Epilogue
Early in the new year, the Duke of Barrington died, leaving his younger half-brother to inherit the title.
After the obligatory mourning period, the new Duke and Duchess of Barrington took society by storm, ably assisted by the Dowager Duchess. Although they had some disagreements on occasion, they always managed to work them out and, on the whole, had a happy life.
In the years to come, they taught their children that character was more important than wealth or titles.
~T~
Mary and Richard settled quite happily at Meadowfield near Newmarket where the spent their lives raising horses as well as children.
Their children’s favourite story was how the couple became engaged.
~T~
At the wedding of her older sisters, Kitty met Matthew Carleton and they formed an instant connection to the delight of Cousin Amelia.
As Kitty was too young to consider marriage or even an engagement, the families insisted that if they were both still interested in each other two years hence they would not stand in their way of happiness.
Two years to the day after their first meeting, Kitty and Matthew married. Like all the other couples, they had their ups and downs, but on the whole were happy with their choices and their lives.
~T~
Lydia surprised all her family by her choices.
Soon after the weddings of her oldest sisters, one of her friends, Margaret Roberts, who was the same age as Kitty married the owner of a small estate near Hatfield.
Less than five years later, Lydia was shocked when she heard that her friend had died giving birth to her fourth child, having been worn out by almost constantly being pregnant.
After much soul-searching, Lydia decided that she was not prepared to become any man’s broodmare.
As a consequence, she spent as much time as she could at Pemberley, learning estate management from the most able of masters, and when she turned five and twenty, she took possession of her inheritance, which happened to be the estate in Kent.
There she made friends with another lady who had inherited her neighbouring estate and gained control of it after her mother’s death. Both Lydia Bennet and Anne de Bourgh spent their life as contented spinsters.
~T~
Bingley and Associates became a huge success due to Mr Charles Bingley whose amiable and gentlemanly manners towards all, eased negotiations with employees and clients from all walks of life.
About a decade after settling in Scarborough, he met a young lady whose kindness and gentle manners captured his interest. He very properly courted her and eventually they married.
She looked nothing like Jane Bennet or the other angels in his past, but he thought her the most beautiful creature who had ever graced this earth.
While Bingley was never again close friends with Darcy, they repaired their relationship enough to remain on friendly terms.
~T~
Caroline Bingley, or Caroline Barnett as she called herself after her move to York, spent a year socialising in this new town. During that time, she bemoaned the lack of fashion amongst the ladies.
As she could not find a man who was interested in a woman with her disdainful attitude, especially since there was not one who measured up to her exacting standards, she became bored.
Eventually when her need for a challenge as well as exquisite gowns became too much for her, she opened her own business where her taste and attitude stood her in good stead. She became the most fashionable modiste in York, where she never lacked for customers.
~T~
Eventually, Mr Bennet passed away peacefully in his sleep.
After forty years of marriage Mrs Bennet mourned the passing of her husband despite how irritating he had been at times. To keep from brooding she and the servants went through the house packing up her personal belongings to move into Aunt Mary’s cottage.
This had the added advantage that she would not have to deal with Mr Collins who was sure to attend the funeral and she expected that he would want the pleasure of evicting her from her home. She was determined not to give him that satisfaction.
Her brother Phillips arrived at Longbourn with several lists of items which he had the servants pack, and which were sent to Mrs Bennet’s new home, awaiting distribution to the beneficiaries of Mr Bennet’s will.
Mrs Bennet received messages from Kitty and Lydia, one saying that she could not travel at that time as she was expecting her third child soon, the other because she was keeping her sister company.
Mr Collins did arrive the day before the funeral and was most put out that he would not be admitted to Longbourn until after the reading of the will. He was travelling alone as his wife and two daughters had succumbed to a flue epidemic two years previously.
On the morning of the funeral, Mrs Bennet, accompanied by her sister, left her home only minutes after her husband took his final journey to the cemetery, and she was taken to her new home, where they would meet for the reading of the will immediately after Mr Bennet was interred.
As Mrs Bennet looked out of the carriage window, she exclaimed, ‘This cannot be right. Why are we going to Netherfield?’
‘Because that is the cottage Aunt Mary wanted you to have as your home,’ Mrs Phillips explained with a small smile.
Mrs Bennet could not help a slightly hysterical chuckle as tears streamed down her face. ‘Dear Aunt Mary. That is some cottage,’ she murmured.
~T~
When Mrs Bennet stepped out of her carriage, she was greeted by her three oldest daughters.
‘I am sorry, mama, that we did not come to see you, but we only arrived late last night, and Uncle Phillips informed us that he had made arrangements for us to stay here,’ Jane said while she enfolded her mother in her arms.
‘I am glad that you are here now. Did you know that Aunt Mary arranged for me to live at Netherfield?’
As Elizabeth took her turn at hugging her mother she said, ‘We only found out last night. Uncle Phillips had left a note for us.’
Mary too would not be denied embracing her mother. ‘We are very pleased that you have such a comfortable home.’
The sisters greeted their Aunt warmly and led the ladies into the house, where they were greeted by Mrs Nicholls.
‘Welcome to Netherfield Park, Mrs Bennet. I have the mistress’s suite ready for you. I hope that you will be comfortable in your new home.’
~T~
While Mr Collins was impressed by the honour bestowed on Mr Bennet to have the Duke of Barrington, Mr Darcy, and Mr Fitzwilliam present at his funeral, he was not impressed afterwards when the reading of the will was delayed.
As he accompanied Mr Phillips in his carriage, he noticed that they were not going to Longbourn. When he queried their destination, all he was told was, ‘All will be explained in due time.’
