Greetings thanks to everyone who left reviews and wrote to me. I'm glad you enjoyed the story. I have been working on a continuation to How Darcy Met Elizabeth. This chapter is the epilogue and a preview of what's coming next :) Thanks for reading...kindest regards Janie(mj)

Epilogue

Georgiana stood next to Richard, as Darcy and Elizabeth, and Jane and Charles danced their first dance together as husband and wife. "It was a truly beautiful ceremony wasn't it Richard," she commented. "I think my mother and father both would have been very proud of William today." She wasn't exactly sure why but she felt herself missing them both so very much right now.

Richard looked over and saw the tears in her eyes. "I think so too, Georgie," he said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Your brother looks very happy."

Georgiana took in a deep breath and tried to shake off the feeling of melancholy she was dealing with. "Yes, he does," she agreed. She was happy for her brother; he found his one true love. She hoped one day she would find someone as right for her as Elizabeth was for her brother. Of course, there was still plenty of time for that, she thought to herself. She looked over at her cousin and smiled. She thought about how wonderful it would be to see her dearest cousin so happy as well. With that in mind, she asked, "So what about you Richard? Does my brother getting married make you think about someday finding that special someone?"

Richard shook his head and laughed. He wasn't about to become her next target. "When I'm ready to start looking for that special someone I will," he told her. "As much as I appreciate your concern, I don't need any help in that department. Your days of matchmaking are over, cousin."

"Really," she teased him. "I think you might need help and not know it," she told him as she pointed over towards Kitty. "If you can handle things so well in that department, then why are you here talking to me instead of over there talking with her?"

Richard looked over and saw Kitty standing by herself. "Kitty and I are just friends," he told her.

"Richard, I saw the way you looked at that young guy who came over and asked Kitty to dance when we were all out the other evening," she reminded him.

Richard shrugged his shoulders, "What about it?" he asked her.

She laughed, "Let's just say if looks could kill, that young man would be dead."

"Georgie, I was merely watching out for Kitty," he told her. "After all the two of you were in my care, and that guy looked rather shady," he told her feeling just a bit defensive.

She knew he was getting a bit irritated with her, but she thought she could push him just a little further. "I thought he looked fine to me. I didn't notice anything particularly shady about him."

"Georgie, I told you no matchmaking. Kitty and I are just friends. I wasn't jealous of that guy, I was just making sure you were both safe," he told her.

She shrugged her shoulders, "If you were only watching out for both Kitty and I like you say, and he was so shady then how come you had no problem with me dancing with his friend?"

He let out an exasperated sigh "I didn't realize the other guy was friends with the shady guy. If I had known I wouldn't have let you dance with him either," he told her hoping to put an end to the discussion.

Georgiana decided perhaps it was best not to say more. After all, she wanted to encourage him, not make him angry. "Ok cousin, have it your way, I'm going to go and speak with Aunt Abby. You can stay here and admire how pretty Kitty looks from this side of the room, or you could go over and tell her how beautiful she looks."

Richard didn't say anything more to her. Instead, he turned his attention back to Kitty. She did look beautiful, and he wanted very much to go over and tell her so but found himself feeling conflicted about it. Over the past several weeks they spent a lot of time together, and he was very fond of her. She was beautiful, adventurous, creative, and confident. When she saw something, she wanted she went after it. The more he got to know her the more he realized how different in temperament she was from both Jane and Elizabeth. Kitty was her own unique individual, and he liked that about her. There were a lot of things he liked about her, except for one thing. She was only 18 years old. In fact, he reminded himself she had only recently turned 18, and he was 8 years older than she was. He let out a small sigh; the fact that she was younger than he and attending university made him uncomfortable pursuing a relationship with her. There was a part of him that wanted to very much, but he had to think about where she was in her life. Just because he finally felt ready to find someone and settle down didn't mean she was. He was lost deep in his thoughts when Kitty walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder.

Kitty stood in front of Richard and smiled her brightest smile. She was actually feeling completely terrified inside but was determined not to show it. "Would you like to dance?"

Richard nodded, "Yes, I would love to dance with you," he told her. He took her hand in his and led her out on the dance floor; then he pulled her into his arms.

Richard had strong arms, and she loved the way she felt in them. "I love this song," she told him. "It's got such a fairytale quality to it."

