Epilogue

Ethan Kendrick, Viscount Carlisle, entered Campton Manor after a full day's journey from London. He had just finished his schooling at Cambridge, having come into his inheritance last year when he turned twenty-one. His oldest half-sister was soon going to be married. Ethan was on his way North to Pemberley for the wedding, but his mother, Elizabeth Darcy, had asked him to pick up a specific brooch which she wanted to wear at the wedding. She had been unable to find the piece of jewelry at Pemberly, and thought she must have left it at Campton Manor.

The Darcys had visited Campton Manor many times over the years, so that Ethan could become familiar with his inheritance. His papa, Fitzwilliam Darcy, while not his biological father, had been a father to him in every other way, and had taught him to be a good steward of his estate. He had never known his true father, Vincent Kendrick, Lord Carlisle; but looking at his portrait, he could not find any resemblance between himself and the man. He clearly took after his mother.

Elizabeth Darcy, once Lady Carlisle, had given birth to him the very morning after his father had died in a drunken accident. Elizabeth and Darcy had never spoken of his biological father, but he had gathered that the viscount had not been a good man. Evidence of that was in the fact that Elizabeth had married Darcy exactly one year after her first husband's death.

Elizabeth Darcy was a darling of society, although her husband was more reserved. Still, Ethan loved Darcy as if he were his own father, and had always called him "Papa."

While he searched for the brooch in the mistress's chambers, he came across his mother's old desk. Trying all the different drawers led to nothing. All that was left was a locked drawer. Looking around, he found the key easily and opened it.

Within were only letters. He lifted them up to see if the brooch could be beneath them, and was surprised to see his papa's handwriting. Curiously, he opened the letter.

He was shocked at what he found. It was a letter, clearly from Fitzwilliam Darcy, to someone he called E, filled with passionate words of love. Looking at the date, he found it was written almost a year before his father had died. What was going on?

He read more of the letters, going down the pile. While he was embarrassed to hear his mother described in sometimes very graphic terms, his understanding bloomed. When he reached the letter in which Darcy discovered Elizabeth was carrying his child, he fell back into a chair in shock. Vincent Kendrick, Lord Carlisle, was not his father after all! His father had always been Fitzwilliam Darcy, his beloved papa! He felt delight, as well as some betrayal, that his parents had never seen fit to tell him.

He would have to ask his mother the truth of it.

Of her eight children, Marie Anne was her oldest girl, and Elizabeth was going to miss her daughter when she married, while at the same time she was glad to see her happy.

Elizabeth had born three boys and four girls after she had married Darcy. All three boys had time away from school to attend Marie's wedding, and Ethan would be arriving today for the nuptials tomorrow. He had gone to Campton Manor after running into some trouble with the steward, and had assured them he would return at the latest today.

When the carriage arrived, Elizabeth rushed out to meet him, kissing him on the cheek. "Ethan! You are just in time! I way almost afraid you would miss the wedding! The Bingleys are here, and your aunt Georgiana and uncle and cousins arrived yesterday."

Ethan smiled at her, although he seemed in a serious mood. "Is Papa available? I have something I want to speak to you both about," he said.

"Of course," said Elizabeth, now concerned. "Is everything well with the steward at Campton? I hope he did not give you too much trouble."

"No, it is nothing to do with the estate," Ethan said.

A half an hour later, after Ethan had refreshed himself in his room, he met with Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam in Darcy's study. Elizabeth was shocked to see Ethan pull out a stack of papers and lay them on the desk. She recognized them at once. "I found these in your desk at Campton Manor," he said.

Elizabeth turned pale, and so did Darcy. Ethan looked at both of them carefully. "Is it true? Are you really my natural father, Papa?"

Darcy swallowed hard. "It is true."

"Why did you never tell me?" Ethan asked, and Elizabeth saw some anguish on his face. "Did you not think I would rejoice to know I was yours, and not a violent drunk's?"

"We did not want you to think less of us," said Elizabeth in a low voice. "You must admit, it is not an honourable thing that we did."

Ethan sighed. "No, I cannot deny that. But from the description of my – of Lord Carlisle in these letters, I can see just how horrible he was. And you two loved each other. If that was the only way you could be together…" he trailed off.

"I am not proud of what I did," Darcy said after clearing his throat. "I went against my principles when I had the affair with your mother. But you must understand, it was more than an affair for us. Your mother had been forced into marriage with Carlisle, and was never happy with him. She did not consider him her true husband. And I considered her my only true wife, even before we were married by law."

"Will you forgive us for not telling you?" Elizabeth asked, blinking back tears.

"Of course," said Ethan, something breaking on his face. "I am only glad to finally learn to truth. To know that you are my real Papa after all!"

Ethan had refrained from physical displays of affection since he had first come back from Eton, but now he enveloped his father in a hug, which Darcy returned with tears in his eyes.

"You will understand that we cannot tell your brothers and sisters," Darcy said after they had regained their equilibrium.

"No, of course not. But I am very pleased to learn the truth myself. Now I had better go see Marie before she knocks down the door!"

"It is true, she has missed you," Elizabeth laughed.

"I cannot believe she is going to be married tomorrow!"

"But she is going to be very happy. Hopefully as happy as you will be someday."

"Speaking of which…" Ethan trailed off. But his parents perked up at his tone.

"What is it? Have you found someone special?" asked Elizabeth eagerly.

"There is Violet Landsdowne. I know you are particular friends with her parents. She is not yet out, but in the next year or so, when she comes out in society, I was hoping I might ask to court her."

"We would be delighted with such a match!" cried Darcy.

"Yes, indeed, and Violet is a lovely young lady," said Elizabeth.

"You can visit with her family over the coming year before she comes out to see if she truly is the one for you. If so, and she returns your affection, we shall give you our blessing," said Darcy.

"Thank you, Mama, Papa," Ethan said, and gave them both a hug. "Now let us go find my brothers and sisters!"

"First, there is something we must do," said Elizabeth, and she took the letters, throwing them into the fire. Using the poker, she ensured that all of them were consumed by the flames. "There is no use in tempting fate," she said.

She and Darcy exchanged a loving smile as they followed their eldest son out of the room to greet the rest of their family.

THE END

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove.

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wand'ring bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come;

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me prov'd,

I never writ, nor no man ever lov'd.

-William Shakespeare, Sonnet 116