive his long absence. He did not know of your father’s death, and feels much sorrow that he was not here to support you and Edward during that hard time. ”
“Of course we forgive him. He was wretched with grief—which now I, too, can understand.”
“He has been homesick, he said, and even now is sailing to England. I have invited him to come to Pemberley. With any luck, he will arrive about the same time as your mother and sister do for their annual visit.”
“Why, that is wonderful! I have missed him so!” She embraced her sweet husband, marvelling that he had somehow arranged the whole thing.
He easily returned her embrace, but his expression remained serious.
“I am impressed with his business acumen. As you know, Longbourn requires more than simply a bailiff, if not large enough to justify a steward. Your mother is not able to make day-to-day decisions, but whoever is there, must be trustworthy. It occurs to me that your uncle might be a fine custodian for Edward’s estate, acting as both tenant and landlord, of sorts.
It would give him time and room to nourish his other business interests—Longbourn is not all that far from London. ”
Elizabeth peered up at him. “But you worry that he might begin acting as my uncle Philips once did.”
Darcy frowned. “Not exactly. I have established many more protections for Edward’s inheritance. No one would ever be able to steal it from him. However, the subsequent rift if Mr Gardiner did try anything would hurt you. I never want to see anything like that happen again.”
It was true that a definite rift still existed between the Philipses and all the Bennets; it could not be helped, as the trust and loyalty between them had shattered.
The two families maintained a stilted formality, the best they could manage.
Elizabeth lifted her hands to cup his face.
“You are the dearest man in the world. I believe that as you come to know better my uncle Gardiner, you will see that he is the most trustworthy of men, and nothing at all like Uncle Philips. But yes, we will all decide together if this is the best solution for Uncle Gardiner and my brother, his namesake, both. I have a good feeling about it, however.”
“That is what we shall do, then,” he said. She lifted her lips to his, but it was not long before he pulled back.
“Perhaps I ought to join Edward and his companions for a ride,” he said, somewhat breathlessly.
She did not release him. “Perhaps you should not,” she said, loosening the formal knot at his throat.
“You have become a mother so recently,” he protested in what was almost a moan.
“But I am not only a mother,” she said, working at the neckcloth.
“You are not,” he said. “You are the fiercely beautiful and desirable wife of my heart, as well as an excellent mother, and I love you more than words can say, whether or not we can resume intimacy. Are you sure?”
“I am sure,” she said. “You are not only a father, although you are an excellent one. Come, husband of my heart, and let us be together in all the ways I have missed of late.”
He scooped her up, making her laugh, and brought her through the labyrinth of rooms connecting their apartments, laying her upon the enormous four-poster in his room. “My love,” he murmured. “My dearest heart.”
“My love,” she replied. “My dearest heart.” And surrounded by sunlight and white linens, he gave to her, once again, all the sweetness and passion one woman could possibly bear.