This the second chapter posted; please make sure you've read chapter 29.

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"Mrs Collins. Jane." Charles Bingley took a deep breath. "I knew from the first moment I laid eyes on you that you are the most beautiful woman in England, and I knew within the first day of knowing you that you have answered all my wishes for my partner in life.

"I fell in love with you at Pemberley for your kindness, wisdom, and gentle spirit. I have never met anyone who so inspired me to be a better man before you. Every decision I have made these last eight months has been with your happiness in mind, and I want it to be that way for the rest of my life.

"I know it is too soon to ask, but I cannot live another minute without knowing if I have hope, if you can ever return my feelings and will consent to be my wife. Jane, I love you. Will you marry me?"

Jane Collins had not expected this offer of marriage - at least, not yet. Mr and Mrs Bennet and the Lucases had departed from Pemberley a few days after Christmas at the same time as the Gardiners, while her youngest sisters stayed on. The party of Darcys, Collinses, Kitty and Lydia later travelled in two carriages, with a few servants in a third, and the convoy only arrived in London the previous day.

The moment Bingley heard they were in Town he hastened to their house. As it was still early the butler showed him into the morning parlour where only Darcy, Elizabeth and Jane were gathered. After a few minutes Darcy and Elizabeth slipped out quietly, giving Bingley his opportunity to speak.

Despite her surprise Jane did not hesitate an instant. "Yes - yes, I do love you, and yes, I will marry you!"

"Thank you, Jane, thank you!" And before she knew what was happening he had pulled her to a tight embrace and spun her around. Her arms quickly wrapped around his neck and she laughed in delight. It felt so right; she did not think she had ever felt such joy. She closed her eyes and savoured the moment.

After some time he pulled away just enough to gaze at her face. His smile was beatific; it was irresistible. She leaned in and gave him their first kiss.

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The news of their sudden engagement threw the house into chaos. Elizabeth once again held back tears - but this time it was tears of gladness. Kitty reminded all who would listen that she had predicted this at Christmas. Lydia, though genuinely happy for her sister, could not help wondering how their wedding would impact her time in Town, but was reassured that all that would be required of her was a few days in Hertfordshire.

The happy couple decided on a small wedding ceremony that would occur just days after the third banns reading.

"Poor Mama will never have the opportunity to plan the large society wedding of her dreams," Elizabeth laughed.

"Do not fear that," Lydia replied. "When I marry my wedding shall be the grandest in the family!"

"Perhaps when I marry your mother would like to assist my aunt in planning it," Georgiana softly suggested.

Darcy smiled at her. "You may ask her, if that is what you would like, but I am not ready to think about losing you yet. Let us get through this season before any of the rest of you consider marriage," he pointed around the room at his three youngest sisters.

"I will not promise," Lydia teased saucily, and the girls giggled.

Despite her words, Lydia was in no hurry to marry. Ever since that trip to the Peaks when she overheard her father speaking of men and marriage with Georgiana, her relationship with her father had markedly improved. She began to listen when he appeared to be serious - which in turn led him to be serious more often rather than making sport all the time. She also reflected on her sisters' marriages. Though she still did not quite understand why Elizabeth was so madly in love with the stern Mr Darcy she did know that she wanted the same, rather than a marriage of convenience to an ugly and boring man like Mr Collins.

She and Kitty spoke of their future marriages often, and both agreed it was far better to wait for a better man than to rush to gain the attention of an engagement period and wedding but for a man who was poor and who would give them a dull life. They further realised that having a brother like Mr Darcy would cause them to meet far superior men than they currently knew. If they were patient, and proved to him they could be good, the rewards would be well worth it.

Perhaps it was not the most mature and selfless thinking but the end result was the same: they were finally here to have the London season they had dreamed of.

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Darcy was nervous.

The girls' presentation to the Queen had gone well earlier that day: their complaints about their uncomfortable dresses and silly curtsies had been confined to the carriage ride and they had behaved perfectly well at St James's Court. He reflected, not for the first time, that the desire to not appear unfavourably compared to Georgiana was likely the biggest contributor to Kitty and Lydia's good behaviour in public.

But now it was time for their joint debut ball, and this was where the greatest risk lay in his hosting them in London. Where there was dancing, punch, and men, he would always be nervous for his wife's youngest sisters.

"Remember the rules," he told them both quietly as they stood next to him awaiting the first guests. "If either of you disappears for more than ten minutes, you both will be required to leave. If either of you drinks too much, laughs too loudly, or otherwise causes a scene, you both will leave. If there are incidents at two events you will both return to Longbourn."

"I know," said Lydia.

"Yes, sir," said Kitty.

Guests arrived, dancing began, and merriment ensued. The girls met many gentlemen and ladies, some Earls and Countesses, even a couple of Dukes and Duchesses. They lamented that Darcy's Viscount cousin had recently married, though they both liked his other cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, very well. The feeling was not mutual, though the Colonel was too polite to say so.

Elizabeth had a wonderful night. Though she had now been married a year and a half, they had spent little time in London yet and so she had not made many new friends. However, her natural charm and aptitude for conversation meant deriving pleasure from her large number of new acquaintances as well as the old friends who were in attendance this night. As she took a turn about the ballroom, everywhere she looked she found someone with whom to exchange a smile or a word.

She saw her dear friend, Mrs Charlotte White, and learned all the latest news about her six-month-old daughter. She was shocked and pleased to hear that Charlotte and her husband were already expecting their second child. She rejoiced in the happy marriage made by her friend who had at one time begun to lose hope that she would ever marry at all.

