Epilogue
More Than Ten Years Later
Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy arrived at Pemberley as the first guests.
They had made frequent visits during Lady Anne’s illness, allowing all six of their children to bid a fond farewell to their grandmama.
The twins were now fourteen, Anne was on the cusp of her twelfth birthday, and Sophia was nearing her tenth.
Next to arrive was Georgiana with her husband, Viscount Sutton, and their two small children.
Georgiana had married him following her third season.
This young man had taken an interest in her during her first season when they danced together at several balls, though he had hesitated to approach her further that year.
Despite his title, his inherited estate was crippled by the financial mismanagement of his father, leaving him mired in debt.
Determined to emerge from this predicament through his efforts, he lived frugally for three years, diligently saving every coin.
Long before approaching Georgiana, he spoke to Fitzwilliam about his intentions toward the man’s sister.
With admirable candour, he expressed his intention to learn more about Georgiana and revealed his desire to achieve financial stability before pursuing her.
Impressed by the young man’s sincerity and resolve to restore his family’s estate, Fitzwilliam introduced him to Gardiner and encouraged him to explore various investment opportunities, enabling him to speak to Georgiana much sooner.
Two seasons later, Georgiana remained unattached, even though she had garnered the interest of several suitors.
Her curiosity was piqued by the young man she had danced with during her first season, and she could not help but wonder why he had not approached her then.
It took him a considerable effort to persuade her to consider entering into any understanding with him since she resisted his initial overtures out of sheer obstinacy.
As she had done with Mrs. Hannah before she became the marchioness, Lady Anne had stepped in to speak to her daughter as she recognised the connection between the young couple.
She felt Georgiana was stubbornly refusing his efforts to win her heart out of hurt feelings, which she explained to her daughter was a terrible reason to ignore such a steadfast suitor.
Fitzwilliam had even spoken to her about the reason for the delay, which the viscount had not wanted to reveal, and these conversations led to Georgiana finally admitting her feelings for her suitor.
Soon after, the viscount proposed and the two were married.
Kitty Bennet Darcy, upon entering society, chose to adopt the Darcy name, sparing herself from the constant inquiries about her ties to the Darcys.
This decision received Lady Anne’s wholehearted support, as she had always considered Kitty her daughter and was overjoyed when Kitty embraced their family name.
Following her second season, Kitty returned home to Pemberley, where she met a local landowner at one of the assemblies in Lambton.
The two courted for several months before he proposed, and they married just before Christmas.
His home, which was closer in size to Longbourn than Pemberley, was perfect for Kitty, and she adored her cosy little home.
Kitty and her two daughters visited Lady Anne almost daily when she began to decline, spending as much time with her as they could. She also kept her other family informed about Lady Anne’s illness, ensuring all her siblings could visit their beloved matriarch before her passing.
Lydia had been the last of her sisters to marry.
She decided against adopting the Darcy surname, guided by a persistent sense of loyalty to her original family.
She did not mind the sometimes-impertinent questions this choice prompted.
Lydia had not lost a bit of her lively nature, though she had learned to channel it in much better ways.
Much like her sister Elizabeth, she possessed the skill of countering impertinence with her own brand of wit, delivered in a way making it hard to take offence.
Like Elizabeth, Lydia had developed a deep appreciation for reading and learning despite arriving at Pemberley nearly illiterate. Her active involvement in the Darcy-sponsored orphanage had further cultivated her compassion for the less fortunate and ignited a strong desire to aid those in need.
Lydia encountered the local vicar during one of her visits to the orphanage near St. Albans in Hertfordshire.
Their mutual desire to aid others became evident as they spoke while tending to the orphans.
When Lydia’s connection to the Darcy family was revealed, the young vicar was taken aback and became more reserved in his conversation.
Lydia met Mr.Sampson at the orphanage two or three times after that, and she soon found herself extremely interested in him.
Those who had known Lydia before her time with the Darcys would have been surprised to learn of her interest in a vicar, as, at 12, she declared she would only marry an officer.
Both George and Fitzwilliam Darcy had him investigated, and when the living at Kympton became vacant a year later, George offered Mr.Sampson the position, which he joyfully accepted.
Despite his hesitations due to her status in one of Derbyshire’s most prominent families, Lydia was determined. She actively sought him out and volunteered at the tenant school, where she knew she would find him.
Lady Anne once again intervened to assist the couple.
Under the pretence of discussing some business matters with the rector, she spoke about Lydia’s background and status as an adopted daughter of the family.
Her carefully chosen words and hints conveyed the idea the family was open to the match, which bolstered Mr.Sampson’s confidence.
Soon after, he began earnestly courting Lydia and swiftly proposed.
The couple married the following month and welcomed two children into their family over the next six years, a boy and a girl.
Lady Anne’s funeral was the first time in nearly five years the entire Darcy family had gathered at Pemberley, and the house was overrun with both adults and children.
Kitty and Lydia were not staying at the mansion, but they and their children visited nearly from sun up to sundown for the fortnight they were all in residence.
Richard Fitzwilliam and his wife and the Gardiners had also come for the funeral and stayed for several days, as they had been absorbed into the extended Darcy clan long ago.
The Darcy matriarch was commemorated with countless toasts and celebrations throughout the family’s stay at their ancestral estate.
Each family member cherished and shared fond recollections of her profound influence on their lives, reflecting on how she had steered them towards self-discovery and deepened their understanding of themselves and their partners.
Many of these reflections revealed how her sage guidance had played a pivotal role in creating lasting bonds within the family and beyond.
Lady Anne’s nurturing presence had masterfully woven the hearts of the family into an unbreakable tapestry, a testament to her enduring impact.
Her wisdom had been the unifying thread that bound multiple generations of Darcys, leaving an irreplaceable void in her absence.
Ten years after that
Once again, the entire Darcy clan convened at Pemberley, this time to celebrate a joyous occasion: the wedding of young William Darcy to his cousin, Lady Hope.
Their union brought immense happiness to many within the family.
As the eldest son and designated heir of a respected estate, William had been relentlessly pursued since he entered society shortly after his eighteenth birthday.
Fortunately, his attendance at such events had been infrequent over the next few years, with most of his time devoted to his studies at Cambridge and the family estate in Dovedale.
During his stays in the countryside, he often journeyed to Pemberley, where his uncle imparted the responsibilities that would one day be his as the estate’s future master.
These visits frequently brought him into the company of Lady Grace and Lady Hope, and while both were beautiful, he had always shared a special bond with his younger cousin.
Young William’s father, by rights, should have been the rightful heir to Pemberley and the marquessate.
However, he had staunchly declined both the title and the estate.
Instead, he insisted he and Elizabeth had established their residence at Oakridge over two decades ago, where they had achieved remarkable success.
Their prudent management included acquiring additional land to expand their holdings and making wise investments along with Uncle Gardiner.
The six Darcy children who had arrived at Pemberley for Lady Anne’s funeral had since grown to nine, including another set of twins—girls—which had brought immense joy to their mother.
The last child, a delightful surprise, had joined their family while the older twins were concluding their studies at Cambridge and was now a lively three-year-old.
All nine of their children were assured of a secure future, and William’s father had no inclination to assume the responsibilities of managing Pemberley upon his brother’s eventual passing.
Nor did he harbour any desire to bear the title, with all its associated ceremonial obligations.
Therefore, when it became apparent George would not have a son, Fitzwilliam encouraged his brother to petition the king, William the Fourth, to allow the title to bypass him and go directly to his son.
It had taken two years, but by the time William finished Cambridge, he was officially named his uncle’s heir and would receive the title and the property.