Epilogue #3
With his father dying before William completed his university studies, he had never had the opportunity to take a grand tour as James Darcy once did.
When he was ten, however, his parents had taken him to Portugal for two months during the late spring and summer, though his travels to the continent had never gone any further.
This trip would prove to be exciting, as well as educational for his family.
At Elizabeth’s suggestion, William had already engaged a native Italian tutor who would be in residence at Pemberley as soon as the Darcy house party was over.
At that time, Senior Rossi would begin teaching Italian as well as pertinent geographical and historical information to his children and those servants who would accompany them on their trip.
Later, Senior Rossi would continue by assisting as a tour guide in his native country and interpret for the family when necessary.
On entering their shared bedroom, William could see Elizabeth resting peacefully, curled on her side with her shawl pulled around her shoulders.
Quietly removing his shoes and jacket, he slid onto the bed, wrapping his arm around hers as he spooned her body and nuzzled his face into her loose hair.
Though she had given birth to seven children, including two sets of twins, she was in every way as beautiful as the day they had married, now more so, being their beloved mother.
“Mia bellissima moglie, sono felice di vedere che ti sei riposata,” he whispered in Italian, telling his beautiful wife it pleased him to see that she had been resting.
“Ah, William, amore mio,” she murmured. “I was hoping you would join me.” She turned into him allowing him to kiss her and hold her close. “Did you have a talk with Anna?”
“I did.”
“Good; I sent her to you. She is looking forward to our house party, but lately I think she has been a bit troubled. Although she says her grandmother’s letters do not upset her, I fear that they have unsettled her in some way.”
“Your instincts were correct. While Anna has no inclination to adhere to Lady Catherine’s wishes, she knows she will one day have her coming out, eventually taking a husband and having a family of her own, just as Georgiana did.
It is change she struggles with. We are all so very close, and she cannot bear the thought of being parted from any of us. ”
“Our sweet Anna is a treasure, and I have been blessed to be her mother all of these years. Although I would never deprive her of her future, like you, I would keep her with us for as long as we are able.”
“It is good we are in agreement then.” He chuckled. “I should have you know that I offered to keep her until she was thirty years of age and sufficiently on the shelf so she might never have to leave us.”
“‘Twas a daring proposal, William.” She also chuckled. “You did very well, considering you are usually quite serious when it comes to the welfare of our children. Suppose she should hold you to your offer?”
“We shall see. After all, she only turned fifteen last March, and any young man who happens to show an interest in her will have to go through me first.”
“I would expect no less, my husband. Just be sure to choose a young man from Derbyshire so that she may remain close by, like our Georgie.”
“I shall do my best.” He kissed her. “You and our family mean everything to me, and I shall never shirk my duty where our children are concerned. As I have said countless times, everything I do, I do for you and them.”
“I know, my darling husband. Your love and protection are endless when it comes to our family. Now, if you do not mind,” she began to kiss him without reserve, pulling at his cravat and shirt buttons, “I find I am in need of your tender caresses to sustain me before we receive the onslaught of our guests. Do you mind?”
“Elizabeth,” he moaned, obliging her inclination. “Not in the least, my dearest love.”
Pemberley
Years Later
Over the years, the Darcys were revered in countless ways throughout their community, not only by their servants and tenants, but by all of Lambton and the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Without question, the Pemberley estate provided stability and prosperity to the area.
The Darcys were loyal to the community, and those who resided on the estate and in villages reciprocated that trust.
William was happier than he had ever dreamed possible.
He was the father of five sons and three daughters.
Bennet was, of course, the heir to Pemberley, and Daniel eventually took over Rosings Park and Alexander a smaller estate which was part of the de Bourgh holdings William had inherited from Anne.
Being in close proximity to one another, Daniel and Alexander enjoyed each other’s companionship as well as that of their Fitzwilliam cousins who lived in Surrey.
As for the younger twins, although they assisted their father and often their brothers with estate matters, as time went on, their interests lay in another direction: with the power of invention.
Having always been full of energy and being very inquisitive, the Darcy twins had an insatiable quest for knowledge, and had partnered with some of the most creative minds who were instrumental in advancing society with engineering ingenuity and entrepreneurial prowess.
Eventually they assumed permanent residence at the Darcy Townhouse where they readily interacted with their Gardiner cousins and other likeminded English entrepreneurs.
As for the girls, Anna had been in no rush to experience her first season.
When she finally did acquiesce, her heart was not easily touched by the crush of young lords and dandies put forth by Lady Catherine and other matchmaking mamas in society who coveted her dowry.
Instead, she later married the brother of her good friend Julia Leighton.
Robert was six years Anna’s senior and had married shortly after his grand tour.
Tragically, his wife died in childbirth, leaving him a widower with a young daughter.
Being neighbours, following his year of mourning, Robert and his daughter had been frequent guests of the Darcys, as were Julia and her new husband.
Anna, of course, knew what it was like to lose a mother at a young age and easily bonded with Leighton’s child.
While Robert was not actively seeking a second wife, seeing Anna with his daughter moved his heart to ask her for a courtship, which came as no surprise to her parents.
It was not long before the couple were engaged and soon after happily married.
To Anna’s great pleasure, Leighton’s estate was within an easy distance of Pemberley so that she might see her family quite often.
When Amy and Maddie came of age, they had not been as reluctant as Anna to be presented at court and therefore readily enjoyed the trappings of society under their parents’ supervision as well that of as their great aunt, Lady Eleanor.
They eventually made matches to young men who were to inherit their fathers’ seats in Parliament.
While residing in Town, they took advantage of the Darcys’ connections to Lady Gwendolyn’s bluestocking circle and were active in the community, participating with multiple charities.
Since Elizabeth had no more children following the birth of the second set of twins, once William was confident that Bennet could easily manage the estate without him, the couple was free to travel and indulge in activities which had always interested them, but which they had never found the time to pursue.
That being said, William and Elizabeth were always happiest when August came around and they were once again surrounded at Pemberley by all of their family and dearest friends.
“My darling wife, God has been good to us these many years. I shall never cease to be thankful that He saw fit to bring us together.” He kissed her tenderly, not wanting to leave the privacy of their room though it was time to join the others for the last meal of this season’s house party.
“Dear, dear William, I love you so very, very much. Our lives have been filled with countless blessings, have they not? All of our children and their families are happy, and our lives have been richly filled with the joy they have brought us. To think we each started out looking for a marriage of convenience and found so much more. You, my husband, are the one man who makes my life complete, and I am grateful that we shall have many more years together.”
“Yes, my heart, together we are complete.” They kissed. Taking her left hand in his and lightly rubbing his fingers over the emerald stones in her wedding band, he said in remembrance, “You, Elizabeth Darcy, are My Only Love, now and forever.”
~ Finis ~