Jane and Bingley's wedding had gone off without a hitch. That couple intended to spend a fortnight at Netherfield before embarking on their wedding trip, but after Mrs Bennet had arrived on their doorstep two days after their wedding, they had hastened their departure. After travelling to visit Bingley's family, they arrived at Pemberley in October, as planned, just in time for the Harvest Celebration. During that visit, which lasted six weeks instead of four, they visited several estates and found one to purchase that was only ten miles from Pemberley. They would take possession in the new year, and when they departed for Netherfield, they did so intending to finalise the plans to move shortly after Epiphany, although precisely when that happened depended on the weather.
Mary did not join the Bingleys on their first trip to Pemberley but came later when the couple settled into their new estate. She and Georgiana became good friends, and Mary learned much by watching her sister transform into the mistress of such a grand estate. She was also greatly influenced by Georgiana, who expanded her education by encouraging her to read and helped her with her piano. Mrs Annesley and Darcy also proved helpful in this endeavour, as they frequently suggested books for Mary and Georgiana to read and would discuss these with them both at meals. When Georgiana came out into society, Mary joined her and became acquainted with a quiet young gentleman who grew to admire Mary. At the end of the season, just before the Darcys were to depart for their estate, he had approached Mr Darcy to ask for permission to propose to Miss Bennet. Darcy knew the gentleman's reputation, and after a relatively long interview where he asked the man many questions, he gave his tentative approval. Of course, he would still have to request her father's permission, but Darcy expected his own interview had been far more exhaustive.
Mr Bennet was surprised when the young man, Mr Henry Merrick of Fairview Manor near Leeds, arrived at his doorstep with a letter from Mary and requested that young lady's hand. Lydia had laughed at the suggestion that any man would even look at Mary, which had earned her a stern look from the governess hired by the Darcys for the two youngest daughters. Bennet granted his permission and was unsurprised that Mary had asked to marry from Pemberley instead of Longbourn. An additional letter from Elizabeth offered to arrange for the Bennets to travel to Pemberley for the wedding, but she informed her father that poor behaviour would not be tolerated. With that in mind, Bennet declined the offer to attend the wedding for the family and granted his permission for Mary to marry her intended at Pemberley as soon as she liked.
Neither the Darcys nor the Bingleys were surprised by this, as with each of his daughter's marriages and departure from his home, he had retreated further into himself, interacting less and less with his family.
Still, Mrs Bennet had been somewhat annoyed and wrote several letters to Elizabeth reprimanding her for usurping her right to plan Mary's wedding and for refusing to give her younger sisters a season in town. Elizabeth wrote back, stating they had all been invited, but Mr Bennet had declined to attend and that the Darcys employed a governess who was intended to prepare Kitty and Lydia for a season. According to the governess, it was possible that Kitty might be ready the following year, but that lady began to despair of Lydia ever being prepared for London, as she refused to listen to any of her directions, and Mrs Bennet allowed her to do so. Elizabeth reminded her mother that had been a condition of the Darcys sponsoring the youngest Bennets and suggested she help the governess by making Lydia do as asked.
Elizabeth sent a separate letter to both Kitty and Mr Bennet suggesting that Kitty might do better away from Lydia for a time. The governess would then be able to focus all of her attention on the youngest Bennet, and Kitty might benefit from having a companion other than Lydia. Kitty begged Mr Bennet to allow her to go, so on their way north, the Darcy and Bingley carriages stopped briefly at Longbourn to collect her. Of course, Lydia bemoaned that she was once again left behind and threw a tantrum, which all but Mrs Bennet ignored. Kitty was bundled into the coach carrying Mary, Georgiana, and Mrs Annesley, and the four women had a most enjoyable three days as they began to know each other better.
Mary's wedding occurred six weeks after they left London, at the end of July. By that time, Kitty and Georgiana had become very close and the model of the other three women in the house, and of course, with the guidance of Mrs Annesley, Kitty had become far more proper in her behaviour than she had been at Longbourn. Elizabeth and Jane were inordinately happy to see the change, and Jane was a frequent visitor as she was also involved in the many preparations for the wedding.
The Gardiners attended the ceremony, having been invited by the Darcys to come for the wedding and stay several weeks. Elizabeth hoped Mrs Gardiner would be able to remain even after her husband departed, as Elizabeth was expecting and should give birth in early September. Her aunt had agreed to remain with her children until after the birth, although Mr Gardiner would have to return to London before.
On the first day of September, Elizabeth awoke feeling unsettled and achy. Darcy had already departed for the morning, as he was supervising the harvest and was unaware of what would occur that day. Mrs Gardiner came to see Elizabeth late in the morning and quickly realised she was in the beginning stages of labour. She requested the midwife to be summoned and began to help Elizabeth prepare for the birth by aiding her to walk as much as possible. As her pains worsened, Elizabeth began worrying and insisted that someone ride out to find her husband. That ended up being unnecessary since moments after making the request, her husband had strode into the room.
Darcy took Mrs Gardiner's place and began to assist Elizabeth in walking the halls until the midwife finally arrived. After taking a few minutes to examine Elizabeth in her rooms, she decided it was time to get Elizabeth situated, and she allowed Darcy to provide aid in getting her into the birthing chamber. Once that was done, she attempted to force him to leave, but both he and Elizabeth protested. The midwife relented, and he stayed beside her, wiping the sweat from her brow and holding her hand as her pains came. Finally, hours later, they heard the sound of their baby crying. The newborn was placed into Elizabeth's arms after both were cleaned and dressed, and the couple gazed down on the miracle in their arms. Both mother and father had tears in their eyes as they watched him squirm in her arms, and Darcy's hand came up and rested on his child's stomach.
He leaned in to kiss his wife. "Thank you, dearest," he whispered. "What shall we name him?"
"Fitzwilliam?" she asked, laughing lightly when he scowled. "William, then? I do like your name and would like to name our son after you."
Darcy smiled at that. "I like William better than Fitzwilliam," he replied. "Or we could name him Bennet for you?"
It was Elizabeth's turn to grimace. "I am not certain I would want my parents to think we were honouring them in any way. Let us keep to your name – William Edward," she replied.
He nodded, and they continued to sit and watch their son for several more minutes. Eventually, he noticed they had both fallen asleep, and he slid away from his wife's side to go and share their news with the rest of the family. Later, word would also be sent to family members not in residence announcing the birth of Pemberley's heir, and the entire family was invited to gather at Pemberley for Christmas. All accepted, except Mr Bennet, who declined for his remaining family.
Pemberley was lively and noisy that year at Christmas for the first time in memory of either Darcy sibling. It was a joyous celebration, and Darcy was inordinately pleased when he realised that all of this had come about because of a letter, and an accidental letter at that.