All the gentlemen of the extended family entered the drawing room at Netherfield, to find the ladies were waiting for them.
When Collins recognised Mrs Bennet, he addressed her with disdain.
‘Mrs Bennet, we only buried your husband just now. I think it most inappropriate for you to be gadding about and visiting friends.’
‘Collins, shut up and sit down,’ growled Phillips and pointed to a chair. ‘My sister is here for the reading of the will, which I will only proceed with if you keep quiet.’
Collins looked offended but he did sit down… quietly.
While the younger gentlemen all took seats next to their wives, Phillips sat down at a table which had been set up for him, on which he placed the folder of documents which he had brought.
After reading the standard opening phrases of Mr Bennet’s will, he came to the pertinent points.
As per the entail on Longbourn, the estate and the associated structures, fittings, and equipment, as well as the money in the estate account will become the property of the legal heir, whoever he may be.
All my wife’s personal belongings and the items which she brought into our marriage or which she since has bought with her own money are hers to remove. In addition, I leave to her my mother’s jewellery which is not part of the entail as well all monies in my personal account.
My own personal belongings I leave as follows:
As per the attached lists itemising my possessions, I leave my books to my daughter Elizabeth, the contents of my wine cellar I leave to my daughter Jane, the memorabilia to my daughter Mary, the artwork to my daughter Catherine and my personal horses and their tack to my daughter Lydia. My clothes may be given to the poor.
There were various small bequests to friends and servants.
When he finished reading, Phillips looked up and asked, ’Are there any questions?’
‘I would like to see those lists,’ demanded Collins. ‘How do I know that Bennet is not giving away things which are rightfully mine.’
‘Because those list have been notarised by the magistrate as being an accurate account of items not included in the entail.’
Being denied, Collins huffed, ‘Very well, you all may have until nightfall to remove those items. Anything still there at sundown, will become my property.’ He turned to the widow. ‘That includes you and your possessions, Mrs Bennet.’
That statement earned him disgusted looks by all the men in the room, but Phillips only said, ‘I have arranged for the carriage to take you to Longbourn.’
~T~
As soon as Collins exited the carriage, it took off again, leaving him standing in front of the door.
He waited a moment, expecting the housekeeper or the butler to rush to open the door for him. As this did not happen, he pounded on the door, determined to fire the wretches.
When that still did not produce any results, he tried the door which opened easily to his touch, allowing him to enter.
Collins looked around and found everything clean, neat, and tidy, but there was no sound and the house felt deserted. As he checked out one room after another, he found that everything was in order, but no fires were lit, and the house was completely empty of occupants.
When he entered the study, Collins saw that virtually all the books were missing from the shelves, and he realised what had been nagging at him since he entered the silent home. There was no artwork, there were no personal belongings, there was nothing to indicate that anyone was living here.
Absolutely everything which had belonged to the previous owners was gone.
But there was one object which was out of place. An envelope was propped up on the desk… addressed to him.
The letter read
Cousin Collins
You will find everything to which you are entitled in perfect order.
Everything to which you are not entitled by the entail is gone. That includes my family and the servants. The horses are in the paddock to ensure they have browse and water.
I wish you joy with your new possession.
Thomas Bennet
Collins stared in horror at the note and collapsed into the chair behind the desk.
Was it his imagination or did he hear sardonic laughter?
~T~
Within six months, Collins realised that he was incapable of managing Longbourn. Not only were his neighbours unhelpful and showed him not the slightest deference as the master of the second largest estate in the neighbourhood, he also had trouble getting staff.
In contrast, Netherfield under the rule of Mrs Bennet was thriving, which irritated Collins even more, as he had expected to lord it over the woman who had denied him his rightful bride.
When Phillips approached him with an offer from an anonymous client, Collins was only too happy to sell the estate as the entail had ended with him. Afterwards, he was never heard of again as he had resigned his living at Hunsford upon inheriting Longbourn.
The Gardiners were delighted to have an estate so close to London, allowing Gardiner to manage his business interests and giving his family an easy opportunity to spend time in the country.
Eventually their second son who enjoyed country life would inherit Longbourn. He changed his name to Bennet and married the oldest granddaughter of Sir William and Lady Lucas who eventually held the title of mistress of Longbourn with the full blessing of Mrs Bennet.
In the meantime, Mrs Bennet was pleased that both her siblings were nearby while she was the proud mistress of Netherfield.
~T~
While it is not relevant to this story, There was another wedding not long after the three eldest Bennet sisters married.
Susan the maid and John the footman who had so often accompanied Elizabeth and her sisters on their walks in Hyde Park, had become quite fond of each other as well and decided they were well suited.
Since they were amongst the few people who could keep up with Elizabeth on her walks, Darcy invited the couple to work at Pemberley and perform escort duties when he was unable to accompany his wife.
~T~
And what of the Darcys?
Georgiana Darcy eventually married George Carleton, creating even closer ties between the families.
Elizabeth Darcy was proven correct by the statement she made on their wedding day.
She and her beloved husband did have a long and happy life together. Mostly happy at least, as they had their disagreements and their share of problems, but in the long run they always managed to work things out.
Their two children grew up in a loving home, encouraged by both their parents to be the best they could be.
In due time, their son Bennet became the master of Pemberley, while Willowbrook was inherited by Amelia Darcy.
On occasions when Elizabeth complained about some slight, because Darcy was caught up with estate business and did not pay her enough attention, he often reminded her, ‘You should have considered this before you proposed to me. After all, you are the one who completely turned my life about.’
The teasing smile and attention which accompanied the reminder was enough to mollify Elizabeth. She never learnt to resist those dimples.
~T~