And here's the last vignette. I hope it will provide a more satisfying ending to those of you who (rightly) felt the ending of the main story was rushed. Thank you to everyone who commented on this story!
In which Miss Gardiner faces a conundrum
Pemberley, Sunday 27 December 1812
Anne Gardiner sat beside her sister in the breakfast parlour where the entire family was gathered. Even their younger brothers were present, but as they had already eaten and their nanny was not yet back, they had been authorised to play quietly in a corner of the room. Anne had not received such permission, but she did not mind it as it made her feel more grown-up. She endeavoured to listen to the adults' conversation. It certainly was very different than what it was when they were at Longbourn! Quieter, first of all. Whenever there was a silence there, Aunt Bennet or Cousin Lydia would fill it.
She wondered whether Uncle Bennet would be even more silent than was his wont, since his usual conversation partners were Papa and Cousin Lizzy. Perhaps he would speak with Mr Bingley, Cousin Jane's new husband. She had seen him once or twice, and he appeared nice enough. They should all have come to Pemberley for Christmas, but in the end, they were not here. Anne had overheard Cousin Lizzy and Mama speaking about Cousin Jane's delicate condition. Anne did not quite know what that meant, except that it would prevent them from seeing her favourite cousin. Aunt Bennet had elected to stay in Hertfordshire with her younger daughters, and all of them, along with Uncle and Aunt Philips, would have gathered at Longbourn for Christmas.
Anne listened as Uncle Fitz and Cousin Lizzy explained to Papa, Mama and Aunt Georgiana what had been planned for the following day. After a couple of minutes, she frowned. Uncle Fitz had just addressed Mama as "Sister," which was normal, but Cousin Lizzy called her Aunt Gardiner. This would not have disturbed Anne too much, but for the fact that Cousin Lizzy and Uncle Fitz were married, thus supposedly of equal ranking!
Moreover—
"Anne?"
"Yes, Mama?"
"Is something the matter, dear?"
"Yes, well, no, I was only thinking."
"Would you mind sharing the object of your thoughts?"
"Why is Cousin Lizzy married to Uncle Fitz?"
After a pause, Darcy answered.
"Because I was lucky enough to have her agree to my suit," he said, putting his hand on Cousin Lizzy's.
"But this is not right," Anne insisted. "A Cousin cannot be married to an Uncle!"
"Your Uncle Fitz is not my uncle, Anne. He is your mama's brother, whereas I am related to your papa."
"You are his niece?"
Cousin Lizzy nodded.
"Still, it is not right: why has your name not changed?" continued Anne. "Mama was Miss Darcy, and when she married Papa, she became Mrs Gardiner. It is a universally acknowledged truth that ladies change names when they marry."
"I wonder where she learned such words," her uncle muttered.
"Really, Uncle Fitz?"
Uncle Fitz's only answer was to scowl at Cousin Lizzy.
"It will not do."
"Anne?"
"You cannot continue to have different names. From now on, I shall address you as Aunt Fitz."
Having restored her inner equilibrium, Anne turned her attention towards her fruit. There was a strange muffled sound. She glanced up and saw that the adults were trying to restrain their laughter, except for Aunt Georgiana, who appeared uneasy.
"Is something the matter?"
"If you must call her Aunt," said Uncle Fitz, who appeared to be the only one capable of speaking with some composure, "why not Aunt Lizzy?"
"But then I should have to call you Uncle Lizzy!"
Cousin Lizzy—Aunt Fitz!—burst into giggles. And was she crying?
"Dear, Fitzwilliam is my brother's given name. You call your other uncles and aunts by the same name because we use their surname," Papa said.
Aunt Fitz—or should it be Aunt Lizzy?—was still shaking.
"Oh. Well, then you will be Uncle and Aunt Darcy." Anne returned to her plate, and Aunt … Darcy's breathing to a normal rhythm, when another idea struck the little girl. "What about Cousin Jane?"
"What about her?"
"She is married, too. Must I call her Aunt Bingley?"
"No, dear. You may continue to call her Cousin Jane, and you may call her husband Cousin Bingley."
"Is it because he owns neither an estate nor a business that he must stay a cousin and cannot become an uncle?"
Aunt Darcy barely refrained from laughing whenever Anne met her in the following days. Grown-ups are certainly very strange.
If, as Anne, you are still a bit confused, a blurry family tree can be found at the following address (you'll have to replace the #s with dots)
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