Epilogue

It is, I gather, an obligation laid upon authors to afford their readers a small glimpse into the future to observe the rewards and punishment that are the fate of us all. We have, after all, come full circle but there remain a number of questions which have yet to be answered and it falls to me to correct the deficiency.

When Elizabeth and Darcy descended from their carriage at Pemberley that day to be greeted by their children and relations it was to start a new chapter in the history of that venerable house. It was a chapter based on love: for the children that each brought to the marriage; for the children that were the produce of their love; for the relations that had nurtured Darcy and Elizabeth for years; and for the friends that each brought to the relationship to make it richer.

It is not to be supposed that the marriage of two passionate individuals possessed of strong tempers but an equally strong love for the other will be one without argument and disputations. Elizabeth and Darcy had their share of disagreement but the attachment between them and the pragmatism with which each was imbued did not allow disharmony to fester and grow. The force of their reconciliations was usually as strong as the the disputes which gave rise to them in the first instance and Elizabeth was convinced that it was just such an argument and resolution which so happily led to her final confinement.

With Georgiana and Henry Fellowes, the Darcys' relationship was as strong as could be expected when separated by almost four hundred miles. Nevertheless, while distance made frequent visits difficult, both couples attempted to coordinate their visits to town In order to enjoy each other's company. Elizabeth did visit Cornwall on several occasions, was re-acquainted with the Fellowes family and she and Darcy were forgiven – after some good-natured chaffing – for cancelling their wedding trip to the area. If distance prevented Georgiana and Elizabeth from becoming as close as either might wish: regular correspondence, such visits as could be arranged and a desire on both their parts to foster a relationship produced a sisterly regard that grew with time.

With Jane and James Simmons, the Darcys were ever close. Simmons' business interests kept him close to London; however, the Simmonses visited with the Darcys at Southend almost every summer for a fortnight, visited Pemberley or Oaksley at Christmas, and could be frequently found dining with them when the Darcys came to town. If the connection to the Darcys assisted Simmons in his business, it was a connection that he did not presume upon and, in so doing, earned Darcy's increased regard.

With Catherine Stevens and her husband, the Darcys were on excellent terms. Captain Stevens was kept at seas too much for frequent contact and their his frequent absences and the size of their family did not facilitate travel. Nonetheless, the two families visited as much as was possible and the Stevens generally found it more convenient to travel to Oaksley when the Darcys were in residence there. The Stevenses had a large brood of healthy children; the sons showing a preference for their father's profession while the daughters were lively, attractive and proper. Catherine's improvement, which had begun under the direction of her two elder sisters, was further enhanced under her husband's firm hand and none of her daughters were ever considered irritable, ignorant or insipid.

The Gardiners, who had gradually become closer and more dear to Elizabeth than her own parents, became equally respected and admired by Darcy. They were frequent visitors to Pemberley and the Darcys always ranked them amongst the dearest.

The fate of Lydia never became known to her family. She disappeared into the stews of London and for all intents and purposes she was never heard from again. If she lived, she made no attempt to communicate her circumstances to them. It may be supposed that her shame for having destroyed the reputation of her family may have prevented any such communication; however, this author is disposed to believe that one so wild, self-centred and reckless would not have been unduly worried by the impact on others of her actions. As Elizabeth was to confide to her husband,"I am convinced that if Lydia were alive, she would by now have approached us for funds to assist her. She was ever imprudent with money and I cannot imagine her alive and not in want."

George Wickham's fate is also unknown beyond the fact that he did arrive in Von Diemen's Land. One might conjecture any number of possible outcomes and this author is of the opinion that while the justice of God might take some time to arrive, it eventually does, and with surety.

Mr. Bennet lived some years at Longbourn under the care of his daughter Mary, and her husband who clerked for Mr. Philips and eventually took over that gentleman's business. Sadly, Mr. Bennet's relationship with his other daughters was never fully repaired, despite efforts by his two eldest, and the loss was felt most keenly by Elizabeth. Following her father's passing, Mary and her husband removed to live with Mrs. Philips and eventually inherited the Philips' home. Several children were born to her and raised with a full appreciation of the scriptures.