He laughed at her comment. It was such a Kitty thing to say. She was always telling him how she felt about things. He often wondered if it was how she truly did feel or if she was just teasing him. "What does that mean?" he decided to ask her.

Kitty shrugged her shoulders and smiled playfully. "It means that the song makes you feel like the world is full of possibilities like anything can happen."

"Is that how you see the world, Kitty?" he asked her. "Like anything is possible?"

"Yes, I try to," she told him. "My mother is always so negative, and I hate that. I would rather see things in a positive way you know? I know that life can be challenging at times, but I'm willing to work for what I want."

"That's an admirable attitude to have," he told her.

"Thank you," she said as she looked into his eyes. Kitty took in a deep breath and drew on her courage. "So on that note, I have something I would like to ask you, Richard," she came straight to the point.

"And what might that be," he asked her.

"Well, I was invited to a fashion party that I would very much like to attend and I was hoping you would agree to be my escort for the evening," Kitty told him.

Richard hesitated for a moment. "Is Georgiana going to be accompanying us as well?" he asked her to understand better what she was asking him.

Kitty shook her head, "Nope it would just be you and me."

"I see," he said. "So, when you mean escort what you're really asking is…"

"I am asking you out on a date, yes," she told him so there could be no misunderstanding about what she wanted from him. "What do you say, will you be my date for the evening?"

Richard frowned and pulled back from her just a little. "Why are you asking me to take you to this party as your date?" he asked her.

Kitty suddenly felt very awkward. She could see his mood changed. "Well that wasn't exactly the answer I was hoping you would give me," she told him honestly. "If you would rather not go with me that's ok. This doesn't have to be awkward."

He could see he'd hurt her feelings and that was the last thing he meant to do. "I'm sorry Kitty, that came out wrong," he told her. "What I meant to say was are you asking me to take you on a "real date" or as a friend?"

Kitty smiled and tilted her head as she looked into his eyes, "Well if I were asking for a "real date" how would you feel about that?"

Richard looked into her beautiful blue eyes, and his heart beat faster. He wanted to be as honest as she was. "I think I would feel pretty good about that," he told her.

There was no missing how thrilled she was by his answer. "Then will you come with me to the party?" she asked him.

Richard thought about what he should do. He wanted more than anything to say yes. But he knew Darcy wanted him to proceed with caution, while Elizabeth didn't really approve of the two of them spending so much time together. He knew he had to give her an answer, but he still felt so conflicted. "Kitty I'm not so sure this is a good idea," he told her reluctantly.

"Why because you don't like me, or because you don't like fashion parties?" she teased him.

Richard laughed, "Well I'm not really big on fashion parties," he told her.

She leaned in closer to him. "So then you do like me…" she whispered softly.

He couldn't resist her gorgeous smile. "Yes, all right, I do like you," he told her. "But that doesn't mean that the two of us should be dating."

She leaned in closer still and smiled. "Actually, I kind of think it does," she teased him.

Richard felt his heart beating faster. He very much wanted to pull her to him and kiss her, but he resisted the urge to do so. "You know I'm older than you by about 8 years, don't you?"

Kitty tilted her head back and laughed, "Yes, I'm aware of our age difference. I was taught my numbers in school," she teased him.

Richard loved her laugh. "I'm serious."

She didn't want to upset him, so she stopped teasing him and said, "I know there are some who see the age difference between us as a big deal, but if I don't mind, and you don't mind, then what's the problem?" she asked him. When he hesitated, she said, "Unless of course, you do see it as a problem."

Richard wasn't sure how to respond to that. On the one hand, he knew their dating would change everything. Not only for the two of them but for their families as well. "Let's just say I think we need to proceed very slowly," he told her.

Kitty's smile returned. "All right, I can take things slow. So does that mean you will take me to the party then?"

Richard nodded his head yes. "I will be there," he told her as the song came to an end.

Kitty leaned over and kissed him softly on the cheek. "Thank you for the dance," she whispered softly before walking back over to join Mary and Georgiana.

He watched as she walked away. He knew he probably should have told her no. That their dating probably wasn't a good idea, but he just couldn't help himself. There was something about her that made him feel like throwing caution to the wind. He knew Darcy and Elizabeth wouldn't be very happy with this news, but he was always one to follow his heart, and the truth was Kitty was the first real woman to tug on his.

