Epilogue
It was not long before Anne de Bourgh found herself experiencing the same romantic fancies that she and Elizabeth had discussed.
And the object of her affections, cousin Richard Fitzwilliam, soon found himself experiencing them as well.
Despite Reginald Fitzwilliam’s opinion on the subject of cousins marrying, the two soon married.
Happily, Lady Catherine allowed the reins of the estate to pass into the hands of Anne and Richard, and so was not forced to move into the dower house.
At Longbourn, Mr. Bennet put Mr. Darcy’s lessons into practice and the estate finally began to prosper. He was eventually able to pay back the money he owed to Mr. Gardiner, and the Bennets celebrated their new-found solvency by finally redecorating the drawing room.
***
Mrs. Bennet managed to limit her visits to Netherfield Park to just once a week, though not without a good deal of inner turmoil and gnashing of teeth. As a result of her forbearance, the Bingleys purchased Netherfield Park, giving Mr. and Mrs. Bennet the joy of watching Jane’s children grow up.
Miss Bingley was able to fit into the Bingley household with only a few occasional skirmishes; but nonetheless, everyone at Netherfield breathed a little easier when she married the second son of a baron.
Her new husband had little money but a good many social aspirations, and the two of them participated in London’s social whirl as much as their income would permit.
***
Kitty and Lydia begged Elizabeth for a Season in London, but Elizabeth would not agree until they had submitted to several months of rigorous training by a governess selected by the Countess.
It is difficult to say who hated those months more – the two girls or poor Mrs. Wetmore, the governess – but they eventually mastered her lessons and won her approval.
“Though that Lydia must be watched carefully,” she confided to Elizabeth.
Kitty married the owner of a small estate in Suffolk.
Lydia surprised everyone by marrying the eldest son of a baronet.
She wrote her sisters infrequently, but when she did, she signed herself as “Soon-to-be Lady Arlington.” She would have to wait for her father-in-law to die before truly being entitled to be titled, as it were, but she did not wait patiently.
***
Georgiana and Elizabeth loved one another every bit as much as both had anticipated.
Under Elizabeth’s guidance, Georgiana grew in confidence and self-assurance.
When she entered the marriage mart, she was quite vocal in being absolutely determined not to marry unless and until she experienced all the symptoms of a romantic attachment.
Her family rather worried at this. They hoped to support her no matter what; “What if she falls in love with a footman?” was a sentiment often thought, but never voiced. To everyone’s considerable relief, she quite sensibly found her desired romantic attachment in the eldest son of an Earl.
***
The midsummer gathering at Pemberley became an annual ritual; more and more carriages were required to bring the guests, as the Viscount and Viscountess produced five children (two boys, much to the Earl’s delight); the Bingleys produced two girls and two boys; Anne and Richard had two sets of twins, one set of boys and one set of girls.
Mr. and Mrs. Collins had six children. When the sixth was born, it was clear that the family had grown too large for Collins Cottage.
As Longbourn now felt quite empty with all the girls gone, Mr. Bennet invited his heir to come to Longbourn and help manage the estate.
Mary and Jane were delighted to be so close to one another.
The Darcys had five children, three boys and two girls. They were each a rather fascinating combination of Elizabeth’s air of mischief and their father’s far more serious mien; their parents never tired of finding each other’s traits in their offspring.
Mr. Darcy, it must be said, never regretted succumbing to his romantic fancies.
He and Elizabeth learned to delight in romance.
They held hands when they walked together, slept in the same bed (despite the disapproval of Elizabeth’s lady’s maid and Durham), and loved one another deeply, entirely, profoundly all the days of their lives.
The End