Epilogue


Miss Lydia Bennet enjoyed her time at Pemberley immensely. Being of an age with Miss Darcy, the two girls were soon each other's bosom friends, and before long they had shared their most intimate secrets with one another. Both insisted that Miss Lydia should spend at least ten or twelve weeks in Derbyshire each year, and join her new sister in London as well very often.

In the first week they spent together at Pemberley, Georgiana opened up to her two new sisters regarding her almost-elopement with Mr Wickham, and was relieved to find that neither Elizabeth nor Lydia judged her for her mistakes; that they did not believe her failings to be any greater than the young Lydia's decision to run away over a dish of liver had been, for she soon learned of that story. She thoroughly enjoyed the thought of her former friend and suitor as a cross between a gypsy and a lion, and a copy the book on the African Savanna that had meant so much to Lydia was soon added to her brother's magnificent library.

The two girls came out together when they reached eighteen. They enjoyed the balls and functions they were allowed to attend, always together of course, but neither was duped by the superficial nature of the Ton. They were admired, both for their beauty and for the Darcy name, as Miss Bennet was known to be Mrs Darcy's sister, but they required more than pretty words to leave the comfort and love they had in their brother's home.

Georgiana finally succumbed to the devoted pursuit of an earl second son, and at one and twenty she left the Darcy name behind to settle happily in Yorkshire where her husband had a small independent estate, about the size of Longbourn and perfect for their family to grow.

Lydia waited another year before falling hopelessly in love with the son and heir of one of Pemberley's neighbours. Despite being less than twelve miles apart for many months each year, the two young people had managed to miss each other and only met during Lydia's birthday ball, as she turned two and twenty. The once spoiled and silly child had gone through painful, scary and joyful times to mature into a beautiful passionate woman. Her chosen husband was as lively, clever and outgoing as herself, and more importantly, he loved to dance and was happy to take his wife to any ball, assembly or musical gathering as she wished, as long as the first, supper and last set were his every time. Their children learned to dance before they could ride their poneys.


As their younger sister had predicted, Jane and Elizabeth were happy in their unions, but in very different manners.

Jane Bingley remained the calm, smiling, friendly young woman she had always been, loving her husband and the children that followed deeply, but without much display of emotions. Charles and her remained at Netherfield Park for a little over one year before deciding that an estate further north would be more conducive to comfort. Charles finally bought an estate as his father had dreamt he would, choosing a well maintained estate in Nottinghamshire, a mere thirty miles or so from Pemberley.

Elizabeth Darcy felt she was far happier than she deserved, and her love for her husband, her family and their home seemed to continuously grow. Her relationship with her beloved William was a lot more volatile than her elder sister's; both had intense, complex and strong personalities, so disagreements were expected; Elizabeth's lively wit complemented William's forthright and sometimes blunt judgements. Having decided within a sennight of their wedding not to ever end the day at cross purpose, their fights were volcanic but of very short duration, and the reconciliation so warm that Elizabeth sometimes suspected her husband of being difficult on purpose. Their children were adored by both parents, luckily all of them had inherited their parents' fiery tempers to a certain extend and could deal very well with any loud disruption to their happy lives.

Pemberley was a happy home, where all their sisters and their extended families were welcome at any time. Their most frequent visitors remained Georgiana and Lydia, usually coming at the same time with their families and remaining for several weeks, and the former Colonel Fitzwilliam who had been forced to retire from the army after a bullet rendered his left arm partially unusable, and who enjoyed the hospitality of his cousin and his bride far more than his parents'; at least the Darcys were not constantly trying to marry him off.


As for the remaining Bennet sisters, the tradition started at Lydia's request to have Kitty go to London for a few months each year continued, although some years she would travel with Jane rather than with the Gardiners. Her art master was pleased to retain such an eager pupil for many years, and even when at home, she religiously practiced all the techniques he had imparted so that her progress would not be slowed down by her months of absence.

Kitty concentrated on her drawing and painting more than on dances and beaux for many years, to her mother's despair. She was nearly considered a spinster before finally meeting a man who could distract her from her art for long enough to win her heart. Her husband, a highly successful businessman who often worked and traded with her uncle, was happy to encourage her passion and watch his adorable young wife bloom as her talent became recognised outside her family circle. While Mrs and Mr Bennet would have preferred to see her married to a gentleman rather than a man in trade, by the time her father finally walked her down the aisle of their church, a full ten years after walking Elizabeth down the same aisle, both were simply grateful to see her marry a man who appeared to love her with all her quirks and artistic oddities.

Miss Mary Bennet surprised her whole family during her second visit to town, only a year after the Bingley's wedding, by falling in love with a naval captain she met accidentally at her uncle's warehouse. The young officer had made a reasonable fortune after capturing a French vessel carrying a large shipment of spices, and had been looking at investing some of his prize money with Mr Gardiner. Being a man of action, and being required to be at sea again within a month, Captain Denver did not tarry long before securing the lovely young woman and making her his wife. The shyest, quietest Bennet sister spent many years at her husband's side, sharing his cramped quarters on the small but fast frigate he commanded, visiting far away lands and discovering more of the world than any of her sisters, before returning to settle in a very happy life in Plymouth in her later years.

The young Miss Lydia might have been utterly wrong as to the type of men her two middle sisters would fall in love with, yet she was correct in thinking that only passionate love would entice either into matrimony.


Although Lydia had claimed the credit of matchmaking for her favourite sister, she never realised quite how deep her support had reached; by opening William's eyes to Elizabeth's many qualities early in their acquaintance and ensuring the young man thought through the consequence of his pride, she had saved him, and Elizabeth, many months of anguish and sorrow. Only Mr Darcy, who knew how close he had come to ruining Charles' happiness and potentially his own, fully comprehended the value of a slightly flighty, sometimes a little vain, but always loving young sister.