Chapter Epilogue
Lydia stayed at Pemberley for six weeks; by the time she left, it was firmly established that she, Kitty and Georgiana would have a Season in London together the following year.
Elizabeth very much wanted her parents to see her new home, but Mrs. Bennet would not make the journey until she had been delivered of her sixth child.
This time, it was the long-awaited son and heir, one Thomas Henry Bennet.
Once he was old enough to travel, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet came to Pemberley with little Tommy.
The expression on Mr. Bennet’s face upon beholding the Pemberley library was a sight Mr. Darcy thought he would never forget.
Jane was no longer the heir to Longbourn, so once the Netherfield lease expired, there was nothing keeping the Bingleys in Meryton. With Mr. Darcy’s help, the Bingleys purchased an estate in Derbyshire, allowing Jane and Elizabeth to be near one another.
Mr. Rochester woke up one day in his London townhouse, looked hard at Mary, and realised that she was doing her very best to be happy in London, but that it was not and never would be her preferred milieu.
He further realised that as much as he loved his art collection, he loved his wife even more.
A week later, he packed up both wife and art, and moved back to Netherfield Park, much to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s delight.
Anne de Bourgh enjoyed her Season very much, and she never regretted having the experience.
However, Mr. Gerard Payne, the gentleman who had been in the Army and had just happened to turn up at the Rosings Park Ball, also just happened to turn up in London during the Season.
Anne found him refreshingly unpretentious, particularly compared with the gentlemen she was meeting in London.
He was a third son, with no hope of an estate, and he was entirely happy at the idea of resigning his commission and living at Rosings.
He was not at all adverse to having Lady Catherine in residence, and so the dower house remained unoccupied.
Miss Bingley married a young baron. He did not have an estate, as his father had gambled it away, so there was no need for the new Baroness to get her silk skirts dirty in the country.
Her husband had learnt from his father’s errors, and so was careful with his money.
Caroline’s twenty thousand pound dowry was kept safe, and the interest on it paid her pin money, allowing her to always be seen in the newest fashions.
The baron was a sociable man, one who enjoyed dinners and parties, and he was appreciative that his wife showed to such advantage.
Georgiana, Kitty and Lydia participated in the Season of eighteen hundred and thirteen.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet joined them at Darcy House, with baby Tommy in tow, and Mrs. Bennet in particular was delighted at how very popular her two youngest daughters were!
They were both as lively as ever, and no matter how carefully they were drilled in society manners by the lady Mr. Darcy had hired, they nonetheless spoke their minds.
This, as it turned out, was so very refreshing to the gentlemen of the ton that they clustered about the two Bennet girls at every social event.
Lydia became fond of a Mr. Lancaster, the eldest son of a baron.
Oddly enough, he was as quiet as she was lively; he was entranced by her energy, and she had great fun trying to coax him out of his natural reserve.
Kitty’s choice was Mr. Brent, a well-to-do estate owner in Suffolk.
By the end of the Season, both girls were engaged to be married.
Georgiana was hardly neglected, being an heiress and connected to the Earl of Matlock, but she had learnt to be careful.
Her brother and Elizabeth both assured her, again and again, that there was no hurry, and she could take as long as she liked to find a husband.
Indeed, there was no need for her to marry at all, if she did not wish it; she could live forever at Pemberley.
But Georgiana was not formed for unhappiness, and after she had been permitted to release her anger, she looked at the joy that shone from Lizzy’s eyes, and decided that she wanted that for herself as well.
She looked over her suitors and chose Bertram Allen, the heir to an estate in Kent.
He was a quiet gentleman. Georgiana had noticed that he had a ready smile for everyone, including the servants; it was not Mr. Bingley’s ready smile, but something quieter, a touch more shy.
When they danced, he held her gently, respectfully.
Recalling Mrs. Bennet’s words, Georgiana asked her brother to have him investigated.
Mr. Darcy did so, his heart singing in the hope that his sister was finally recovering.
They learnt that he had no outstanding debts, was not a gambler, and invested wisely.
He had never kept a mistress, and lived quietly with his mother and aunt.
Then she asked her maid about him, and the maid reported back that his servants liked him very much. “They have never had a harsh word from him,” she said.
Georgiana’s final test was to have a puppy brought into the drawing room when he came to visit.
This particular pup, called Max, was known for tugging on trousers and gowns, and so was rarely allowed inside the drawing room.
Max ran joyfully to Mr. Allen and immediately grabbed his trouser leg with his little teeth.
Mr. Allen laughed; he reached down and picked Max up.
Setting the pup on his lap, he delighted Max by rubbing his ears, saying, “I do not mind dog hair on my trousers, little one, but I prefer that you not rip them up.” And he allowed Max to stay on his lap for his entire visit!
Georgiana was now convinced; he was a good man. When he proposed to her, three weeks later, she was glad to say yes. His estate was not thirty miles from Rosings Park. Anne and Georgiana were elated to be so near; their friendship was resumed as if they had never been apart.
His mother and aunt were delighted with his new wife, and they lived together quite happily. Georgiana bore him three children and did not regret her marriage, her children, or even the activity that produced said children.
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy had two sons and three daughters. The sons were raised to be kind and respectful to everyone, but particularly women. Once they were old enough to understand, the daughters were informed of the dangers that lurked in the world.
George Wickham’s body was discovered two years after his death; the animals had been at him, of course, so there was little left other than a skeleton and a uniform.
Sir William Lucas, the local magistrate, had him buried in the churchyard.
Since no one could identify him, the marker read Unknown Soldier.