Edited by SamH294
1820
A few days after Georgiana rejected yet another marriage proposal while she was playing with her niece and two nephews, Elizabeth inquired out of curiosity, the reasons her sister-in-law was reluctant to marry...
"Georgiana, while I understand that you are not interested in poor Mr. Morrison nor were you interested in my cousin, I sometimes wonder if there is any gentleman in the world who might interest you." Elizabeth smiled slightly. "This is the fifth marriage proposal that you have rejected!"
Georgiana chuckled slightly. "Do not exaggerate Lizzy! It is only the fourth, as Mr. Morrison's proposal does not count. To be honest, your cousin was the only gentleman I seriously considered marrying, but I realized that what we felt for each other was just a very nice friendship. Gabriel is now very happily engaged to Miss Evian." After a pause, she seriously added, "During the first few years after I entered society, I was very afraid that I would fall in love with a gentleman and that he would reject me if he found out about my indiscretion. But as time went by, I have not met any gentleman who interested me enough to wed. I think part of the 'problem' is that I am very happy living with you, my brother and your children at Pemberley and visiting Lord Sebastian's family once or twice a year. I have my own money, nephews, and nieces whom I adore, and I also recognize that my standards are very high. I want to meet a tall, handsome, rich, honorable, responsible, and intelligent gentleman, who has to fall madly in love with me and adore me."
Elizabeth laughed. "Ummm, your ideal gentleman closely matches your brother's or Lord Sebastian's description."
Georgian smiled broadly. "In a way, my ideal gentleman resembles the two of them. My brother is the ideal gentleman for you, just as Lord Sebastian is the ideal gentleman for Marianne. Perhaps one day I will meet my ideal gentleman." She paused and laughing added, "who surely would resemble my brother and Lord Sebastian."
When Georgiana turned 28, she actually met her 'ideal' gentleman, Sir Edward. He was a former Colonel about seven years older than her, he was also a war hero and a close friend of her cousin Richard. Richard had remarried years before to the daughter of a minor gentleman from a small estate only 10 miles from Rosings.
Her courtship with Sir Edward was very intense. Fortunately, Sir Edward cared very little about Georgiana's indiscretion. In his opinion, it was just a mistake from her youth that did not in the least define what a wonderful woman she was.
Pemberley 1832
Like every night since they had been married, after making love, Elizabeth was lying on her husband's chest, while Darcy caressed her hair, which was beginning to gray.
"What are you thinking about, my love?" Elizabeth curiously asked her husband.
Darcy smiled and replied, "You and how lucky I have been these last 20 years. You know, back then, I never thought I could be so happy and have four such wonderful children."
"It has been so long since we were married, half of my life. In turn, it seems like it was yesterday. God has been very good to all of us."
With a smile, Darcy sweetly asked, "Did I tell you today how much I love you, Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth shook her head, and Darcy continued, "I am sure that if I lived a thousand lives, I would search for you in all of them until I found you, since I am convinced that I could never be happy without you."
The End