Epilogue five years later
On a sunny June afternoon, two large carriages travelled at a steady pace through the green, blossoming woods towards Pemberley, followed by two smaller ones.
Inside the first carriage, Lord Matlock, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Mr Gardiner, together with his two sons Thomas and Henry, discussed plans for the next several weeks, pleased and relieved to have finally reached their destination after three days on the road.
In the second and largest carriage were Lady Matlock, Mrs Gardiner, Becky and Margaret Gardiner, and Anne Fitzwilliam (nee de Bourgh), holding her two-year-old son, David.
The party would join the Bennets, the Bingleys with their two children, the Hursts, and Mrs Caroline Hodge with her husband.
Miss Georgiana Darcy was also there with her friend, Miss Kitty Bennet. Also expected to arrive were the former Miss Mary Bennet with her husband, a successful lawyer, and their young son as well as Mrs Lydia Wickham with her two daughters. Mr Wickham could not be spared from his military duties.
The happy event that brought everyone together was the christening of young Elizabeth Anne Darcy, four months old, born more than four years after her elder brother, Alexander Bennet Darcy.
“I look forward to seeing my nieces again,” Mrs Gardiner said. “Since Jane and Mr Bingley purchased their estate in Derbyshire, she and Lizzy are often together, but we do not see either of them as much as we would like to.”
“We have seen them quite often when we stayed at the Matlock estate,” Lady Matlock said. “It is only a twenty-mile journey and quite a pleasant one. But since Anne and Robert moved to Rosings for the winter, we also returned to Town.”
Anne smiled. “Mama insisted on doing so, and Robert agreed. He is the kindest of men and so very patient with us. I know she behaved terribly with everyone, but she is still my mother, and I cannot abandon her. She has grown very fond of David.”
“Well, who would not be?” Lady Matlock replied, caressing the child’s handsome face. “He is one of the sweetest boys I have ever seen.”
“Your ladyship also has a beautiful granddaughter if I am not mistaken,” Mrs Gardiner said.
“I do—Thomas’s daughter. They named her Mary Ellen. A blessing for her parents—and for us. God has been good to them just when they had lost any hope.” After a short pause, Lady Matlock continued with an apparently completely different subject.
“I will order several gowns at Maud Lovell’s shop this week. I am pleasantly surprised by how this young woman has extended her business. She has become quite famous in the county and beyond.”
“True—Elizabeth and Jane order most of their dresses from her,” Mrs Gardiner replied. “She is very dedicated to her business and her family, or so I hear from my relatives in Lambton.”
“It is remarkable how the Darcys have changed this young woman’s life,” Anne said.
“Indeed. But again, they have done quite a number of remarkable things since they married. I am very proud of the position Elizabeth has gained among the ton. And she has also built a true community around her in Derbyshire—quite an achievement. She has honoured Lady Anne’s legacy beautifully.”
“Everything she achieved is well deserved,” Anne added. “I remember when we were both introduced at St. James’s, I almost fainted from distress, but Elizabeth kept her composure and her smile the whole time. I admire her strength and self-confidence so much.”
“I remember that evening very well.” Lady Matlock smiled. “You were both admired, each in your own way. And I am proud of your fairness in praising Elizabeth, my dear Anne. That also speaks highly of your character.”
“I am very happy that Lizzy has a daughter, but I am not sure what we will call them since they are now both Lizzy,” Becky intervened into a conversation that she found rather dull. “I like Alexander too, but boys are not quite as good as girls.”
She then turned to the young David and kissed his cheeks. “Oh, do not worry, I like you too. You are a very sweet boy.”
As the carriages approached the house, Becky glanced through the window and suddenly cried, “Mama, how is Pemberley so coloured? Is seems like somebody painted it!”
They all looked outside and were amazed to see the impressive stone building warmed by a beautiful gathering of flowers of all colours, as lovely as a painting.
“It is Pemberley’s front garden,” Lady Matlock said. “Elizabeth is very fond of it, and Darcy does everything to keep it alive.”
“It is so beautiful,” young Margaret whispered, looking outside with her sister.
Becky’s eyes widened in surprise as the revelation struck her. “Mama, it is a rainbow!”
“Where, Becky?”
“The garden—the flowers! They are rainbow colours—all of them!”
The ladies returned their attention outside, and a smile spread over their faces.
“So it seems, my dear,” Lady Matlock said.
The carriages soon stopped in front of the main door, and all were welcomed by a burst of joy and happy voices.
Elizabeth walked carefully, holding her daughter in her arms and greeting the new guests with a warm smile.
“You arrived a little early; please come in. William took a short ride to check one of the tenants’ houses. He will be home in no time. Alexander is with him, and I keep looking after them.”
“My nephew is always very scrupulous with his duties,” Lord Matlock said while he politely kissed Elizabeth’s hand.
“Elizabeth, I am so happy to see you, my dear. You look truly lovely,” Lady Matlock said.
Affectionate embraces, compliments, and greetings followed.
“We were admiring your flowers from afar, and they look even more beautiful from here,” Lady Matlock continued. “They are more admirable every passing year. I have rarely seen such richness of colours. Becky says it is like a rainbow.”
Elizabeth blushed with pleasure. “It was meant to be a rainbow, indeed.
William made this beautiful flower arrangement for me.
He hired a special gardener and purchased all kinds of flowers from different greenhouses in the country and even from abroad.
He started when we married and ordered new flowers every year.
Some of them grew in previous years; others did not.
This is the first time they are all blooming.
It is exquisite and astonishing. It gives me such joy to admire it every day.
“What a lovely story—and a very thoughtful gift,” Anne said. “Robert is also very caring and attentive, but I never thought of asking him for something like this.”
“I did not ask for it either. It was a promise William made me at the beginning of our marriage. .”
Becky took her hand. “Lizzy, from afar it looks like a rainbow! Do you have a rainbow in the yard?”
“Yes, I have, my darling. A rainbow in my yard—and in my life,” she answered, and the other ladies smiled, exchanging affectionate glances at the tenderness that filled Elizabeth’s words.
Becky, however, listened to only half of her words. She ran, crying joyfully toward the main gate and waving to the rider who galloped toward them.
Darcy’s impressive posture was easy to recognise, and in front of him on the saddle was a small bundle that soon took the form of young Master Darcy, holding the reins tightly and pulling on them to stop the impressive stallion.
After more greetings and embraces, the entire party walked toward the house, proudly led by Alexander Darcy.
Darcy took his daughter into his arms and kissed her forehead; then he did the same with his wife.
“Are you well, my love?”
“Yes, I am glad to see you both home. Let us enter; we have a full house expecting us,” Elizabeth said with a laugh.
As she walked, holding her husband’s arm, her free hand gently touched the flowers.
“Everyone is admiring my garden. I still cannot believe that you truly gave me a rainbow that I can see every day—a rainbow in my garden. I do not think any other man ever offered so much to his wife.”
“You know I always keep my promises to you. But my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth—you have given me so much more.”
She laughed, tearful. “We will not quarrel for the greater share of ‘blame’ for our present felicity. If strictly examined, we will see that both of us made every effort to accomplish what we agreed to on our wedding night: to be the happiest couple in the world.”
Mr Darcy of Pemberley answered nothing more, but he stopped and turned to face his wife.
He tenderly embraced her with his free hand and let himself be lost in her sparkling eyes for a moment, then his lips claimed hers in a kiss of shared care, trust, love, and passion, which lasted until it left them both breathless—right there in front of their families, in front of their home, and in the middle of their rainbow garden.