Here is the final chapter.
I will add an epilogue which will remain available after I remove the bulk of the story for publication. That will probably be on Tuesday 23 Jan.
I hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading and commenting. 😊
~MoL~
Ecstatic Endings
17 – 30 December 1811Georgiana Darcy arrived in London impatient to meet her brother's intended. She was ecstatic that her prediction had come true, and she was to gain a sister at last.
Even though she had had a pleasant childhood, thanks to a loving father and a devoted brother, she had yearned for female company. Her governess had been pleasant enough and her new companion, Mrs Annesley was an exceedingly kind woman, yet Georgiana had missed female company of her own age.
Her normally reserved manner was forgotten on her first meeting with Elizabeth. 'You have no idea how much I have longed for a sister,' she gushed immediately after their introductions. 'William has written so many wonderful things about you, I am sure we will be the best of friends.'
Georgiana's enthusiasm was infectious, and Elizabeth could not but laugh as she said, 'You do realise that you will not gain one sister but five, two of whom are close to your own age.'
'Even better.' Georgiana was undaunted.
Darcy watched the interchange with bemusement. 'What have you done with my reserved sister? You look like her, but you do not act like her.'
Georgiana turned towards him and asked, 'Have you looked into a mirror lately? That smile does not belong on the countenance of my staid and serious brother.'
'What can I say? Happiness can have a strange effect,' Darcy replied with a searing glance at Elizabeth.
~O~
As their party was now complete and most of the new dresses had been delivered, most of them set out for Meryton. The Fitzwilliams and the de Bourghs would travel with the Gardiners to join the others for Christmas and stay for the weddings.
Longbourn, Lucas Lodge and Netherfield were a hive of activity, getting everything ready not only for Christmas and the wedding just a few days later, but also the removal of some of the Bennet ladies from the Longbourn manor house.
After long discussions and deliberations between the inhabitants of Longbourn, they had decided that Mrs Bennet would be accompanied to the dower house by Kitty and Lydia, together with their companion.
Jane and Mary would remain at the main house and assist Charlotte in taking on the duties of the mistress.
~O~
Amongst all the bustle, the two couples did manage to find some time away from their families, by the simple expedient of playing chaperone for each other while they took a walk.
During one of their walks Elizabeth was pensive. When Darcy noticed her subdued mood, he asked, 'Is something wrong?'
Elizabeth sighed and gave an embarrassed smile. 'I confess I am rather nervous about Pemberley.'
'Are you concerned that it is so very far from your home?'
'No. It is just that Georgiana has been telling me about your home. It seems to be rather large and grand. I worry if I can be the kind of mistress it deserves.'
Darcy stopped and facing her took her hands. Giving them a gentle squeeze, he smiled in relief. 'My dearest, you must be the only woman who would worry if she was good enough for Pemberley. I tell you truthfully that Pemberley will be lucky to have you as its mistress.'
'What if I make a mistake?'
'Then you will fix it as soon as you recognise it. Elizabeth, when my father died and I took over as master, I made mistakes. Mostly by trying to do too much all at once. But everyone forgave those mistakes because I made them out of ignorance and inexperience. The tenants knew I was trying to do right by them, which made all the difference. I expect you will be given the same consideration.'
'I just want to do you proud,' she murmured.
Quickly checking that there were no witnesses, Darcy pulled Elizabeth into a tight embrace. 'My strong and proud Elizabeth, thank you for allowing me to see that you are human after all.'
The searing kiss which followed mad Elizabeth forget all her concerns.
~O~
Everyone was so busy, that, before they knew it, Christmas had arrived and with it the rest of the families.
The Gardiners brought their children of course, who could hardly wait to run around the gardens despite the cold. Although there was not a lot of snow, at least it was clean, unlike the slush in London. In other words, it was perfect for a snowball fight.
On Christmas Eve, Darcy was at Longbourn to help decorate the house with greenery. As he and Collins were the tallest, it fell to them to hang the bunches of mistletoe in strategic positions. It was purely coincidental that Elizabeth and Charlotte happened to walk by their fiancés when they were finishing that task.