Mr. And Mrs. Collins, with a brood of children - amongst which were several boys – eventually took over Longbourn. As the entail died with Mr. Collins (for their was an heir and a spare), the future of their daughters was never in jeopardy. Fortunately, although Mr. Collins was not a sensible man, his wife was, and Longbourn did not suffer unduly as a result of the change in ownership. While the friendship between Elizabeth and Charlotte Collins was never re-established to its former degree of intimacy, it was rebuilt to the extent that the Collinses sought and received guidance from the Darcys. Mr. Collins' eldest son was an active, pragmatic individual and upon reaching his majority took an increasing responsibility for managing the estate. Under his influence and later direction, Longbourn prospered to the benefit of the Collins family.

Darcy and Elizabeth attended Lady Catherine's funeral some ten years after their marriage. Several attempts at reconciliation had been made, but the lady remained obdurate and would not deign to forgive or forget the perceived insult and hurt to herself and her daughter. It is to be supposed that she would have been seriously displeased at their presence when she was laid to rest but neither Elizabeth no Darcy could regret the fact that she could not do so.

Reconciliation between Sebastian Stokes and the Darcys was never even contemplated by either party and, in truth, the connection between the two families remained effectively severed. Sebastian Stokes went to his grave resenting Elizabeth and his brother-in-law, Anthony Waring, for having deprived his family of an inheritance that he had come to believe was the rightful possession of the Stokes family.

Mary and Jonathon Hart did not subscribe to her father's opinion, and although a complete estrangement did not occur, their relationship with her parents remained distant until after her father's death. Her mother, who felt obligated to take her husband's side of the dispute, desired too greatly to know her grandchildren to maintain the separation, and, to a small degree, even effected a reconciliation with her brother's children and their mother.

As to Nelson Stokes and his wife, the former Miss Bingley, fate was not too unkind. He did indeed receive a second living which improved their circumstances and also, through the support of his uncle, the Earl of _, advanced in the church to the position of an Archdeacon. His manners and those of his wife did not recommend themselves to his superiors and further advancement did not occur. They lived in some comfort in Leeds, but, as the society of Leeds could not in any fashion be considered to equal that of London, or that within which the Darcys moved, the couple lived in a state of continual dissatisfaction. Mrs. Nelson Stokes learned, with some dissatisfaction, that her husband was not at all reluctant to avail himself of the pleasure of visiting her bed chamber and would not allow a lock to be fastened on the door of said chamber. Their five children were the natural result of his endeavours and while it would be pleasant to report that the children grew up with opinions that differed markedly from those of their parents, unfortunately such is not possible.

Mr. And Mrs. Bingley enjoyed a reasonably contented marriage and were blessed with three children who turned out about as well as might be expected having parents of a reasonable disposition and sufficient wealth to educate and guide their children properly. Bingley's interest in trade and manufactures continued to grow and he acquired sufficient wealth to purchase an estate but chose instead to expand the manor house he had acquired. His relationship with Darcy improved but never returned to the same familiarity that once existed, although his wife and Elizabeth gradually developed a comfortable ease with one another. As the Darcys spent only a month or two every year in London, correspondence was the main means of maintaining the relationship. The couple were welcomed at Pemberley on several occasions and the Darcys returned the favour by visiting their home in Kent.

The Darcys' first child, Alexander James Darcy, was born almost nine months to the day after their wedding and a second son followed several years later. Elizabeth's third and final confinement produced, to everyone's surprise, a son and a daughter, who were as much like their respective parent as could be imagined. Darcy would never admit to favouring Miss Emma Elizabeth Darcy, but his wife, who knew him best, never doubted it. However, he never stinted in his affections for all his children including David and Jane Waring; and the instruction and guidance he provided David as he grew to manhood was no less thorough than that provided his own sons. When David reached his majority and took over management of Oaksley, he was as ready for that responsibility as it was possible to be. In turn Elizabeth made every effort to ensure that Anthony Waring was not forgotten by either of his children but both grew so close to Darcy as to call him father and think of him as such. Similarly, both Elizabeth and Darcy attempted to keep Judith Darcy's memory alive in her children but as Helen had no such memories to encourage and Ann-Marie's were faint and fading, they both came to regard her as their mother in every particular. As neither parent distinguished the children of their first marriage from those of their second, the children had no cause to do otherwise and while Pemberley often rang with the turmoil of childish confrontations, they were the stuff that would naturally arise from the interaction of eight lively children.

The cottage at Southend was indeed expanded, and expanded again, and the families of their friends and relations could often be found there, singly or together, during the summer. The Darcys celebrated the anniversary of their wedding at Southend every year for over forty years.