Georgiana smiled as Kitty came over towards her. "I saw you and Richard dancing together," she commented.

Kitty shrugged her shoulders and made lite of it. "Yes well, I had to go over and ask him," she told her. "He wasn't about to come and ask me." She thought about what Richard said to her about taking things slow between them. Kitty decided that maybe it was best not to make too much of their first date together. Perhaps it was best for the time being until they saw how things went, if the two of them kept this new development to themselves.

Georgiana raised her brow, "I told you, Kitty, he's a confirmed bachelor. I don't think he will ever settle down," she said as she watched her friend's reaction. She knew Kitty well enough to know the best way to encourage her to do something was to give her a challenge.

Kitty didn't say anything more, but she thought to herself, just maybe Richard Fitzwilliam wasn't such a confirmed bachelor after all.

Caroline watched as Elizabeth fed Darcy the wedding cake. She rolled her eyes as they smashed cake into each other's face. Of course, Eliza would do something so tasteless; she thought to herself as she sipped a glass of champagne. She did her best to feign a smile as everyone cheered the couples on. She smiled and pretended she was enjoying herself when all she really wanted to do was leave. She got what she came for when Charles wrote her the check; she wasn't really interested in watching her younger brother gush over his new bride. The entire spectacle made her feel sick to her stomach. She let out a small sigh and thought about how easy it had been to manipulate her younger brother into giving her the money she wanted with her sweet words of support for his marriage to Jane Bennet. Charles was nothing if not predictable. He could always be manipulated, and she was happy to see that didn't change just because he was getting married and settling down. Caroline was feeling good about herself until she heard Brandon Wilson's voice from behind her.

"Miss Bingley…" he said as he walked up to her. "I spoke with Charles a while ago, and he mentioned that he wrote you a check for £20,000, he said it was so you could finish working on your flat," he commented.

Caroline's eyes opened wider as she scrambled for what to say. "Yes, that's right."

He furrowed his brow and looked intently at her. "I find that odd," he told her. "The last I heard you fired all of the workers at your flat and planned to sell the place."

"Well I have changed my mind," she said a bit more defensively than she meant to.

"Am I to assume then that this loan of twenty thousand is so that you can begin work again?" he asked her.

Caroline became frustrated. She had wanted to talk with Brandon before Charles did about the money. She was surprised that he was even attending her brother's wedding. "I'm not sure that's really any of your business since you are no longer handling my finances." Caroline fired Brandon after he destroyed her chance at a ski weekend by not allowing her to use the credit cards Charles had taken out for her in the past.

"That may well be," he said. "But I am handling Charles and Jane's finances, and part of my job is to see to it they don't get taken advantage of."

Caroline glared at him, "Mr. Wilson this is my brother's wedding day," she said to change the subject. "I don't really think this is the time or place to discuss this."

He nodded his head. "I agree completely," he told her. "In fact, I didn't say anything to your brother about what you're clearly up to because today is his wedding day, but I wouldn't try to cash that check if I were you," he told her. "I have already informed the bank to hold payment until Charles is back from his honeymoon and we can determine what is really going on."

Caroline couldn't believe the nerve of this man. "Who do you think you are?!" she snapped at him. "You have no right to interfere in my personal relationship with my brother!"

"I do when you are clearly trying to take advantage of his kind and generous nature," he informed her. "Charles is more than a client, he and I are friends, and I'm not about to stand by and let you take advantage of him."

Caroline wanted to scream, but she took in a deep breath and composed herself. "I would be very careful about messing with me, Mr. Wilson. I will destroy you if you ever get in my way again," she said in a cold and calculated voice before she walked away.

Brandon watched her as she walked over to her sister. He wasn't afraid of Caroline Bingley. But he did feel sorry for Charles. His sister was still the same woman she always was, selfish and manipulative to her core. It was the sound of Mary's voice coming up beside him that interrupted his thoughts.

"Was that Caroline you were talking to?" she asked him. She knew the two of them had a falling out a few weeks back.

He turned and smiled, "It was," he told her as he took her hand in his.

"Is everything all right, she didn't look very happy?" Mary asked him. The last time Mary saw Caroline Bingley so upset was the day she stormed into Brandon's office demanding that he give her back the credit cards that Charles had opened for her before he cut her off. When Brandon refused, she became so angry that she fired him. "Brandon, have you told Charles what happened that day in your office with Caroline?" she asked him. She didn't trust Caroline Bingley; she knew she hated her sister and wanted to cause nothing but trouble for her family.

