Chapter 12 Epilogue

"We have a new vicar at Delaford, you will never guess who is his wife..."

"Really, who then?"

"Do you remember there were two Dashwood sisters at Lady Middleton's ball?"

"Yes, Elinor and Marianne, of course, who would not? The sensible and the romantic if their actions of the night should be left any bearing."

"Yes, I thought I would never say this but I believe I have met someone more romantic and less sensible than you but Marianne has her head in the clouds, most of the time."

"Mr Bingley's wife?" Elizabeth resented the comparison. Surely, she was not as frivolous as Mrs Bingley.

"Yes, Elinor married Colonel Brandon's vicar. Another man we were briefly introduced to, a Mr Edward Ferrars. Mrs Bingley is currently visiting her sister."

"Oh yes, I remember Mr Ferrars. That explains why Elinor was not at the wedding, she must have been on her honeymoon. Please, give them my felicitations when next you see them."

"You may give them yourself, I have invited them to join us for dinner this evening."

"Would that not be awkward?"

"No, I should say not. There are no hard feelings between myself and Mr Bingley, we are both where we should be in life and marriage. I never wished him anything but happiness, Lizzy, you know I still think of him as the most amiable gentleman I have ever met. It turned out that most amiable was not what I needed but that does not say that we may not be friends. Mrs Bingley, however, is very happy I believe. She is very entertaining, she sings and plays beautifully. I hope she will grace us with some music after the meal. I hope you will greet her cordially, Mrs Ferrars has become a very dear friend of mine, I would like to make both sisters feel welcome."

"Of course I will be courteous, whenever am I not?"

Jane raised a telling eyebrow.

"Well, unless I am excessively provoked. Mrs Bingley has done nothing to raise my ire."

"No, but you are very protective of those you love. I guess I worry that some misplaced sympathy towards me would get the better of you. I am blissfully happy, you know. Mr Bingley could never have made me feel as content nor as adored as Christopher does."

"No, I know you are happy and where you were supposed to be. If you do not suffer any regrets, how could I? Did you know that even before London, I admitted to Mr Darcy that I would have chosen Colonel Brandon? Although I would have liked to have Mr Bingley as a brother, I could never picture him as a husband."

"Thankfully, Marianne seem to think otherwise."

"Yes, it is a blessing we are different, have different expectations towards our spouses."

"How are you, Lizzy?"

Elizabeth sighed in utter contentment and absentmindedly stroked her growing belly. Three months left before her son was expected to see the light of day. She does not know for certain that the child is a boy but she believes so and time will prove her right.

Jane notices the involuntary movement and smirks.

"I may have some news of my own..."

"Oh, Jane!"

Elizabeth hauls herself up and embraces her sister. "Congratulations, Colonel Brandon must be delighted."

"He is and with much more equilibrium than your Mr Darcy."

"He is adorable, is he not!"

"Who?"

Elizabeth swats her sister's arm.

"Mr Darcy, of course. With each day my love for him grows. When I believe I cannot possibly love him more, he surprises me with a gesture or a consideration that makes me fall even deeper in love with him. I will be buried ten feet below soon if he does not disappoint me in some manner."

"Lizzy!"

"I am only jesting, Jane. I am floating on cloud nine, soon I will be one of those twinkling stars on the night sky because my aplomb has gone too lofty. Who would have thought my Mr Darcy so eloquent in his tributes towards me."

"You have been exceptionally fortuitous in your choice of husband, Lizzy."

"So have you, Jane, but better yet, they have become such dear friends, have they not?"

Elizabeth was looking out of the window where Colonel Brandon and Mr Darcy were sauntering back from the woods, carrying several coveys.

"Dinner has been secured, deemed by the number of birds being carried home."

Elizabeth kept her gaze on her very picturesque husband. The very image of young and robust manliness. He looked up and caught her ogling him. He smiled and tipped his hat, Elizabeth waved and turned away from the window. Her cheeks were blooming but Jane was so dear and pretended not to notice.

"They will join us soon I believe."

Soon is a relative concept, it did take the gentleman the better half of an hour before they had changed out of their muddy attire to join their wives.

Once impeccably dressed, they approached the parlour where their ladies was supposed to be. The room was empty but the French doors to the terrace were open. The gentlemen exited in search of their wayward wives.

"Look, there they are, Jane, heading in our direction. To think that some say that rakes make the best husbands..."

"Whoever they are, they must be spinsters..."

"Jane?"

The End

Note: Coming stories:

Oblivion, a contemporary child out of wedlock story.

The Earl of Harpenden, a Regency Bennet of an elevated rank trope.