Here we are, my dears. The end of Three Brides for Three Cousins. I hope you have enjoyed it.

Epilogue

For her wedding ensemble, Elizabeth decided to wear the cream-colored taffeta frock she had worn to Covent Garden for Much Ado About Nothing. The simple, unadorned gown suited her preference for comfort over fashion, but its understated elegance still met what she believed the standards of fashionable society to be.

Jane decided to wear the gown she'd worn to the ball as she thought it the most elegant thing she owned, though she worried that it was not suitable to be married in.

"His Lordship could not take his eyes off you in that gown, my dear Jane," said Mrs. Gardiner with a teary smile. "Of course it is suitable."

"Indeed," added Elizabeth. "Next to you, I feel almost underdressed!"

When they were in the Gardiners' carriage and on their way to St. Paul's Cathedral, Elizabeth settled her excited nerves long enough to ask her aunt, "Do you know if we are to return to London, ma'am, after the wedding breakfast—I assume that is to be held at Longbourn, though I do not know how the surprise for Mamma, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia will not be spoiled if that is the case."

"Oh, but that's the thing, dear Lizzy!" said her aunt. "Mr. Darcy has arranged with Mr. Bingley to hold the wedding breakfast at Netherfield—though how one can call it a breakfast when we shan't be eating until nearly three in the afternoon…"

Jane and Elizabeth laughed. Mrs. Gardiner smiled as she continued with, "As to your travel itinerary, I do think you may return to London—at least for a night or two to gather all your belongings—but I'm not really certain whether Lord Rowarth and Mr. Darcy plan to remain in London for more of the Season or take you both on to Derbyshire."

When the carriage reached the church, there were two others outside of it. Elizabeth recognized one as belonging to Mr. Darcy. The other, she assumed must belong to her new brother. As Mrs. Gardiner led them up the stone steps of the church, the two girls were surprised when the doors opened—and their father stepped out.

Hurrying their steps, they embraced Mr. Bennet heartily. "Oh, my dearest girls," said he when they stood back.

"Papa, what are you doing here?" Jane asked.

"And how did you keep it from Mother?" added Elizabeth.

Mr. Bennet laughed. "All due respect to my brother Gardiner, I could not allow him to be the one to walk my daughters down the aisle to give them away. As for your mother, I told her last night that a matter regarding her daughters' futures called me to London—you know how hopeful she has been of one of you making a fine match here after her 'great disappointment' with Mr. Collins. She practically dragged me out of bed at five-thirty to prepare myself for travel."

"'A fine match' is certainly one way of describing our soon-to-be husbands, is it not, Jane?" observed Elizabeth, before gasping and lifting a hand to her lips. "Good heavens, sister—husbands! You and I are about to become wives!"

Jane's eyes brimmed with tears, but her smile was full of radiant joy. "Lizzy, I am so very happy, and especially so to have you here to share in this day with me."

The sisters embraced each other tightly, and after a moment Mr. Bennet cleared his throat. "Speaking of sharing, girls, I do believe there are two fine gentlemen inside this building who are very anxious to do what it is we all came here to do."

Any nerves that remained in Elizabeth vanished when she saw Darcy standing next to Philip at the end of the aisle. The smile he wore and the love she saw shining in his eyes warmed her heart and filled her soul with peace and tranquility. She realized in that moment that she could not wait to marry him and hear herself addressed as Mrs. Darcy.

Also present, besides the vicar and Mr. Gardiner, was Georgiana, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Lady Amelia. "You're not getting married too, are you?" Elizabeth blurted when they reached the rest of the party.

Everyone laughed. "No, my dear Miss Elizabeth—my dear cousin," said the colonel. "My brother and I cannot both of us be so fortunate as to follow in our cousin Anne's footsteps."

Jane looked to Philip with alarm. "You mean your parents do not know?" she asked.

The viscount sighed but offered her a smile. "Do not distress yourself, my love," he told her. "My father knows of my plans. Cecilia and Olivia have been as excited by the prospect of having a future duchess for a sister as our mother has—they do not mind having to share the attention! Thus, I told the earl that I saw no reason for you and I to delay any longer, as we could hardly outshine the girls more than my brother has done. In fact, it was Father's idea that we have ourselves a very quiet, very personal ceremony, and he has said he will reveal the news to my mother and sisters once I have sent him word we are married. There may be some coolness on her side when we return to Town, but then I am yet hopeful that her triumph in Theo's catching Lady Amelia will help to eventually smooth things over. That and your remarkable grace and good manners."

"And you, Mr. Darcy?" said Elizabeth. "Do you also fear some measure of censure from your aunt for not receiving her approbation?"

Darcy smiled. "Not at all. As much as I respect my aunt and her opinions, the only persons I ultimately need satisfy with my choice of wife are myself and my sister."

"And we are both of us very happy indeed to welcome you into our family," added Georgiana.

The vicar, who had thus far been silent, softly cleared his throat. "Shall we proceed now?" he asked.

A soft chuckle rippled through everyone, and after kissing each of his daughters on the cheek, Mr. Bennet handed them off to the two men they were going to marry.

-…-

Mrs. Bennet, on her arrival at Netherfield for the "afternoon tea" to which she and her three younger daughters had been invited by the charming Mr. Bingley, was at first much surprised to find that they were not the only guests in attendance. Standing about the drawing room were Mr. and Miss Bingley, Sir William and Lady Lucas, Charlotte and Maria Lucas, a tall young lady whom she had never met, and her own relations—the Gardiners and the Phillipses.

Further surprising the lady was seeing that her husband had already returned from London and was chatting amiably with her brother and sister Gardiner. Mrs. Bennet marched over to him and had just opened her lips to ask where Jane and Elizabeth were and had they had met any eligible men when the drawing room door opened again.

Mrs. Bennet watched Jane and Elizabeth enter the room wearing their finest gowns and the brightest smiles she'd ever seen, each on the arm of a very fashionably dressed, very handsome young man.

"Jane? Lizzy? What is this? What is going on here?"

Mr. Bennet stepped up beside his wife. "My dear Mrs. Bennet, allow me the honor of presenting Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy, of Pemberley in Derbyshire."

Kitty and Lydia gasped. "Mrs.?" cried Lydia.

"You got married?" said Kitty.

Elizabeth's grin widened as she curtsied and the gentleman beside her bowed. The two then stepped aside to allow Jane and her escort to come forward.

"May I also present," Mr. Bennet began, "Philip, Viscount Rowarth, and his lady wife Jane, Viscountess Rowarth."

This time Kitty and Lydia squealed sharply. Mrs. Bennet's eyes widened, and she began to blink rapidly. "V-Viscountess? M-my daughter is a viscountess?"

"Yes, Mamma. From today forward," said Jane.

"Are you well, ma'am?" asked her husband.

Her husband the viscount. A viscount! Her daughter was a member of the nobility!

Elizabeth's prediction of Mrs. Bennet shattering glass was not to come to pass. Instead, the lady swooned.