He shook his head no. "Caroline's accounts aren't linked with her brothers anymore so technically I can't speak to him about her personal affairs, but after this latest attempt by her to get money from Charles I'm going to speak with my boss and see how we should proceed," he told her. "Someone needs to protect Charles and Jane."

Mary was very touched by his concern for her family. "I know this hasn't been easy for you, but I appreciate all that you're doing for my sister and Charles."

"Charles has been a good friend to me," Brandon told her. "He helped me get my foot in the door when no one else would give me a chance, and I will always be grateful to him for that."

"I imagine he must have been difficult attending Cambridge with so many of your peers coming from wealthy backgrounds when you didn't," she commented.

Brandon shrugged his shoulders. "It wasn't any more challenging for me than it was for any of the other scholarship students but there were those who liked to make sure you knew who had money and who didn't," he told her. "Charles wasn't like that. He went out of his way to make sure we all had equal opportunities. I just always appreciated that."

Mary smiled, "I think he and my sister are perfect for each other, Jane is the same way."

Brandon thought the same thing after he first met Jane at her engagement party. She was a very sweet woman, and you could see she cared about others around her. That was one reason he felt so protective of them both, they were kind and caring individuals, but that made them vulnerable to those who were less so. "I just hope Caroline won't be the cause of too much trouble for them," he said without thinking.

Mary's eyes narrowed with concern, "What do you mean?" she asked him.

He didn't want to worry her. "Oh, it's nothing," he said not telling her about Caroline's threat to him. He decided it was best to change the subject, "So you haven't danced with me yet."

Mary shrugged her shoulders, "I told you before I don't really dance," she told him suddenly feeling awkward. "Besides if we dance together, my mother will see and…"

Brandon let out a small sigh and interrupted her. "You know, Mary at some point you are going to have to introduce me to your parents."

"Brandon, trust me you don't want my mother to know about us just yet," she told him as she heard her mother laughing from across the room.

"Mary, I have been to several parties with your mother. I know what she can be like," he tried to assure her. "I'm not going anywhere; she won't frighten me away."

"That's only because she doesn't know we're dating each other," Mary told him. "If she did, you might feel differently." She knew deep down he would feel different about seeing her. Especially when her mother started asking questions about his income, his job, and his future prospects. Mrs. Bennet made it very clear over the past few weeks that she planned to do her best to help both Mary and Kitty find rich husbands like Jane and Elizabeth. She liked Brandon and didn't want to take the chance that her mother might ruin things for her. "Please just trust me on this. I promise you we will tell them we are dating."

Brandon tried to be patient with her because he knew she struggled where her mother was concerned. But they were spending a lot of time together, and he was beginning to think it wasn't so much her mother that was the issue as it was that Mary doubted him in some way. "Are you sure that's it Mary?" he asked her. "Because I'm beginning to think you don't trust me when I tell you I care about you and nothing your mother could say will change that."

"Brandon, could we please talk about this later?" she asked as Lizzy and Jane prepared to throw the bouquet of flowers.

He relented realizing this wasn't the best time. He let go of Mary's hand and nodded his head. "Yes but I'm not going to let this go. If we are going to have a future, you need to trust me."

She smiled and nodded her head, "I do, I promise," she assured him. "We will talk later, and I promise to pick a time soon for you to meet my parents," she assured him.

Brandon smiled and nodded his head. "All right Miss Bennet I will hold you to that," he told her as she walked over to join Kitty and Georgiana to catch the bridal bouquet.

Caroline stood off to the side of the room watching Brandon and Mary's little display as she sipped her champagne. Her eyes narrowed as she wondered what was really going on between the two of them. Mary was at Brandon's office that last few times she had been in to see him. Now here they were looking very cozy together. She wondered if the two of them were dating? She decided if they were it had to be a secret from Mrs. Bennet. Otherwise, the woman would be all over Brandon Wilson about marrying her daughter. Mary was by far the plainest of the Bennet girls so Mrs. Bennet would pounce on any guy that she even remotely believed had an interest in her daughter. A devious smile crossed Caroline's face, "I wonder..." she mumbled as she finished her champagne "I wonder how you would like it, Mr. Wilson if I meddle in your affairs…"

And the story continues…