On Christmas day, Darcy, by prior arrangement and accompanied by Georgiana, called at Longbourn as the family was getting ready for services, to offer a ride to some of the Bennet sisters, since the Longbourn coach was not big enough to hold all the family.
As the family stepped outside, Mrs Bennet was astounded to also see a highly polished gig drawn by a gentle gelding waiting outside the door. She was even more amazed when the groom in charge of the vehicle offered to assist her to take her place on the seat.
'But what… how…' the lady stammered.
She was answered by Darcy who grinned and said, 'Merry Christmas, Mrs Bennet. Would you permit me to convey you to church in your gig?'
The bewildered lady agreed. Along the way, while she gathered her wits, Darcy explained. 'Elizabeth informed me that you would retire to the dower house which will make it difficult for you to access transportation. I thought having a gig will give you the independence to visit your friends whenever you wish.'
'But I do not have a stable,' protested Mrs Bennet.
'Thanks to your cousin, you do now. He had the existing shed next to the house expanded. It also provides a snug room for your groom who will look after the horse and drive you when you wish to go out.'
Mrs Bennet beamed and patted Darcy on the arm. 'You are the most considerate son I could have wished for.'
~O~
Longbourn hosted all the residents of Netherfield and Lucas Lodge. Because of the number of people, it was rather snug, but nobody minded because of the good cheer. Even the children were allowed to participate.
Presents were exchanged, which the children in particular enjoyed and immediately put their new toys to good use.
Darcy had brought a stunning necklace and matching bracelet for Elizabeth. When she saw the jewels she said, 'I am quite embarrassed now by the paucity of my gift to you,' as she reluctantly handed him a small, soft parcel.
Unwrapping the gift, Darcy discovered several handkerchiefs embroidered with his initials formed by a pattern of delicate leaves. His big smile reassured her more than his words, 'I shall treasure these more because you took the time and trouble to make them, whereas I simply took the jewels from the safe. But they did belong to my mother and she wanted me to give them to my bride. So, I suppose the gift is truly from my mother, rather than me.'
Collins too, presented Charlotte with jewellery. In his case it had been contributed by Mrs Bennet who passed on a pendant on a delicate gold chain which used the belong to Mr Bennet's mother. 'It should always belong to the mistress of Longbourn.'
After the gifts were distributed and admired, they enjoyed their Christmas feast.
They spent the afternoon playing games including snapdragon and spillikins. At times, the ladies took turns on the pianoforte, to accompany the group as they sang Christmas carols.
By the time the guests took their departure, everyone agreed that it had been the most enjoyable Christmas in years.
~O~
31 December 1811It was a cold, blustery morning, but Elizabeth did not care. Today she would marry Fitzwilliam Darcy. Down the hall from her room, her cousin too was a mixture of eagerness and anxiety.
Mrs Bennet was in a dither, not being able to decide about which of the weddings she was more excited. Collins marrying Charlotte would free her to be a lady of leisure and thanks to Darcy's Christmas present she would still retain the status of a lady of means.
On the other hand, Elizabeth marrying such a good, considerate and rich man was the dream of every mother. For Elizabeth's sake, it also did not hurt that he was exceedingly handsome.
Happiness for Elizabeth's good fortune won… by a whisker.
As she could do nothing for Collins, she bustled into Elizabeth's room to assist her in getting ready. Jane and Mrs Gardiner were already there and the calm of those two ladies helped settle Mrs Bennet as well.
'Oh, my, Lizzy you look absolutely wonderful,' the lady gushed when they had helped Elizabeth don her wedding dress in a pale green silk. 'I can quite understand how Mr Darcy could fall in love with you.'
'You know that he is not marrying me for my looks, mama,' Elizabeth said, trying to stem her mother's effusions.
'So, you say, but I am sure they helped. Now, do you remember everything I have told you about what to expect?'
Elizabeth blushed as she had the previous evening when her mother had explained in lurid detail her wifely duties. Fortunately, Mrs Gardiner had already spoken to Elizabeth, and she had been able to distract herself from the most excessive advice. Not wanting any more details, Elizabeth quickly said, 'Yes, mama, you were most informative.'
