Usual disclaimers: Not my characters (I wish)

Peace - the charm's wound up

The double wedding of Jane and Elizabeth Bennet to Charles Bingley and Fitzwilliam Darcy took place as planned. Colonel Fitzwilliam's parents were able to attend the wedding. Anne de Bourgh sent her sincere regrets that her mother's illness would keep her from the ceremony, and an invitation to come to Rosings when it was convenient for her cousin and his new bride. Both couples were well matched in temperament and understanding, and they all lived long and contented lives.

Frightened by the near-death of her daughter, Mrs. Bennet's behavior was subdued for some time. Mr. Bennet spent more time with his family. Kitty was not only less silly in her behavior, but she considered how she could best earn more paternal approval. Alas, it can not reported that Mary's performance on the piano improved to any extent.

Lady Catherine never did recover from the apoplexy that had felled her, and never spoke an intelligible word for the rest of her days. Anne de Bourgh, stepping out from the shadow of her mother's personality, discovered an unsuspected talent for estate management. Her health and her looks improved. Two years later she married Colonel Fitzwilliam, to the congratulations of their family.

Mr. Darcy had handsomely rewarded the servants who had nursed Elizabeth. Mrs. Hill and her sisters were able to use the money to assist younger relatives, including two sons of Mrs. Dodson, who emigrated to America and eventually ended up owning large and prosperous farms in Ohio. Being well-raised young men, they sent money to their older relatives, who were able to retire in comfort.

Miss Bingley's spots faded with time. Too embarrassed to go out into public, she spent her time in extensive reading, and she was much improved by the experience. She eventually married a man for whom she felt genuine affection, much to the surprise of all who knew her.

Mr. Collins never lost his compulsion to say what was on his mind rather than what he thought what people wanted to hear. He therefore found it better to remain silent when ever possible and his sermons were miracles of brevity, which was a great blessing to all who knew him.

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Many thanks to my reviewers, for keeping me going when I hit my snag. Said snag was the need to punish Mr. Collins without harming Charlotte. (the writer leaves her computer, humming "my object all sublime, I shall achieve in time...")

I went with a long-established Austen fan-fic convention and had Anne end up with the Colonel. As a 21st century American, I find all those first cousin marriages kind of creepy, but hey, the past is a foreign country and all that.