Epilogue
As Lady Catherine De Bough's carriage left Meryton behind after the double wedding, the residents took a collective deep breath, some of relief, some of disbelief. The Lady claimed responsibility for five engagements, three new upper servants in the four and twenty families, a new bread recipe for the baker, thwarting the designs of the fortune hunting officers on Mary King and her inheritance, and settled a dispute between the blacksmith and the inn keeper, but started one between the milliner and the draper.
"Well Anne, Lizzy and William are settled. We are a step closer to securing Rosings," Lady Catherine said.
"I wonder what they will say when they find out I have willed it to their second son or eldest daughter? "
"I imagine they will wonder why you did not will it to Col. Fitzwilliam," Mrs. Jenkinson observed.
"He wants to stay in the army and play soldier," Lady Catherine huffed. "He might like to claim he needs to marry an heiress, but the truth is, he is terrified that his brother will decline the title of Earl and it will devolve to him, managing a great estate is his nightmare. Poor boy does not know that William already signed a small estate over to him. Not to big as to be difficult for Richard to learn to manage when he finally leaves the army, but big enough for him to be comfortable. Rosing's people need someone who is raised to manage it. William's child will be."