At last, the ladies were ready and went downstairs where Collins was pacing nervously while Mr Gardiner looked on in amusement. They looked up as the ladies entered and Gardiner, with a nod towards Collins, asked his wife, 'Was I this nervous when we married?'
'Worse,' was the mischievous reply.
Collins approached Elizabeth and took her hands. 'You look absolutely radiant. I am glad that you are sharing this day with me, Lizzy. Hopefully everyone will be too busy admiring you and ignore me.'
'I am afraid that you will get your own share of attention. But I think that you should leave now. It would not do for you to be late to your own wedding,' she teased.
Collins took a deep breath and kissed her cheek. 'Wish me luck. I will see you in church.'
'Only if you cqan tear your eyes away from your own bride.'
To ensure that Collins would arrive at the church as pristine as he left Longbourn, Mrs Bennet sent him off in her gig. Soon afterwards, the Gardiners conveyed the two youngest girls to the church, while Mrs Bennet and Elizabeth shared the Longbourn carriage with Jane and Mary.
~O~
At Lucas Lodge, Charlotte was just as eager to resign her name for that of William Collins.
It was true that when he had first arrived at Longbourn, she had deliberately set out to win his interest as she was then five and twenty and everyone assumed that she was destined to be a spinster. Once she had established that he was respectable and not vicious she became determined to prove to him that she was his perfect choice.
Yet the two years during which she had come to know him, had wrought a change in her. While she was still thrilled to be married and be mistress of her own home, she had fallen deeply in love with her husband to be.
As her mother helped her dress and get ready for the wedding, Charlotte was amused to hear Lady Lucas exclaim, 'You shall be so very well settled, my dear. Your husband is everything charming. Mistress of Longbourn. Who would have thought it. I believe that I shall go quite distracted.'
It was not long before Charlotte was ready and she made her way to the church, accompanied by her parents and Maria, who would stand up with her.
~O~
The two grooms were waiting nervously in front of the altar to the great amusement of their groomsmen.
The choice of attendants had become problematical. Under normal circumstances Collins would have asked either Mr Phillips or Sir Wiliam Lucas to stand up with him, but both of them were unavailable as they were escorting the brides. Failing that option, Collins would have asked Darcy, but he was also busy.
In the end, the two older Fitzwilliam brothers were standing up with Darcy and Collins. Under normal circumstances, Darcy would have asked Richard to attend him, but since Collins was more familiar with the Colonel than the Viscount, Darcy opted for the older brother. Of course, knowing that Jane would attend Elizabeth, made Andrew the obvious choice.
At last, the doors opened, and the brides entered.
Sir William was exceedingly delighted to escort his daughter to hand her over to the master of Longbourn. For several years he had been afraid that his daughter would end up a spinster. That she was marrying not only a good man, but the master of his own estate made the knight very happy for Charlotte.
Mr Phillips was proud to walk Elizabeth down the aisle. She had chosen him for that honour since it had been thanks to his influence that William Collins had become the master of Longbourn. That event had changed the lives of all the Bennet ladies for the better. Elizabeth shuddered to think what might have happened if Darcy had arrived and Mr Bennet had still been in charge. It was a fate to horrific to consider.
~O~
As the brides walked down the aisle they and their grooms had no attention to spare for anyone other than their respective partners.
Andrew and Richard were amused to hear each of the grooms express identical sentiments as they were given the hand of their bride, 'You quite take my breath away,' and the brides wore equally as besotted smiles.
But soon Mr Phillips and Sir William took their seats and the vicar intoned, 'Dearly beloved…'
The ceremony passed in a blur for the two couples and before long they signed the register. Their friends and family cheered when the vicar introduced Mr and Mrs William Collins, followed by Mr and Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy.
~O~
A/N
I meant to put this comment into the previous chapter, but I forgot.
I'm not sure if you are aware of the change in terminology, but for a long time, I did not realise that a warehouse in the regency period was what we now call a department store. Think Harrods (UK), Macy's (US) or David Jones (Australia).
~MoL~
Master of Longbourn (working title) by Sydney Salier, Copyright © 2023