She saw Bingley's sisters, Mrs Louisa Hurst and Mrs Caroline Johnson, who both looked better than they had when she first knew them in Hertfordshire. Mrs Hurst had also recently had her first child and motherhood quite became her. Despite never being friends previously, Elizabeth and Louisa graciously exchanged congratulations and discussed their children with enthusiasm. Caroline was perhaps not as happy as she ought to be, considering her wealth and life of comfort married to a successful businessman, but Elizabeth reflected that she may simply be the type of person who was never satisfied with what she had; who always wanted what was out of reach. She gave Caroline a polite greeting and moved on.

She saw Kitty, Lydia and Georgiana all dancing with fine-looking gentlemen, no doubt all vetted by her husband. Though there had been points in time where she feared for her two sisters' respectability, at this moment the futures of all three of these girls were looking so very bright.

She saw Jane dancing for the first time in more than two years. She and her betrothed wore matching besotted expressions, and Elizabeth prayed that those feelings, held by two of the most deserving people she knew, would last for all their lives. She stopped to watch them for a few minutes. The joy she could feel emanating from Jane made her even more lovely than she was and always had been. She discerned, with a chuckle, more than one man nearby who appeared envious of Bingley's good fortune in snapping up this previously unknown beauty.

She saw the former Churchill sisters, now Mrs Olivia Wilson and Mrs Emma Matthews, both glaring daggers at Jane. Neither had made quite as good a match as Bingley would have been, and it appeared as though they were not reconciled to that fact; especially when the winner of that prize was the former Jane Bennet, whose beauty had always been a source of envy for them. As much as they wished to, they could not complain to their partners in gossip, Caroline and Louisa. Those ladies had the sense to understand that - however they felt about Mr Darcy marrying Elizabeth Bennet - their brother would now be marrying Darcy's sister, and that was a very good thing.

Lastly, as she completed her circuit, Elizabeth came upon her husband. Her dear Fitzwilliam, the light of her life: so serious in public, yet so silly with only her. So strong and responsible in discharging his duties to his family and estate, and so loving and kind to those closest to him. After one and a half years of marriage she believed she still loved him more with each passing day.

"Dearest, do you plan to stare at our sisters all night, or will you ever ask me to dance?" she teased.

He turned to her and smiled. "Perhaps I can do both," he answered. "Are you free for the next?"

"I am," and she held his arm contentedly while they waited for the current set to reach its end.

The night was a success, and when the last guests departed Darcy congratulated the girls on making their debut.

"You were lovely and graceful, and I am proud of you all," he told them, and all three were gratified by the rare compliment from their strict and much older brother.

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Two weeks later, on the twenty-seventh of January, 1814, was the wedding uniting Jane and Bingley. How different it was from her last! And yet, Jane reflected, how much good had come from that first union to which she had consented for the sake of others. For, thanks to Mr Collins, she had her beloved son William, who would one day inherit Longbourn. Her mother no longer feared for her future. Her father had stirred himself to make improvements to the estate and his other four daughters. Two of them had made felicitous marriages, and the other two would surely do the same under Darcy's influence. Her second marriage may be her dream come true but she would always be thankful for her first.

Elizabeth laughingly said once that her own happiness was only possible thanks to Jane doing her duty and Fitzwilliam failing to do his, and that made it difficult for her to know what to teach her own children. In Jane's opinion, doing one's duty was not accomplished by blind obedience to external pressures, but rather by seeking solutions to produce the greatest benefit to the most people. Given the results for Rosings, where the estate remained in the de Bourgh line where it belonged and Lady Catherine was banished to the dower house where she belonged, Jane felt Darcy's decision had been wise and dutiful after all.

The wedding and celebratory breakfast afterwards were enjoyable for all, but it was not long before Bingley whisked his bride away to Netherfield where they would stay until they felt ready to return to London. Darcy arranged for his staff to send the rest of her belongings from Pemberley and, later that spring, her treasured horse Spirit.

The Bingleys would go on to purchase Netherfield, and the entire family rejoiced when their son was born in time for Christmas. Stephen Bingley and William Collins grew up to be the best of friends and brothers and, eventually, excellent masters to their neighbouring estates. Charles gave his beloved Jane the easy and pampered life she deserved and they were deliriously happy together.

A couple of days after the wedding the Darcys returned to London with Kitty and Lydia to enjoy the remaining months of the season. Though none of the three young ladies acquired any serious suitors that year they had wonderful experiences and made many friends. All three would marry within three years and although their new homes were spread out across the country they always remained close friends.

John and Mary Lucas lived out their days peacefully at Lucas Lodge, with annual trips to Pemberley, and went on to have two more children.

Elizabeth kept her promise to her husband and instead of producing twins that year, as he jokingly asked for and secretly wished, she did give birth to their son and heir, Bennet George Darcy. Their two other children - Edward and Jane - completed their family over the next several years.

One night in the summer of 1814, while Georgiana was enjoying an extended visit to the Matlocks' estate and Darcy and Elizabeth had Pemberley to themselves, they went up to the roof to watch the stars.

They stood for some time in silence, him holding her from behind, contemplating the magnificence of the universe and their joyous home within it.

"Two years ago today we married," he finally spoke.

"The best decision either of us ever made," she replied.

"Thank you for accepting me, for Isabelle, and for the child you are carrying now," he said after a couple more minutes. "The years since I met you have been the happiest of my life."

She turned around and smiled affectionately at him through the dark. "My love," she said, "we have only just begun. There is still so much happiness to come."

The end