EPILOGUE

The Darcys got their wish, as their first child, a son named Alexander, joined the family just after their first anniversary. A month and a half after their wedding, they returned to London for the little season, then spent the Christmas holidays at Pemberley with the Bennets, Gardiners, Bingleys, and Fitzwilliams.

During their brief visit to London, Elizabeth made her curtsey to the Queen and also attended several balls and dinner parties. She interspersed these duties with more enjoyable activities, including trips to the theater or museums.

The Darcys returned to London the following spring to participate in the season and present Mary Bennet to society. She made a positive impression on Mr. Hayward at their first meeting. He learned more of her from his friend Mr. Darcy and was present at every event Mary attended during her first season. The experience would be a short one for Mary, as Elizabeth's pregnancy required that they return to Pemberley before the end of May. Consequently, Mr. Hayward, who was the only son of a baronet, wasted no time in making Mary an offer of marriage, which she happily accepted.

The following year, Kitty made her debut, but in spite of receiving two offers, she remained unwed. Jane and Bingley hosted Kitty for her second season, during which she accepted an offer from a gentleman whose estate was in Suffolk.

Because of Elizabeth's second confinement, Georgiana and Lydia waited another year before they could debut. However, they made a joint debut when they were eight and ten. The girls had become very close over the years, having first bonded over their similar experiences with Mr. Wickham. Making their debut together seemed the most natural thing in the world. Neither accepted an offer during their first season, but each found their perfect match during the second one. Georgiana would marry Christopher Pembroke, the Marquis of Brookdale, son of the Duke of Devondale. The family's estate was also in Derbyshire, keeping Georgiana close to William and Elizabeth. Lydia accepted Marcus Greenwood, whose estate was in nearby Leicestershire. This decision earned Lydia her mother's disapprobation because the young man was not a peer. However, like Elizabeth, Lydia had learned to ignore her mother's more embarrassing comments.

Though Lady Catherine tried to prevent it, Anne de Bourgh did join the Matlocks to participate in the season. As it was also the first experience for Elizabeth and Mary, the three became fast friends. Anne's health significantly improved due to a new doctor whose treatment prescribed exercise and better food. Consequently, Anne took great enjoyment in her new freedom. As an heiress with a dowry of forty thousand pounds and a large estate, Anne was considered one of the belles of the season. With the assistance of her uncle, Darcy, and her Fitzwilliam cousins, the horde of fortune hunters that gravitated to Anne's sizeable dowry did not succeed in their endeavors. She eventually met and fell in love with the second son of an earl. Lady Catherine refused to recognize the relationship because the gentleman was only a second son. However, having wisely invested a portion of his allowance all his life, the man had acquired a considerable fortune of his own. Due to her stubborn refusal, Lady Catherine soon found herself a resident of the dower house at Rosings Park, with a considerably smaller monthly allowance.

Charles and Jane Bingley did not remain at Netherfield Park for very long. Mrs. Bennet was far too pleased that her daughter was mistress of the largest estate in the area and, thus, visited her almost daily. Even for the long-suffering Bingleys, this was a trial. During a visit with the Darcys, they investigated several available estates within a thirty-mile ride of Pemberley. Eventually, they settled at Houghton Lodge, just over the border into Nottinghamshire. Travel between the two properties was similar to that between Longbourn and London. The Bingleys raised a large family of strawberry-blond children, each possessing his or her parents' placid temperaments.

What happened to Miss Bingley, you may wonder. She crossed paths with Mr. and Mrs. Darcy at one of the events they attended during their first visit to London following their marriage. When she noticed them, they were standing in conversation with Charles and Jane. Caroline smiled and made her way in their direction, but when she caught the look in Darcy's eyes, she remembered his threat and thought better of her actions. Eventually, she met a gentleman whose ranking in society was similar to that of Mr. Hurst. Though it was not what she thought she deserved, Caroline accepted his proposal, knowing she was close to being considered on the shelf. Unfortunately, the gentleman was not wise in handling his money and the couple found themselves selling their London home to live at the family estate in Somerset. Caroline's overbearing behavior caused a rift not only with the Bingleys but also with the Hursts. She received the occasional letter from her sister, but soon those stopped, as, in her replies to Louisa, Caroline freely expressed her bitterness with life. Circumstances prevented her from ever returning to London and the society she so craved.

The Darcys' life contained more joys than sorrows. Their family grew, filling the halls of Pemberley with the sound of running feet and happy voices.

Elizabeth stood at the window, looking out over the side lawn of Pemberley. With her hand resting on her pregnant belly, she watched her children chase each other around the yard. Darcy stood in the doorway, observing her as a sweet smile played over her lips.

"What are you thinking, my love?" Darcy stood behind Elizabeth and wrapped his arms around her, placing his hands over hers where they rested on her stomach.

"I am thinking about how fortunate it was for you to return early when I first visited Pemberley. Had you been in residence, I might not have had the nerve to accompany my aunt and uncle on the tour of your estate."

"If it had not been for my steward's letter and a growing need to be farther away from Miss Bingley, I might not have rushed back."

"It seems our reunion and our future joy were merely a matter of timing."