Epilogue #2
Four daughters married. I will go distracted with happiness. God has been very good to us. Look at all of the grandchildren He has given Thomas and me since Jane and Lizzy married in early 1812.
I cannot believe that Lizzy was blessed with twins, a boy and a girl.
It seems that none of my daughters, the ones who have so far delivered children, have been afflicted with no sons like I was.
Jane and Richard have their son, as do Mary and Francis.
Both of them are in the family way again.
I hope for Richard’s sake there is another son because Tommy has the Bennet name, and I am sure my son-in-law would like at least one son with his own name.
Was not Kitty’s wedding; I must remember that now that she is Viscountess Hadlock, she wants to be called Kate.
What was I saying? Oh yes, was not the wedding sublime?
I am so very happy that Kitty Kate was so easily accepted by the Earl and Countess of Holder.
Her dowry of ?7,500 is not considered very much, but they cared not.
At the pace Edward has been growing the funds, by the time she decides to marry, Lydia will have over ?10,000 for her dowry.
The truth be told, I will not object to Lydia remaining at home and single for as long as she desires. Even if I no longer spoil her, she is still my youngest.
Do not for a moment think I am not aware that all of this is thanks to you.
Had you two not descended on us like avenging angels after Lizzy was hoodwinked and Lydia…
well, you know, then who knows where we would be today?
At the start. I resented you taking charge the way you did, but it did not take long before I saw you were completely right.
Thomas and I would not have the loving relationship we do without your intervention.
Until we see you in Derbyshire in May. (My Thomas does love William and Lizzy’s library, does he not?)
With the warmest regards,
Fanny
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
19 August 1817
23 Gracechurch Street
London
Lizzy, William, and children,
William, Edward and I want to thank you for letting us know that Willow Hill was about to be offered for sale.
The Gardiners thank all of the Darcys for allowing us to reside at Pemberley while you were with the family in Hertfordshire. The estate is only three miles from Lambton on the southern side of the town; it is ideal.
It did not take us long before we knew it was the estate for us. We made an offer, which was accepted, and now it is ours. Edward is happy with the manager he employed to oversee Gardiner and Associates, so we will be moving to Willow Hill at the end of this month.
To your observation that Lydia’s attraction to the former Major Carter had nothing to do with him being a militia officer at one time was accurate.
He left the militia more than two years past when he inherited the medium sized estate in Bedfordshire from his uncle.
As such he is more than capable of supporting a wife and future children.
Your uncle and I are confident that Lydia’s infatuation with officers is long gone.
It is good that Mr Carter’s estate is less than 10 miles from Woburn Abbey where Mary and Francis are.
In your last letter received you asked if we were surprised that now with Lydia being courted by Mr Carter that once she marries in September, your parents will turn Longbourn over to Jane and Richard.
No; neither Edward nor I were. About a year ago, your father discussed what his intention was once his last daughter was married.
Your mother agreed to his plan and gave her blessing.
Your Uncle Frank had the papers prepared as soon as it was seen that Lydia’s heart was engaged.
They will be more than happy in the dower house at Pemberley, and they have said they will travel to visit each of their daughters for a few months every year.
Before I forget, your uncle told me that he heard that George Wickham—there is a name none of us have mentioned for years—was stabbed to death in King’s Bench Debtor’s prison.
It is unknown who did the deed or why, and as far as we know, the warden and his men are not looking for the culprit too diligently.
You had asked about the Bingley’s and Hursts. From what we have learnt, Mr and Miss (yes, she is very much on the shelf) Bingley live in Scarborough, and the Hursts are on the estate in Surrey. As far as we can tell, none of them have been in London since the sisters ruined their family name.
To a more pleasant subject, we look forward to seeing you at Willow Hill in September.
Speaking of pleasant, Mr William Collins wrote to us recently. He is married, has two daughters, and has a living in Oxfordshire. He says that having more education and eating much less were the best things which happened to him.
He is a respected and loved rector of his church and has followed his cousin Elizabeth’s example and takes a good, brisk walk of at least three miles each morning, save for the sabbath.
He does not repine breaking the entail and is perfectly happy with his living plus the dividends on the money he has invested with Edward.
He has become much more confident and is no longer afraid of someone lifting their hand to him.
In hindsight, he is able to see that his sire was nothing short of a monster.
I look forward to seeing you, William, Anna and my great-nieces and nephews.
With love and regards,
Aunt Maddie
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Willow Hill, September 1817
Maddie and Adam stood on the willow-covered hill which gave the estate its name. They had not both lived in the same parish since she was twelve and he was six. The siblings were sure that their parents were smiling down on them from heaven.
Adam would not remain too much longer. Eve had recently delivered their fourth child, another daughter, so he did not want to be away from her for too long. Gerald and his sister’s namesake would remain for a few days to be with their cousins and other family members.
As she stood alone watching her brother walk down the path from the hill, she saw Anna walking next to Lord Wesley De Melville, Viscount Amberley and heir to the Earl of Jersey.
Walking with Anna and Lord Wesley were Kate and her viscount acting as chaperones.
At one and twenty, Anna had been the last of the sisters—Bennet and Darcy—to be unattached; that was, until this season when she and Lord Wesley had fallen in love.
They had begun courting in April, and by the end of July, they were engaged.
They were to marry from Pemberley on the first Friday in November.
As Maddie walked down the hill to rejoin the family, she thought about how, because she and Edward had taken charge, the Bennets credited them with the changes to their family and all of the good which had occurred since.
As grateful as she was for the thanks, Maddie knew that had they not been willing to change, then they would not have.
As she approached the large lawn in front of the house, Maddie smiled seeing the way her children from Bea, who was fourteen, down to Peter, who was nine, were so good and patient with their younger cousins.
She saw Edward standing in a group of some of the men in the family.
Aside from some grey around the edges of his hair, Edward looked as fit and well as he had the day they had married eighteen years past. Off to one side was Lizzy talking to Jane while Mary sat on a blanket with her own children as well as the youngest Darcy and Fitzwilliam—a second son had been born, and he would bear the Fitzwilliam name.
Edward smiled at her—a smile that Maddie returned. She was not just happy; it was more than that. She was completely contented.
~~~The End~~~
Read on, Charlotte Lucas Takes Charge, the one which began this series, follows for free.